Disclaimer: ...same as the chapter before last chapter...
Chapter Eight: The Death Wish
Kagura jumped back as a tree was slashed down in front of her. She gasped and the tree trunk was hurled in her path. She narrowly escaped the falling bulk and whip out her fan as she scanned the area for the attacker. "Who's there!" She demanded sternly, but inside she was quaking. There was no shortage of humans and demons who wanted her dead.
Dust settled and a silver-haired stranger emerged. Kagura's jaw dropped and her heart skipped a beat. "L-l-ord Sesshomaru!" She exclaimed. He stared her down in the same manner he had almost fifteen years ago. Kagura's heart ached for the great demon who treated her with indifference. Since they parted Kagura convinced herself that he would never return her affections because of who she was and who she was born to. She believed that she was stone, and he could not affect her. But her heart melted at the sight of him. The love that could never happen filled her heart dread.
Sesshomaru looked her over, unaware of the war within her. Her hair was down and she had a newer kimono with a similar print, but otherwise she hadn't changed a bit. However, her precense was ringing with a sadden beauty. "How are you still alive?" He asked his voice betrayed none on his emotions.
Kagura was disappointed. Years of separtion and all he does is wonder why she isn't dead. "How should I know?" Behind Sesshomaru, Rin emerged and stared at Kagura.
"Kagura?" She asked uncertain. The wind witch looked at younger woman in confusion. Slowly realization dawned across her face. "You're the brat?"
Rin nodded. Unsure of whether or not to take offense. "What do you want?" Sesshomaru asked her.
Kagura swallowed. She wanted alot. She sighed. Dreams die hard, she thought. "I just want to know if its true Naraku is still alive?"
"It is. And he has the Jewel."
Kagura dropped her fan in surprise. How?
"Kai is dying." Kaede said. She had confirmed what everyone was thinking but didn't have the heart to say. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango hung their heads in sorrow. "I don't know how long she has left, but its not much."
The women openly cried. Kiyoshi heard the news and ran to sit at the base of the God Tree. He couldn't believe that Kai was going to die. He thought about the fiesty woman he met and sickly corpse laying on the cot. Although she still lived, it was like she was in her grave already. The air was thick with sorrow. The villagers who have watched the young quarter demon grow up were silently grieving. They already knew that their priestess Kaede was near death.
Kai had twitched in her sleep. Her was having the most usual nightmare of them all.
Kai was standing in a courtyard of stone with sakura trees framing the otherwise dull landscape. In front of her was the older version of herself. Kai was shocked by her looks. Jealously comsumed her as she noticed the woman's figure. She felt ugly in comparison, but mentally slapped herself for thinking negative thoughts. She was comparing herself to...herself? She sighed and tried think of something else.
"Listen you," the older Kai said, using the same tone Kai used when pressed with something she clearly wanted no part of. "See this?" Well duh, Kai thought about saying but held her tongue. "This is the place of your great destiny." She said. It was another one of the riddles Midoriko spoke of, but to hear it from herself to seemed weird beyond compare. "You will be faced with a choice, and you must choose wisely."
"Or what?" She didn't bother being polite. She wanted to wake up from this nightmare and do something! Besides she could be as rude to herself as she wanted.
"Or you'll die a worthless death."
"But if I choose wisely...?"
"You'll still die."
"Riight!" She drawled. "And my incentive is..."
"Look, do you want to end up in this hellish void?" Kai shook her head. "Your time is running out, if you don't confront Naraku and your fears. You will die alone and forgotten."
"Is that what happened to you?"
"What the hell do you think?" but the reply wasn't angry but filled with eternal sadness. She swallowed hard. I will beat this, Kai resolved.
"You finally understand." Midoriko said. "The test is over..."
Rays of sunlight shone through the window on the hut Kai was in. Her eyes slowly flickered open and was greeted by the brightness. She groaned and tried to move. Everyone who was standing vigil twirled around to look at her. Kai blinked and stared them down. They all gasped and stepped back.
"Your eyes!" Someone said, Kai didn't catch who.
"Wha-what about them?" She asked shakely. Fear rose from her chest and exploding painfully in her throat.
Without saying anything Kagome handed her daughter a mirror. Kai grabbed with a shaking hand and slowly brought it to her face. Her face was a haunting shade of ivory. But what grabbed her attention was her eyes. She gasped and dropped the mirror.
One was amber, one was violet.
"It's starting!" She cried in hysteria. Everyone was silent. Kai grabbed the bed cover in her clenched fists. "I made a promise that I intend to keep. I must destroy Naraku before I die!"
"Kai?"
Tears pooled in her eyes. "I don't ask for you to understand..." She said. "But it is what I know I must do..." She cried harder, stung by the reality of her death wish. She had accepted her role to destroy Naraku, despite her battling blood. Nobody in the room could truly understand what her fate was. I am alone, she thought.
In that moment she had Kiyoshi's voice in her head. "I am here."
Forgive me, she thought. But I can't stay with you. I can't stand by your side...
All comfort from everyone in the room couldn't console Kai. Her soul was already divided,and she knew it would never be whole again.
"...And so is the curse of the Shikon Jewel..."
Yeah I decided to use some quotes from Reborn Horror. This writer's block will kill me, I swear.
Please review!
-SMR