Hey everyone! As always, I do not own Inuyasha or Fairy Tail, I DO own my OCs and plot twists. It's been a while, life has been crazy and I was struggling with this chapter: part of it was deciding what to include and what to omit. After a lot of consideration, I decided to stick to cannon to a point- there will be an interesting appearance this chapter!
Read and enjoy!
Country of Japan, World: Earth
Panic.
Sickening, paralyzing panic and dread build in Jade's belly as she escorts the group back to Kaede's hut. The old priestess only has to look at them then takes charge. Jade is grateful- without Kaede's concise and clear orders she knows she would be going crazy.
Soren bumps his head against her shoulder, worried by her behavior. Jade absently pats him, eyes locked on Kaede and Kagome.
"The shards have become corrupted."
Kaede doesn't soften the blow, keeping it short and simple. Jade breathes through her nose as she tries to focus on her words.
"The lass has been cursed." Kaede explains further, gesturing to the glowing shards.
Jade focuses on that; curses, what do curses need to work? Something from their target, a connection like in Organic Link magic. A trail for the curse to follow back to the intended target. But what could be the connection?
Miroku clearly is thinking along the same lines, frowning.
"The Jewel was tainted even though it was in Lady Kagome's possession- perhaps the enemy used that as a medium for the spell?"
Jade cocks her head, considering it. Yes, that could partially explain it- the Jewel shards are pieces of a whole so the idea isn't ridiculous. But that still didn't explain how the curse affected only Kagome, rather than the entire group. She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly.
Control. Stay in control.
"Okay, here are my big questions: one, how did the curse target Kagome? The Jewel is a possible answer but I always thought that curses need something from the victim if the caster can't see them. Two, what is the purpose of the curse? Three, who cast it? Four, is it life-threatening?" Jade ticks off on her fingers, trying to keep the fear and wrath out of her voice.
Kaede purses her lips, considering Jade's words.
"The purpose I canna say, but the caster's identity I have an inkling of."
The group perks up at that and stare at Kaede impatiently.
"Her name tis Tsubaki- she was a promising priestess once before selling herself to demons for her vanity. Kikyo and she oft argued and came to blows over the Jewel." Kaede recalls, wringing a wet clothe and laying it on Kagome's forehead.
Jade's fingers flex and she feels her anger crystalize. A name, she had a name now.
"Well, where the hell is she?!" Inuyasha demands, standing up.
Kaede glares at him.
"I nary have a clue- she vanished after Kikyo defeated her."
A low snarl rumbles and the group glances at Inuyasha, only to see him staring at Jade with wide eyes. She starts to pace, almost vibrating with suppressed anger, her eyes locked on Kagome's prone body. Soren snorts and bumps her again, jarring her. The snarling stops and she forces herself to stop pacing, leaning against Soren's side.
"Hang on, didn't Kagome say she felt something bite her?" Shippo pipes up.
Kaede blinks and furrows her eyebrows.
"Bite her-?"
Kagome's eyes snap open and Jade huffs in relief. At least, until Kagome tries to purify Shippo. The group dissolves into a mess as they try to fend her off without killing her. Sango tries a knockout blow but is warded by a reiki shield, hitting herself with her own boomerang bone. Inuyasha hesitates, hand half raised.
Kagome (Is it Kagome? Jade is confused but rolls with it) blasts him with her holy powers, severely burning his chest. Jade dashes between them and summons her magic, knowing she can't go easy on Kagome.
"Earth Dragon Battle Scales!"
Kagome delivers another blast of reiki but Jade tanks it, wincing at the stinging sensation. Gritting her teeth, she grabs one of Kagome's arms and twists it behind her back. Jade barely starts to apply pressure when a highly concentrated bolt of reiki hits her in the face.
"Shit!" Jade howls, her eyes burning.
Kagome wrenches herself free of her weakened grip and slams another reiki blast into Jade's stomach. Blinded, Jade bends over and shakes her head, trying to clear her vision. She hears the scuffle continue and Inuyasha yelling Kagome's name.
"Soren! Sit on her!" Jade roars, head spinning.
Soren leaps into action, barreling the priestess over and then lays on top of her. Kagome retaliates with more reiki but Soren shakes it off, unaffected. Her limbs flail as Soren readjusts his weight, effectively pinning her down. Shippo peaks out from behind Kaede's hut, worried.
"Wh-what happened?" He squeaks.
Jade tries to open her eyes and winces.
"…I think that Tsubaki chick just used Kagome like a marionette."
They all look at her, clueless.
"A what?" Sango asks, sitting up.
"A marionette! You know, one of those puppet things that you can move around!" Jade tries to explain, miming with her hands a puppeteer's movements.
Comprehension dawns and Inuyasha goes ballistic.
"You're saying Kagome's a puppet?!"
Jade plugs one ear, leaning away from his yelling.
"Tis likely- Tsubaki is skilled enough to do such a thing." Kaede interrupts, her expression worried.
"Then it is settled- Sango, Kirara and I will go search for Tsubaki." Miroku decides then looks at Shippo, Inuyasha, Jade, Kaede and Soren.
"You four stay here."
Jade shakes her head, knowing Inuyasha was about to blow a gasket.
"Take Fluffy Ears with you- maybe his nose will smell something useful." She suggests, leaning against the hut wall.
Inuyasha blinks and glances away from her, mumbling under his breathe. Miroku frowns.
"But what if Lady Kagome-?"
"We'll handle it." Jade tells him flatly.
Sango shoulders her boomerang bone and a pensive look appears on her face.
"Are you sure you can handle her without Inuyasha?"
Jade nods and her eyes become sad as she meets Inuyasha's golden eyes.
"It's better if he's not here; you can't bring yourself to hurt her and that's what might have to happen, Fluffy Ears." She breaks the news to him gently.
His eyes widen and he opens his mouth to protest but Jade cuts him off.
"She's not herself. Sweet nothings won't help and right now she's a puppet. She won't know you, Shippo, Sango, me or anyone else. They pull her strings and she dances to their tune: unless you manage to stop Tsubaki."
Her green eyes lock with his, then Miroku's and Sango's.
"So go get her."
They nod and race off. Kaede clears her throat and Jade looks at her questioningly.
"Perhaps we should move the lass- a suppression barrier may keep her passive." Jade and Shippo look at each other, Shippo begging with his eyes.
Jade rolls her eyes and nods.
Meanwhile, inside Kagome's mind…
"Where am I?" Kagome wonders as she stands in a blank void.
Okay, Kagome, you can do this, think back to the last thing you remember…
She frowns as she struggles to recall. Flashes of faces flicker by, a brash voice saying something, the sensation of rubber under her fingers and the feeling of anticipation.
"Why can't I remember?!" She yells, furious.
The void starts to change to a familiar scene; her high school. She stands in front of the gates and the clock tells her she isn't late- yet.
"Kagome!"
She turns and sees Ayumi, Eri and Yuka running up to her.
"Everyone..?" Kagome whispers, confused.
This isn't right, I wasn't-!
…
What am I thinking, of course I'm supposed to be at school! Silly me.
"Hurry up, Kagome, we need to get to class!" Eri yells at her as she rushes past.
"Okay!" Kagome laughs, racing to catch up.
Time passes- but Kagome can't help but feel there is something off. She sees faces that she somehow knows don't belong there, yet they do. It's driving her crazy! Desperate, Kagome heads towards a quieter part of the grounds, seeking privacy. A sudden rhythmic thump, thump, thump catches her attention. Curious, she peeks around a door and sees a beautiful upper-class woman shooting targets with a bow. The archer spots her and studies her.
"Why do you hesitate?"
Kagome jumps, the voice ringing in her mind- she knows her, yet could swear she had never meet her before.
"Why do you hesitate?" The archer demands again.
"I- I don't know what you're talking about!"
"… Come here."
Kagome hesitates but walks over to her. The archer holds out her bow and Kagome takes it, unsure but somehow it feels familiar.
"Stand like this, shoulders back, eyes on the target." The archer instructs, pushing Kagome's body into position.
Once she is satisfied, she steps back.
"Fire." Kagome releases the arrow and misses the target.
"Again."
Kagome nocks an arrow and fires again. It strikes the edge of the target.
"Again."
Kagome grits her teeth and fires again. And again. And again.
"Who are you?" The archer questions as she shoots.
"I'm-!" Kagome huffs.
"Who are you?" She demands, glaring at her.
Kagome growls and releases the arrow- it lands in the inner ring.
"Are you a lost little girl far from home or a warrior? Choose!"
Kagome flinches and a spark of memory comes to her.
"Kikyo."
Kikyo nods, eyeing her.
"I… am not you!" Kagome snaps, glaring at her.
Kikyo smirks at her.
"Are you not? You are my reincarnation after all."
Kagome's fingers tighten on the bow, knuckles turning white.
"I. Am. Not. You!" She yells, firing the arrow- it strikes near the bull's eye.
"Then who are you?" Kikyo demands, crossing her arms.
"I. Am. Kagome!" She yells and fires her last arrow.
Her reiki flares and the arrow hits the bull's eye. Kikyo nods, stepping back.
"Do not forget- you are not me." Kikyo reminds her before the school fades, leaving Kagome in the dark void once more.
I need to get out! Kagome thinks frantically, feeling the leadenness of her body.
"Hello? Can anyone hear me?!" Kagome yells, cupping her hands around her mouth.
Her voice echoes in the darkness and unexpectedly there is an answer.
"I can- but I must wonder what you are doing in a place like this…"
The void brightens and a short figure appears: her wavy golden hair flows down to her feet, wings adorn her head and her pink and white dress flutters around her as she walks. Her green eyes look into Kagome's and she smiles reassuringly. She looks no older than thirteen as she approaches barefoot.
"Wh-who are you?!" Kagome asks in a panic- she hadn't actually expected anyone to respond!
The girl laughs and waves her hand- the space changes to that of an island with a massive tree standing sentinel over it. She perches on one of the roots and pats it in invitation to Kagome.
"You've already met one of my children, but I doubt she spoke of me. My name is Mavis Vermillion, the First Master of Fairy Tail."
"Eh?! But you're a child!"
Mavis freezes and a gloomy expression appears on her face.
"I'm actually one hundred and six years old…" She complains.
An awkward silence falls between them. With forced cheer, Mavis looks at Kagome.
"Why are you here? It's really not a good idea to linger between life and death."
Kagome blinks and then her expression becomes panicked.
"Eh? Eh?! EH?!"
Mavis watches Kagome flail around in horror. Taking pity on her, Mavis pokes her on the forehead.
"Calm down please."
Kagome squeaks in surprise but does stop flailing.
"But-but-but, how do I get out of here?!"
Mavis smiles brightly at her.
"You will have to find it."
Kagome stares at Mavis blankly; Mavis sighs, really, this girl is rather silly but since Jade had taken her under her wing that made Kagome basically a part of Fairy Tail. And Mavis does hate seeing members of her Guild suffer- especially from curses.
"Your spirit is currently between the worlds of life and death because of a curse- however, your spirit is still connected to your body. Find that connection and you can return to your body and awareness. I will assist in keeping the curse from plunging you into more visions." Mavis explains to her.
"But- why would you do that? You don't even know me!" Kagome protests, flushing.
Mavis chuckles.
"But you know Jade and she's rather taken with your group- it's been so long since she adventured with anyone, I was rather hoping this would happen sooner. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers!"
Mavis pauses and examines the younger girl (Mavis refuses to consider Kagome older based on appearences) closely before making a decision.
"Actually, I think I will accompany you!" Mavis informs her, floating down next to her.
"Eh? What, why?!"
"Because I want to keep an eye on Jade." Mavis says simply.
She leaves out her natural interest in this parallel world Jade had landed in- no need to creep out Kagome just yet. Mavis looks up at her and feels her smile grow.
Such a kind child- I cannot wait to see how she grows up!
"Shall we?" Mavis inquires, offering her hand to Kagome.
Kagome hesitates, but something about Mavis makes her think this isn't one of Naraku's cruel tricks. Her hand clasps Mavis' and a golden light envelopes them.
Meanwhile…
Tsubaki narrows her eyes at her scrying mirror.
"Inuyasha, the monk and the slayer have begun the hunt." She reports, stroking her familiar's head.
Naraku raises his eyebrows at the news.
"And the one they call Jade?"
Tsubaki snorts derisively.
"She remains with the reincarnation- apparently, she is well aware of Inuyasha's flaws and made him leave. She said something about 'we may have to hurt her to stop her and you can't do that,' honestly, it's revolting how the half-breed dotes on a fake like her."
Naraku's eyes narrow and he silently agrees, albeit for different reasons.
"How do you intend to lure her away?" Tsubaki's voice breaks through his musings and he smirks at her.
"By using Inuyasha and the others of course."
Kaede's village
Jade was leaning against Soren's side when Kagome's eyes opened again. Immediately Jade summons her magic and quickly casts the same on Shippo, Kaede and Soren.
"Earth Dragon's Boon: Armor!"
Soren rustles his fur, the little crystals chiming together. Kaede's and Shippo's skin takes a shiny appearance while Shippo's fur also becomes like Soren's. Jade glares at Kagome, blinks then her eyes bulge when she sees someone who belongs on Tenroujima hovering next to Kagome.
Mavis-san?!
"Lass?" Kaede ventures, breaking Jade out of her whirling thoughts.
Kagome smiles tiredly at them then reaches for her neck to pull at the tainted shards. Much to everyone's disappointment, they don't come out.
"Hmm, looks like you will have to find the caster after all, Kagome-san." Mavis muses, floating closer to examine the shards.
Jade makes a choking sound, staring at Mavis. Soren, Kaede and Shippo stare at her quizzically before looking at Kagome. Kaede narrows her eyes, wondering why there's a blur near Kagome's shoulder.
"M-Mavis?"
Kagome blinks and sees Jade's expression- conflicted, scared and above all hopeful. She glances at her ghostly companion and sees Mavis smile warmly at the Dragon Slayer.
"Hello again Jade."
"Mavis-san? Is that really you?" Jade whispers, tears starting to streak down her face.
Mavis nods reassuringly.
"Yes, it's me."
"Jade? Who're you talking to?" Shippo interrupts, glancing around the room.
Kaede's frown increases and she inches her hands toward a jar full of salt. Jade winces and scratches her head.
"Ahhh, how should I explain this…? Mavis-san is, well, for lack of a better word, a ghost associated with my Guild."
"A g-g-ghost?!" Shippo screams, running to hide behind Soren.
Kaede glares at the blur near Kagome and starts to throw salt at it.
"Evil spirit, be gone!"
Mavis squeaks and scrambles to hide behind Jade.
"Wah! I know I'm a ghostly entity but could we skip the barbaric purification attempts and focus on the situation at hand please!" She begs, failing to remember Kaede can't hear her.
Jade makes a face when the salt hits her instead before sighing, walking over to Kaede and taking the jar of salt away.
"Gran, I know you think Mavis-san is a bad person, but I won't let you purify her- she's like family to me!" Jade snaps, unconsciously unleashing the demon yoki within her.
Kaede, Kagome and Shippo flinch as waves of violent anger washes over them. Mavis blinks in curiosity at the change in Jade's magic signature, but tables it for the time being.
"We need to find the caster- I assume you have already sent a search party?" Mavis asks Jade.
Jade relaxes slightly and focuses on Mavis.
"Yeah, we have."
"Any word?" Mavis inquires, tapping her chin.
Jade shakes her head.
"Well then. Our next step is to find them, reunite and take down the enemy caster." Mavis decides.
Shippo and Kaede watch Jade's interaction with wide eyes, unsure of how to take this unsettling development. Jade whistles to Soren, who stands up.
"Kagome and Mavis, you're going to be on Soren. Gran, hold down the fort. Shippo, with me." Jade orders, boosting Kagome into the saddle.
Mavis floats up and settles right behind Kagome, eyes bright in anticipation. Shippo clambers up Jade's ragged clothes and grabs hold of her hair to hang on. Once she sees everyone is ready, Jade starts running, Soren at her heels.
Meanwhile…
"Stupid bastards!" Inuyasha yells as yet another wave of demons erupts from Tsubaki's eye.
Miroku throws ofudas and Sango tears through the demons with her boomerang bone. Inuyasha snarls as he cuts down more of the obnoxious cannon fodder. His eyes track the snake near Tsubaki when he has a moment to breathe, trying to figure out a way to kill it.
They were tiring- as cowardly as her tactics are, Tsubaki's waves of demons were wearing on their stamina. The hell wasps were effectively keeping Miroku from using his Wind Tunnel, leaving the monk no choice but to use his staff and ofudas.
"My, you don't seem like much!" Tsubaki taunts them, her expression gleeful as she watches them struggle.
"You-!" Inuyasha roars, sweeping Tetsusaiga sideways in a broad circle and cutting demons in half.
Tsubaki laughs at him, petting her familiar.
"Hmm, seems like it's time to end this- so long, half-breed!"
She unleashes her tainted reiki as a curse against Team Inuyasha. Miroku throws up a barrier, deflecting the dark priestess' powers but pants with the effort. Tsubaki laughs mockingly at them and releases even more demons.
Sango lets out a war cry and throws her boomerang bone. She barely makes a dent in the hoard of demons circling around them. Inuyasha tightens his grip on Tetsusaiga and prepares to use his Wind Scar.
"All of you hit the deck!" A familiar voice yells.
Inuyasha glances behind him and his eyes widen as he spots Jade running full speed towards them, Shippo clinging to her shoulder. He quickly drags Miroku and Sango to the ground, trusting Kirara to fend for herself. Tsubaki narrows her eyes at the sight of the pair.
I thought they were with the fake! Tsubaki thinks frantically.
"Shippo, hang on tight!" Jade warns him, flexing her fingers.
She takes a deep breath and slashes her arms.
"Earth Dragon's Wing Strike!"
Stone scales detach and rip through the demons, leaving few survivors. They frantically try to regroup but the Dragon Slayer wasn't having it. Jade charges and her arms change into glittering black blades.
"Earth Dragon's Twin Obsidian Blades!"
She snarls as she dances between the demons, easily tearing them apart. Shippo yelps as blood splashes on his face but Jade doesn't have time to reassure him. Tsubaki had unleashed yet more demons, terrified.
Jade narrows her eyes and broadens her stance. She takes a deep inhale as the demons swarm closer.
"Earth Dragon's Roar!"
The force of the magic rips apart the enemy easily, destroying the ground and forest beyond as well. Tsubaki had taken a hit herself, shaking as she looks down at the crystal impaled in her leg. Inuyasha and the others stand back up, happy to see Jade in front of them rather than behind them. Tsubaki looks up, fear growing as she stares at them.
A sudden clip-clop sound catches their attention and Soren canters into view, taking care to not jostle his riders. Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha gape at Kagome, weakly clinging to the saddle horn.
"Kagome!"
Tsubaki looks up at Inuyasha's yell and suddenly snarls, unable to believe a weak little girl had partially broken the curse upon her!
No matter, as long as I have both the Jewel and her blood, she is mine! The dark priestess thinks vengefully.
Jade narrows her eyes and starts to approach Tsubaki when her foot touches an invisible barrier. Her eyes widen when she feels strange magic activating and a portal appears beneath her feet.
"SHIT!" Jade yells, throwing Shippo clear and trying to blast the portal at the same time.
"Jade!" Sango and Kagome yell, terrified for the Dragon Slayer.
Shippo lands hard, yelping at the scraps and bruises. Team Inuyasha, Soren and Mavis watch in horror as Jade is swallowed by the magic portal despite her efforts. Tsubaki begins to laugh gleefully and holds up the tainted Shikon Jewel shard- Kagome winces and nearly falls out of the saddle from the sudden pain.
"Hmph, you really are nothing more than a fake after all!" Tsubaki taunts Kagome.
"Kikyo would never have been brought low so easily!"
"W-where… Where is Jade?" Kagome demands, sliding off of Soren.
Tsubaki laughs at her.
"Naraku determined her to be the greatest threat- so he's invited her to a special event. He seemed most eager to dispose of her." She says with relish.
The group's reactions are immediate as they decried her words, claiming Jade too strong for the bastard. Mavis remains silent, knowing little of this particular foe, but the cold feeling in her heart tells her all she needs to know.
Jade is in trouble.
Mind made up, Mavis knows their best course of action is to deal with Tsubaki then assist Jade. She glances down at Kagome, worried at how the curse is slowly eating away at her soul. Tsubaki sends her demons forward to pin down the group while her snake familiar slithers toward the younger miko. Soren bellows a warning as he crushes a few demons between him and Kagome.
"Kagome-san, watch out!" Mavis yells, pointing at the snake.
It lunges with a hiss and Kagome instinctively channels her reiki into her bow, blasting it back. Tsubaki's face morphs from triumph to horror as her familiar strikes her face- exactly the same way Kikyo had done before. Her scream as the snake familiar connects with her cursed eye chills the blood of all those watching. Kagome gasps in relief when she feels the shards fall out of her neck and the oppressive weight of the curse lift.
Tsubaki flees them, her hands clutching at her injured eye. Inuyasha swears when the demon hoard born of Tsubaki hinders his ability to pursue her. Sango and Miroku check in on Kagome, relieved that the curse had broken. Their joy is dimmed when Shippo yells at them.
"We need to help Jade, not chase an old hag!"
Mavis nods in agreement and floats down next to Kagome.
"Kagome-san, we must go now. I know you are exhausted, but I can feel Jade is in danger." She stresses.
Kagome groans but forces herself onto her feet, panting.
"Right! Okay, where would that slimy bastard take Jade?" She questions.
Miroku frowns as he thinks.
"A place where he feels he would have an advantage over her."
"He probably wouldn't do choose his castle- Jade could destroy it too easily." Sango considers.
"Augh!" Inuyasha yells in frustration.
"Where the hell did that blasted witch go?!"
Mavis frowns and walks over to the place the portal appeared.
"Hmm…" She tilts her head, confused by the magic she finds there.
Elsewhere…
Jade freaks the hell out when the portal eats her. Okay, maybe it didn't actually eat her, but it certainly felt like she was being swallowed by something gross and disgusting.
As soon as it starts it stops, the portal spiting her back out into a new location. She blinks, disoriented.
"A cave?" She says incredulously.
A slithering sound catches her attention and she crouches, eyeing her new surroundings. Demons seem to explode from every crevice, swarming her. Jade bares her teeth and summons her magic.
"Earth Dragon's Battle Scales."
Her skin shifts to gleaming crystal and she starts smashing the demons, using one centipede specimen as a club. The demons crawl closer, heedless of the danger. Jade's eyes narrow, knowing that her bigger moves could kill her underground.
"Earth Dragon's Granite Mace!"
Her left hand changes into a granite ball the size of her head with savage spikes protruding from it. She starts swinging immediately, ripping through the demons with ease. But it wasn't enough. More were crawling out of cracks and replace the dead. Gritting her teeth, Jade quickly casts a succession of support spells on herself.
"Earth Dragon's Boon: Stamina!" A green aura flickers around her and the burning in her muscles fades to nothing.
"Earth Dragon's Boon: Strength!" New energy floods her body but she doesn't give in the childish urge to crush everything.
"Earth Dragon's Boon: Armor!" Her skin flares and becomes even more resilient to the blows raining down on her.
That done, Jade plows her way to a wall, determined to protect her back if nothing else. Demons surge forward at her seeming weakness. She turns suddenly and slams a hand on the ground.
"Earth Dragon's Bloodstone Spires!" She snarls.
The ground quakes and erupts as spears made of blood-red crystal explode out of the earth and impale demons by the droves with unnerving accuracy. The few survivors see the crystal spears are in a giant circle around Jade's position, nearly a hundred feet in any direction. She smiles grimly at the slaughter and flexes her right hand.
"Come out, come out~ Pervert Baboon!" She sings tauntingly.
"I know you're here, don't you want to come and join in the show?"
A menacing chuckle responds to her taunts.
"My, you are spirited."
Jade's ears twitch as she tries to pinpoint his location: smell is of little use, given the overpowering stench of dead demons in the air.
"Aw, so nice of you to say~ but I think I would rather have you in tiny, tiny pieces!" She says sweetly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.
"I think not. I've waited far too long to have my plans undone by you, darling Jade." His voice whispers, the words bouncing eerily off the walls.
Jade blinks and bursts out into laughter, howling with mirth. The remaining demons don't seem to want to approach the suddenly giddy Dragon Slayer. She eventually stops and grins evilly.
"Hate to break it to you, but that's kind of my specialty~!"
Naraku glares at Jade from his hiding spot, annoyed by her clear amusement at his expense.
"I would like to chat- but I have other matters to attend to. Your friends, for instance."
Jade goes still and let's a low growl enter her voice.
"Too bad. I'll just have to ruin your day!"
She suddenly explodes into motion, jumping from spear to spear as she rampages towards Naraku's voice. The demons try to stop her, but it hardly slowed her down.
"Earth Dragon's Wing Strike!"
Jade transforms her arms to their base forms and the scales finish off the remaining demons. With them out of the way, Jade breaks out into an all-out rush only to pause as a corpse rises from the ground and tries to tear her head off. Snarling, Jade runs up the side of the wall, cracking the rock as she deftly avoids the moving corpse.
She jams one of her hands into the wall, observing this new threat. All the demons she had killed at getting back up, save for the ones so torn apart they can't move. Jade shakes her head, tsking.
"Well, I'll be damned. He has a fucking necromancer." She swears, not without some grudging respect.
"Oh? I'm impressed you figured it out…" Naraku's voice taunts her.
Jade rolls her eyes.
"It's basic common sense. Dead bodies suddenly moving around? Probably a necromancer." She sums up, narrowing her eyes at the moving corpses.
I need to use something that will completely destroy them, not just crush them. Dragon Roar is out, I could bring the ceiling down on myself. Wing strike might work but it'll have to be more than once, likely. Ugh! This is a royal pain in the ass!
…
I could really use that poison stuff right now. Oh well, I can just tear them apart until they can't move or attack the necromancer directly.
Feeling better about her plan, Jade scans the cave, in particular the crevices and niches in the walls. Movement in a far corner catches her eye, but she pretends she didn't see it as she takes a discreet sniff.
Demon, blood, earth, water, moss, mold, Baboon Pervert, fresh air… Breezy Bitch?!
A low growl builds in her chest and a savage delight at finding the offensive bitch. Jade channels magic to her legs and jumps off the wall, flinging herself forward. Near the back Kagura manipulates her corpses to grab hold of the Dragon Slayer, fear drying out her mouth.
Jade smiles eagerly as the dead swarm her and she twists her body midair.
"Earth Dragon's Wing Strike!"
The flying scales form a vortex around Jade, keeping the dead from approaching and giving her the necessary blast to keep flying across the cave. Naraku hisses in annoyance at this development, but doesn't feel undue concern yet.
It is all part of his plan, after all.
Kagura cannot help but send Naraku a glance as Jade lands not forty feet from them. The Wind Sorceress is fraught with terror at facing the Dragon Slayer once again. And for once, she whole-heartedly hopes Naraku can successfully carry out his plan.
Jade grins at them.
"Found you~" She sings, before slamming her hand on the ground behind her.
"Earth Dragon's Ramparts!"
A wall of stone tears out of the floor, neatly separating the dead from the group. Kagura can't help but flinch; admittedly her corpses are not exactly useful against Jade but they provided a false sense of comfort. Naraku narrows his eyes, grudgingly impressed by her maneuver.
She minimized the effectiveness of Kagura's dancing dead and cut off an escape route- however, that can be used against her as well.
Jade flexes her fingers as she prepares to rush them when a shift in the air happens: right behind her. Her head snaps around only to see a small girl all in white, holding a mirror. The girl expressionlessly moves the mirror to catch Jade's reflection and Jade feels something tear inside of her.
She collapses, clutching her head as she feels her magic and that blasted yoki churn out of control. Instinctively she lashes out with raw magic, blasting what could only be one of Naraku's incarnations. The mirror in her hands glows and absorbs it only to reflect it back. Jade braces herself and feels her body go flying while the tearing sensation inside of her grows worse.
Naraku smiles; Kanna had been more effective against Jade than he had expected. He was curious as to how Kanna had not managed to steal the entirety of her soul yet, but he anticipated it was only a matter of time. Jade staggers to her feet and braces herself on the wall as Kanna rips out more of her soul. Jade's control shatters and something within her snaps.
A bloodcurdling howl tears out of Jade's throat as the last of her human soul is stolen. Kagura feels chills run down her spine at the sound, stepping back and trying to rationalize to herself that she is safe now. Naraku laughs at Jade's agony, pleased beyond words with Kanna's work.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen." He gloats.
Jade's body falls onto the floor, twitching uncontrollably. Kanna stares expressionlessly at Jade and then at her mirror. A small scratch, barely longer than a fingernail, adorns the surface of her otherwise unblemished mirror. Naraku turns to Kanna and smiles.
"Send her to attack her precious companions." He orders before vanishing.
Kanna nods and focuses on her mirror, ordering Jade's soul. Nothing happens. Kanna blinks and tries again.
Jade's body clambers to her feet, but doesn't move otherwise. Kagura glances at Kanna, concerned.
"What are you waiting for, Kanna!?" She hisses, stepping away from her older sister.
"… Her soul… is… resisting." Kanna states, a small frown on her face.
Kagura hisses again, fear driving her.
"Break her! She's only human after all!"
Kanna blinks at Kagura and wills Jade to do her bidding.
She gets a response.
But not the one she was looking for.
A sudden increase in magic batters the demonesses' senses, startling them but not nearly as much as the yoki chaotically mixed in it. They stagger back as it builds, pressing down on them like an invisible weight. Jade's body starts to glow a silvery green and begins to change.
Skin turns to scales, true scales, unlike the ones they are used to seeing. Claws grow longer, sharper, deadlier. Horns suddenly erupt from her forehead, curling back into strong tines. Her hair goes from black to dark green with streaks of silver, lengthening down her back. She collapses onto all fours and begins to grow, her skeleton shattering and reforming.
The smell of dragon grows stronger and the impossible blend of magic and yoki merely increases rather than decreasing. Jade sprouts a tail, her clothes shredding as wings burst out of her back, extending and flapping. Low snarls can be heard over the sickening sounds of her flesh and bones changing into this different, new form. Kagura and Kanna retreat, wide-eyed.
The creature lifts its' head and stares at them with eyes of green rimmed with gold around slit pupils. Menacing, it takes a step forward, its' clawed foot easily large enough to crush them and bares its' fangs.
"W-What…" Kagura stammers, faltering.
The dragon roars, shaking the cave and instilling a sense of dread in Kagura. Kanna holds up her mirror and tries to control Jade. The dragon fixates on Kanna and charges with a scream.
It- no, she, knows that the small white creature had taken something precious from her. The dragoness knows there is much missing and this small white creature is responsible. Her yoki and magic flare as she races towards them, synchronized in her need to kill her enemy and to take back what is hers. Kanna teleports, taking Kagura with her and thwarts the dragon. The dragon that was Jade bellows her wrath at being thwarted and tears the caves apart, searching for the elusive demonesses. Angered at the loss of her prey, the dragoness turns and retreats into the earth, bidding her time.
The hunt had only just begun.
And that is a wrap! Ugh, took forever but I feel like it worked out in the end. Please review and let me know what you think! Until next time!