"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedThe white tiger stepped into the clearing. It's massive paw came inches from crushing the bone-eaters well. The silver claws extended and scrapped up the dirt as its arctic eyes glared Kagome and Bankotsu. A deep growl sounded through the clearing as its lips pulled back to reveal perfect ivory teeth. Bankotsu stepped in front of Kagome with his new sword-Junjou-over his shoulder. The white tiger's growl increased before confusion set into its eyes. A flash of white light surrounded the area and Kagome covered her eyes from the intense light.
"The dead have no place among the living," the tiger spoke as his animal form became more human.
His body shrunk to that of a man's height. He was a bit taller then Sesshoumaru, but his ears were like a human ears. His arctic blue eyes still held the same revulsion when they landed on Bankotsu. He shifted to his side and Kagome could see the tiger tail that came from his pants. His chest was bare allowing them to see the black stripes that coated his ivory skin. The tights he wore seemed like a white fur with the same black stripes. He cracked his knuckles and drew attention to the metal claws. Bankotsu glared at him and took in every detail; he knew this was an enemy.
"Who are you?" Bankotsu demanded.
"The dead have no right to talk to the living," the white tiger growled.
"What do you want?" Kagome asked as she stood by Bankotsu.
"I am Byakko, Guardian of the West. I am here to test the one that wants the Four Guardian's Gift," Byakko said with some annoyance.
"That's me," Bankotsu said as he pointed to himself.
"You are dead, there is nothing the dead can gain from the Shijin," Byakko stated as he glared at Bankotsu.
"I want a life," Bankotsu demanded. Byakko studied him with a look of anger before he began to grin.
"You wish to have a life? Then by beating us you shall gain a life," Byakko declared.
Byakko raised his hand and the silver claws glinted in the sunlight. The winds increased and a tornado formed from the sky. It crashed to the ground and dug up the earth as it spun. Bankotsu stuck his Zanbato in the ground and held on as the tornado increased in speed. Kagome grabbed onto Bankotsu's waist in an attempt to hold on. Her eyes were squeezed tight as she felt her grip on him loosening. Kagome's eyes snapped open as she realized she was hanging on his foot. Bankotsu let go of the handle with one hand and reached for her. Her eyes were wide with fear, for the first time in a while she was afraid. She was afraid to lose him not herself.
"Reach!" Bankotsu shouted to her. She could her the desperation in his voice as his fingers stretched to grasp her. Kagome wistfully smiled at him and he felt her grip loosen.
"Hold on!" Bankotsu shouted as he struggled to reach her.
"Fight," Kagome whispered as she let go.
Her form was sucked into the dark void. Bankotsu hung onto the sword with one hand as the other floated in the air. His eyes were wide with shock as he realized she was gone. His free hand clenched in anger as he squeezed his eyes shut. Tears sprung at the corner of his eyes as he visibly shook.
"KAGOME!" He screamed.
Inuyasha sat on Kagome's hut as he pondered the new sword Junjou. Miroku was sitting next to him. Sango was inside the hut helping Shippo fix a dent in the metal of his sickles. Miroku sighed and squeezed his eyes shut.
"What do you think?" Inuyasha asked.
"Junjou, Bankotsu, Kagome…strange," Miroku voiced.
"What do you make of the Zanbato Junjou?" Inuyasha calmly questioned.
"It seems like the sword responds to spiritual powers," Miroku voiced.
"Then why couldn't you lift it?" Inuyasha snorted.
"It also seems like it might responded to purity," Miroku added.
"Spiritual powers and purity, how the hell can Bankotsu lift it." Inuyasha growled.
"Do you remember the extra pouch Kagome used to carry next to her beads?" Miroku questioned. Inuyasha looked up at the sky and nodded. "Do you know what was in it?"
"I thought it was just girl stuff," Inuyasha admitted.
"No, the pouch was apart of Bankotsu's kimono and inside were his ashes," Miroku informed.
"She's been carrying that dead boy around!" Inuyasha shouted in anger and disbelief.
"Correct," Miroku assured.
"What does this have to do spiritual powers and purity?" Inuyasha asked in frustration.
"I believe that Bankotsu has absorbed some of Kagome's Miko ki," Miroku voiced his theory.
"How?" Inuyasha questioned, the anger was replaced by intrigue.
"I believe his ashes absorbed a little bit of Miko ki each time she used her powers. So naturally, when he was resurrected the stored up Miko ki transferred to him," Miroku stated as his eyes opened.
"So the mercenary's a Miko?" Inuyasha dryly asked.
"Not a Miko. I'm just saying that he carries a bit of Miko ki within his body," Miroku corrected.
"It shouldn't develop, right?" Inuyasha questioned.
"I have seen nothing like this before, so I'm not sure," Miroku confided with a grin.
Inuyasha's right ear twitched as he turned his attention to the area Kagome was in. Miroku stood up and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. A strong aura invaded their senses as they focused on it. The aura was something that they had never felt before. It held no purity or evil, it simply existed. The heard a roar and watched as white tiger appeared. It was the size of Sesshoumaru in his Inu form. A white light flashed and it vanished. Inuyasha growled and took off towards the creature. Sango was already in the air on Kirara. Miroku ran along the roofs and jumped behind Sango.
"What is it?" Sango asked.
"Not human or Youkai," Miroku assured as Sango nodded with a grim look.
All their attention turned back to the clearing as a tornado dropped from the clear sky. Inuyasha stopped in mid run as a look of fear passed over his features. They all heard the desperate scream echo through the forest. It was Bankotsu's voice.
"KAGOME!"
"Hurry!" Inuyasha shouted as he sped up.
The tornado vanished and Bankotsu fell to the ground. He quickly stood up and held the Zanbato above him. Byakko grinned as the darkness in him began to spread. Bankotsu glared at the white tiger.
"Where is she?" Bankotsu shouted.
"You said you wanted a life…so hers is the one on the line," Byakko answered.
"NO! I wanted to gain a life for myself! I wanted to be human!" Bankotsu growled.
"Then you should have been clearer," Byakko simply said.
"I will defeat you and you will die," Bankotsu assured as he charged the tiger.
Byakko roared as his claws extended to metal spikes. A metal chest guard formed on his chest as he dodged the attack. Bankotsu brought the sword down in an attempt to slice his head off. Byakko attacked Bankotsu's unguarded chest. His claws tore at the shirt and only nicked the skin.
"You will lose," Byakko taunted.
Bankotsu scowled as he brought the sword above his head and down. Byakko growled as he back flipped out of the way. Dirt exploded into the air as Bankotsu twisted around and swung the sword like a bat. Byakko's eyes widened in surprise as the sword dug into his shoulder. Byakko pulled away and watched as his arm bled. His arctic eyes turned to Bankotsu who had a determined face. He no longer wore a carefree look or cocky smirk.
'No one has hit me, that will be the only hit,' Byakko darkly promised.
"So you bleed," Bankotsu mumbled to himself.
Byakko narrowed his eyes and charged. The metal claws collided with the sword and sparks flew. They pushed away from each other and each took a deep breath. Bankotsu dodged an attack and managed to gain enough distance to swing the sword to the right. Byakko smacked the sword away and Bankotsu jumped back in order to gain his balance.
"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha yelled as he released the wind scar.
Byakko waved his hand and the wind from the attack dissipated into a soft breeze. Inuyasha growled and jumped to attack the Tiger. Byakko smirked and the winds picked up speed. A dome of wind formed around Bankotsu and himself. The wind sparked with metal as blades formed around them. Inuyasha brought the Tetsusaiga down and cursed when it got pulled from his hands and thrown to the side.
"Get the hell out here!" Inuyasha growled.
"Inuyasha," Miroku calmly said.
"That bastard took Kagome! I know it!" Inuyasha growled as he swung his fist at the razor wind. Blood coated the ground as the blades pierced his fist. Miroku cursed and pulled the hanyou away from the deadly barrier.
"That is the first of the Four Shijin, this is Byakko," Miroku warned as he held the hanyou back.
"I don't care! He took Kagome!" Inuyasha growled.
"If you interfere then you forfeit her life," Byakko warned.
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he began to growl. Bankotsu tightened his lips in anger as held Junjou in his grip.
"Where is she?" Inuyasha growled.
"She is with the other three guardians in the Zenkenjo," Byakko answered.
'Where's that?' Bankotsu thought as his grip tightened on the sword.
"She will remain there until this resurrected human fails or passes the test," Byakko explained as their eyes turned to Bankotsu.
"What happens if Bankotsu fails?" Sango hesitantly asked.
"Then she will be dealt with as we deem fit, but he will banished to Yomi," Byakko explained.
"That's not fair! She shouldn't have to suffer for his stupidity!" Inuyasha shouted.
"There is no fair in my eyes," Byakko growled as he glared at the hanyou.
"How could you bring her into your mess?" Inuyasha shouted at the mercenary.
"I grow tired of this," Byakko mumbled as he turned his attention back to Bankotsu.
Bankotsu stared at the ground past his sword. The hanyou had a point; he brought her into his mess. She was now in danger because of his stupid actions. Everyone was in danger because of his recklessness. He was always reckless, and he never learned the lesson. The first warning should have been when he and his friends were killed.
'My recklessness got them killed,' Bankotsu thought.
Then they had been resurrected and granted another chance at life. He should have been smart; he should have cut the deal off with Naraku. No, instead he sat by and watched each member fall into death. He didn't blame Renkotsu for thinking him a bad leader. Yet, he still died because he thought he could finish his deal with Naraku and go on living.
'I just got killed again and caused her pain. This time there was someone to mourn my death,' Bankotsu thought.
Now he stood here looking for a way to give the Miko the life she deserved. He wanted to be able to feel her when he touched her. He craved the sensations he felt when he was alive. The craving for life wouldn't be bad, but it was and it was because he had a reason to live. His reason to live was now captured and threatened with death.
"Time to end this," Byakko growled and he held his hands in front of himself.
He brought his hands in a prayer position leaving them a few inches apart. A sliver light pulsed between his palms. The light formed into a metal ball as the wind picked up around him. The ball exploded and the metal pieces were carried in the traveling wind. Byakko growled as he forced the metal to take the shape of thousands of shuriken. The sound of whipping could be heard as each piece of metal sliced through the wind.
"Prepare to lose her and your life!" Byakko shouted as his aura pushed the attack toward Bankotsu.
'I would give anything to have her safe,' Bankotsu thought as he looked up at the approaching.
"If that bastard loses then we lose Kagome," Inuyasha growled as he searched for something to do.
"Be calm Inuyasha," Miroku sighed.
"How can he possibly be calm?" Sango snapped.
Miroku shrugged and both Sango and Inuyasha face faulted to the ground.
'Anything, I would do anything to save her, but I can't do anything,' Bankotsu thought.
"Fight," her voice whispered into his mind.
'I will fight for her,' Bankotsu thought.
Junjou pulsed in his hand as the sword began to glow powder blue. Warmth spread through the hand that held the weapon. His eyes traveled to the weapon and felt it become even lighter. The powder blue light grew brighter with each pulse. His cerulean orbs focused on the blade as he wondered what was happening. Bankotsu raised the sword above the ground and that's when he saw it. The Miko ki the sword was giving off was gathering in the tip of the blade. Byakko growled as soon as he felt the power. He pushed his attack on the mercenary.
Bankotsu raised the sword above his head and quickly brought it down. He felt the need to fight and protect Kagome rise to the surface. The sword hit the ground and the energy poured into the earth. Cracks of powder blue energy raced toward Byakko. His attack shattered and the metal in the wind vanished as the energy raced toward him. Byakko jumped in the air with the intention of escaping the attack. From the cracks on the ground, the Miko ki shot up like lightening. Byakko grunted as the lightening attacked his body. The barrier he had up vanished.
'What is this?' Byakko thought as he fell to the ground. The purifying energy still sparked around his body.
Bankotsu raced forward and lunged toward Byakko. Byakko twisted to dodge the attack. His eyes widened in shock as he coughed up blood. Bankotsu landed on the ground as Byakko hit the ground with the sword in his chest. He turned his cerulean orbs to the fallen tiger. Byakko stared up at the blue sky and felt the wind caress his body. He couldn't understand why this dead man had beaten him. The living always won over the dead.
"How?" Byakko asked as he coughed up blood.
"I told you that I want to live, and I will live," Bankotsu coldly answered. "I will live for her."
Byakko glared one final time before his eyes went blank. The sword pulsed and a metal ball appeared on the handle of the sword. Byakko's body vanished leaving the sword impaled in the ground. Bankotsu walked over to the sword and picked it up. He shook the blood off before he wiped the rest on the grass. Bankotsu turned his eyes to the group of three before he turned away and walked into the forest. His face was blank.
"Where the hell are you going?" Inuyasha growled. Bankotsu stopped walking but didn't turn around.
"I am going to save her," Bankotsu answered.
"I'm coming," Sango quickly said as Kirara transformed once more.
"Kagome's our friend, so we're all coming," Miroku corrected.
"You better pray she's safe," Inuyasha warned as they began to travel toward Mount Fuji.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes expecting to meet a cold chamber. She pushed herself to her side and looked at the room around her. Her vision was slightly blurry for a few moments, but it came into focus. The room was brightly lit with torches. Her eyes traveled to the set of double doors in front of her. Kagome turned her eyes to the ceiling in surprise. Thousands of lotus flowers bloomed from the ceiling. Her attention then turned back to the double doors. A small old figure stepped through the doors and quickly closed them. Kagome scouted away until she hit a stair. She glanced behind her and saw a throne. Turning fully around she saw there were four chairs all together around a big cauldron.
"So you are the Betsushimiko," an old voice spoke.
"I am Kagome," she corrected.
"Yes, but you are also the first warrior Miko to exist since Midoriko," the old man corrected as he walked over to a throne a sat.
Kagome took in his features as she stood up without breaking eye contact. His hair was a forest green with bits of gray in it. He held a cane in his right hand with a tortoise for a decoration. His blue eyes searched her as she searched him. His skin was a bit pale from his age. Wrinkles covered his skin as he sighed and ran a hand through his thin forest green beard. Kagome fully faced him with the same caution; age didn't hinder a youkai. She wouldn't take a chance with this old man.
"I see the reason Amatsu-Mikaboshi wants you," the old man sighed.
"Who are you?" Kagome asked.
"I am Genbu, Guardian of the North," he honestly answered with a cracked smile.
"So you are one of the guardians that has become tainted?" Kagome questioned as she tensed.
"I am a Guardian, one of the Shijin, but I am not tainted," Genbu assured with a smile.
"Then why are the other Guardians tainted? The dragon told us you were corrupted by darkness," Kagome explained.
"The dragon was a puppet used by Amatsu-Mikaboshi in order to lure you and your friends out," Genbu explained.
"How can I trust what you say?" Kagome questioned.
"That is for you to decide," Genbu answered with a shrug.
He scratched his head and his green kimono wrinkled. He waved his hand above the cauldron and sighed. Kagome walked over to the edged and watch as Byakko was destroyed.
"Is he really dead?" Kagome questioned.
"No, but the darkness in him is dead," Genbu spoke as he leaned back in the throne.
"So is this gift really what you Shijin offer or is it another trick of Mikaboshi?" Kagome questioned.
"The gift is real, everything is real," Genbu assured.
"Then why are these guardians tainted?" Kagome growled.
"They had good intentions, but even good intentions can be done for the wrong reasons," Genbu softly said.
"Why are you not consumed by darkness?" Kagome asked as she sat in one of the thrones.
"I foretell the future, I can see things before they happen. I foretold your existence to the gods and they didn't listen. Mikaboshi listened and decided he wanted you as his pawn," Genbu explained.
"Who is Amatsu-Mikaboshi?" Kagome softly asked.
"He is the god of evil," Genbu answered.
"Why does he want me?" Kagome asked as her brain searched for answers.
"I can see the future, but each time it is different. No future is ever the same because the people can choose to change it," Genbu spoke like a mantra.
"Then how do tell the future?" Kagome questioned in confusion.
"It's one of those things that you just do, there is no reason for it other then it is," Genbu answered.
The double doors slammed open and a tall lean figure stepped through. Her crimson robe reflected the torchlight. As she walked down the hall, the torches increased in flame. She stood in front of Kagome and scoffed. Her lightly tanned hand reached forward and grasped Kagome by the chin. Her orange eyes studied Kagome before she pulled away. Her flame red hair was curled up in a small bun.
"So this is the Betsushimiko that Mikaboshi wants?" The woman asked.
"This is her Suzaku," Genbu answered.
"I guess the Gods should have listened to your warning you old turtle egg," Suzaku spoke with a dark smirk.
"Hush you miserable phoenix," Genbu snapped.
"Oh well, either way she will die," Suzaku sighed as she stepped away from Kagome.
Flames surround her form and Kagome winced from the heat. Kagome stared at Suzaku in wonder. She was a larger bird the size of a small room. Her figure was perfectly lean as each red feather glinted in the fire. Her face and body were like a bird, but her tail feathers were raging flames. Her wings at the tips were like fire. The bird winked its orange eyes before it soared to the ceiling and into the cauldron of water.
"It looks like Suzaku the Guardian of the South has volunteered to fight next," Genbu sighed.
Kagome looked back into the cauldron and watched as the small group traveled toward Mount Fuji.
'Be safe,' Kagome thought.
Author's Note:
I did say I would update faster, but at this point in time I'm having medical issues and working to win a major competition. Sort of stressed, but I will try to update again.