Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: I'm writing this Kikyo/Kaiba fic on my own, since my brother is a Kikyo hater. This oneshot came from an idea of a 'what if' scenario once, and I've built on it. The events can have taken place anytime between 'Seeds of Chaos' and 'Chaos Scare' (or maybe after both, hehe).
P. S. This is a repost. Rated for a future chapter.
Dangerous Games
Part One:
Dangerous Fascination
Setto Kaiba's limo pulled up to the Sunset Shrine late one night. As the teen millionaire exied the vehicle, and climbed the stairs, he started to reconsider his choice. Not too long ago, he'd followed Kagome Higurashi, Yugi Mutou, and the rest of their motley crew down a hidden well, and fought a great battle with a demon named Naraku- at least, one of him. They'd destroyed the older version of the creature, while the younger still roamed the lands of the Feudal Era- and he'd been fascinated by the ancient world ever since. But unfortunately, Kagome refused to let him follow her or anyone else down the well. She feared that he would use the well's secret for his own personal gain.
She was partially right.
By now, Setto was inside the mini shrine that housed the forbidden Bone Eater's Well. Legend said it contained a creature that ate the bones of dead monsters. He now knew the truth of it… as well as how to use the time portal's powers. He reached inside his long coat, and pulled out the Millennium Rod from it's place on concealment. Then, Setto Kaiba braced himself, got up on the ledge of the well, and jumped in.
-------------------------------------------
Kaiba pulled himself from the well using the rope ladder that the other time travelers had made. AS he sat on the edge of the rope ladder, he looked about the forest. He cursed.
"Without that stupid miko or Yugi, I can't find the village. I want to talk to that old woman Keade." he said to himself as he pondered on which direction to go.
When he was here last, and he met the old priestess named Keade. She'd seemed like a senile old fool when Kaiba had first met her. His impression didn't change. But she did say something to him once that ad intrigued him. It was when she was telling him the story of The Shikon Jewel, and of Inu-yasha's past.
"My sister Kikyo had the power to purify the Jewel," Keade had said, "and of all the many beings that came to steal it, Inu-yasha was the strangest of all. I was only a girl, but I saw how my sister and Inu-yasha were. They had a great love for each other that was unlike anything I'd seen. They seemed like kindred spirits; rejected or feared for their differences, and drawn to one another because of those same differences. Then, the wounded bandit, Onigumo, became Naraku and tricked them both into betraying one another. After Kikyo shot Inu-yasha with her sacred arrow, she died, and took the Jewel with her. Now, she has been reborn into Kagome, and come back."
"Rubbish," Setto had said after the old woman told her story. "I don't believe in reincarnation."
"Even though ye are one yourself, Sorcerer?" Keade had asked.
"I still don't believe any of that nonsense. I will admit that I can use this Millennium Item," he'd said, gesturing to the Rod, "But that is because I am strong."
"You are a fool, and a stubborn one at that," Keade had said. "You think you have real power over that Item? I have seen King Yami with his Puzzle. He accepts who he is and was, and therefore has great power. Even the young man, Joey, is more powerful than ye, for he also accepts his destiny. Only when you admit that there are things in this world that are not easily explained, then, and only then, will you know the full power that runs in your blood. I see it bursting to get out of ye, yet ye hold it back. I pity ye, Sorcerer Kaiba." Then, she had walked up to give stew to soldiers.
Now that Setto had had time to think, he wanted to know more. He still didn't believe in reincarnation, but he had opened up his mind to the possibilities of forces that could not be explained. As he turned to his left, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned, and saw lights in the forest. Bright white lights. He looked up, and saw more of these lights in the sky. They definitely weren't stars. They were moving. Heading for an unknown place with in the woods. He had to see where they were going. Had to know. He turned to the right, and ran into the deep, dark woods.
He ran through the trees, his coat snagging on branches and brush every other minute. Yet he raced on, following the mysterious lights. Finally, he came to a place in the forest where the lights were brightest. He shielded his eye from the lights' intensity, and saw that the lights came from white orbs that were carried by long, white creatures. They were snake like, and yet also had fins like fish. And they had six twisted arms that held the white orbs.
Theses snake-fish creatures went forward to a tree, and tossed the white orbs into the branches. Setto Kaiba squinted his eyes, and saw that laying in the trees was a woman. His heart stopped. His eyes widened.
She looked exactly like Kagome. It was impossible.
Setto stepped forward, and the snake-fish creatures scattered. The woman opened her eyes, and stared at him. Her lovely face twisted into anger.
"Who are you?" she demanded. She arose from her nest of tree limbs. She wore the garments of a priestess. Her black hair flowed like a dark river in the wind. "How were you able to break my barrier?"
"What barrier?" Setto asked. "I only followed lights into the woods."
"Who are you?" the woman asked again in her husky voice. " You have the aura of a powerful being… yet you seem too young for your power."
"Hm," Kaiba said, "More psychic garbage? Before I tell you who I am," he said, coming towards her, making her step away, "Why don't you give me your name?"
She looked him over, from head to toe. She was considering something about him. She smiled. It was a beautiful smile- quite an alluring one- yet it made his blood run cold.
"You are a sorcerer," she sated. "And from your manner of dress… Are you from the age of Kagome and King Yam?" she asked.
"You might say that," Setto said, stepping forward again. "You can call me Kaiba if you want. Now, what are you called."
"Many things," she said. "A soul eater. A witch. A phantom. The latter is most correct. But if it is my name you desire to know," she said, now stepping up to him- only inches from him- and looking into his eyes with her mesmerizing brown ones, "I am… Kikyo."
He jumped. How could that be?! She was dead!
------------------------------------------------
Kaiba jumped where he stood. Kikyo smiled again. She guessed that he would have heard of her.
"You're lying," Kaiba said. "Kikyo's dead!"
"I am dead," she said, delighted in frightening this sorcerer. "I died over 50 years ago. But a witch took the ashes and dirt from my brave and made a clay body for me."
"But…" he said, stuttering, losing his calm demeanor and composure, "But that's impossible. Even if you were a clone you'd need a… a…"
A soul," Kikyo said. She laughed. "Oh, but I do. It is not complete, but I have one. You see, Sorcerer Kaiba," he winced at the name, "I was already born into the girl called Kagome. But a part of her spirit, the bitterness and hatred that I'd built for my former lover, Inu-yasha, was left in me. Now I wander this earth."
"This is all impossible," Kaiba said. "Why do these creatures come to you?"
"They are soul gathering demons," she said low, "They bring me the souls of dead maidens to keep me alive… Yes, that is what they are. You did not know, did you?" she asked.
As she did all she could to shock and frighten this man, she wondered why she even bothered. She usually would have run from such people. But this one was fascinating. Not only did he break through her shielding barrier, but he also seemed compelling… magnetic. She enjoyed looking at his eyes as they widened with shock and fear. They were an interesting color… like ice…
She would keep him. Unlike the beautiful, kind Nanashi she'd met before- the warrior who followed King Yami- she had no qualms about taking this man. Nanashi had been good to her. He'd shown her kindness and mercy and happiness… Nanashi- Joey- been her friend. This man, Kaiba, could not be such a person but… her body yearned for a long forgotten touch. And this one was handsome. It was not love that compelled this feeling. This was more beast like.. More sensational… More carnal. She lifted her hands up beside his face, and began her spell.
---------------------------------------------------
Setto looked at this woman. He couldn't understand it… he was afraid… afraid of her. Yet… he also didn't want to run from her. He wanted to know about this woman, but also didn't want her anywhere near him.
Stop this lunacy, his rational self said. This woman… She's just a pretty face with a broken mind. She was insane. Yet another part of him started to feel like he was being swept under water… or like he was intoxicated… yes, intoxicated by this beautiful, willowy woman and her talk… He closed his eyes… he let his head begin to drop…
But from the depths of his mind, he saw two faces that he could not banish, like he had his rational thoughts. One was his brother. His kid brother, the only person left in the world with him who'd cared about him, even in his worst moments.
Then, she saw, and heard, Serenity's face. Serenity Wheeler- his sweet Serenity- who'd shown him the meaning of compassion and pity and… love…First he heard her sweet laugh. Then, her face went serious… She was crying. Then she spoke.
"Setto," Serenity said. "Setto, please, open your eyes. Open your eyes! If you don't… If you don't accept who you are, she'll steal your soul!"
Setto's eyes shot open. As he looked at Kikyo, it was like a veil had been lifted from his eyes. He saw who she really was now. Yes, she did look like Kagome, but she also had the shroud of the grave on her. She had both her hands up near his face. Setto reached up a hand, much quicker than he thought he could, he grabbed her wrist.
As he felt her icy flesh, two things happened.
His hand erupted in flames.
Kikyo shrieked.
The dead priestess wrenched herself away from him, stuck out her hand, and repelled him from her. He landed several feet from the phantom woman. She held up her tattered sleeve, and looked at her arm. It was whole except that…
Except that she had a burn mark in the shape of Kaiba's hand on her wrist.
He'd done that… He'd done it! How had he done that?
She looked at him, her eyes burning with rage and fear. She stood up, and held her unburned arm up. The soul collectors encircled her and began to lift her up.
"I know not what you are, Sorcerer," she sneered, "But I promise you, you will pay for this!"
Kaiba looked up at the retreating woman as she fled in the light of the rising sun. He looked at his hand. It hjad been on fire only moments before, yet now it looked normal. Had he really done that? Had her truly used some power within him to break Kikyo's hold on him? As he pondered this, he remembered what Serenity's image had said. He remembered what Keade, and even Kikyo had said. Then, he knew.
Yes. Yes, he had done it. He had called up the powers of his ancient self- the power hidden deep inside him- to save his life.
As he turned back to the well, he didn't know if it was the after affects of her spell, but… He still felt a strange fascination with this woman. He would learn more one day.
--------------------------------------------
"That is three men whom I have lost," Kikyo said to herself. As she fled from the frightening Sorcerer. "And three times I have been rejected. True, I did not love him, as I do Inu-yasha and Nanashi… but I would have liked to have known some form of companionship… even for a small measure of time." As the warm rays of the sun caressed her cold face, she began to cry. Would she always be so alone…?
To Be Continued
AN: Please review.
AN: I'm writing this Kikyo/Kaiba fic on my own, since my brother is a Kikyo hater. This oneshot came from an idea of a 'what if' scenario once, and I've built on it. The events can have taken place anytime between 'Seeds of Chaos' and 'Chaos Scare' (or maybe after both, hehe).
P. S. This is a repost. Rated for a future chapter.
Dangerous Games
Part One:
Dangerous Fascination
Setto Kaiba's limo pulled up to the Sunset Shrine late one night. As the teen millionaire exied the vehicle, and climbed the stairs, he started to reconsider his choice. Not too long ago, he'd followed Kagome Higurashi, Yugi Mutou, and the rest of their motley crew down a hidden well, and fought a great battle with a demon named Naraku- at least, one of him. They'd destroyed the older version of the creature, while the younger still roamed the lands of the Feudal Era- and he'd been fascinated by the ancient world ever since. But unfortunately, Kagome refused to let him follow her or anyone else down the well. She feared that he would use the well's secret for his own personal gain.
She was partially right.
By now, Setto was inside the mini shrine that housed the forbidden Bone Eater's Well. Legend said it contained a creature that ate the bones of dead monsters. He now knew the truth of it… as well as how to use the time portal's powers. He reached inside his long coat, and pulled out the Millennium Rod from it's place on concealment. Then, Setto Kaiba braced himself, got up on the ledge of the well, and jumped in.
-------------------------------------------
Kaiba pulled himself from the well using the rope ladder that the other time travelers had made. AS he sat on the edge of the rope ladder, he looked about the forest. He cursed.
"Without that stupid miko or Yugi, I can't find the village. I want to talk to that old woman Keade." he said to himself as he pondered on which direction to go.
When he was here last, and he met the old priestess named Keade. She'd seemed like a senile old fool when Kaiba had first met her. His impression didn't change. But she did say something to him once that ad intrigued him. It was when she was telling him the story of The Shikon Jewel, and of Inu-yasha's past.
"My sister Kikyo had the power to purify the Jewel," Keade had said, "and of all the many beings that came to steal it, Inu-yasha was the strangest of all. I was only a girl, but I saw how my sister and Inu-yasha were. They had a great love for each other that was unlike anything I'd seen. They seemed like kindred spirits; rejected or feared for their differences, and drawn to one another because of those same differences. Then, the wounded bandit, Onigumo, became Naraku and tricked them both into betraying one another. After Kikyo shot Inu-yasha with her sacred arrow, she died, and took the Jewel with her. Now, she has been reborn into Kagome, and come back."
"Rubbish," Setto had said after the old woman told her story. "I don't believe in reincarnation."
"Even though ye are one yourself, Sorcerer?" Keade had asked.
"I still don't believe any of that nonsense. I will admit that I can use this Millennium Item," he'd said, gesturing to the Rod, "But that is because I am strong."
"You are a fool, and a stubborn one at that," Keade had said. "You think you have real power over that Item? I have seen King Yami with his Puzzle. He accepts who he is and was, and therefore has great power. Even the young man, Joey, is more powerful than ye, for he also accepts his destiny. Only when you admit that there are things in this world that are not easily explained, then, and only then, will you know the full power that runs in your blood. I see it bursting to get out of ye, yet ye hold it back. I pity ye, Sorcerer Kaiba." Then, she had walked up to give stew to soldiers.
Now that Setto had had time to think, he wanted to know more. He still didn't believe in reincarnation, but he had opened up his mind to the possibilities of forces that could not be explained. As he turned to his left, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned, and saw lights in the forest. Bright white lights. He looked up, and saw more of these lights in the sky. They definitely weren't stars. They were moving. Heading for an unknown place with in the woods. He had to see where they were going. Had to know. He turned to the right, and ran into the deep, dark woods.
He ran through the trees, his coat snagging on branches and brush every other minute. Yet he raced on, following the mysterious lights. Finally, he came to a place in the forest where the lights were brightest. He shielded his eye from the lights' intensity, and saw that the lights came from white orbs that were carried by long, white creatures. They were snake like, and yet also had fins like fish. And they had six twisted arms that held the white orbs.
Theses snake-fish creatures went forward to a tree, and tossed the white orbs into the branches. Setto Kaiba squinted his eyes, and saw that laying in the trees was a woman. His heart stopped. His eyes widened.
She looked exactly like Kagome. It was impossible.
Setto stepped forward, and the snake-fish creatures scattered. The woman opened her eyes, and stared at him. Her lovely face twisted into anger.
"Who are you?" she demanded. She arose from her nest of tree limbs. She wore the garments of a priestess. Her black hair flowed like a dark river in the wind. "How were you able to break my barrier?"
"What barrier?" Setto asked. "I only followed lights into the woods."
"Who are you?" the woman asked again in her husky voice. " You have the aura of a powerful being… yet you seem too young for your power."
"Hm," Kaiba said, "More psychic garbage? Before I tell you who I am," he said, coming towards her, making her step away, "Why don't you give me your name?"
She looked him over, from head to toe. She was considering something about him. She smiled. It was a beautiful smile- quite an alluring one- yet it made his blood run cold.
"You are a sorcerer," she sated. "And from your manner of dress… Are you from the age of Kagome and King Yam?" she asked.
"You might say that," Setto said, stepping forward again. "You can call me Kaiba if you want. Now, what are you called."
"Many things," she said. "A soul eater. A witch. A phantom. The latter is most correct. But if it is my name you desire to know," she said, now stepping up to him- only inches from him- and looking into his eyes with her mesmerizing brown ones, "I am… Kikyo."
He jumped. How could that be?! She was dead!
------------------------------------------------
Kaiba jumped where he stood. Kikyo smiled again. She guessed that he would have heard of her.
"You're lying," Kaiba said. "Kikyo's dead!"
"I am dead," she said, delighted in frightening this sorcerer. "I died over 50 years ago. But a witch took the ashes and dirt from my brave and made a clay body for me."
"But…" he said, stuttering, losing his calm demeanor and composure, "But that's impossible. Even if you were a clone you'd need a… a…"
A soul," Kikyo said. She laughed. "Oh, but I do. It is not complete, but I have one. You see, Sorcerer Kaiba," he winced at the name, "I was already born into the girl called Kagome. But a part of her spirit, the bitterness and hatred that I'd built for my former lover, Inu-yasha, was left in me. Now I wander this earth."
"This is all impossible," Kaiba said. "Why do these creatures come to you?"
"They are soul gathering demons," she said low, "They bring me the souls of dead maidens to keep me alive… Yes, that is what they are. You did not know, did you?" she asked.
As she did all she could to shock and frighten this man, she wondered why she even bothered. She usually would have run from such people. But this one was fascinating. Not only did he break through her shielding barrier, but he also seemed compelling… magnetic. She enjoyed looking at his eyes as they widened with shock and fear. They were an interesting color… like ice…
She would keep him. Unlike the beautiful, kind Nanashi she'd met before- the warrior who followed King Yami- she had no qualms about taking this man. Nanashi had been good to her. He'd shown her kindness and mercy and happiness… Nanashi- Joey- been her friend. This man, Kaiba, could not be such a person but… her body yearned for a long forgotten touch. And this one was handsome. It was not love that compelled this feeling. This was more beast like.. More sensational… More carnal. She lifted her hands up beside his face, and began her spell.
---------------------------------------------------
Setto looked at this woman. He couldn't understand it… he was afraid… afraid of her. Yet… he also didn't want to run from her. He wanted to know about this woman, but also didn't want her anywhere near him.
Stop this lunacy, his rational self said. This woman… She's just a pretty face with a broken mind. She was insane. Yet another part of him started to feel like he was being swept under water… or like he was intoxicated… yes, intoxicated by this beautiful, willowy woman and her talk… He closed his eyes… he let his head begin to drop…
But from the depths of his mind, he saw two faces that he could not banish, like he had his rational thoughts. One was his brother. His kid brother, the only person left in the world with him who'd cared about him, even in his worst moments.
Then, she saw, and heard, Serenity's face. Serenity Wheeler- his sweet Serenity- who'd shown him the meaning of compassion and pity and… love…First he heard her sweet laugh. Then, her face went serious… She was crying. Then she spoke.
"Setto," Serenity said. "Setto, please, open your eyes. Open your eyes! If you don't… If you don't accept who you are, she'll steal your soul!"
Setto's eyes shot open. As he looked at Kikyo, it was like a veil had been lifted from his eyes. He saw who she really was now. Yes, she did look like Kagome, but she also had the shroud of the grave on her. She had both her hands up near his face. Setto reached up a hand, much quicker than he thought he could, he grabbed her wrist.
As he felt her icy flesh, two things happened.
His hand erupted in flames.
Kikyo shrieked.
The dead priestess wrenched herself away from him, stuck out her hand, and repelled him from her. He landed several feet from the phantom woman. She held up her tattered sleeve, and looked at her arm. It was whole except that…
Except that she had a burn mark in the shape of Kaiba's hand on her wrist.
He'd done that… He'd done it! How had he done that?
She looked at him, her eyes burning with rage and fear. She stood up, and held her unburned arm up. The soul collectors encircled her and began to lift her up.
"I know not what you are, Sorcerer," she sneered, "But I promise you, you will pay for this!"
Kaiba looked up at the retreating woman as she fled in the light of the rising sun. He looked at his hand. It hjad been on fire only moments before, yet now it looked normal. Had he really done that? Had her truly used some power within him to break Kikyo's hold on him? As he pondered this, he remembered what Serenity's image had said. He remembered what Keade, and even Kikyo had said. Then, he knew.
Yes. Yes, he had done it. He had called up the powers of his ancient self- the power hidden deep inside him- to save his life.
As he turned back to the well, he didn't know if it was the after affects of her spell, but… He still felt a strange fascination with this woman. He would learn more one day.
--------------------------------------------
"That is three men whom I have lost," Kikyo said to herself. As she fled from the frightening Sorcerer. "And three times I have been rejected. True, I did not love him, as I do Inu-yasha and Nanashi… but I would have liked to have known some form of companionship… even for a small measure of time." As the warm rays of the sun caressed her cold face, she began to cry. Would she always be so alone…?
To Be Continued
AN: Please review.