Author's Note: I realize that this chapter is very short...but the way I broke it up it just ended up short. I hope you liked it.
"Lady?" Sayo watched nervously as Midoriko hooked on her armor. "Are…are you sure about this? Is it really wise to leave the village now?"
"Sayo, if I stay they will want to fight. We must get away from here and pick our own battleground."
"But…but…don't you want them to fight you? They can help!"
"No." The priestess's voice was hard. "They don't know how to deal with what is coming, and neither do you." Tears spilled down Sayo's cheeks.
"I don't want to stay here."
"I know." Midoriko stood and placed an arm carefully around Sayo's shoulder so her armor didn't hurt the girl. "But you will do more good here than anywhere else. They will be in great need of a priestess." Sayo nodded and wiped at her eyes.
"I have faith in you, Midoriko." She left quietly, and once they were too far away to be heard Kila transformed to take them to the skies.
"Stay alert, Kila. They'll be here soon." The cat purred, and Midoriko rubbed her neck. "You became my friend very quickly, and I am grateful for it. You will live, Kila. Have children and watch them grow. Promise me that." Kila raised her head so Midoriko could bury her in face in the soft fur. "Thank you." The moment was broken when several growls sounded, and Kila and Midoriko both shivered. "I know, the auras are overpowering. Just get me down there, and keep your promise." Midoriko drew her sword, and a pure light burned through her eyes and her hands. "Now we fight."
When you are on the battlefield you are no longer a human being, if I ever was truly human. My abilities amplified on that field, and I became the battle itself. After a while the hunger and the weariness fade away into a single, battle-thirsty creature that keeps moving until the very end. I could predict every movement my enemy made; I could smell the blood of each creature, and feel the cleansing rain on its way. I knew when the battle would end for my friends, but the moment my body gave in and I saw those jaws reaching for me I saw past a bloody finish. My spirit lashed out when my body could not and created the Shikon no Tama, but in that very moment my vision was clear. I will fight so you do not have to fight, until the bitter end. And then, after a lifetime of battles, I will rest.