I don't own anything besides Era, Van-Gareth, Darien, the ancient language
and the plot.
Thank you 'Blaze' and 'Revlis' for reviewing.
To all my readers: the tale is being delayed due to lack of reviews. Please review to get faster updates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Chapter 12
Era slowed her pace down to a walk; she had put a good amount of distance between herself and her old home. Van-Gareth would pay for doing what he had, he had killed everyone back there, except for Darien, and now he had the nerve to play on their images; it was like torturing their soul.
As her walk continued she realized that she was nearing the same area where it had all began. The same area in which Van-Gareth and she had fought five thousand years ago, this fact felt very strange to her, it certainly had not felt like it had been that long. Knowing both these facts were far from soothing for her, she knew now that Van-Gareth intended to fight in the same place as last time and that the anger from his last defeat were still lay fresh in his mind.
Images of the battle passed by her eyes and she could see it so clearly, as if it had only happened yesterday. She saw them both fighting harshly. She went over in her mind quickly some of the mistakes both she and her opponent had made; not wanting to make the same ones again. She wanted him defeated and sent far from this world to never return again, even if it meant her own life would be lost in the process.
She soon walked into a small clearing with trees and many other plants around her, no animals were seen and no sounds were heard, the gentle breeze that had been around before had even stopped. Era looked around, searching for any sign of Van-Gareth since his power seemed to originate from somewhere within this small clearing. Most would not be able to find him but this task was easy for Era because she knew what to 'look' for since she had fought him once before.
A moment later she found the source of the power, he was sitting idly in a tree with his eyes closed. He was side ways to her with his legs partly bent, his feet on the branch and his hands behind his head. Of course this is just what he looked like now, for Van-Gareth is a shadow demon so he normally has no distinct form; he just happened to be in the form of a typical male demon's.
Van-Gareth opened his eyes as he felt someone watching him, he also had felt Era's aura when she had first entered the clearing but had paid her no heed. His fiery blood red eyes laid on her before he jumped down. If Era had not known what Van-Gareth really was she may have called him handsome, probably not though. He had taken the form of a boy in his upper teens with bleach blond hair that was sleeked back, much like Yusuke's. His eyes were now a greenish-blue and he had a pleased smile on his pale face. He was wearing black semi baggy pants, a semi baggy black t-shirt and black slipper like shoes.
Van-Gareth took a few steps forward before stopping. He took one look at Era and started laughing, for once his laughter sounded almost human. If looks could torture before killing Era sure had one plastered on her face. When his laughter subsided he spoke in a somewhat dark tone, "Tusen ulalte comenda. Aien benga watuli faria tus," (You've finally come. I've been waiting for you).
"Ai bueta," (I bet) Era said sounding unenthused by this whole thing.
Van-Gareth laughed hideously as he changed into his normal form, now he looked like a black shadow. His 'skin' moved like a flame and his glowing blood red eyes came back. It was obvious that he took great pleasure in seeing her unhappy and agitated.
Shadow demons are a funny thing, they don't have physical forms because they themselves are made of shadow, thus how they received their name. They can have a physical form if they make one for themselves, like Van-Gareth had before, but they don't naturally have one. Even though they don't have a real physical form they can be hurt physically somehow or another, that is why they can be defeated.
Era glared at him before getting into her fighting position. She was turned side ways with one leg in front and one leg behind her, both bent slightly, arms at chest level with fist clenched and her head turned so she was looking at her opponent.
Instead of getting into his own fighting position Van-Gareth looked at Era finding great amusement with her eagerness to get the fighting over with.
The two fighters stared at one another for what seemed like hours but it was only a few minutes. The fighters smirked knowing that their opponent would not give up, this was the final fight, or so they hoped.
In a blink of an eye Van-Gareth was gone; he had disappeared into the shadow with great ease. Era stayed in her place, she just closed her eyes and concentrated. Not a moment later Van-Gareth appeared on her right ready to strike her in the face, but at the same time she swung to her right and blocked his onslaught with her arms. Van-Gareth disappeared into the shadows again and Era followed his movements while running after him.
The strikes at one another continued as they tested each other, looking for new strengths and weakness. Their energies (aura's) flowed freely. The area in which Van-Gareth power once lay was now mixed with Era's power, so the once intense evil feel that surrounded areas miles away from the shadow demon now had a pure essence mixed in. If it had not been for her power being mixed in, the demons that had once been able to live through Van- Gareth's power would have probably been annihilated as his power increased.
****
Yusuke and the group stopped suddenly as they felt a burst of energy, it quickly surrounded them like a raging river and was just as relentless. They all cringed under the tremendous power, mostly because of the evil they felt, but the quickly recovered when they felt something sweet, reassuring... pure.
"It has begun," Koenma said when he found his voice.
"Yes," Botan said, "But I am glad that Era's power is at least there or I know I would have been killed!"
"There seems to be some kind of protection offered by her aura," Kurama observed, "If there wasn't, we would all be in a bit of trouble to say the least."
Koenma nodded his head, "Indeed there is, but none the less it would have been better if this battle never took place and Van-Gareth never existed. Unfortunately this is not so."
Hiei looked at Kurama then back to his front to watch where he was running, "The fact that we are some of the strongest demons and, in Yusuke and the idiots place, humans, and we could be easily killed by this... this things aura, is not a soothing thought."
No one said anything in response to Hiei, but they all though the same way.
"We're not far from the battle ground, perhaps an half-hour's run at most," Touya said.
"You can't fight you know Touya," Jin reminded him
"I don't care, if fighting will help Era then I will," Touya said defensibly before running a bit ahead of the group.
"Eh wait, Touya 'old up," Jin called after him as he quickened his own pace so that he could run at his friends side. The wind master noticed all too easily the change in Touya's thoughts, but he would not let his thoughts pass through his lips.
The others followed slightly be hide them, giving them time to think to themselves. They were all deeply concerned for Era's well being and now for Touya's, for he was still too injured to fight without seriously hurting himself. Things were beginning to boil and they did not like it one bit.
"Van-Gareth could wipe out thousands with just his aura," Yukina said sounding scared, "I'm rooting for Era but what happens if she should fail, we'll all be at that monsters mercy."
Kuwabara smiled warmly down at her as they ran, "Don't worry Yukina my love, I, Kazuma Kuwabara, will protect you." He said this with an unwavering voice which held much pride, but deep down he was shivering like a scared child.
"We've come close to Van-Gareth's power before and we had hoped to never come this close again," Rinku said, "But I think helping to save our world is the best thing to do. Especially since it's our world, not Era's anymore."
"I agree, we have to take some responsibility," Chu said, "That bloke will meet his fate."
"We're getting a bit to close for comfort, but we will never find comfort again while he is out there," Suzuka said bitterly.
"You think being a couple of miles away is bad, we've been a few feet away," Yusuke told him, "In fact I came within centimeters of him, he tried to kill me. If it hadn't been for Era I would have died."
"Maybe so Yusuke, but his power was nothing like this," Shishiwakamaru stated, "We would have defiantly felt it if it had, plus you'd probably be dead without him laying a finger on you."
"That's true," Yusuke said in defeat.
Botan thought for a moment, "Koenma sir, if Era and Van-Gareth were to be crystallized again would we be able to awaken her again?"
Koenma didn't look at her, "To tell you the truth Botan, I don't know. We don't know how we woke her before, I'm guessing that she felt that Yusuke was in danger by Van-Gareth and awoke to save him. But I'm not even sure about that." He paused a moment in his speech thinking something over. "Though Botan I don't think that will happen."
Botan let her confusion show in her voice, "What do you mean Koenma sir?"
Koenma sighed, "It was obvious that Era didn't like being stuck in a crystal, asleep for five thousand years. So I would imagine that Van-Gareth felt the same way. This world is completely different from anything they once knew, it too hard for them to understand. If it hadn't been for us, Botan, Era would have been lost and confused. She probably would have gotten herself in great deal of trouble while hunting down Van-Gareth."
Botan looked at Koenma then back at where she was running, Koenma soon continued, "Era wouldn't have been able to get help because she doesn't speak a common language and this world isn't as peaceful as her world had been, before Van-Gareth came around anyway. That alone would leave her stranded and confused. You saw her Botan, she loves life more than anything and she seems like the type that would sacrifice herself to allow life to go on."
"Van-Gareth on the other hand, would not have the same problems as Era, for the most part anyway. He just enjoys killing and no one can get in his way, except for Era, so he wouldn't be as affected as much as her. That's why he doesn't want to be put to sleep again. He can't kill in his sleep and I can bet you that he loves killing sprees more than anything."
"How lovely," Botan said sarcastically, "So, you're saying that they would rather die than sleep again?"
"That's it in a nut shell," Koenma told her
"WELL THAT'S STUPID," Botan yelled in annoyance, "Why in the spirit world do things have to be so difficult?" (Botan doesn't swear so she plugs words in like 'spirit world' or 'flip').
Hearing all this Touya speed his pace up greatly, Jin noticed this quickly, for he started to lag behind Touya and he knew that he himself had not been slowing down. Jin quickened his pace as well so that he was running at Touya's side again.
Yusuke saw the duo quicken their pace and began to complain about it, "Why do they have to run so fast, at this rate we'll be whipped out before we even get there."
"They want to get there as quick as they can to help out," Kurama pointed out, "And we should do the same."
With that said they ran faster to catch up with the quickly fading figures of Jin and Touya.
How were they to know that they were running right into a trap.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's this trap they're running into? Will it endanger Era? Will Van- Gareth be defeated? Will Era survive?
Review to get the next chapter up soon.
Thank you 'Blaze' and 'Revlis' for reviewing.
To all my readers: the tale is being delayed due to lack of reviews. Please review to get faster updates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Chapter 12
Era slowed her pace down to a walk; she had put a good amount of distance between herself and her old home. Van-Gareth would pay for doing what he had, he had killed everyone back there, except for Darien, and now he had the nerve to play on their images; it was like torturing their soul.
As her walk continued she realized that she was nearing the same area where it had all began. The same area in which Van-Gareth and she had fought five thousand years ago, this fact felt very strange to her, it certainly had not felt like it had been that long. Knowing both these facts were far from soothing for her, she knew now that Van-Gareth intended to fight in the same place as last time and that the anger from his last defeat were still lay fresh in his mind.
Images of the battle passed by her eyes and she could see it so clearly, as if it had only happened yesterday. She saw them both fighting harshly. She went over in her mind quickly some of the mistakes both she and her opponent had made; not wanting to make the same ones again. She wanted him defeated and sent far from this world to never return again, even if it meant her own life would be lost in the process.
She soon walked into a small clearing with trees and many other plants around her, no animals were seen and no sounds were heard, the gentle breeze that had been around before had even stopped. Era looked around, searching for any sign of Van-Gareth since his power seemed to originate from somewhere within this small clearing. Most would not be able to find him but this task was easy for Era because she knew what to 'look' for since she had fought him once before.
A moment later she found the source of the power, he was sitting idly in a tree with his eyes closed. He was side ways to her with his legs partly bent, his feet on the branch and his hands behind his head. Of course this is just what he looked like now, for Van-Gareth is a shadow demon so he normally has no distinct form; he just happened to be in the form of a typical male demon's.
Van-Gareth opened his eyes as he felt someone watching him, he also had felt Era's aura when she had first entered the clearing but had paid her no heed. His fiery blood red eyes laid on her before he jumped down. If Era had not known what Van-Gareth really was she may have called him handsome, probably not though. He had taken the form of a boy in his upper teens with bleach blond hair that was sleeked back, much like Yusuke's. His eyes were now a greenish-blue and he had a pleased smile on his pale face. He was wearing black semi baggy pants, a semi baggy black t-shirt and black slipper like shoes.
Van-Gareth took a few steps forward before stopping. He took one look at Era and started laughing, for once his laughter sounded almost human. If looks could torture before killing Era sure had one plastered on her face. When his laughter subsided he spoke in a somewhat dark tone, "Tusen ulalte comenda. Aien benga watuli faria tus," (You've finally come. I've been waiting for you).
"Ai bueta," (I bet) Era said sounding unenthused by this whole thing.
Van-Gareth laughed hideously as he changed into his normal form, now he looked like a black shadow. His 'skin' moved like a flame and his glowing blood red eyes came back. It was obvious that he took great pleasure in seeing her unhappy and agitated.
Shadow demons are a funny thing, they don't have physical forms because they themselves are made of shadow, thus how they received their name. They can have a physical form if they make one for themselves, like Van-Gareth had before, but they don't naturally have one. Even though they don't have a real physical form they can be hurt physically somehow or another, that is why they can be defeated.
Era glared at him before getting into her fighting position. She was turned side ways with one leg in front and one leg behind her, both bent slightly, arms at chest level with fist clenched and her head turned so she was looking at her opponent.
Instead of getting into his own fighting position Van-Gareth looked at Era finding great amusement with her eagerness to get the fighting over with.
The two fighters stared at one another for what seemed like hours but it was only a few minutes. The fighters smirked knowing that their opponent would not give up, this was the final fight, or so they hoped.
In a blink of an eye Van-Gareth was gone; he had disappeared into the shadow with great ease. Era stayed in her place, she just closed her eyes and concentrated. Not a moment later Van-Gareth appeared on her right ready to strike her in the face, but at the same time she swung to her right and blocked his onslaught with her arms. Van-Gareth disappeared into the shadows again and Era followed his movements while running after him.
The strikes at one another continued as they tested each other, looking for new strengths and weakness. Their energies (aura's) flowed freely. The area in which Van-Gareth power once lay was now mixed with Era's power, so the once intense evil feel that surrounded areas miles away from the shadow demon now had a pure essence mixed in. If it had not been for her power being mixed in, the demons that had once been able to live through Van- Gareth's power would have probably been annihilated as his power increased.
****
Yusuke and the group stopped suddenly as they felt a burst of energy, it quickly surrounded them like a raging river and was just as relentless. They all cringed under the tremendous power, mostly because of the evil they felt, but the quickly recovered when they felt something sweet, reassuring... pure.
"It has begun," Koenma said when he found his voice.
"Yes," Botan said, "But I am glad that Era's power is at least there or I know I would have been killed!"
"There seems to be some kind of protection offered by her aura," Kurama observed, "If there wasn't, we would all be in a bit of trouble to say the least."
Koenma nodded his head, "Indeed there is, but none the less it would have been better if this battle never took place and Van-Gareth never existed. Unfortunately this is not so."
Hiei looked at Kurama then back to his front to watch where he was running, "The fact that we are some of the strongest demons and, in Yusuke and the idiots place, humans, and we could be easily killed by this... this things aura, is not a soothing thought."
No one said anything in response to Hiei, but they all though the same way.
"We're not far from the battle ground, perhaps an half-hour's run at most," Touya said.
"You can't fight you know Touya," Jin reminded him
"I don't care, if fighting will help Era then I will," Touya said defensibly before running a bit ahead of the group.
"Eh wait, Touya 'old up," Jin called after him as he quickened his own pace so that he could run at his friends side. The wind master noticed all too easily the change in Touya's thoughts, but he would not let his thoughts pass through his lips.
The others followed slightly be hide them, giving them time to think to themselves. They were all deeply concerned for Era's well being and now for Touya's, for he was still too injured to fight without seriously hurting himself. Things were beginning to boil and they did not like it one bit.
"Van-Gareth could wipe out thousands with just his aura," Yukina said sounding scared, "I'm rooting for Era but what happens if she should fail, we'll all be at that monsters mercy."
Kuwabara smiled warmly down at her as they ran, "Don't worry Yukina my love, I, Kazuma Kuwabara, will protect you." He said this with an unwavering voice which held much pride, but deep down he was shivering like a scared child.
"We've come close to Van-Gareth's power before and we had hoped to never come this close again," Rinku said, "But I think helping to save our world is the best thing to do. Especially since it's our world, not Era's anymore."
"I agree, we have to take some responsibility," Chu said, "That bloke will meet his fate."
"We're getting a bit to close for comfort, but we will never find comfort again while he is out there," Suzuka said bitterly.
"You think being a couple of miles away is bad, we've been a few feet away," Yusuke told him, "In fact I came within centimeters of him, he tried to kill me. If it hadn't been for Era I would have died."
"Maybe so Yusuke, but his power was nothing like this," Shishiwakamaru stated, "We would have defiantly felt it if it had, plus you'd probably be dead without him laying a finger on you."
"That's true," Yusuke said in defeat.
Botan thought for a moment, "Koenma sir, if Era and Van-Gareth were to be crystallized again would we be able to awaken her again?"
Koenma didn't look at her, "To tell you the truth Botan, I don't know. We don't know how we woke her before, I'm guessing that she felt that Yusuke was in danger by Van-Gareth and awoke to save him. But I'm not even sure about that." He paused a moment in his speech thinking something over. "Though Botan I don't think that will happen."
Botan let her confusion show in her voice, "What do you mean Koenma sir?"
Koenma sighed, "It was obvious that Era didn't like being stuck in a crystal, asleep for five thousand years. So I would imagine that Van-Gareth felt the same way. This world is completely different from anything they once knew, it too hard for them to understand. If it hadn't been for us, Botan, Era would have been lost and confused. She probably would have gotten herself in great deal of trouble while hunting down Van-Gareth."
Botan looked at Koenma then back at where she was running, Koenma soon continued, "Era wouldn't have been able to get help because she doesn't speak a common language and this world isn't as peaceful as her world had been, before Van-Gareth came around anyway. That alone would leave her stranded and confused. You saw her Botan, she loves life more than anything and she seems like the type that would sacrifice herself to allow life to go on."
"Van-Gareth on the other hand, would not have the same problems as Era, for the most part anyway. He just enjoys killing and no one can get in his way, except for Era, so he wouldn't be as affected as much as her. That's why he doesn't want to be put to sleep again. He can't kill in his sleep and I can bet you that he loves killing sprees more than anything."
"How lovely," Botan said sarcastically, "So, you're saying that they would rather die than sleep again?"
"That's it in a nut shell," Koenma told her
"WELL THAT'S STUPID," Botan yelled in annoyance, "Why in the spirit world do things have to be so difficult?" (Botan doesn't swear so she plugs words in like 'spirit world' or 'flip').
Hearing all this Touya speed his pace up greatly, Jin noticed this quickly, for he started to lag behind Touya and he knew that he himself had not been slowing down. Jin quickened his pace as well so that he was running at Touya's side again.
Yusuke saw the duo quicken their pace and began to complain about it, "Why do they have to run so fast, at this rate we'll be whipped out before we even get there."
"They want to get there as quick as they can to help out," Kurama pointed out, "And we should do the same."
With that said they ran faster to catch up with the quickly fading figures of Jin and Touya.
How were they to know that they were running right into a trap.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's this trap they're running into? Will it endanger Era? Will Van- Gareth be defeated? Will Era survive?
Review to get the next chapter up soon.