Notes: Yeah, it's short, but this episode is actually meant to be an introduction to the whole thing. Anyway enjoy and tell me how you like it. Also be warned, the battle scenes in here are pretty brutal. lol! Remember, Reflections takes place back then. Those years when Kikyo was still miko, protector of her village.
And for those of you who didn't catch the NOTICE. I'm redoing SWTS.
Thanks.
-Kathy
A lone pair of watchful eyes glazed through the leafy shelter that hid them. Their shadowy owner crouched on a limb in wait, peering silently at his surroundings. The forest was dark and quiet, but he keenly listened and sniffed for a scent that was familiar to him. He kept his breath steady, and slow. The tension was increasing, but he kept his mind calm. "She will be here..." He told himself. "She always is."
A bird cooed and the rustle of leaves being tossed by the breeze came to his ears but his focus was undisturbed, but even so it seemed as though that the forest itself knew of the battle ahead. Where the ground would soak not only life-giving water, but also the thick, dark grips of blood. At this thought, he felt his own blood within his body boil with excitement, which caused a feeling of disgust to emerge from him. He did not want to be like...them, at least not entirely.
His pondering stopped when the scent of a human entered his nose. It was she! The priestess! The snapping of twigs and the rustle of dry leaves that had fallen to the ground was heard. And then like a specter she appeared, adorned in her red and white miko clothing. Her face blank, yet cold, but her brown eyes...were contorted, filled with thousands of emotions so tightly twisted that you couldn't figure even one of them. Her raven hair flew behind her silently, waving with each step she took.
Though her beauty was not to be missed, it was this twisted with her masking of emotions that puzzled and caused curiosity out of him, as well as her astounding skill with the bow. "Tonight will be another night of killing..." He concluded, sighing softly. He watched as she nocked her bow with quick and expert fingers, her hard eyes focused in front of her. "Come out." She ordered, her voice heavy. It seemed she was weary. He was surprised.
Yellow, wicked eyes emerged from hiding. "Two...three, five..." He thought, sensing the dark energy "It should be quick work for her, unless...she truly is tired."
Five pairs of ugly demonic beings leaped from their hiding places. The miko released her arrow, which shone with a pale, pure glow. It struck the first demon in the neck; it coughed and fell to the ground dead. The arrow had burned its way through. The other four gave frightened looks, but stood their ground and whispered to each other, gleaming looks of evil marking their cruel, grotesque faces.
Then they all separated and flew at the priestess from all sides. No look of surprise or fear crossed her face; she only dimly smiled, as she nocked her bow the second time. Easily she dispatched another one, then another, setting the bow with sharp, fast movements, her eyes locked instantly into her next target. Now there was only two Yokai left, but one of them chickened out and with a series of deep howls it fled.
But the other one did not, although the demon became hesitant when his companion took off, h e stayed right where he was, growling, circling the priestess with a fierce look of hatred. She merely eyed him with amusement, "So, little-demon, are you going to assault me, or just harass?"
With that demeaning statement the demon roared in anger, springing into the air and slashing at her with its claws. The miko bent over, drawing an arrow from her quiver. She ducked beneath the threatening swipe and plugged the point of the arrow into the demon's face with harsh ambition. The Yokai squealed in anguish, whirling about franticly. The priestess then spun around, drawing an arrow back and launching it into the creature's abdomen area, which snapped straight through it's spine, sending a chilling scream into the air. The demon thrashed wildly in a pool of its own blood for a few seconds before a gurgling escaped from its throat, signaling its death.
The figure in the trees watched with fascination. He chuckled lightly to himself. "How gruesome…" But suddenly a large group of dark chi entered his zone to the left. He hopped to the tree next to him and peered cautiously into the shadowed area. The demon that had run away from the fight was coming back with even more of its brethren.
The man rolled his eyes, "What a coward…" He peered over to where the priestess was. She appeared to be catching her breath. "She is tired." Determination filled his soul as he glanced back over to where the approaching Yokai were. He let out a low growl, leaping from tree to tree until he came upon the murderous group. Alighting in front of them, he called out to them saying, "Stop. Go no further, or die."
The demons appeared to be shocked. They grunted among themselves, which the man looked as if he understood. "Ha. I do not belong to you…not anymore." He stated. This sent the whole group of Yokai in rage and they charged him.
The miko wearily trudged along, her mind filled with thoughts of home, but her hand kept firm on her bow in case of more unwelcome guests. It was her duty to protect her village, but it was not to say as if she enjoyed it. She was nearing the edge of the forest at last until the scent of more blood filled her nostrils. "Oh great…are there more?" She thought bitterly.
She crept along, scoping her surroundings carefully, until she came upon the repugnant prospect. All along the wooded floor, strewn over bushes, limbs and the dead leaves were mutilated bodies of demons. The horrible odor caused the priestess to gasp and cover her mouth. She turned her head away as if to throw up, but when she did so she caught sight of a shadowy figure crouching in a tree above her. She immediately sensed his demonic chi and drew an arrow from her quiver, but before she set it, he spoke.
"These monsters…" He said in a quiet tone, "…came to harm you. I slaughtered them, so it would be befitting if you spared me, but…" He paused, "…do as you prefer." The man sat still, his glowing eyes watching her oddly. The priestess contemplated this carefully. He had killed over twenty of his brothers, why? She would have won the fray, but she would have emerged with some serious injuries. Why did he do it then? Did this demon do it out of entertainment to see what she would do? The more she thought about it the more she became bewildered. Why did he kill his own kind? Did he have a grudge on them? But then again demons often had skirmishes for sport, small arguments came to terrible blood-killing. But looking at his lustrous eyes she found them to be focused, hard and…agonized. Whatever he did then he did with consequence.
The miko unstrung her arrow and placed it back within her quiver. "You are an unusual demon." She spoke to him, "I will not upset the balance of karma. What you did was a virtuous endeavor, now go in peace. I will not harm you." She peered back up at him, giving a prayer sign with her right hand.
The demon's face twisted in astonishment, as he shrank back into the verdant of the tree, but his glowing night eyes still stood out from the foliage. The miko watched him with interest. "Priestess." He suddenly spoke, his eyes examining her.
"Yes?" She asked.
The demon was quiet, as if unsure to voice the thought he had. With a low tone he requested, "What is your name?"
She was still, her face blank. "Why do you want it?"
He made no movement yet, only his eyes surveyed her. "I want to remember the name of the woman who chose to perceive me."
When a minute passed and no word was spoken from her, the demon gave up, saddened. He turned to leave, but then, suddenly the priestess announced, "Kikyo." He whirled around, facing her once more. "My name is Kikyo." She stated yet again. Surprisingly, he found her once emotionless brown eyes to hold tenderness to them, but it was quick because when he checked again he found the tiny emotion to have vanished. "Go." The miko demanded and with that the demon was gone.