Chapter Thirteen
Note: I got tired of waiting for season two. This will be good enough until Christmas.
I remained in a small village. I knew Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru wouldn't find me here. If they were able to they would have found me months ago. I tended to warriors and for repayment for giving me a place to stay. I was happy here. It reminded me of the last village I stayed at and even more my own village. I couldn't believe I have been on this earth a full year. But every night for that whole year I kept replaying the nightmare in my head, Inuyasha coming up from behind me and slashing through my very bones. I still felt the pain, but it was not as bad as it used to be.
Everyday the men would groan and whine in pain, but what could you expect. They just came from a battle. "Oh, I'm tired!" exclaimed on the wounded soldiers.
"At least we're still alive."
"I'm not a farmer, not a soldier."
"Right now I'm just happy to be breathing."
"Which we wouldn't be if not for that priestess." I walked by the talking men giving me praise. I didn't need it. All I was concerned for at the moment is for the solider on the mat. For the last couple of days I have been taking care of this warrior. I was eager to get him home to return to his family. I heard yelling from the place where I healed him.
"Let's give thanks for her huh." said the man in front of the most hurt soldier. He was badly wounded. I had to bandaged him up very tightly. The soldier began to groan.
"Look, hey I think he's waking up."
"Good news your not dead." one of his comrades told him, with a little chuckle. "I guess her medicine did the trick."
"Priestess, look. Our friend here is alive." I turn around to look at the man stirring. I watched him carefully until I found it. There was a little green monster walking upon this man's face. I walked towards the stirring soldier. Still evil seeks this man's life. I flicked away the imp and it started to dissolve and sizzle. The villagers were confused.
"Priestess, you okay?"
"You friend will be just fine." I responded. "He may but up as early as tomorrow." I gave the villagers a reinsuring smile. I heard yelling. An army of men came walking up toward me.
"We are seeking for the priestess called Kikyo! The men tell me of one who tends to soldiers injured on both sides of battle, whose strange magic can revive even those on the brink of death?" I turned to look at the man talking to me.
"I am skilled in no such magic's, but only in the art of healing."
"…We shall hear more at the castle." He interrupted. "Prepare to leave!" They took me away and put me into a carriage. They began to carry me.
While we were walking they told me what had happened. "Lord Kagewaki, master of the Hitomi clan has been in delicate health since birth. Since his father's death and own secession his health has worsened…" I noticed that the sky above us was getting dark and cloudy. I could sense a weak demonic aura. The man continued with his story. "Now he refuses both clan physician and his nearest vassals."
When we reached his room the man guiding me was yelling at the guards. I stood behind him, but wasn't really paying attention to the conversation. "None may enter, I'm sorry!" yelled the guards.
"But I have brought the priestess who will cure Lord Kagewaki!" I could feel the aura growing stronger now that I was in the house.
"The lord has forbidden entry to anyone! Further he refuses all visitors…" I was confused. I sense a great wrongness…almost a veil… Ibegan to walk pass the guards.
"Wait, where are you…"
"Oh!" The evil aura that permeates the castle…I threw open the door to find a man under a blanket sit up. Emanates from this man! The only light in the room was coming from the room was from the open doorway. I took in his whole image. He had long, wavy, dark black hair. His eyes were cold and red as he gave me an evil stare. His skin was, if even possible, even paler than mine. So he is the lord! He has no life in him, as though he is dead from the neck down.
The guards gathered behind the door. "We have failed my lord forgive us! She's come despite your orders."
"She claims she can heal you my lord." The other guard said.
"Be quiet…" he said as looked shocked at my presence. "Leave me!" he started again. The guards bent low.
"Yes lord." I began to walk towards the sickly looking man.
"Tell me your name now that you have disturbed me." I bent on one knee in front of the lord.
I stared right back at him. "My name is…Kikyo." We sat there in silence. I stared at him blankly as his face twisted in thought. A lightening bolt shot from behind the lord's window.
The man who guided me here took me aside and led me to another room. "Well, Kikyo? Is he beyond your help then?"
"Yes…" I began. "I am afraid there's not much I can do…" There was something strange about that man. Perhaps he truly is lord Kagewaki…or not…but…There is an ever larger evil power roiling about…outside the castle…toward the mountains…there's something.
"Really… So it is no ordinary illness. You too will abandon him."
I bowed down low in respect. "I merely am a priestess… Might I be allowed to leave?" I bowed low again. All the men pointed their spears at me. My guide spoke again.
"You certainly my not be allow to leave this place. It is the lord's wish that you stay." I groaned in frustration.
They threw me into a room and locked me in there. It was cold and dark. There was a guard outside the door to make sure I didn't escape. I sat there on my knees pondering. I feel it…the pull of a strong miasma coming closer… I turned to look at the window. I summoned my soul stealers to go through the bars of my window. They silently floated across my room and secretly wrapped themselves around my guard.
"Eh? Waah!" My soul stealers took his soul and temporarily made him my slave.
"Open up." I commanded. "After that, bring me a bow and arrow."
I got all my things and escape from the castle. I go to the mountain were the evil aura is spewing from every crevice. I spot the girl who ruined everything and a new comer. I walked up to them. I hear the girl in the odd clothing gasped.
"So Inuyasha is inside…" We watched each other in silence. I walked past her and went into the cave. I heard Kagome yelling after me.
"Oh! Hey!"
"Kagome!" yelled the new comer.
"You're gonna go after her!" asked the young fox demon.
"Sango, don't follow me! The aura will finish you!" yelled Kagome. "Shippo stay with her!" They said nothing.
"Kirara…go with her. That priestess…"
"Is Kikyo." answered Shippo. "The woman Inuyasha used to love…a long time ago."
I walked through the dark damp cave. I grabbed my chest. The dead souls inside me are trying to get out. Are they drawn by the miasma? But there's another force at work. Could it be the one who lives at the castle…? I heard loud noises from the end of the cave. I walked toward the sounds of fighting.
"You're the last one!" It sounded like a monster.
"Inuyasha, sheathe your blade!" came an unrecognizable male voice. "You must not fight this demon!"
"You've got to be kidding me!" yelled Inuyasha voice. "If I don't, we're gonna be slaughtered!"
"Listen to me, Inuyasha!" yelled the first voice. "That demon fought and defeated scores of other demons…and has absorbed those he defeated!"
"I'm gonna kill you…" the monster screamed. "And then…I alone…will leave here alive!"
"This is just like a dark priest's spell." said the first man. "It's the same magic that makes a poison imp!"
"Huh?" Inuyasha was confused.
"Inside a single vessel, you place venomous insects, lizards, frogs, or other animals…and let them kill each other! With the proper spell, the last one left alive becomes a poison imp! This cave…is a huge poison imp vessel! If you should defeat that demon…His body will be absorbed into yours, whether you like it or not! So long as you fight in this arena, no matter who wins, your bodies will become one!"
"Feh.." The monster was roaring and swiping at Inuyasha. "Hyah!" Inuyasha yelled. "Then, no matter how you look at it…the only choice is to fight!"
"There's nowhere to hide!" yelled the monster. I walked up behind the monk. He gasped at the site of me.
Inuyasha… Inuyasha looked at me and was shocked.
"Kikyo?" I felt an odd sensation in my body. The dead souls are leaving. I screamed. This explains it… The miasma…where it's from…The monster was roaring in the background but it sounded faint. My souls entered the monsters body. I tumbled forward. I collapsed and fell forward down the ditch in the cave. I heard the monk yelling after me. Inuyasha looked up and saw me falling.
"Kikyo!" yelled Inuyasha. He ran toward me, but was hit by the monster. I hit the hard ground. "Kikyo…"I passed out…