Congratulations to starkitty, who got the first ferrygirl, Byakushin! Yes, her name means "Juniper". Remember, they're all plant names. Not to worry, there are still nine ferrygirls left, and once you win one, you can't get another. It's only fair.
Last chapter, Kia and Kelsey met up with Sei, a servant of Mukuro! After Sei guarded them to Mukuro's fortress, she revealed herself as no less than Mukuro herself! Uh-oh...what have the Mirror Holders gotten themselves into NOW?
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"Mukuro! Lord! Uh...Lady...boss lady?" Kelsey was incredibly flustered. She nudged Kia expectantly.
"I'm so screwed," the girl said bleakly. Just how much had she insulted Mukuro...to Mukuro? "Go ahead and eat me now."
The demon lord chuckled. "I don't eat ningens anymore...and my first assumption was correct, wasn't it? You two have youkai blood."
They nodded affirmation, neither girl relaxing much.
Mukuro eyed them amusedly. "Doubtless you're curious to know why I tricked you."
"It's crossed our minds," Kelsey wryly admitted.
"Fair enough. Not much that goes on around here escapes my attention. I'd received news that the infamous holders of the Densetsu no Kagami were seeking the cure to a devastating disease. Naturally, I was a bit curious myself. Why did you need that cure? What were you like? What powers did you possess and how did two unlikely girls defeat Netami and free seven continents in the Ningenkai? What special assets enabled you to become the Mirror Holders?" She smiled at Kelsey and Kia. "Of I had met you in my true form, you wouldn't have been your true selves, so I tested you by disguising myself as a servant to witness the REAL Mirror Holders. And, sure enough, you passed."
"So..." Kia spoke up. "That whole servant thing..."
"All a lie to see your reaction. When you responded with indignation, I knew that your role as a Healer and the Mirror Holder the Compassion half rang true. You truly cared." Mukuro turned to Kelsey. "Just as I knew you had fully earned the Mirror Half of Courage when you stood up against that youkai. Of course, I could have defeated it, but I wanted to call you both to me and see you in action."
"So you're not going to eat us?" Kelsey asked hopefully.
"No, I'm not." The woman smoothed her hair down and looked at them gravely. "From what you've told me, your friends are very sick. And if this continues, others in Makai will catch it as well." She smirked. "Even that old goat Yomi is susceptible to it. No youkai is safe, then."
Kia nodded. "Which is why we have to cure everyone as soon as possible before it spreads even further."
"Even if we have to destroy the disease itself," Kelsey added boldly. "That baking soda crap or whatever..."
Mukuro wore a very strange expression on the left portion of her face as she regarded the Mirror Holders. "...I never met your mothers, but you both certainly possess your fathers' spirits in great quantity."
"...Nani?" Something told her she needed to understand that, but for all her efforts, Kia couldn't decipher it. Her head was aching fiercely and the hall was beginning to spin and twirl like some sort of distorted grotesque ballet.
"I thought so..." She could hear Kelsey mumble, as her friend slowly slid to the ground in a slumped-over sitting position. At once, her legs seemed unable to support her anymore, and the older girl collapsed.
"Don't..." Kia warned weakly, trying to lift her head as Mukuro approached. Why did it feel like such a dead weight? "Don't come near us...you might catch it too..."
"I've already had it." The youkai lord bent down, placing her hands under Kia's shoulders and knees and lifting her up. "How long have you known?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the girl said, keeping her face marvelously composed.
"...I see..." Mukuro motioned to someone Kia didn't know, who came forward to pick up Kelsey.
No...Kia's eyelids suddenly weighed just as much as a ton of bricks. It was all she could do to keep them from dropping. She was dimly aware of Mukuro instructing someone to take Kelsey to a room...
I can't...if we get sick, what will happen to everyone back home?
She couldn't keep sleep at bay any longer.
It can't...end like this...
***At Suzuki's House***
-This isn't good.- Kage rose languidly from his sprawled-out position on the couch and leapt to the floor.
"You're not kidding!" Yusuke gritted, trying to maintain a grip on both Rei and Jin. The little priestess was trying to chase after Kuwabara with Axe. Considering that the thing now weighed more and was much larger than the six-year-old, this was an impressive feat, and one that didn't daunt Rei in the slightest.
-No, that's not what I meant.- The big dog heaved a sigh. -Kelsey and Kia have caught the disease.-
"But they CAN'T!" Kuwabara protested. "They're ningens-aren't they?"
-Yes and no.- Kage looked at the redheaded boy. -But that does not matter right now. What matters is that the girls are sick. And time is running out.-
"How much time do we have left?" Yusuke asked him, frowning, and finally getting a better hold on Rei. "How many days."
-Four days. And with the Mirror Holders ill...-
"But what about Kurama?" Kuwabara persisted. "Can't he-"
-In transforming into his Youko form, Kurama also fell to the disease.-
"Kuso!" the black-haired Tantei growled. "This sucks! And we can't do anything?!"
Kage sighed once more. -Precisely.- He glanced out the fogged window with soulful eyes, as Jin started to play with his tail. -Mirror Holders...what now?-
***Back to Makai***
"What now?" Kelsey turned on her side, propping herself up with her elbow, facing Kia. The two lay in separate canopy beds in an ornate room. Wan light filtered in through the dusty window, dappling on the girls' bed covers.
Kia narrowed her eyes, trying to focus on the blonde girl who had addressed her. "I don't know..." she admitted, trying to free herself from her restricting sheets. It was so hot, and even the cool cloth on her forehead was burning to her muddled senses.
"How long have you known?" Kelsey repeated the question that Mukuro had posed earlier.
Kia's response, however, differed from her previous answer. "I think I suspected back when we were fighting the Niji gang...I felt so weak when I had that barrier up, and it never tired me out before...at least, not that quickly."
The other Mirror Holder nodded. "Around that time, huh? Me too...guess we're just a pair of stubborn bakas."
"We didn't have much of a choice," The brunette told her. "We had to keep going...as long as we could stand, walk...we had a chance."
"And do you still think we have that chance now?"
"...Hai. But a very slim one." Kia sighed quietly, giving up her struggle against the sheets, and sank back against her pillow.
Kelsey, about to ask yet another question, tensed when she heard the door creak open. Her head throbbed when she tried to see who it was.
"So these are the little half-breeds Mukuro brought in? And now here they are, while she looks for that cure." A rough voice, slightly jeering.
Kia didn't say anything, but both girls were immediately alert...well, as alert as one could be in their condition. Still, it came as a surprise when the dark-haired Mirror Holder found herself face-to-face with a green-skinned youkai with bulging red eyes. For a moment, the two stared at each in silence. Then the youkai gave a snort of disgust.
"THIS is one of the infamous Mirror Holders? She looks weak to me."
"Try me," the girl suggested sweetly, a hint of challenge in her tone. "Then tell me how weak I am."
He sneered. "Big talk for such a little girl."
"Big mouth for such a little brain," Kia countered. Why was he bothering her? She didn't have the strength to exchange insults with this idiot! Just ARGUING with him exhausted her!
His mouth tightened and he lunged for her. "I don't care if they ARE the Mirror Holders! No one insults me and gets away with it!"
Kia let out a strangled yelp as he knocked her back, head colliding with the headboard.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Kelsey shouted angrily, in a hoarse voice.
Another youkai, this one with blotchy purple skin, laughed. "Why should we, you filthy little hanyou? We don't welcome ningens OR half-breeds here." His laughter increased in volume-then suddenly ceased with a choked cry as a giant black dragon clamped its jaws over his head.
A second later, Kia watched with wide, somewhat-unfocused eyes as a black winged horse threw himself at her attacker, and hurled him through the open door. "...Mei..."
Both horse and girl turned when they heard muffled screams, issuing from the dragon's hapless prisoner.
"Drop, Nasei," Kelsey said wearily. Only SHE would address a giant winged, fire-breathing creature with the same sort of tone one might use on a naughty puppy. The draconic beast obeyed, and the demon hastily fled, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Kia...daijoubu?"
"My head hurts..." Kia weakly waved to Meikyou as the horse disappeared in a flash of silver light, back to his Mirror Half. In a moment, Nasei had done the same. "But I'm okay..."
"You are such a bad liar." The blonde girl sighed.
"...True." The other sighed as well. "But...I don't know, I just feel like crying..."
"No crying," Kelsey told her sternly, coughing. "Promise me."
"No cry-"
"Not until I say so. PROMISE."
Kia closed her eyes. "All right. I promise..." She'd regret making that promise later, but for now, all she cared about was going to sleep. Which she eventually accomplished.
***Somewhere ELSE in Makai...***
Rinku knelt on the ground, investigating the two pairs of footprints that abruptly ended near the river. The boy sighed, looking up at his comrade. "Chuu, this isn't good. It looks like they fell in."
"Poor little things..." The drunkard took a swig of sake from a canteen, before offering it to Youko Kurama. "Hey, want a taste of the good stuff?"
"CHUU!" Rinku sounded shocked.
"What??" He said defensively. "Little bugger's probably thirsty! And you can't POSSIBLY tell me that he didn't get drunk when he was older!"
"He's only around TWELVE now!" The boy shouted. "Can we PLEASE try to find Kia and Kelsey??"
"Righ', righ'..." Chuu sighed. "Ruin all my fun." Truth to tell, he was worried. What had happened to the Mirror Holders? Had they found Mukuro? Were they even alive?
The smaller youkai looked up at the sky. "Please be all right..."
*OOC*
Okay! Only 7 more chapters left...*thunk* I can do this. I think. Maybe. Ah, well. Please review! NEXT chapter!
* The cure has been found! But can it be mixed up in time?
* While they wait, Mukuro reveals how she knew Kia and Kelsey's fathers.
* Guess who's back? Three hints. She's short, she wears large sunglasses, and she wants to destroy a few things...
And now for ferrygirl #2, Safuran! This one should be relatively easier to guess.
Name: Safuran
Age: 271 (died at age 15)
Birthday: October 23
Clothing: Black kimono, light blue obi, yellow kimono underneath.
Hair Color/Style: Golden, slightly curly, kind of long. Wears it in low ponytail or down.
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5'4''
Weight: 101 lbs.
Personality: Cheerful. (not scary-cheerful like Botan, though. Optimistic in a logical sense.)
^^ Whew. And still Lexi-chan remains ahead of me. ^^;;
Last chapter, Kia and Kelsey met up with Sei, a servant of Mukuro! After Sei guarded them to Mukuro's fortress, she revealed herself as no less than Mukuro herself! Uh-oh...what have the Mirror Holders gotten themselves into NOW?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Mukuro! Lord! Uh...Lady...boss lady?" Kelsey was incredibly flustered. She nudged Kia expectantly.
"I'm so screwed," the girl said bleakly. Just how much had she insulted Mukuro...to Mukuro? "Go ahead and eat me now."
The demon lord chuckled. "I don't eat ningens anymore...and my first assumption was correct, wasn't it? You two have youkai blood."
They nodded affirmation, neither girl relaxing much.
Mukuro eyed them amusedly. "Doubtless you're curious to know why I tricked you."
"It's crossed our minds," Kelsey wryly admitted.
"Fair enough. Not much that goes on around here escapes my attention. I'd received news that the infamous holders of the Densetsu no Kagami were seeking the cure to a devastating disease. Naturally, I was a bit curious myself. Why did you need that cure? What were you like? What powers did you possess and how did two unlikely girls defeat Netami and free seven continents in the Ningenkai? What special assets enabled you to become the Mirror Holders?" She smiled at Kelsey and Kia. "Of I had met you in my true form, you wouldn't have been your true selves, so I tested you by disguising myself as a servant to witness the REAL Mirror Holders. And, sure enough, you passed."
"So..." Kia spoke up. "That whole servant thing..."
"All a lie to see your reaction. When you responded with indignation, I knew that your role as a Healer and the Mirror Holder the Compassion half rang true. You truly cared." Mukuro turned to Kelsey. "Just as I knew you had fully earned the Mirror Half of Courage when you stood up against that youkai. Of course, I could have defeated it, but I wanted to call you both to me and see you in action."
"So you're not going to eat us?" Kelsey asked hopefully.
"No, I'm not." The woman smoothed her hair down and looked at them gravely. "From what you've told me, your friends are very sick. And if this continues, others in Makai will catch it as well." She smirked. "Even that old goat Yomi is susceptible to it. No youkai is safe, then."
Kia nodded. "Which is why we have to cure everyone as soon as possible before it spreads even further."
"Even if we have to destroy the disease itself," Kelsey added boldly. "That baking soda crap or whatever..."
Mukuro wore a very strange expression on the left portion of her face as she regarded the Mirror Holders. "...I never met your mothers, but you both certainly possess your fathers' spirits in great quantity."
"...Nani?" Something told her she needed to understand that, but for all her efforts, Kia couldn't decipher it. Her head was aching fiercely and the hall was beginning to spin and twirl like some sort of distorted grotesque ballet.
"I thought so..." She could hear Kelsey mumble, as her friend slowly slid to the ground in a slumped-over sitting position. At once, her legs seemed unable to support her anymore, and the older girl collapsed.
"Don't..." Kia warned weakly, trying to lift her head as Mukuro approached. Why did it feel like such a dead weight? "Don't come near us...you might catch it too..."
"I've already had it." The youkai lord bent down, placing her hands under Kia's shoulders and knees and lifting her up. "How long have you known?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the girl said, keeping her face marvelously composed.
"...I see..." Mukuro motioned to someone Kia didn't know, who came forward to pick up Kelsey.
No...Kia's eyelids suddenly weighed just as much as a ton of bricks. It was all she could do to keep them from dropping. She was dimly aware of Mukuro instructing someone to take Kelsey to a room...
I can't...if we get sick, what will happen to everyone back home?
She couldn't keep sleep at bay any longer.
It can't...end like this...
***At Suzuki's House***
-This isn't good.- Kage rose languidly from his sprawled-out position on the couch and leapt to the floor.
"You're not kidding!" Yusuke gritted, trying to maintain a grip on both Rei and Jin. The little priestess was trying to chase after Kuwabara with Axe. Considering that the thing now weighed more and was much larger than the six-year-old, this was an impressive feat, and one that didn't daunt Rei in the slightest.
-No, that's not what I meant.- The big dog heaved a sigh. -Kelsey and Kia have caught the disease.-
"But they CAN'T!" Kuwabara protested. "They're ningens-aren't they?"
-Yes and no.- Kage looked at the redheaded boy. -But that does not matter right now. What matters is that the girls are sick. And time is running out.-
"How much time do we have left?" Yusuke asked him, frowning, and finally getting a better hold on Rei. "How many days."
-Four days. And with the Mirror Holders ill...-
"But what about Kurama?" Kuwabara persisted. "Can't he-"
-In transforming into his Youko form, Kurama also fell to the disease.-
"Kuso!" the black-haired Tantei growled. "This sucks! And we can't do anything?!"
Kage sighed once more. -Precisely.- He glanced out the fogged window with soulful eyes, as Jin started to play with his tail. -Mirror Holders...what now?-
***Back to Makai***
"What now?" Kelsey turned on her side, propping herself up with her elbow, facing Kia. The two lay in separate canopy beds in an ornate room. Wan light filtered in through the dusty window, dappling on the girls' bed covers.
Kia narrowed her eyes, trying to focus on the blonde girl who had addressed her. "I don't know..." she admitted, trying to free herself from her restricting sheets. It was so hot, and even the cool cloth on her forehead was burning to her muddled senses.
"How long have you known?" Kelsey repeated the question that Mukuro had posed earlier.
Kia's response, however, differed from her previous answer. "I think I suspected back when we were fighting the Niji gang...I felt so weak when I had that barrier up, and it never tired me out before...at least, not that quickly."
The other Mirror Holder nodded. "Around that time, huh? Me too...guess we're just a pair of stubborn bakas."
"We didn't have much of a choice," The brunette told her. "We had to keep going...as long as we could stand, walk...we had a chance."
"And do you still think we have that chance now?"
"...Hai. But a very slim one." Kia sighed quietly, giving up her struggle against the sheets, and sank back against her pillow.
Kelsey, about to ask yet another question, tensed when she heard the door creak open. Her head throbbed when she tried to see who it was.
"So these are the little half-breeds Mukuro brought in? And now here they are, while she looks for that cure." A rough voice, slightly jeering.
Kia didn't say anything, but both girls were immediately alert...well, as alert as one could be in their condition. Still, it came as a surprise when the dark-haired Mirror Holder found herself face-to-face with a green-skinned youkai with bulging red eyes. For a moment, the two stared at each in silence. Then the youkai gave a snort of disgust.
"THIS is one of the infamous Mirror Holders? She looks weak to me."
"Try me," the girl suggested sweetly, a hint of challenge in her tone. "Then tell me how weak I am."
He sneered. "Big talk for such a little girl."
"Big mouth for such a little brain," Kia countered. Why was he bothering her? She didn't have the strength to exchange insults with this idiot! Just ARGUING with him exhausted her!
His mouth tightened and he lunged for her. "I don't care if they ARE the Mirror Holders! No one insults me and gets away with it!"
Kia let out a strangled yelp as he knocked her back, head colliding with the headboard.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Kelsey shouted angrily, in a hoarse voice.
Another youkai, this one with blotchy purple skin, laughed. "Why should we, you filthy little hanyou? We don't welcome ningens OR half-breeds here." His laughter increased in volume-then suddenly ceased with a choked cry as a giant black dragon clamped its jaws over his head.
A second later, Kia watched with wide, somewhat-unfocused eyes as a black winged horse threw himself at her attacker, and hurled him through the open door. "...Mei..."
Both horse and girl turned when they heard muffled screams, issuing from the dragon's hapless prisoner.
"Drop, Nasei," Kelsey said wearily. Only SHE would address a giant winged, fire-breathing creature with the same sort of tone one might use on a naughty puppy. The draconic beast obeyed, and the demon hastily fled, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Kia...daijoubu?"
"My head hurts..." Kia weakly waved to Meikyou as the horse disappeared in a flash of silver light, back to his Mirror Half. In a moment, Nasei had done the same. "But I'm okay..."
"You are such a bad liar." The blonde girl sighed.
"...True." The other sighed as well. "But...I don't know, I just feel like crying..."
"No crying," Kelsey told her sternly, coughing. "Promise me."
"No cry-"
"Not until I say so. PROMISE."
Kia closed her eyes. "All right. I promise..." She'd regret making that promise later, but for now, all she cared about was going to sleep. Which she eventually accomplished.
***Somewhere ELSE in Makai...***
Rinku knelt on the ground, investigating the two pairs of footprints that abruptly ended near the river. The boy sighed, looking up at his comrade. "Chuu, this isn't good. It looks like they fell in."
"Poor little things..." The drunkard took a swig of sake from a canteen, before offering it to Youko Kurama. "Hey, want a taste of the good stuff?"
"CHUU!" Rinku sounded shocked.
"What??" He said defensively. "Little bugger's probably thirsty! And you can't POSSIBLY tell me that he didn't get drunk when he was older!"
"He's only around TWELVE now!" The boy shouted. "Can we PLEASE try to find Kia and Kelsey??"
"Righ', righ'..." Chuu sighed. "Ruin all my fun." Truth to tell, he was worried. What had happened to the Mirror Holders? Had they found Mukuro? Were they even alive?
The smaller youkai looked up at the sky. "Please be all right..."
*OOC*
Okay! Only 7 more chapters left...*thunk* I can do this. I think. Maybe. Ah, well. Please review! NEXT chapter!
* The cure has been found! But can it be mixed up in time?
* While they wait, Mukuro reveals how she knew Kia and Kelsey's fathers.
* Guess who's back? Three hints. She's short, she wears large sunglasses, and she wants to destroy a few things...
And now for ferrygirl #2, Safuran! This one should be relatively easier to guess.
Name: Safuran
Age: 271 (died at age 15)
Birthday: October 23
Clothing: Black kimono, light blue obi, yellow kimono underneath.
Hair Color/Style: Golden, slightly curly, kind of long. Wears it in low ponytail or down.
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5'4''
Weight: 101 lbs.
Personality: Cheerful. (not scary-cheerful like Botan, though. Optimistic in a logical sense.)
^^ Whew. And still Lexi-chan remains ahead of me. ^^;;