Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-yasha or Ranma. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Last Chapter: Before Kagome could say anything the demon breathed out the name "Tenchi."
Ch 16: Kyouran's Tale & a Key to a Cure Part:2
Kagome's body stiffened and in her head the name kept on repeating. It seemed like an eternity, but it was actually only a minute. Kagome let out a ragged breath, trying to clear her mind until the full impact of the name hit her.
'Tenchi! That's the name of that demon from my dream! The one that drowned in the spring!' Kagome thought frantically. Kagome tried to understand what she was thinking. Something in the back of her mind prevented her from fully understanding what was happening. Kagome thought that she would go insane if it prolonged her comprehension.
Kagome began to take deep breaths, trying to calm down her nerves. That was until the blue haired demon squeezed her gently.
"Daijoubu?" the demon questioned.
By now Kagome had started to shake. Her head was pounding from the information processing through her. Then everything clicked.
'He must think I'm Tenchi! But I don't look anything like her...... The demon! I must've somehow absorbed her spirit when I was in the pond. That would explain the dream. Not only did I get the curse to become a demon but I also got the soul of the one that drowned in the spring.' Kagome thought hypothetically. She pulled away from the blue haired demon to look at him face-to-face.
"I'm not Tenchi. I'm Kagome." Kagome said, pointing to herself.
"I know," the blue haired demon said. "You have her scent mixed with your own. Besides you look absolutely nothing like her. I'm Kyouran, brother of Syouran."
"Nani?!" Kagome said, alarmed, backing away from him. Her eyes showed shock, disbelief, and confusion. "How could you? You're…well…dead."
Kyouran took a deep breath and walked over to a large rock lying beneath a torch. Kagome followed and sat across from him on a smaller rock.
"Are you sure you want to talk right now? Kikyo might be watching....." Kagome left her sentence unfinished.
Kyouran laughed. "The miko? She can't. The Gouka Crystal might let her do nearly everything but the crystal won't allow her to see or hear us."
"How do you know?"
"I'll explain everything from the beginning."
~*~*~*~*~* Flash Back*~*~*~*~*~
It was midnight. The soft glowing moon was a quarter full and the dark blue night sky was decorated with glimmering stars. A cool wind blew by and picked up a few sakura petals that were laid on the cold ground.
Kyouran stood hunched back, hands on his knees to support himself. He was in the middle of a training field, panting from the intense session. Cold sweat dripped down his face, landing on the ground. He had trained non-stop for the pass 3 days, taking only 5 minute breaks every 5 hours. Doing so would increase his stamina and push him closer to the edge of his power.
He heard soft footsteps walking over the fallen sakura petals. He immediately recognized the familiar youki -[demon energy]-. Kyouran let out a ragged almost labored breath.
"What do you want?" he asked in a calm voice.
"Kaze ga fuite imasu, -[The wind is blowing.]-" a voice from the surrounding darkness said.
A female youkai stepped out of the darkness and into the dull moonlight. The low light emitting from the quarter moon illuminated her feminine yet strong features. The demon was dressed in a traditional kimono, the color and design was similar to that of Sesshoumaru's, but instead of the red pattern it was a dark purple, almost black. She had her long silver hair hanging down instead of the usual high ponytail. Her crimson eyes were as vivid as ever, and they looked like red orbs that could pierce through anyone's soul and read their every thought. Her skin looked as pale as ever, but it added to her beauty.
"Kyouran, you should rest for a while. Syouran's worried about your health," the female youkai said gently.
Kyouran only walked to the nearest sakura tree and sat leaning on the trunk.
'Even now the flowers are still falling.' he mused as more petals fell. "Tenchi," he paused, collecting his thoughts. "You know you're like our imooto -[younger sister]-"
"Of course," the female youkai introduced as Tenchi said. She took a seat next to Kyouran under the sakura tree. She turned her gaze from the tree's flowers to gaze upon her foster brother's face. "What's wrong?" she whispered while slowly closing her eyes till they were half opened.
"I still remember the day we met," Kyouran said, turning his sight to the soft glowing moon. He draped an arm around Tenchi's shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Tenchi only nodded, looking at the moon too.
"It was…" Tenchi trailed off, probing around for a word to describe the cause of their meeting, "tragic, nii-sama." She remembered the blood bath. Everyone in the city... she didn't dare remember it. Whenever she did she would get a splitting headache. 'And besides.... out of the wreckage, I met Syoaran and Kyouran, that's something good.'
"I'll be going soon," Kyouran said suddenly out of nowhere.
"Nani!?" Tenchi said, alarmed. "Naze" -[Why]-
Kyouran didn't respond immediately. He just sat there, contemplating his answer. Several minutes passed until he finally answered.
"The curse is taking over. With each day I feel my power draining. The Inu-youkai has taken our crystal for some decades now and without it my bloodline would slowly die," Kyouran paused for a moment, but before he could continue someone interrupted them.
A male youkai with deep brown hair that looked the color of tree bark and crystal blue eyes walked out of the tree's shadows. The light through the branches made patterns of light that danced on his face. He was wearing a fighter's ki with a blue top and white pants. (Like what Kenshin wears but instead of red it's blue) He had fair skin with enough color to not be considered deathly pale.
"What are you proposing to do?" Syoaran asked. He took a seat next to his older brother.
"I want to travel not just in Nihon -[Japan]- but in Chuugoku -[China]- too," Kyouran said, looking at his younger brother.
"Why would you want to go to the place that spawned the jinrui -[human race]-?" questioned his brother.
"Why do you harbor a grudge against the ningen -[human]-?" retorted Kyouran. It was rare for him to lose his temper and control over his tongue.
"Don't you remember what those miko and houshi did to Tenchi-chan?!" Syoaran raised his voice to make a point. Kyouran was about to say something but...
Tenchi interrupted before another fight arose; she couldn't stand 'discussions' about the jinrui.
"Syoaran-kun, it's alright, it was a long time ago," Tenchi said, lowering her head so her bangs covered her eyes.
At this Syoaran stood up. He had a fiery gleam in his blue eyes.
"No, it's not alright," Syoaran said nearly shouting.
Kyouran withheld the urge to roll his eyes. He pulled at Syoaran's sleeve so he would sit back down.
"If Tenchi doesn't want to hold a grudge against them, then don't do it for her. You're just looking for an excuse to hate them," Kyouran scolded. At this his otooto -[younger brother]- sent a death glare at him.
"How can you say that?"
"She doesn't -"
"Can you two stop talking like I'm not here?!" Tenchi said, annoyed. "Listen, Syoaran, don't do anything stupid. If Kyouran is going to do something, he must have a reason." Kyouran smiled at her for getting his little brother to shut up. "I might be the youngest here but I'm not that young that I can't even think for myself. Syoaran..." Tenchi moved so she could hug him.
"Our bloodline originated from there along with the jinrui. I just thought if I go to the Ryuu shrine there would be some indications about the curse," Kyouran explained, looking at both of his younger siblings.
"Then what's with all the training?" asked Syoaran with something that sounded close to mutiny.
"Well, there's no telling what I might meet in Chuugoku, so there's no harm in taking precautions."
"No harm?" asked Tenchi incredulously. "Look at yourself! You haven't slept for 3 days or eaten anything that can be considered a meal either." Though demons don't need food or sleep, they are the quickest way to regain strength and stamina.
At her outburst, Kyouran became silent. He repeated her words over in his head. With a sigh he got up and said, "Let's go back home." Syoaran and Tenchi happily agreed to their nii-sama's request.
-A month Later-
The plans of Kyouran's travel were finally settled. Together Tenchi, Syoaran, and Kyouran would travel together through out Japan. First the trio would travel through the Southern territory, the place where they established their home. Then through the Eastern and Northern Territory and finally through the Western Territory. From there, Kyouran would go alone to the eastern shores of China.
-10 years later in China-
Traveling with Tenchi and Syoaran throughout Japan was a great and enjoyable adventure. They had just said their good-byes the night before Kyouran left for China. And that was about 3 weeks ago. Now Kyouran was already at the shore and heading to the Dragon's Shrine.
The Dragon's Shrine was the temple of the miko who created the Gouka Crystal. Though the shrine originally stood in the Southern parts of Japan, the ryuu youkai sealed it with a spell of some kind so that the shrine would be in China. A temple was built on the grounds where the shrine used to lay, in honor of the miko. (In Ch: 13 I gave hints bout this)
The reason why the ryuu youkai transferred the shrine to China was because it was where the first dragons where born. In some remote part of China there was a large piece of land near the eastern shore, about the size of Mexico that was called the Senkyou No Kasumi -[Enchanted Land of Mist]- (Directly translated, I don't know about Japanese grammar so I'm using English grammar.). Senkyou No Kasumi was the valley where the first dragons used to reside so they thought it was proper to place the miko's remains there.
During the next few years, Kyouran studied scrolls and books that had any mention or hint about the Senkyou No Kasumi. When he finally pieced together the information from 4 books and 3 scrolls, known as Shichi Yooso No Gokuraku -[Seven Elements of Heaven]- (remember this). He made his journey to the shinden -[Sacred Place]-
The valley was surprisingly only a few miles away from the Grounds of the Accursed Springs. Kyouran passed through the Accursed Springs before reaching to the shinden. But there were barriers that protected the ground. Barriers even the red bladed Tetsusaiga can't penetrate.
When Kyouran finally walked up the steps, through the shouji screen door, and into the main part of the building, and there before the ashes of the miko, he...died. (READ AN for explanation)
~*~*~*~*~*End of Flash Back*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome was silent. So many thoughts and questions ran through her head like undirected traffic. Some thoughts and questions even crashed into each other, causing them to erase from her mind.
Kyouran sighed and stood up. He was thinking over his description of the story he just told. 'She'll find out eventually.'
"So... The reason why Syoaran killed Tenchi was because he blamed her for your death. Since he was against you going to China and she was for the idea. That sounds reasonable. Though killing your sibling for that reason doesn't really make sense..." Kagome thought aloud. Something clicked in her head. "Kaede said there was a demon that could cure the curse. Since you were looking for the cure to the curse, which was passed down to me, where can I find a cure?"
Before Kyouran could respond Kagome answered her own question. "You said there were 4 books and 3 scrolls to find the Senkyou No Kasumi, right? So where can I find those? Those things would lead me to the valley and there should be a cure there, right? And if that place does have a cure why did you die?"
"Yes, the demon Kaede spoke of still resides in the Senkyou No Kasumi. There you would be able to find a cure. I died because it was my fate to die, so the seal would be passed to you. One of the scrolls is in my home in the Southern Territory of Japan. The scroll will give you the next location for the Shichi Yooso No Gokuraku," Kyouran responded. Kagome nodded and made sure to memorize every word from his story and his answer.
Suddenly Ranma and Sesshoumaru jumped down into the chamber. Both of them landed in fighting stances, glaring at Kyouran.
"Don't worry. Kyouran," Kagome motioned with her hand to the demon next to her, "found a cure for me. Well not a cure, but clues to the youkai Kaede mentioned."
End of Ch: 16
***
The reason why I didn't put to much description of the Senkyou No Kasumi and Kyouran's death is 'cause you guys will find out later. I want to keep it a secret till then. And I won't be putting the title of the next chapter in my ANs. You can read the status of the next chapter and its title in my Bio.
You can still vote for your favorite pairings! Vote either for Sesshoumaru/Kagome or Ranma/Kagome! type your choice in your review! The contest will still continue for more chapters. I'm not sure when it'll end, but until then each person gets to vote only once.
Sorry for the long updates. And I wanna thank my beta reader Ranma-n-Inuyasha-rock for editing this chapter and the chapters to come. And to my readers, please REVIEW! I need some motivation to write the next chapter.
Last Chapter: Before Kagome could say anything the demon breathed out the name "Tenchi."
Ch 16: Kyouran's Tale & a Key to a Cure Part:2
Kagome's body stiffened and in her head the name kept on repeating. It seemed like an eternity, but it was actually only a minute. Kagome let out a ragged breath, trying to clear her mind until the full impact of the name hit her.
'Tenchi! That's the name of that demon from my dream! The one that drowned in the spring!' Kagome thought frantically. Kagome tried to understand what she was thinking. Something in the back of her mind prevented her from fully understanding what was happening. Kagome thought that she would go insane if it prolonged her comprehension.
Kagome began to take deep breaths, trying to calm down her nerves. That was until the blue haired demon squeezed her gently.
"Daijoubu?" the demon questioned.
By now Kagome had started to shake. Her head was pounding from the information processing through her. Then everything clicked.
'He must think I'm Tenchi! But I don't look anything like her...... The demon! I must've somehow absorbed her spirit when I was in the pond. That would explain the dream. Not only did I get the curse to become a demon but I also got the soul of the one that drowned in the spring.' Kagome thought hypothetically. She pulled away from the blue haired demon to look at him face-to-face.
"I'm not Tenchi. I'm Kagome." Kagome said, pointing to herself.
"I know," the blue haired demon said. "You have her scent mixed with your own. Besides you look absolutely nothing like her. I'm Kyouran, brother of Syouran."
"Nani?!" Kagome said, alarmed, backing away from him. Her eyes showed shock, disbelief, and confusion. "How could you? You're…well…dead."
Kyouran took a deep breath and walked over to a large rock lying beneath a torch. Kagome followed and sat across from him on a smaller rock.
"Are you sure you want to talk right now? Kikyo might be watching....." Kagome left her sentence unfinished.
Kyouran laughed. "The miko? She can't. The Gouka Crystal might let her do nearly everything but the crystal won't allow her to see or hear us."
"How do you know?"
"I'll explain everything from the beginning."
~*~*~*~*~* Flash Back*~*~*~*~*~
It was midnight. The soft glowing moon was a quarter full and the dark blue night sky was decorated with glimmering stars. A cool wind blew by and picked up a few sakura petals that were laid on the cold ground.
Kyouran stood hunched back, hands on his knees to support himself. He was in the middle of a training field, panting from the intense session. Cold sweat dripped down his face, landing on the ground. He had trained non-stop for the pass 3 days, taking only 5 minute breaks every 5 hours. Doing so would increase his stamina and push him closer to the edge of his power.
He heard soft footsteps walking over the fallen sakura petals. He immediately recognized the familiar youki -[demon energy]-. Kyouran let out a ragged almost labored breath.
"What do you want?" he asked in a calm voice.
"Kaze ga fuite imasu, -[The wind is blowing.]-" a voice from the surrounding darkness said.
A female youkai stepped out of the darkness and into the dull moonlight. The low light emitting from the quarter moon illuminated her feminine yet strong features. The demon was dressed in a traditional kimono, the color and design was similar to that of Sesshoumaru's, but instead of the red pattern it was a dark purple, almost black. She had her long silver hair hanging down instead of the usual high ponytail. Her crimson eyes were as vivid as ever, and they looked like red orbs that could pierce through anyone's soul and read their every thought. Her skin looked as pale as ever, but it added to her beauty.
"Kyouran, you should rest for a while. Syouran's worried about your health," the female youkai said gently.
Kyouran only walked to the nearest sakura tree and sat leaning on the trunk.
'Even now the flowers are still falling.' he mused as more petals fell. "Tenchi," he paused, collecting his thoughts. "You know you're like our imooto -[younger sister]-"
"Of course," the female youkai introduced as Tenchi said. She took a seat next to Kyouran under the sakura tree. She turned her gaze from the tree's flowers to gaze upon her foster brother's face. "What's wrong?" she whispered while slowly closing her eyes till they were half opened.
"I still remember the day we met," Kyouran said, turning his sight to the soft glowing moon. He draped an arm around Tenchi's shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Tenchi only nodded, looking at the moon too.
"It was…" Tenchi trailed off, probing around for a word to describe the cause of their meeting, "tragic, nii-sama." She remembered the blood bath. Everyone in the city... she didn't dare remember it. Whenever she did she would get a splitting headache. 'And besides.... out of the wreckage, I met Syoaran and Kyouran, that's something good.'
"I'll be going soon," Kyouran said suddenly out of nowhere.
"Nani!?" Tenchi said, alarmed. "Naze" -[Why]-
Kyouran didn't respond immediately. He just sat there, contemplating his answer. Several minutes passed until he finally answered.
"The curse is taking over. With each day I feel my power draining. The Inu-youkai has taken our crystal for some decades now and without it my bloodline would slowly die," Kyouran paused for a moment, but before he could continue someone interrupted them.
A male youkai with deep brown hair that looked the color of tree bark and crystal blue eyes walked out of the tree's shadows. The light through the branches made patterns of light that danced on his face. He was wearing a fighter's ki with a blue top and white pants. (Like what Kenshin wears but instead of red it's blue) He had fair skin with enough color to not be considered deathly pale.
"What are you proposing to do?" Syoaran asked. He took a seat next to his older brother.
"I want to travel not just in Nihon -[Japan]- but in Chuugoku -[China]- too," Kyouran said, looking at his younger brother.
"Why would you want to go to the place that spawned the jinrui -[human race]-?" questioned his brother.
"Why do you harbor a grudge against the ningen -[human]-?" retorted Kyouran. It was rare for him to lose his temper and control over his tongue.
"Don't you remember what those miko and houshi did to Tenchi-chan?!" Syoaran raised his voice to make a point. Kyouran was about to say something but...
Tenchi interrupted before another fight arose; she couldn't stand 'discussions' about the jinrui.
"Syoaran-kun, it's alright, it was a long time ago," Tenchi said, lowering her head so her bangs covered her eyes.
At this Syoaran stood up. He had a fiery gleam in his blue eyes.
"No, it's not alright," Syoaran said nearly shouting.
Kyouran withheld the urge to roll his eyes. He pulled at Syoaran's sleeve so he would sit back down.
"If Tenchi doesn't want to hold a grudge against them, then don't do it for her. You're just looking for an excuse to hate them," Kyouran scolded. At this his otooto -[younger brother]- sent a death glare at him.
"How can you say that?"
"She doesn't -"
"Can you two stop talking like I'm not here?!" Tenchi said, annoyed. "Listen, Syoaran, don't do anything stupid. If Kyouran is going to do something, he must have a reason." Kyouran smiled at her for getting his little brother to shut up. "I might be the youngest here but I'm not that young that I can't even think for myself. Syoaran..." Tenchi moved so she could hug him.
"Our bloodline originated from there along with the jinrui. I just thought if I go to the Ryuu shrine there would be some indications about the curse," Kyouran explained, looking at both of his younger siblings.
"Then what's with all the training?" asked Syoaran with something that sounded close to mutiny.
"Well, there's no telling what I might meet in Chuugoku, so there's no harm in taking precautions."
"No harm?" asked Tenchi incredulously. "Look at yourself! You haven't slept for 3 days or eaten anything that can be considered a meal either." Though demons don't need food or sleep, they are the quickest way to regain strength and stamina.
At her outburst, Kyouran became silent. He repeated her words over in his head. With a sigh he got up and said, "Let's go back home." Syoaran and Tenchi happily agreed to their nii-sama's request.
-A month Later-
The plans of Kyouran's travel were finally settled. Together Tenchi, Syoaran, and Kyouran would travel together through out Japan. First the trio would travel through the Southern territory, the place where they established their home. Then through the Eastern and Northern Territory and finally through the Western Territory. From there, Kyouran would go alone to the eastern shores of China.
-10 years later in China-
Traveling with Tenchi and Syoaran throughout Japan was a great and enjoyable adventure. They had just said their good-byes the night before Kyouran left for China. And that was about 3 weeks ago. Now Kyouran was already at the shore and heading to the Dragon's Shrine.
The Dragon's Shrine was the temple of the miko who created the Gouka Crystal. Though the shrine originally stood in the Southern parts of Japan, the ryuu youkai sealed it with a spell of some kind so that the shrine would be in China. A temple was built on the grounds where the shrine used to lay, in honor of the miko. (In Ch: 13 I gave hints bout this)
The reason why the ryuu youkai transferred the shrine to China was because it was where the first dragons where born. In some remote part of China there was a large piece of land near the eastern shore, about the size of Mexico that was called the Senkyou No Kasumi -[Enchanted Land of Mist]- (Directly translated, I don't know about Japanese grammar so I'm using English grammar.). Senkyou No Kasumi was the valley where the first dragons used to reside so they thought it was proper to place the miko's remains there.
During the next few years, Kyouran studied scrolls and books that had any mention or hint about the Senkyou No Kasumi. When he finally pieced together the information from 4 books and 3 scrolls, known as Shichi Yooso No Gokuraku -[Seven Elements of Heaven]- (remember this). He made his journey to the shinden -[Sacred Place]-
The valley was surprisingly only a few miles away from the Grounds of the Accursed Springs. Kyouran passed through the Accursed Springs before reaching to the shinden. But there were barriers that protected the ground. Barriers even the red bladed Tetsusaiga can't penetrate.
When Kyouran finally walked up the steps, through the shouji screen door, and into the main part of the building, and there before the ashes of the miko, he...died. (READ AN for explanation)
~*~*~*~*~*End of Flash Back*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome was silent. So many thoughts and questions ran through her head like undirected traffic. Some thoughts and questions even crashed into each other, causing them to erase from her mind.
Kyouran sighed and stood up. He was thinking over his description of the story he just told. 'She'll find out eventually.'
"So... The reason why Syoaran killed Tenchi was because he blamed her for your death. Since he was against you going to China and she was for the idea. That sounds reasonable. Though killing your sibling for that reason doesn't really make sense..." Kagome thought aloud. Something clicked in her head. "Kaede said there was a demon that could cure the curse. Since you were looking for the cure to the curse, which was passed down to me, where can I find a cure?"
Before Kyouran could respond Kagome answered her own question. "You said there were 4 books and 3 scrolls to find the Senkyou No Kasumi, right? So where can I find those? Those things would lead me to the valley and there should be a cure there, right? And if that place does have a cure why did you die?"
"Yes, the demon Kaede spoke of still resides in the Senkyou No Kasumi. There you would be able to find a cure. I died because it was my fate to die, so the seal would be passed to you. One of the scrolls is in my home in the Southern Territory of Japan. The scroll will give you the next location for the Shichi Yooso No Gokuraku," Kyouran responded. Kagome nodded and made sure to memorize every word from his story and his answer.
Suddenly Ranma and Sesshoumaru jumped down into the chamber. Both of them landed in fighting stances, glaring at Kyouran.
"Don't worry. Kyouran," Kagome motioned with her hand to the demon next to her, "found a cure for me. Well not a cure, but clues to the youkai Kaede mentioned."
End of Ch: 16
***
The reason why I didn't put to much description of the Senkyou No Kasumi and Kyouran's death is 'cause you guys will find out later. I want to keep it a secret till then. And I won't be putting the title of the next chapter in my ANs. You can read the status of the next chapter and its title in my Bio.
You can still vote for your favorite pairings! Vote either for Sesshoumaru/Kagome or Ranma/Kagome! type your choice in your review! The contest will still continue for more chapters. I'm not sure when it'll end, but until then each person gets to vote only once.
Sorry for the long updates. And I wanna thank my beta reader Ranma-n-Inuyasha-rock for editing this chapter and the chapters to come. And to my readers, please REVIEW! I need some motivation to write the next chapter.
