You've made it! This chapter is where the real story, as I imagined it, begins. In fact, I wrote this chapter first, but couldn't explain the backstory, so I wrote pre-chapters, and then had to completely change this chapter to match the backstory. Ugh!
I wanted to write up to this point before posting anything so that I could go back and change details. With any luck, it's a stronger piece because of that.
Review, pretty please! Also, check out my AU Inu-fic, "The Council". I promise lots of Sesshomeru yumminess. (I can't believe I just said that).
Ch 9: Spider's Web
Koichira stirred restlessly in her sleep. In an instant, she was completely alert, with a lingering feeling of unease. There was someone-- or something-- just outside her range, tugging at her senses.
The waxing gibbous moon cast the meadow and forest surrounding the cabin into sharp relief. Every leaf, every blade of grass had its own hard-edged shadow. Koichira could almost taste the new grass pushing up through earth damp from the dew, the tall cedar that sheltered the hut under its spreading branches, and a hare curled up in its burrow. A whooshing sound heralded the approach of a breeze. It rustled the treetops before ruffling the tall grass in waves. Koichira shivered: on the breeze was a scent that raised the fine hairs on the back of her neck. She recognized the scent of yokai but there was also the cloying sweetness of rotting meat. A scavenger demon?
Not a true threat, but still-- suspicion nagged at her. Why would a scavenger demon, who haunted battlefields and villages ravaged by sickness, come so deep into the forest? A scavenger demon was too weak to steal the jewel shards or threaten the village, so she tried to relax. Her muscles remained knotted and adrenaline pumped through her blood. She felt only the hint of demonic power, but even that was too strong for ten scavenger demons.
The wind shifted, and Koichira was overwhelmed by the nauseating scent of rotten human flesh. She could hear Takayuki stir within the cabin. If the scent was strong enough to wake him, its source must be close.
In the brilliant moon, it was difficult to catch movement within the forest's shadows. Figures materialized, standing even with the last row of trees. They did not step foot within the meadow, but stood as silent sentinels. The sunken eyes of the corpses stared at Koichira.
"Takayuki-sama!" she called softly. She heard him stand and approach. His eyes were dark with worry, but even in the bleaching moonlight she could see that there was more color in his cheeks then there had been that afternoon. The meal and rest had somewhat restored him.
"Koichira? Is something wrong?" He gasped audibly when he saw the corpses. "What . . .?"
"They're puppets, not true zombies. That means the puppet master should be nearby."
They were startled by another speaker. "You wish to see me?" The velvety voice was laughing. Out of the shadows came the speaker, wearing the skin of a white baboon. On either side of him were his servants: a young woman with severe features holding a red fan, and a girl with flowing white hair, clutching a mirror to her chest.
Koichira was on her feet instantly and automatically prepared her power. The three had slipped past both her wards and her alert senses. It was definitely the same scent as before: spider webs and shed snakeskin. Koichira's lip curled into a snarl. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
"It is customary to introduce yourself first, girl, before asking for names."
"I am Quickfire." Koichira spat the words. "This is my power." She raised her hands and sent out twin jets of fire to incinerate each of the corpses in turn. She was finished in less than twenty seconds.
"I see," said the man in the baboon pelt. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness. These are my daughters, Kagura of the wind and Kanna of the mirror." Kagura inclined her head in a mocking half-bow. Kanna remained blank and motionless. "I am Naraku. I have come, naturally, for the shards of the Shikon jewel. Give them to me."
Koichira hissed, "I couldn't if I wanted to."
"Very well," Naraku said, "Kill them, Kagura."
"Wind shards!" Kagura smirked as Koichira grabbed Takayuki around the waist and rolled so that the blades barely missed them. The wind attack sliced into the hut's support posts and brought down the roof.
"Takayuki-sama, I need you to run away."
"But . . ."
"Dammit, I can't fight while I'm protecting you." Too late; three tornadoes danced from the end of Kagura's fan. They would be impossible to dodge.
Takayuki said, "I'm not completely helpless, you know." The shimmering blue dome he raised around them thwarted the wind demon's attack.
"Nicely done," Koichira admitted. "Drop it, NOW." Startled, the monk complied just in time; a fireball erupted from the fire demon's hands and streaked towards Naraku.
Kanna stepped forward as if in a trance. Koichira realized, to her discomfort, that she couldn't sense the child-demon's power at all. Kanna raised her mirror just as the fireball struck. The attack reflected and soared back to strike its master, who shielded the monk with her own body. For an instant, the fire demon was surrounded by a tower of flame.
Concentrating, Koichira channeled the power of the flames licking over her skin through her hands and down into the soil. The heat acted like a directional shock wave in the earth that exploded beneath Naraku and his incarnations. Only Naraku's miasma shield saved them. He growled something at Kanna, who dropped her empty eyes obediently. Again, zombies entered the clearing from all directions, carrying pitchforks and scythes. The fire demon raised her hand with a snort. Had they already forgotten how easily she had reduced the last round to ash?
Her hand stopped, mid-gesture, and her face twisted with revulsion a moment before Takayuki grabbed her elbow. "Koichira, stop, you mustn't! They're--"
"I know," she murmured, her bile rising. Koichira felt hatred growing inside her towards that abomination Naraku. Advancing from every direction were rows and rows of villagers. Although they moved like the marionettes she had burned before, this group was still alive. "Alive," Koichira thought grimly, "but soulless."
Already, the empty shells were close enough for Koichira and Takayuki to recognize their faces. That old man's kneecap had been shattered by a fall; without Takayuki's healing he would have never walked again. The woman carrying a scythe that was too heavy for her was Misa, the woman whose son Koichira had found earlier that day. The boy himself carried a shovel and stared forward without a glimmer of consciousness in his eyes. Koichira choked when she recognized Itsuko and his younger brother Yota, whose face was slack and emotionless. Both of their souls were stolen.
Koichira surveyed the group grimly. "Houshi-sama, I have to--"
"No." The unequivocal answer was barely more than a whisper. Then his voice rose, guttural but determined. "No. I won't let you kill them. All we have to do is destroy the mirror, and I'm sure they will be released."
Koichira turned to look at the mirror, and saw traces of the souls trapped inside trying to escape. "How can we break the mirror, if all attacks are reflected?"
"The Suzaku technique. The mirror allows souls to enter, so a soul attack should work." Standing close beside her, Takayuki heard the breath catch in her throat and could almost taste the cold sweat beaded on her brow. "Please, Koichira. I need your help."
Dropping her eyes, Koichira nodded. She focused her attention and power inward, then leapt out. The golden bird beat her wings three times, climbing until she was level with the treetops, before diving at her enemies. Kanna raised her mirror. The phoenix struck the surface, then penetrated into the void beneath the reflection. The three demons were stunned. Naraku demanded, "Kanna? Why didn't the attack reflect?"
The little girl shook her head, confused. Suddenly she stiffened and out of her throat came the phoenix's cry. The bird's scream filled the void and caused the mirror to vibrate violently. Unable to stand the noise and vibrations invading her being, Kanna released the seal on the mirror.
The souls of the villagers floated out of the mirror, resembling small glowing white lights. Last, the golden bird burst out, triumphant. At the sight of Naraku, the phoenix attacked fiercely with beak and talons, tearing at the other demon. Beneath the baboon pelt, a strange metamorphosis took place. Tentacles emerged and struck at the great bird, but they passed through her insubstantial body. She grabbed in her beak a small wooden doll and wrenched it from the demon's body, which turned immediately to earth.
In a swirl of miasma, the demon puppet was gone, replaced by the true Naraku. The strength of the miasma's poison alone was proof that his power surpassed that of any of his puppets or incarnations. The golden bird beat her wings desperately to climb above the poisonous fumes, but one of her legs was grabbed by an instantly-created tentacle. As it was dragged back down, the phoenix turned on its attacker, plunging her beak deep into the body and through his very heart. Although insubstantial, the golden bird could strike at the demon's very soul.
The phoenix tried to fly away, only to learn that it had been captured. Naraku's substance flowed like a liquid to surround the soul-bird and incorporate her powers into Naraku. Weakened first by the mirror and then further by the poisonous miasma, the phoenix couldn't escape. Darkness closed over her; she was buried alive inside the demonic monster.
Takayuki watched in horror while holding tight to Koichira's abandoned body. "This is my fault," he whispered into her ear. "But don't worry. I swear on my vow as a monk that I will protect you!" He said a silent prayer to Buddha for this to work and concentrated on filling her shell with all of his healing energy. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he refused to stop.
Inside the wriggling mass that was Naraku, the golden phoenix began to glow with a blue aura. The healing power drove back Naraku's ravenous flesh and gave the soul-bird enough strength to break free.
Koichira awoke feeling refreshed and peaceful. She could feel Takayuki's arms around her, and she opened her eyes to see his smile. His voice was strained when he said, "I've done all that I can, Koichira . . ." He began to cough into his sleeve, leaving a red stain on the inside of the elbow. Koichira sat up quickly and caught him around the shoulders, supporting his body while the coughing fit continued. It was much worse than it had been before.
Koichira raised her voice to ask Naraku, "What did you do to him?"
From beneath the baboon mask, the monster laughed. "I? He killed himself when he rescued your phoenix. He doesn't have long to live, now. Perhaps I'll make a puppet of his corpse."
Holding the monk close to her chest, Koichira could feel the coughing tearing apart his body, even as she heard the rattling of his dying lungs. How many more breaths could he take? Twenty? Thirty? Koichira knew he wouldn't live out the hour. Clenching her jaw, she made her decision. "Domo arigato, Takayuki-sama." She cradled his head tenderly and snapped his neck with a sudden twist. As the still-warm body burst into flames and was incinerated to fine ash, she whispered, "Gomen nasai."
Naraku called, "Bravo. I'm truly impressed, Quickfire, I didn't think you had it in you. I thought you'd hold his hand until the end, then weep piteously. But to snap his neck like that . . . I've seen cats who show more care killing mice."
"The merciful blade is not new to me, or to you. After all, we are both demons of chaos, ne?" Koichira stood straight and tall; her eyes were dry. "Attack. What are you waiting for?"