Hello people! Thanks and pokey to tao-fairlight, loozer-09, reynamangga, Hinoke, and AnimeAngel0123. Once again, I loved your reviews. *tee hee* Reviews make me giddy! *family groans in the background* Yeah, they love me…
Well, this chapter should be a big turning point in the story. People die, get blown up into pieces, or live; it'll just depend on my mood. There are some people who will die, some who will live. Better get your guesses in now so you'll know if you're wrong or right later.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the anime/manga "Inuyasha; Rumiko Takashi does. Nor do I own the song lyrics used later on in the fic; a bunch of people have rights to those. Nor do I own the quotes from below.
"Ae
fond kiss, and then we sever!
A farewell, and then forever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me,
Dark despair around benights me."
-Robert Burns, Ae Fond Kiss
"For the Angel of Death spread
his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he pass'd;
And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"
-George Gordon Byron, Destruction of Sennacherib, The
The army of Hathar marched uniformly along a hard, dirt road framed with dead, brown grass on the north side of the city Mythora. Their final destination was the Catharique Plains ten miles north of the city, and many were extremely nervous about the battle ahead. Kagome tossed her head around to observe all the soldiers faces around her. Their expressions were all the same for the most part: nervous, scared, and dreading death. The last thing they feared was the thing that most would end up being, though Kagome was determined not to die. She had to live to see Inuyasha. That one thought was the thing that kept her going, though it was only a small ray of hope amongst thick darkness.
Kagome looked straight ahead at the group of ten horse-riding soldiers surrounding the king, her father. For protection purposes, Kikyo had suggested Dion be at the center of the army as well as the traitors Loki and Horaku. She was greatly surprised that Horaku would be taken in by the enemy and had not spoken to him at all. She was greatly disappointed by him.
"Hey," Kikyo nudged Kagome from next to her.
Kagome smiled weakly at her aunt; she had not slept very well because of the night before.
"Are you alright?" Kikyo inquired.
"Sure," Kagome shrugged, "for someone who did not sleep well last night."
"I would not blame you for not sleeping well. Horaku, he was your friend, correct?"
Kagome would not look at Kikyo, but merely nodded in response before the older woman continued.
"To find a person a friend one day, and enemy the next has to be hard. You have my sympathy," Kikyo lightly gripped Kagome's arm in what she hoped was a comforting manner.
"Thank you," Kagome wearily said. "But… I don't know. With the battle today, everything else seems so unimportant. Do you know that almost everyone here will die?"
"Of course I know that. It would be ignorant of me to think otherwise, but we are all fighting for freedom and the safety of our families. Death to many of these people is a small price to pay, and so they march on to their doom in hopes that their sacrifice will make the difference."
"I see," Kagome said.
Kikyo said nothing in response. Whether it was because she had nothing to say or did not feel like speaking about anything else, Kagome could only guess. She shivered, getting the feeling something bad had just happened. But then it might also have been the weather. The sky was still dark for the most part –the sun had not risen all the way- for the sky was a depressing display of gray clouds. With the little light the day offered so early, everything around them took on a hazy look. Snow littered the ground and narrow ravine walls that the army now traveled through. The Kloric Ravine stretched from the north side of Mythora to the Catharique Plains, and in the old days was a popular merchant route, but with the fact the ravine was only twenty feet wide was an easy ambush area for thieves.
After marching through the Kloric Ravine for three hours, the Hathar army finally reached the Catharique Plains. The plains themselves were nothing spectacular –a hill-less expanse of snowy ground with a few leafless trees dotting the horizon here and there- but it was not the plains themselves that made the area good for battle. The Kloric Ravine, at the entrance to the Plains, widened out greatly so that there was a mile and a half between the eastern and western rock faces. On the eastern Ravine wall, carved into the gray and coral colored rocks, was a fortress by the name of Quag with the village of Rhyne Town at the base. Quag had served the Hathar army many times throughout the nation's history, and King Dion was certain it would serve them well today.
As Kagome's particular section of the army passed through Rhyne Town, she could not help but notice the lack of curious faces peering at them out of windows. She expected the townspeople to be out in the streets cheering on the army, or waiting excitedly for them at Quag's entrance, but she saw neither.
"Where is everyone?" Kagome asked Kikyo.
"Dion ordered them last week to gather their belongings and make for Mythora. Any able bodied men of this town that wished to fight were to stay and start setting things up inside Quag," Kikyo said.
"Really," Kagome said more as a statement than a question.
"Yes," Kikyo nodded and adjusted the vest of her uniform. "If you look just up the street you can see some of them at the entrance."
True enough Kagome could see them. At the end of the street, dirt met stone as a long bridge of cobbled stone snaked up to the entrance of Quag some thirty feet off the ground. Fifty or so men deck out in rusted armor, helmets, and equipped with skillfully made sabers stood outside of a set of metal doors left wide open. Soon, she, Kikyo, and both of their divisions stalked up the stone bridge that proved to be steeper than the eye could tell. At the end, she gave who appeared to be the leader of the fifty men a curt nod as she passed through the doors. She followed the stream of Hathar soldiers inside a courtyard, nestled on the other side of a wall that ran all the way up from the base of the bridge to twenty feet above the ground inside the fortress –the ground in Quag was many feet higher than Rhyne Town's ground.
From the two far ends of the courtyard wooden staircases ran up in a spiral fashion to a lookout of sorts. There were two levels to the lookout, and at the moment, King Dion stood on the highest level gesticulating to a man next to him. Just then, many hurried "shh!" rang throughout the army held within the courtyard. All eyes turned to King Dion.
"Here we are at Quag," he said. "The Uranin army is supposed to arrive sometime after noon, so that gives us three hours to prepare our defenses. What I would like now is for all Division leaders to meet with me and newly appointed General Phinneus Phile in the hall. The rest of you are dismissed for the time being."
Kikyo wrapped her arms around one of Kagome's and offered a brave smile. Then both women started walking to a staircase that would take them up to the lookout. Just ahead of her, Kagome could see Sango's ponytail bob in and out of sight as she mounted the stairs before her.
Once they got to the top of the stairs they were greeted by General Phile who led them to the back of the lookout. The back was the rock face of the eastern wall of the Ravine. It was carved into many statues of men holding up a rock shelf, effort evident on their faces. And in the center of the rock face a cavern had been chiseled out to make the hall. Inside was a long table with seven or so homemade wax candles flickering, their light dancing off the walls in an eerie fashion. Already some Division leaders were seated at the table, but Kagome did not recognize any of them.
Just as Kagome and Kikyo gingerly sat on the poorly made stools that ringed around the table, King Dion spoke, "I am glad to see you are all here, though circumstances could have been better for this meeting. It is suggested through rumor that the Uranin army will come around three o'clock this afternoon, which is well for us: We will not have to fight in the dark. But, rumor also says that we will be fighting just two people. I do not know what to think while hearing that."
"Two people?" one of the male Division leaders asked incredulously. "That's preposterous."
"Yes, Division leader Y'ael," Dion nodded, "we will be fighting two people. It is my understanding that one of them is a possessed human and the other a creation of the Lord of Uranin."
"It is true. Both Loki and Horaku told me the same thing when I questioned them last night," Kikyo spoke from next to Kagome.
"Which means if he is sending us a possessed human and creation they are his strongest fighters," King Dion's voice took on a grave tone while his face became grim. "We will have to be extra carefull."
************************************************************************
Both Archery Divisions of the Hathar army stood ready on the top most part of Quag's walls. On the top is a walkway of sorts that serves as a place for archers to shoot at the enemy. Below in the courtyard the rest of the Hathar army stood impatiently. Kagome could hear the soft voices of men and women singing a song she was not familiar with. Its lyrics were sad and tune slow, but it sounded hopeful. For some odd reason she felt comforted by the song and the voices singing it.
Soon the voices faded away as soldiers were led down the stone bridge to the city. About one quarter of the army was to hide in the empty houses of Rhyne Town to ambush the two Uranin enemies when they neared. Kagome was quite glad she was not with the group going into the town, for she had a suspicion they were marching to their deaths, that the town was a deathtrap.
Kagome looked down to Rhyne Town at the base of the wall. She could barely make out Kikyo's Division -shoulders slumped- filing into three houses along a side alley just off the main street. King Dion decided during their meeting earlier that Kikyo's Division would be split up in two groups. One Kikyo would lead and take them into town, and the other group Kagome would be responsible for. At the moment, Kikyo was standing outside of one of the houses, looking at Quag, or maybe at her. She walked into the house without a backward glance.
Now Kagome felt alone. Her father was on the lookout just over the courtyard, commanding the soldiers just below him, and Kikyo was in town, waiting for the enemy. Kagome really did not know anyone in her Division. She had worked with them, of course, but she never had talked with any of them. In the beginning, it was because she spent time with Inuyasha, and later on (after he had left) she felt so detached from the world that she never conversed with anyone; that is until Kikyo wanted peace between them.
She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her frayed nerves and fast beating heart. Then she exhaled, momentarily blowing out all her fear, apprehension, and thoughts, but as soon as all that left, it came back just as bothersome as before. Then, clear and true, a horn sounded from the depths of Rhyne Town. It was the signal: The enemy has arrived.
Sure enough, two people arrived, but not the ones that were expected. A young girl with silver-blue hair, dressed in white and holding a mirror walked steadily next to a man dressed in a white baboon pelt. As far as Kagome knew, a woman and pre-teen boy were supposed to come. This pair confused her.
The man pulled the hood of the baboon pelt down so his head was visible, and then he reached behind to loosen his high ponytail of dull black hair. Kagome gasped as she recognized the man as the person Loki and Horaku had been talking to last night. Involuntarily she stepped back, remembering the man's cold red eyes and how he seemed to be looking just at her.
Kagome was drawn out of her fear as she felt her father grip her arm, pulling her back to reality. Dion shot her a look of fatherly concern before glancing down to the girl and man.
"Are you Kagura and Kohaku of Uranin?" King Dion shouted down to the pair.
The man laughed, it spreading and echoing, filling everything with chilling malice and insignificance, "No we are not. Kohaku is my faithful servant and Kagura no longer serves the Uranin cause. This," the man gesticulated to the girl beside him, "is Kanna of the Mirror, a creation of mine."
"And you are?"
"I am Lord Naraku of Uranin," he chuckled. "Will you give up?"
Dion growled. Kagome could hear it, but was certain that Naraku could not.
"We will not lie down to the hand of Uranin. We are Hathar in life and in death, though it is you who will be experiencing death while we emerge victorious!" Dion yelled.
"Is that so?" Naraku said, but more to himself than anyone else. "Kanna will show you what death is."
The girl stepped forward and held her mirror out in front of her, the pale light from the obscured sun glinting off it. Then she turned the mirror ninety degrees clockwise, it then taking on a bluish hue as light of that color sprang from it. The light circled them many times, each time its circle getting wider and wider until it engulfed all of Rhyne Town. When it did that, Kanna brought the mirror to its previous position and the light went from blue to purple to a sickly red. Kanna thrust the mirror forward as the light turned to yellow, and cries of agony spilt from all the houses –cries of pain and death.
"I have killed them, Dion," Kanna said to the King. "Even your sister Kikyo is dead. I am correct in assuming that this halves the size of your army?"
Dion did not answer the girl but tightly gripped the side of the wall, clenching his fingers so tightly that if he wore no gloves his knuckles would be white. He grit is teeth in agitation and grief, for people he knew, his own kin had been killed without so much as an arrow flying.
"This is just a taste of the destruction that we can brew," Naraku said. "Surrender or we kill all the rest of you here and all those sniveling women and children you've left at Mythora."
"No!" Dion raged. "We will fight you and defeat you," he stopped and whispered to Kagome. "You are the only Archer Division left and with the magic they can conjure, I want you to keep this Division alive. You will fire arrows at them as distractions while I have the rest of the Divisions attack them head on."
"Alright," Kagome said back, nervous of the very important task given to her.
Dion gave her a weak smile, gripped her shoulder as comfortingly as possible, and stalked down the stairs just behind Kagome and shouted, "Shingleton, lead them out the gates!"
Kagome had no clue as to who Shingleton is, but was soon distracted as a good portion of the Hathar army ran down the stone bridge to meet an invisible wall.
"Now Dion," Naraku called, "you mustn't be hasty. I have yet to call out my army."
Once again Kanna jutted the mirror out in front of her, then raised her right hand –mirror gripped in it. The mirror shone a sickly green as the ground around her and Naraku broke and churned as arms and heads emerged. Soon the town was teeming with impish figures with black skin that looked charred and great golden eyes. Each soldier was magnificently equipped with spikes on each joint and rusted broadswords. The imps ran toward the bridge and Hathar soldiers, colliding head on with the opposing army. Death cries and war cries filled the air as well as the crash of sword on sword, metal on metal.
"Archer Division," Kagome yelled over the noise from below. She turned to face the Division who looked terrified and glanced and her warily. "Fire on the enemy!"
All the archers did as they were ordered. The nocked an arrow and fired, over and over again, an endless dance of death and accuracy. From time to time Kagome would let an arrow fly, but for the most part she watched her division; for moral support mostly. The Second Archer Division and the remainder of the First took down many Uranin imps, saving numerous Hathar soldiers in the process while many died as the imp they fought took them down.
It seemed that hours had passed, but really it might have been half an hour, Kagome was not sure. Death and defeat seemed to go hand in hand, around in a great circle that she could not keep track of. Even time submitted to it.
Where once was light
Now darkness falls
For a brief moment Kagome looked down to the stone bridge to see if she could locate Sango, Miroku, or her father. She could find neither of the three but was surprised to find Horaku darting soldiers from both sides, trying to make it into Rhyne Town. Fear gripped Kagome's heart; fear for Horaku's life.
Where once was love
Love is no more
Without thinking, Kagome grabbed her bow and a couple arrows and ran down the stairs that lead to the courtyard. It was completely empty, creepily lifeless as Kagome dashed to the great metal gates that lead to the bridge.
Don't say goodbye
Don't say I didn't try
She sprinted through the doors to be met with the chaos that was Uranin and Hathar. Her ears pounded with the guttural grunts of Uranin imps and wails of Hathar, along with sword hitting sword as people battled for country and family.
These tears we cry are
falling rain
For all the lies you told us
The hurt, the blame
Kagome ignored all that, pulling a dagger from her belt and pressed on through the melee, occasionally killing an imp that stepped in her path. After pushing through the battle for ten minutes, perhaps more, she met Rhyne Town. A couple houses were on fire, but for the most part the city remained in fair condition.
And we will weep
To be so alone
She tossed her eyes around for any sign of Horaku and thought she saw her old friend darting between two houses about forty feet from her current position and ran after him. For minutes she chased his retreating back through winding alleyways. Eventually she caught up to Horaku in an empty intersection somewhere in a combat-less area of the city.
We are lost
We can never go home
Swirling in the middle was a black portal flecked with purple and Kanna was just stepping though it while Naraku and Horaku talked.
"Please, Master Naraku," Horaku pleaded on his knees. Then he stood: "Take me with you! I have served you faithfully."
So in the end
I will be what I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me
"You are right, servant Horaku, you have served me faithfully," Naraku of Uranin nodded. "But…"
Now we say goodbye
We say you didn't try
"…But," Naraku laughed and darted forward with speed so unimaginable, Kagome could not tell he moved. Naraku continued, "I cannot bring someone like you back to Uranin. You have served your purpose," Naraku jutted a hand out, piercing Horaku directly through the chest," and were only an expendable pawn."
These tears you cry
Have come too late
Naraku withdrew his now crimson hand from the quivering form of Horaku. The teenage boy fell to his knees with a chocked moan in a miserable heap. The Uranin Lord flipped Horaku over with a foot onto his back, causing Horaku to cough up blood. He laughed manically at Horaku and turned around to follow Kanna through the portal.
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame
"Naraku!" Kagome yelled in anger and despair. Naraku had killed her best friend of fifteen years and would not escape her unscathed. "You will die for what you did."
"Is that so?" Naraku crooned and smiled wickedly. "It seems that I am the one with power, for you are just a human worth absolutely nothing."
Kagome growled low within her throat and clenched her fists, unaware of the fact they got warmer and were letting off pink light. All she was concerned about was avenging Horaku, for she knew he was a good person and did not want him to die without his killer dieing too.
"Goodbye, ningen," Naraku said and once again turned around toward the portal.
Kagome quickly brought an arrow up to her ready bow, wishing desperately in her secret heart that the arrow would completely decimate Naraku's body so he would no longer exist. She looked to the arrow point, surprised to find it glowed bright pink as she felt the presence of the dead Kikyo and newly deceased soul of her father wrap around her, lending her their strength.
"Die, Naraku," Kagome spitefully whispered and let her arrow fly.
The arrow soared straight through Naraku, causing his eyes to widen in pain. His body then exploded, sending blackened chunks of flesh to fly in all directions, thumping heavily against houses. Where his body once stood, a wooden figurine hovered for a few seconds before splitting diagonally in two halves and landing lightly on the ground.
"Horaku, I did it," Kagome cheered wearily before fainting.
And you will weep
When you face the end alone
Later, Kagome woke from her uncalculated slumber. She was not sure if gaining conscious was that she needed to wake or if it was the cold that stirred her. The ground was covered in at least a foot of white, fluffy snow that coated everything, even the thatched roof homes surrounding her. From her position laying stomach down on the ground, she could just barely make out the form of a person.
"Horaku," Kagome frantically whispered.
She scrambled to her feet, almost doubling over from exhaustion as she shuffled to Horaku. The snow around his body was frosted red and his whole body was dusted with snow. Kagome anxiously brushed the snow off his face to see his eyes were wide and glossed over and lips pure blue with cold and death.
"Horaku," Kagome muttered again and fainted over the corpse of her friend from intense tiredness.
Hours later the sky was pitch black and the stars shone above as Kagome came back into a light consciousness. She looked up to meet with golden eyes and a head of silver hair, but her eyes went black, leaving her in darkness and making her doubt she saw anyone. From within her black void, she could have sworn she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
Her vision came back and she saw silver hair once again as someone picked her up and nothingness claimed her mind like earlier.
You are lost
You can never go home…
Well, that was that. Did you like it? This chapter changes everything. Hopefully I did not bore any of you with this chapter, but I had to do things the way I did.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. School has been sucking all my time: If I don't have homework I have Color Guard practice so I have had no time to work on this, but I finally got it done.
CHALLENGE: What's the name of the song, singer, and movie soundtrack the song I used at the end? I'll give you a hint: The movie just came to home video and dvd recently. I just wanted to see if anyone could guess it
Well, buh-bye people. I wonder if you can guess who the person at the end is that picked her up *tee hee* Thanks for reading!