Well, I'd like to mention another person…Mai-ly-chan and her fanfic, Pure Souls. It reminds me somewhat of Densetsu no Kagami, with a few major differences. She's also borrowed Kia (renamed Hiketsu) for it. It's funny…Touya's a really strange training master. O.o
Oh, and Lobo-chan sent me the two cutest poems! I give her props, my poetry pretty much sucks. ^^;;
Kelsey: the mirror half of strength.
The power from within.
She'll get you out of any jam you're in.
She'll twist about and sing a song
With a time warp here and there.
But for her rightous fury,
Enemies beware.
Kia: the mirror half of compassion.
The power from her love.
She gets that love from her friends
And from the stars above.
And when it comes to helping her friends
She really can't be beat.
But don't you dare sneak up on her
Or she'll hit you with her cookie sheet.
^^ I feel so loved. And yes, Osore FINALLY shows up in this chapter, so all of you will know who she is if you got her in the personality quiz.
A shout-out to Lexi-chan, who seems a little sad. I hope this cheers you up! In fact…I hope this helps with all the depressed readers out there. Heck, I'M depressed. So let's stop being depressed, because it's depressing! Whoo! Okay, last chapter, Kia headed off for Makai…Kurama read a note she'd left behind, and it was very sentimental. ^^;; And now one of our favorite Mirror Holders is on her own…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Once upon a time when I was just a kid,
You never let me do just what the older kids did…"
Kia's quiet voice was barely audible over the muffling thickness of the fog and the musical symphony of the night crickets. A black cat stalking through the night paused, tail switching as it listened to the girl's song.
"'Cause Momma, I'm a big girl n--" The Mirror Holder suddenly stopped in her tracks, ears picking up faint footsteps in the oppressive mist. As she halted, the footsteps faltered, then stopped as well.
"Who's there?" Kia demanded. Silence greeted her inquiry, and then the girl felt something soft drift past her. Instinctively, her hand shot out and caught hold of something. She tugged.
"OW! Stop that!!"
Kia blinked, taking a step back and not letting go. "Show yourself," she stated sharply, with a calmness that she definitely didn't feel.
There was an audible snort from her captive. "Aren't WE Miss High-and-Mighty Ningen?"
A young woman appeared out of the fog, tendrils entwining around her form. She had cool azure eyes and stood about five or six inches taller than Kia's five feet and six inches. Her glossy strands of raven hair trailed to her shoulders, tapering off at different lengths. Two ebon fox ears were laid back, blending in effortlessly with her hair. And Kia realized what she was holding. A bushy fox tail, also black. Guiltily, she dropped it.
"You…you're a Youko!"
"Youko Osore, second cousin to Youko Kurama. But how would a NINGEN know about youkos?" The woman eyed her distrustfully, flicking her tail behind her.
Kia was silent for a moment, thinking hard. Osore…Kelsey had mentioned that name in her dream…but why?
"I'm waiting, ningen…" Osore crossed her arms. "Who are you?"
The girl sighed resignedly. "My name is Satsukiame, otherwise known as--"
"The Mirror Holder of Compassion!" Osore exclaimed, her blue eyes widening slightly. She took a few steps back, away from the other. "You don't LOOK as powerful as the stories describe you to be, but…please don't hurt me! I've never done anything to you!"
Kia winced. She hated this sort of reaction, as if they considered her a leper or something. "I'm not going to hurt you. In fact…" She paused, then pushed herself on. "I need your help."
"MY help??" The Youko squeaked. "Why? HOW?"
"Well, for starters, do you have any powers?"
"Um…" She thought about it for a moment. "A few plant powers, nothing as strong as Kurama's or Kohana's. I specialize mostly in illusions and portals to the past."
The pieces fell into place. Hadn't Kelsey said "It's in Makai and it's not"? So it was possible that the Mirror Half was in Makai…in the PAST. It wasn't definite, but something inside told her that it was the only logical place. She didn't have any other options. And then something else clicked. Something Ashita had said.
"If I could, I'd protect you…but the past cannot be changed and feelings cannot be spared."
Had she known? Had she known that Kelsey would lose her Mirror Half and Kia would be left alone? What else would happen? But the last part…"…the past cannot be changed"… there were too many coincidences. She'd have to risk it.
"Osore, could you open up a portal to Makai of the past? As a demonstration?"
Osore glanced at the girl wonderingly. She had an odd look on her face…as if she were about to do something very stupid, and knew it. "I guess so…how far back?"
Good question. What if she got the wrong time period? But then, without explanation, she knew. She was almost seventeen, and if she went back…"Eighteen years ago."
The Youko shrugged, feeling distinctly uneasy. She suppressed the feeling, dismissing it as silly, and concentrated. Her slender hands began to glow faintly blue. Once the glow had strengthened, she sketched a complex design in front of her, mumbling something in an unfamiliar tongue. The image brightened, then grew to Osore's height.
"Now, these things are DANGEROUS," the kitsune informed Kia. "It's taxing and if you're not strong enough, it can kill you." Good thing this was only a demonstration…right?
Kia studied the portal, then turned to Osore. "You mentioned a name I don't know…Kohana?"
"Only one of the most powerful hanyous in Makai!" came the enthusiastic reply. "I never met her, but Kurama used to tell me about her when I was just a kit. Her reiki was really strong and--Hey, stop!!"
I owe you one, Kohana, Kia said silently as she leapt into the portal. You made a great distraction, whoever you are.
"Wait!!" Osore cried, panicked, as the girl disappeared. "Satsukiame, it's too dangerous--" She jumped back as a large black dog came barreling past, jumping into the portal as well. After a moment's hesitation, the Youko followed.
Upon entering the portal, Kia was instantly assaulted on all sides. Daggers of light rained down from above, and a strong demonic wind battered at her senses, threatening to tear her apart. She screamed, but it was lost in the roar of the malevolent force.
"…Kuso…" The girl closed her eyes tightly, calling on her spirit energy. A pale blue light formed around her, silver sparks racing across it. Inside the enclosure, the pain was slightly diminished…but she wouldn't be able to maintain it for too long.
*Get on my back, Wind Singer.*
"I thought it was 'skydancer'…" Kia smiled at the imperious black horse hovering in front of her, not at all bothered by her energy. "Hello, Meikyou."
*MUST you make my job so hard?* The equine flew closer and Kia pulled herself up onto his strong back. *Now hang on and dissolve your shield. You're wasting your energy.*
"You're a father, aren't you…" The girl released her hold on the barrier and it gave a flicker and vanished. As the wind returned with a single-minded vengeance, she clutched Meikyou's mane weakly, hunching down over his back. The stallion snorted, wings flares against this onslaught of light and color.
*Hang on,* he repeated, whinnying his defiance. The wind wouldn't get the Mirror Holder…not while HE was here to protect her! *We're almost there.*
Kia could only hope so.
***At Suzuki's House***
Kelsey moaned suddenly, straining against her covers, and a thin voice issued from her dry mouth.
"Kia…be… care…" She gave a small sigh, and her head fell back against the pillow.
Shishiwakamaru bit his lip, looking worried. "She looks horrible…"
"She's linked to Kia now," Touya realized. "Her survival depends on that of her friend."
The samurai didn't seem too thrilled to hear that. "So we're basically depending on the weaker Mirror Holder."
"She's NOT weaker!" Jin interjected, glaring at him. "She's just as strong as yer girl, so--"
"In any case, Kia is Kelsey's only hope," Touya said quickly, before things went downhill. "Like it or not, Shishi, you're going to have to place your faith in her."
Kurama looked up from his book. "She'll have a valuable ally. I believe Kage went with her."
Shishiwakamaru stared at him oddly. "A girl and a DOG?"
"A Mirror Holder and a spiritual guide," the Youko corrected. "They'll be all right." If only he felt as certain as he'd sounded…
***Somewhere in past Makai…***
An alien scent filled his nostrils as he patrolled the area. It was unusual…ningen, with a trace of youkai, and then a whole mass of reiki and an ancient power. The last two were hidden, but he wasn't fooled. A second later, he caught sight of the source.
A bedraggled ebon stallion was nuzzling a battered brown-haired girl who was standing unsteadily, braced against his side. At the first glance, they appeared to be relatively normal…but then he noticed the stallion had glossy feathered appendages, one half-folded, and the other curved protectively around his human companion. But WAS she actually human? She was the source of that strange power, he could tell.
Kia, feeling somebody's gaze on her, looked up. Warm brown eyes met cold golden ones. Very slowly, with a feeling of growing dread, she allowed her eyes to wander up until they rested on his pale fox ears and his silvery-white tresses. She cringed. "Meikyou--"
*The Mirror Half is here,* the horse assured her. *Your intuition was correct. Why do you look so upset?*
"I forgot one teensy aspect," the girl replied, somewhat shakily. "I forgot about Youko Kurama." Sure, the Mirror Half was here, but how was she supposed to get past Kurama? He didn't look too friendly as he slowly approached them.
Meikyou laid his ears flat and bared his teeth, pawing menacingly at the ground. *If he comes too close, I will kick him.*
Kia didn't respond. The Youko was getting closer, and she was all out of ideas.
"…Holy HELL."
*OOC*
Poor Kia! All she wanted was to save her friend! Can she get past Kurama or is she doomed to death by her future friend? Please review! NEXT chapter!
* Kurama attacks! Uh-oh…
* Meikyou steps in just before the Youko kills Kia. Can he explain things without screwing everything up?
* Youko Kurama takes Kia to Yuumei. A few surprises. ^^
Oh, and Lobo-chan sent me the two cutest poems! I give her props, my poetry pretty much sucks. ^^;;
Kelsey: the mirror half of strength.
The power from within.
She'll get you out of any jam you're in.
She'll twist about and sing a song
With a time warp here and there.
But for her rightous fury,
Enemies beware.
Kia: the mirror half of compassion.
The power from her love.
She gets that love from her friends
And from the stars above.
And when it comes to helping her friends
She really can't be beat.
But don't you dare sneak up on her
Or she'll hit you with her cookie sheet.
^^ I feel so loved. And yes, Osore FINALLY shows up in this chapter, so all of you will know who she is if you got her in the personality quiz.
A shout-out to Lexi-chan, who seems a little sad. I hope this cheers you up! In fact…I hope this helps with all the depressed readers out there. Heck, I'M depressed. So let's stop being depressed, because it's depressing! Whoo! Okay, last chapter, Kia headed off for Makai…Kurama read a note she'd left behind, and it was very sentimental. ^^;; And now one of our favorite Mirror Holders is on her own…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Once upon a time when I was just a kid,
You never let me do just what the older kids did…"
Kia's quiet voice was barely audible over the muffling thickness of the fog and the musical symphony of the night crickets. A black cat stalking through the night paused, tail switching as it listened to the girl's song.
"'Cause Momma, I'm a big girl n--" The Mirror Holder suddenly stopped in her tracks, ears picking up faint footsteps in the oppressive mist. As she halted, the footsteps faltered, then stopped as well.
"Who's there?" Kia demanded. Silence greeted her inquiry, and then the girl felt something soft drift past her. Instinctively, her hand shot out and caught hold of something. She tugged.
"OW! Stop that!!"
Kia blinked, taking a step back and not letting go. "Show yourself," she stated sharply, with a calmness that she definitely didn't feel.
There was an audible snort from her captive. "Aren't WE Miss High-and-Mighty Ningen?"
A young woman appeared out of the fog, tendrils entwining around her form. She had cool azure eyes and stood about five or six inches taller than Kia's five feet and six inches. Her glossy strands of raven hair trailed to her shoulders, tapering off at different lengths. Two ebon fox ears were laid back, blending in effortlessly with her hair. And Kia realized what she was holding. A bushy fox tail, also black. Guiltily, she dropped it.
"You…you're a Youko!"
"Youko Osore, second cousin to Youko Kurama. But how would a NINGEN know about youkos?" The woman eyed her distrustfully, flicking her tail behind her.
Kia was silent for a moment, thinking hard. Osore…Kelsey had mentioned that name in her dream…but why?
"I'm waiting, ningen…" Osore crossed her arms. "Who are you?"
The girl sighed resignedly. "My name is Satsukiame, otherwise known as--"
"The Mirror Holder of Compassion!" Osore exclaimed, her blue eyes widening slightly. She took a few steps back, away from the other. "You don't LOOK as powerful as the stories describe you to be, but…please don't hurt me! I've never done anything to you!"
Kia winced. She hated this sort of reaction, as if they considered her a leper or something. "I'm not going to hurt you. In fact…" She paused, then pushed herself on. "I need your help."
"MY help??" The Youko squeaked. "Why? HOW?"
"Well, for starters, do you have any powers?"
"Um…" She thought about it for a moment. "A few plant powers, nothing as strong as Kurama's or Kohana's. I specialize mostly in illusions and portals to the past."
The pieces fell into place. Hadn't Kelsey said "It's in Makai and it's not"? So it was possible that the Mirror Half was in Makai…in the PAST. It wasn't definite, but something inside told her that it was the only logical place. She didn't have any other options. And then something else clicked. Something Ashita had said.
"If I could, I'd protect you…but the past cannot be changed and feelings cannot be spared."
Had she known? Had she known that Kelsey would lose her Mirror Half and Kia would be left alone? What else would happen? But the last part…"…the past cannot be changed"… there were too many coincidences. She'd have to risk it.
"Osore, could you open up a portal to Makai of the past? As a demonstration?"
Osore glanced at the girl wonderingly. She had an odd look on her face…as if she were about to do something very stupid, and knew it. "I guess so…how far back?"
Good question. What if she got the wrong time period? But then, without explanation, she knew. She was almost seventeen, and if she went back…"Eighteen years ago."
The Youko shrugged, feeling distinctly uneasy. She suppressed the feeling, dismissing it as silly, and concentrated. Her slender hands began to glow faintly blue. Once the glow had strengthened, she sketched a complex design in front of her, mumbling something in an unfamiliar tongue. The image brightened, then grew to Osore's height.
"Now, these things are DANGEROUS," the kitsune informed Kia. "It's taxing and if you're not strong enough, it can kill you." Good thing this was only a demonstration…right?
Kia studied the portal, then turned to Osore. "You mentioned a name I don't know…Kohana?"
"Only one of the most powerful hanyous in Makai!" came the enthusiastic reply. "I never met her, but Kurama used to tell me about her when I was just a kit. Her reiki was really strong and--Hey, stop!!"
I owe you one, Kohana, Kia said silently as she leapt into the portal. You made a great distraction, whoever you are.
"Wait!!" Osore cried, panicked, as the girl disappeared. "Satsukiame, it's too dangerous--" She jumped back as a large black dog came barreling past, jumping into the portal as well. After a moment's hesitation, the Youko followed.
Upon entering the portal, Kia was instantly assaulted on all sides. Daggers of light rained down from above, and a strong demonic wind battered at her senses, threatening to tear her apart. She screamed, but it was lost in the roar of the malevolent force.
"…Kuso…" The girl closed her eyes tightly, calling on her spirit energy. A pale blue light formed around her, silver sparks racing across it. Inside the enclosure, the pain was slightly diminished…but she wouldn't be able to maintain it for too long.
*Get on my back, Wind Singer.*
"I thought it was 'skydancer'…" Kia smiled at the imperious black horse hovering in front of her, not at all bothered by her energy. "Hello, Meikyou."
*MUST you make my job so hard?* The equine flew closer and Kia pulled herself up onto his strong back. *Now hang on and dissolve your shield. You're wasting your energy.*
"You're a father, aren't you…" The girl released her hold on the barrier and it gave a flicker and vanished. As the wind returned with a single-minded vengeance, she clutched Meikyou's mane weakly, hunching down over his back. The stallion snorted, wings flares against this onslaught of light and color.
*Hang on,* he repeated, whinnying his defiance. The wind wouldn't get the Mirror Holder…not while HE was here to protect her! *We're almost there.*
Kia could only hope so.
***At Suzuki's House***
Kelsey moaned suddenly, straining against her covers, and a thin voice issued from her dry mouth.
"Kia…be… care…" She gave a small sigh, and her head fell back against the pillow.
Shishiwakamaru bit his lip, looking worried. "She looks horrible…"
"She's linked to Kia now," Touya realized. "Her survival depends on that of her friend."
The samurai didn't seem too thrilled to hear that. "So we're basically depending on the weaker Mirror Holder."
"She's NOT weaker!" Jin interjected, glaring at him. "She's just as strong as yer girl, so--"
"In any case, Kia is Kelsey's only hope," Touya said quickly, before things went downhill. "Like it or not, Shishi, you're going to have to place your faith in her."
Kurama looked up from his book. "She'll have a valuable ally. I believe Kage went with her."
Shishiwakamaru stared at him oddly. "A girl and a DOG?"
"A Mirror Holder and a spiritual guide," the Youko corrected. "They'll be all right." If only he felt as certain as he'd sounded…
***Somewhere in past Makai…***
An alien scent filled his nostrils as he patrolled the area. It was unusual…ningen, with a trace of youkai, and then a whole mass of reiki and an ancient power. The last two were hidden, but he wasn't fooled. A second later, he caught sight of the source.
A bedraggled ebon stallion was nuzzling a battered brown-haired girl who was standing unsteadily, braced against his side. At the first glance, they appeared to be relatively normal…but then he noticed the stallion had glossy feathered appendages, one half-folded, and the other curved protectively around his human companion. But WAS she actually human? She was the source of that strange power, he could tell.
Kia, feeling somebody's gaze on her, looked up. Warm brown eyes met cold golden ones. Very slowly, with a feeling of growing dread, she allowed her eyes to wander up until they rested on his pale fox ears and his silvery-white tresses. She cringed. "Meikyou--"
*The Mirror Half is here,* the horse assured her. *Your intuition was correct. Why do you look so upset?*
"I forgot one teensy aspect," the girl replied, somewhat shakily. "I forgot about Youko Kurama." Sure, the Mirror Half was here, but how was she supposed to get past Kurama? He didn't look too friendly as he slowly approached them.
Meikyou laid his ears flat and bared his teeth, pawing menacingly at the ground. *If he comes too close, I will kick him.*
Kia didn't respond. The Youko was getting closer, and she was all out of ideas.
"…Holy HELL."
*OOC*
Poor Kia! All she wanted was to save her friend! Can she get past Kurama or is she doomed to death by her future friend? Please review! NEXT chapter!
* Kurama attacks! Uh-oh…
* Meikyou steps in just before the Youko kills Kia. Can he explain things without screwing everything up?
* Youko Kurama takes Kia to Yuumei. A few surprises. ^^