Tears of Amethyst
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own this lovely piece of anime! (cries)
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They stared ahead of them in wonder. They had arrived at the gate only a few moments ago and excitement was mounting. But then their hopes were dashed. The gate was closed and Hiei couldn't understand the writing. Botan narrowed her eyes and decided to see what the problem was.
"Let me take a look. I remember a little from before I was trapped." He nodded and pointed to the writing.
"It seems.. odd." He mumbled as he shook his head and walked away. Youko walked over and silently observed her. Then her eyes went blank and began glowing blue. She was saying what the words meant, he realized.
"Light is powerful, Darkness is all-consuming, Goddesses and Gods have only the powers to open this ancient gate under the full moon. You must be willing to sacrifice your lives in passing. What lies beyond is worse than thy own fears. Enter at your own risk and beware." Yuusuke and the others stared as the glow faded and she fell back, into Youko's arms.
"I don't like the sound of that." Yuusuke said, staring at the foreboding gates looming up before them.
"What did they mean by the Gods and Goddesses?" Kuwabara asked. Hiei snorted.
"Did you not listen? Only they have the powers to open this thing." The koorime stared intently at them.
"Do you mean to say that we're stuck here?" Akuro asked, frowning.
"We will find out soon enough." Hiei's eyes went over Botan and Youko.
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Botan blinked and opened her eyes. All was silent and the moon was full and hazy, positioned right above the gate. It towered high and they couldn't jump over it or fly over it because she could see a force field. Was it keeping something out or keeping something in?
I only hope we have the power to open it. Wait.. My powers rival the Goddesses and Gods. Maybe I am needed to open them under this moon.
"Everyone! Wake up!" She felt a little drained but pushed that aside, excitement flooding her voice. They woke up and looked at her, blinking. "Time to open the gate." She stood up and looked down at the ground. She closed her eyes and used a little of her powers. The ground began to shake and rise beneath her feet. They watched as the platform stopped half-way. She was in the light of the silver moon. She began glowing, ancient words of magic coming from her mouth as she raised her hands and formed a ball of blue above her head. It changed shape and began to look like a key of some sort. She continued the ancient chant and lost herself as the magic took over her entire body. Pain clouded her senses but she continued with the chant, knowing that if she stopped, she would die and they would never get through. "Bring the Darkness to my body, let the all-consuming power consume my soul! The Key of Light to the Gate of Darkness! Let the powers rage forth and open the way! I command by the powers of the gods and goddesses.. The Gate will open under the moon that is full! I command you, OPEN!" The last word echoed and brought forth raging winds and earthquakes. Botan stood firm on the trembling platform as she moved her hands forward. She felt her body tremble and quake with unknown emotion and the loss of power. But she continued forth. The key flew at the door and they heard a loud click before the ground began shaking more. The gate creaked and groaned as it swung open. Botan knew that she had to close it also.. Then Yuusuke pointed and they saw, as the wind whipped and tore at their bodies, that a ball of black was forming on the other side. It flew at Botan and she opened her mouth in a silent scream..
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Keiko and a few other people who were smart enough to stay with Genkai sat in a tiny room. Monsters, or demons, raged in battles outside. Tears appeared in her eyes. Had something happened to Yuusuke? She pulled her knees closer to her chest and rested her head on top.
Why does something like this always happen? What if.. What if he's dead? Would we ever know?
"Keiko." She looked up at Genkai let a few of her tears slide down her face. "I can sense a great power. It is most overwhelming. Yuusuke must be with that girl. I can sense him. Do not worry. He will be fine. He's got more dumb luck than anyone I know." That brought a smile to the young girl's face as she closed her eyes.
"I feel that he is safe wherever he is.. But.."
"I can understand your worry for him, dear. Try to focus on the objectives here, though. That dimwit can handle himself." She looked at the door when someone slipped through.
"That has to be the most powerful person ever created." Shizuru closed her eyes and slid down the door. "I can sense her power.. Something is happening. Something big."
"Do you think they are all right?" Keiko asked, worry in her expression. Shizuru nodded.
"They're fine. But the fight is only beginning."
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Botan felt tears coarse down her face as the dark ball of power engulfed her body. Hiei and the others held Youko back as he let out distress howls. He snapped and snarled at them but they watched the young girl in the air with intensity.
What the hell is going on? I never expected this.. I never even expected to meet someone as powerful as her but how the hell will she survive that?
Yuusuke's eyes narrowed. Then a flash made them all fall back and look away. Everything went still but they were afraid to move a muscle. Finally, Youko opened his amber orbs and felt surprise and confusion leap all over him. Botan stood before the open gate, black wings gently moving from the new breeze. They were gorgeous and faded to a light gray before the ends and the tips curled slightly inward and intricate lines spread from the beginning. They were more like butterfly than angel. Or maybe an Angel of Darkness. Everyone else finally looked and their expressions mirrored his own. Botan turned to look at them and her amethyst eyes looked a shade darker. Intricate black markings covered her face. Her forehead had a black star on it and three slender black streaks ran to the middle of her cheeks on both sides and five black streaks appeared in her hair. Her face.. She looked so different. And her attire had changed. She was now wearing a black dress that went down to the ground. There were two openings; one on each side of her waist and, over her chest rested a cut that resembled the star on her forehead. She also wore black boots that went to her knees.
"The gate has been opened. The fight begins here." Her voice was low and velvety but it held emotionlessness that none of them liked. "Come, we must get moving before the worlds suffer more."
"Botan..?" Youko choked out, not believing the scene his eyes were taking in.
"Yes, Youko. It is me. I have acquired, forever, a new power." She smiled like the old Botan and he felt his heart ease. "Come. We have to close it behind us." They nodded and got together, passing through.
XxXxX
Youko couldn't take his eyes from her. She was even more beautiful than before, if that was at all possible. But she seemed so different.
"I have gained the knowledge of the Wise Ones who created the gate. I know this land now." She said softly to Hiei as she walked beside him. "We are going the right way, I believe. And the communicator map says that we have gained miles and that we are at least three days from the next army camp."
"That says something, then. We are making progress." The koorime said with a frown.
"I hope Keiko and Ningenkai are all right." Yuusuke flipped open the communicator. "How about we find out what's going on there?"
"Maybe it would help to see how much time we really have." Akuro stated with a smile. There were a few rings before someone picked up.
"Hello?" Keiko's voice was slightly shaky and Yuusuke grew more concerned about what might be happening to her.
"Keiko, are you okay?" There was a pause on the other end.
"Y-Yuusuke?"
"Yeah, it's me." He said softly. "What's going on? Are you hurt?"
"No." She said quietly and he relaxed. "But you have to hurry. I don't know how long we'll hold off here without you. Genkai-sama is doing all she can and we have Shizuru here. She says that she can sense an even greater power with you.."
"That's all Botan." He said with a grin at them. "She just got us through the most important part of the mission. We're on our way to an enemy camp now."
"Oh." She whispered. "What are you going to do there?"
"Infiltrate it, of course." He responded. "We have to get to them before they get to us and before they destroy the three worlds."
"Good luck. Oh, Genkai-sama wants to speak with you." The phone was handed to his mentor.
"Hey, ya old fossil. How do you like the progress we're making?"
"Dimwit." She said calmly. "You had better hurry. I don't know how long it will take them to destroy this world. I can tell that the city will need to be rebuilt and I can sense that they are trying to find their way to Reikai."
"Botan says that we're three days from the camp."
"Botan?"
"Yeah, the girl you told me that legend about. She just got us past the.. what was it called again?"
"Gate of Darkness." Botan said, smiling.
"Yeah, that's it. The Gate of Darkness." Genkai nearly dropped the phone but recovered quickly.
"Then you have entered the most dangerous territory known to me." She said softly. "Be careful, Yuusuke."
"We have Botan, Youko, Hiei, and a new girl called Akuro. We'll be fine." He said in a light tone. "And we made it through that weird desert without much of a problem."
"I hope so." She handed the phone back to Keiko who held it to her ear with a look of concern on her face.
"You'd better come back or I'll never forgive you." Yuusuke smiled.
"I will. I promise." He hung up and sighed. "Well, the old bag says that they're trying to get to Reikai. And the damage is pretty bad already in Ningenkai."
"Then we must hurry. We will only stop to rest if it is necessary." Hiei said, scowling.
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They were forced to stop during the next night. It was too dark and there was no moon in the sky. So far, no enemy dared to go near them because they sensed Botan's power.
"They're smart to stay away." Kuwabara said, taking a drink of his water. "They'd just get themselves killed." Botan was staring into the darkness, her back to the fire. She wasn't in the little circle of travelers that surrounded the burning light. She had sat further away. Youko was watching her closely, his amber eyes taking in the way she acted. She was calm.
"Hmph." Hiei muttered, his crimson eyes taking in all that surrounded him. "The darkness is so thick not even my eyes can see through it."
"What are we going to do?" Akuro asked, bringing her legs to her chest. "There is no way we're getting through here this easily. Even if they do sense her power, they must know what we're after."
"The demons here do not care about such things." The koorime said, his gaze on the human woman. "What they care about is only a good meal." Kuwabara shuddered.
"I don't like this place. It creeps me out and gives me the tickle feeling." He said to Yuusuke, who sat beside him.
"Well, there isn't anything we can do about it now." The Spirit Detective was growing weary and he didn't want to wait anymore.
What is out there that is so horrible? I have this feeling in my stomach and I am not liking it.
His eyes fell on Botan. And suddenly, he knew.
"Botan.." She stood up and turned towards them. "What is it?"
"Demons."
"What are you talking about?" Kuwabara asked.
"They are coming to get me." She whispered. But everyone heard it. She turned and threw a barrier around them. "Hurry up and get ready to fight!" The demons screeched in protest when they hit the barrier. Some died almost instantly and this caused others to stand back until she lost the power to hold it. Youko pulled a rose from his hair and tranformed it into his whip. Hiei was ready with his katana and Akuro had her bow and arrows out. Kuwabara powered up his Spirit Sword.
"Ready!" Botan dropped the shield and the demons flew at them in numbers unimaginable. She spread her feet apart and growled low in her throat. Youko stood near her, not taking the risk of separating himself from her. She formed a black ball of energy and launched it at them, smirking when it expanded and wiped out more than she originally thought it would. This battle wouldn't be so hard..
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That's all that I'm writing for this chapter! =) So, tell me.. how did you like it? Please review!