The Price of Winning

AN: The usual claimer. These characters are mine as is the story in general. Don't use without my express permission. Also keep in mind that I'm not good at writing long battle scenes so don't be too harsh. Also since this is going to have a long battle scene I'll just call Katia Katia even when Fincara is in control.

Katia strode into the castle. As she stepped into the halls the doors closed behind her. She cast on last miserable glance behind her where she left the man she loved unconscious before she looked forward with a determined glint in her eyes. She wouldn't lose.

'Ready to go Fincara?' Katia thought. Fincara took over as they strode into the main hall.

"So you are here. I'm glad and very punctual per usual. Very good." Toku's voice rang through the hall.

"Come on out Toku you bastard. You know very well why I'm here" Katia/Fincara called out.

Slowly Toku materialized in the hall and said with mock sorrow. "Why Fincara, I'm hurt. And here I thought you had just come to visit."

"Stow it. I want to finish this. What weapons are we using?" Katia said.

"Same as last time. You may use swords, your physical body, and any type of magic you have. Does that suit you?" Toku said as his sword appeared in front of him. He used a saber instead of a katana. (AN: for those who were wondering, the difference is mainly where the swords are from and slightly about their build.)

"Fine." Katia drew her katana and it became clear and glowed with an unearthly light.

"I see you've acquired a new sword. That won't help you anyway." Toku said.

Suddenly he charged at Katia. She managed to block but barely. He struck again. Katia blocked that one and the next few easily then she went onto the offensive. Toku barely blocked two strikes to the body before he jumped out of range.

"I see you've gotten much better with the sword, very good. This will prove to be more interesting than I thought." Toku said

Suddenly a ball of pure energy shot at Katia. She barely managed to get her sword up in time. Even so she was still shot against the wall and created a huge crater in it. She stood up and retaliated with her own blast of energy. Several actually. Neither person wasted energy on anything but the most grievous injuries that required attention for them to be able to continue fighting. Eventually Katia tried something she hadn't tried yet. She shot an energy ball at him again, but she followed behind it, completely hidden from view. Toku dissipated the energy, but the next thing he knew he was flying toward the wall behind him. Katia had hit him when his guard was down, and he had gone flying.

He stood up suddenly, very pissed off indeed. "You bitch." He said while wiping some blood off of the side of his mouth.

Katia smirked. "What's wrong Toku, losing your touch? You wouldn't have been hit that easily before." Katia taunted. Both of them had lost a lot of blood from all the injuries they had sustained.

He attacked again. By this time both swords lay dropped and forgotten on the hard ground. They were fighting with energy and their own bodies alone. Katia used a shield against his energy attacks as they suddenly appeared on all sides. She didn't know from which direction he was coming from. Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her throat from in front of her and began to choke her.

"I've got you now. You can't escape me, you know I've won." Toku said. Katia felt her senses start to dull from the lack of oxygen. She had to do something. "You know your lover is on his way right now." Toku said, interrupting her thoughts. "He's woken up and is now wondering through my halls lost because of the spells. He's trying to find you, too bad he'll be too late."

Katia had known that Niroku was in the castle. She had known the second he had woken up. Suddenly an idea came to her mind. She knew that there was only one way to win and she had no other choice. She wouldn't let the bastard sorcerer in front of her live. Fincara wouldn't kill him. Katia knew because Fincara didn't want to force Katia out of her own body. So Katia took over. 'I'm sorry Niroku.' She thought. As her sight began to get blurry her sword shot from where it lay behind her into her hand. She focused her mind to make it shorter. Suddenly she brought it in front of her and thrust it through Toku's heart and twisted. He screamed and dropped Katia. Next thing Katia knew she had been impaled by a hidden sword that Toku had carried. They had both collapsed.

"Looks like it's a draw." Toku said with difficulty. Neither had enough energy to heal themselves. "I'll see you in hell." And with that he died, never to hurt any innocent again.

Katia focused all her energy that was left in staying alive until Niroku arrived. She had to tell him something. She knew the spells on the castle were lifted now that the sorcerer was dead. They weren't strong enough to last even while their caster was dead. She closed her eyes focusing all hr energy to staying alive. And that is how Niroku found her a few seconds later.

When Niroku had woken up he knew what had happened. Katia had knocked him out to keep him from helping her. He rushed into the castle, but because of what he could only guess were spells her scent disappeared after the first fork on both sides. He knew he was headed in the right direction, but because of the spells he sensed he couldn't reach and that's why he instantly ran to Katia the second he sensed the spells disappear. A few seconds later he came to the room where her scent was the strongest, and he opened the doors to reveal the worst sight he could ever imagine. Katia lay dying on the floor if not already dead. He rushed over to her, hoping that he wasn't too late. He pulled the sword out from her stomach and gently lifted her into his arms.

"Katia please, wake up. Please." Niroku said. He was close to tears, which was new for him. He had never cried.

"Niroku..." A weak voice said from where Katia lay in his arms. She opened her eyes.

"Katia. That the gods that your still alive." Niroku said, extremely relieved.

"I'm sorry...I didn't...tell you before." Katia said weakly.

"Shh. Save your strength." Niroku said, though deep down he knew it was already too late.

"I have...to tell you something. I'm...sorry I didn't...tell you before, but...I l-love you." Katia smiled at him then closed her eyes to the world.

Niroku sat in shock. "No. Katia, no. You can't die. Please. No." Niroku said as tears fell down his cheeks and landed on Katia's face. He buried his head into her chest and cried.

AN: For all those who want to kill me right now, don't worry, I wouldn't let things end like this. Just read the next chapter an see what happens.