Last time in Spoils of War: Hiei, Ryuji and Mîra prepare to launch thier attack on the Riding Sun stronghold. Ryuji and Hiei split up with Mîra to infiltrate the compound while she distracts the guards. The two have a heart-to-heart and Hiei opens up to Ryuji about his relationship with Mîra. Ryuji advises him to tell her how he feels directly, but Hiei feels he needs to prove himself after their heartbreaking argument at the temple. With Ryuji hacked into the security system, Hiei heads to the main bunker to try and find Minoru.
Now we get to see Mîra's side after she leaves the campsite to execute her part in the plan.
Chapter 51: House of the Rising Sun
Part 2: Prayer to the Ancestors
Vana pulled back on her strung bow, breathing evenly. Patiently, she waited, poised to strike. The clouds shifted and the full moon shone brightly on her mark. She drew in a breath and for a long moment the world around her froze. Then, she released. Her arrow's path was true and it struck her mark, sending the guard in the watch tower to the ground. Satisfied, Vana rose from the tree branch she was crouched on while Dimitri slithered up the tower to implant the second illusion stone.
'Oh, you got him good, Babe. Nice and clean.' She didn't need the dragon's approval of her marksmanship. Vana wasn't exceptional with a bow, she was far better with short swords and daggers, but she was still good.
'Of course,' she thought in reply. 'Is it ready?'
'All set,' Dimitri responded and she felt his presence rejoin with hers through a surge of warmth. Vana focused and reached out with her magic. In this world, magic was stale and, if she was less experienced, it would have taken her considerably longer to tether her magic to the engraved stones. Of course, Vana was very experienced with magic and she found the illusion thread easily. Activating it was a bit tougher. Elves by nature were easily able to access and tap into the elemental magics, but humans always had an affinity with the arcane. In fact, engraving the stone with the magic seal to make the illusion stronger was a trick she learned from Sigmundr to make up for her lack of proficiency.
Soon enough, the illusion of a figure standing at his post glimmered into life. Even under the moon, it looked real from a distance. Feeling proud that the first part of her responsibilities went smoothly, she smirked as her hand went around the handle of her darling Víraserce. Time to make a scene.
Vana stealthily made her way to the helicopter pad. The mechanical flying contraptions were undeniably interesting, and were also difficult to destroy. Ryuji explained that if she hit the gas tanks or the engine with enough force, the helicopters would explode. It was still dangerous, but it honestly sounded like the most fun Vana was about to have in ages. She watched the open space for several minutes, counting two groups of guards rotating around the area, four guards in total. Not enough. She would have to destroy the helicopters first and then engage the guards to draw out more of them on the compound.
Vana looked up at the semi-clear night sky. The full moon illuminated her path and she looked up at the starry night sky. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Ancestors," she whispered, "May your light this night guide my sword to strike swift and true. May your light guide my companions, that you illuminate their path and distract their foes." She breathed deeply before continuing her prayer. "Guide me and help me understand what is right in my heart," she added, thinking of Hiei. With another long sigh, she opened her eyes. Vana didn't know why she still bothered to pray. The ancestors didn't seem to be answering her prayers in any capacity for years. Her gloved fingers reached up to her neck, over the fang marks that were ever present and never fading.
No, she refused to fall victim to that line of thought. She was not tainted or cursed, no matter how many of her advisers threw that in her face, or whispered it behind closed doors. Once, a long time ago, this was a love mark, and she was not ashamed. She knew, at least then, she was the most important person in Hiei's life. She swallowed, refusing to allow their argument from the temple to rise in her thoughts. She didn't want to think about it right now, but the memories came back anyway.
Hiei's rebuttal of the past they shared wounded her deeply. The past with him was all she had to think about for so long—at first when she returned to Alyatavar, during her marriage with Sig when he argued that she loved her demonic king more than him, while she was sitting in a council room on the Grey Islands frustrated at her loss of power, and while she aimlessly roamed her old homelands.
She couldn't help but think of him while she lay in bed tended to by Kaneko, hearing Yusuke and Hokushin argue over her. She wondered if Hiei even had the slightest clue she was in the demon realm. What would have happened if she let Yusuke get Hiei from the beginning? No, there was no way she could allow Hiei's first sight of her after such a long time to be the frail and weak body she struggled with for weeks.
"You still don't know why you're here; you're just wandering around like a lost child."
Vana shook her head. Now was not the time.
She breathed deeply, focusing on the magic around her. She needed fire, wind, and earth to make her job effective. This was easy, like knowing her Víraserce by touch. She felt the familiar hiss and cackle of the air around her, ready to explode into flame at her will, the earth began to tremble beneath her feet, and the wind billowed around her. She honed in on the excitement and anticipation growing in her, and then she charged forward into the clearing.
Drawing on the earth beneath her, she slammed her fists into the ground, causing a large crack to shoot towards the machines and cause the ground underneath to fold inward. The helicopters smacked together with a loud bang. Two guards came into view readied their weapons at her on the right, but Vana was faster. She made a sweeping motion with her hand and shoved the wind against the guards, sending them flying in the opposite direction. From the left, she swerved in time to dodge a demon's claw coming down on her. She turned and in one fluid motion, brought her sword down and cleaved the demon in two. The fourth guard ran to get help and Vana heard a thunderous repeating noise. The last turret!
Vana ran from the turret's spray and dove behind the helicopters, using them as a shield. While that was a good temporary plan, a dozen or so guards appeared in front of her, filtering out from the compound. Good. That should help Ryuji and Hiei considerably. She stood, grinning madly at her opponents. They had no idea what was in store for them.
Vana thrust Víraserce into the ground and charged at them bare fisted. When she got close she leapt into the air and pulled on the crackling tension in the air causing the ground to burst into flames. The guards screamed and Vana landed on an unlit patch, punching a guard in the gut, grabbing his gun, and firing at the fresh guards emerging from the compound. The mechanical contraption felt odd in her hands, and though she was a weapons master, she was not prepared for the gun's recoil. Tossing the gun aside, she ran around the flames, putting distance between her and guards emerging form the compound.
Unfortunately, that brought her in line of sight of the turret again. One of the bullets grazed her leg and she stumbled a bit, but she made it back to cover behind the helicopters. Vana grabbed her sword and sheathed the blade. Whipping the bow off her back and drawing an arrow from her quiver, she strung the bow and aimed initially at the blazing fire behind her. Pulling on the tethers in the blazing fire she drew some of it out and to the tip of her arrow. Then, she dipped into her Song, feeling the charged power coursing through her. She aimed up and released, and the fire and lightning infused arrow landed on the watch tower with a loud bang. Grinning, Vana ran for the woods.
Before entering the woods, Vana strung her bow again with another lightning charged arrow and released it. With the fire already raging around, the helicopters didn't stand a chance. For a moment, the explosion was so bright that Vana shielded her eyes. When the light died, she surveyed her work with pride. The whole area was ablaze. She turned to the sound of the guards yelling, and it seemed like there was an endless amount of them. She waved at them with a smile and then darted into the woods.
Now she needed to head through the forest up and around to the side of the compound Ryuji and Hiei entered from. Of course, she thought she would have to chase off any guards that attempted to follow her, but there was no one on her trail. That was strange. She made sure the guards saw her deliberately so they would follow her. Vana clenched her jaw as she moved. Something was wrong.
After traveling for twenty minutes, she paused to take stock of her position. Pulling a small holo from her pack, she brought up the layout of the compound. The forest wrapped around the west, north, and east side of the building. Ryuji and Hiei entered from the east, so Vana needed to go all the way around. Looking at her position she was able to see that she was on track, and she just needed to keep heading northeast. She put the holo away and pulled out some bandages. The spot where the bullet grazed her wasn't deep, but it was still bleeding. She bandaged it quickly and set off.
But with every step she took, Vana couldn't help feeling like something was off about the forest. A thick white mist developed around her feet to the point she couldn't see the ground easily and the natural sounds of the forest were missing. In fact, this was the quietest forest Vana had ever traversed. A chill went down her spine and her flesh prickled into goose bumps. Vana drew her sword and cautiously continued walking. Then, something appeared in the corner of her eye.
She turned and saw an ethereal figure standing between two trees. Or, was it standing? Vana stared at the figure and observed the top portion was leaning to the side, as if it was barely able to stand. The figure's head was tucked down and the odd angle made it difficult to make out a face. After it staggered forward a few steps, Vana gasped. The figure was human. The ethereal human looked up, it's eyes wide with madness and Vana stared into back into the dark empty eyes for a long moment.
Then, it let out an ear-splitting screech.
The human charged at Vana but she easily side stepped the figure and cut it in two. Or, she was supposed to. Vana' beloved Víraserce simply cut through the human, as if it was cutting nothing but air. The human turned and swiped its hand across her face. Vana felt prickling on her cheek and then the slow drip of her thick blood down her face.
'Necromancy!' Dimitri howled in disgust and horror. 'Babe, we gotta get out of here!'
Cursing, Vana turned and ran towards the edge of the forest. It was risk going back out into the open, but her weapons were useless here and her magic wasn't going to be much help either. The ghost wailed after her and behind her she heard the ground ripping open. Chancing a glance behind, she saw skeletons rising from the ground and there were so many of them that she couldn't see a clear path back. Looking forward she cursed again and skidded to a halt. Skeletons and ghosts lined the path forward and behind… no, all around. She was completely surrounded.
The ground beneath her crumbled and before she could react, a bony hand grabbed her ankle. Vana screamed in fury and called upon the Song, and her body charged as her will merged with Dimitri. There was no way they would allow this sacrilege, nor would they succumb to the dead!
Vana smashed the skeleton rising from the ground underneath her and she swung her sword around destroying several skeletons but running clean through the ghosts. She dodged another swipe only to back up against several ghosts who grabbed her. Vana expelled a burst of magic dissolving the ghosts and freeing Vana. This wasn't sustainable. Vana needed to create a path out the forest using her Song to protect her from the ghosts. Gripping her sword tightly, she charged forward towards the edge of the forest. She blew by the ghosts and skeletons, and anything that came near her dissolved instantly. But Vana kept running and the tree line wasn't any closer.
A sinking feeling began to seep into her gut. After getting a large distance away from the mob, she slowed, and, when she deemed it safe enough, came to a full stop. She let go of the tether between her and Dimitri and she felt drained and weak.
'It's because we don't practice,' Dimitri hissed. 'We need to-'
"Don't tell me what to do or presume to know what we need!" She snapped. The dragon fell silent in her mind.
Being an Angulóce Tae was something neither of them expected or even really wanted. Dimitri was a low-class wind dragon, desperate to save himself and avenge his people. Vana needed an edge to surprise the human mages targeting Fealóce and the other known dragons. Rodyn begged her not to do it but if she hadn't taken the deal, there was a good chance she never would have survived the battle, let alone her brother or countless other elves.
When she and Dimitri were focused on the same goal, their power and energy seemed limitless. That alone allowed Vana to get behind the human enemy lines and surprise the human mages before they died. In the Makai Tournament, Vana wanted to give Hiei everything she had, and Dimitri wanted to fight a defeat the mythical Forbidden Dragon. But that didn't mean that living with the dragon was easy. Even now, after more than half a century together, she still regarded Dimitri as a separate entity. That division prevented her from tapping into the full potential of her Song now, and she knew it.
Panting and trying to regain her breath, Vana pulled out the small holo to check her position. When she pulled up the map, she stared at it in horror. No, this wasn't possible. Her location marker was in the exact same spot from when she checked it an hour ago. She heard the ground crackling around her again and she quickly shoved the holo into her pack and readied her sword. Dimitri materialized next to her protectively.
"We need to use the Song again," she called to him, striking down a skeleton.
'We can't! Last time we lost control!' he responded in her mind. Next to her, he swiped his tail, knocking a skeleton through a ghost. 'Besides, we're lost here! This is a magical problem, there has to be a solution!'
Vana drew on her fire magic and shot a large fireball towards several skeletons. The bones scattered but the fire went right through the ghosts. "Necromancy stems from arcane magic. Plus, this may not even be magic. It could be related to chi and ki, which I can't even tap into!" she snapped, dodging another ghost. "We don't have another option!"
Dimitri snarled behind her before leaping on several skeletons, but that left him exposed to ghosts on the other side. Fear seized Vana as they clawed at his leathery skin, causing green blood to ooze from his hide. "Come back," she screamed desperate. She swung her sword and called upon the elements, but nothing seemed to be working. They were slowly being boxed in.
No, it can't end like this. Ancestors, did she truly deserve this fate? Was she truly cursed? She thought of the way her heart pounded in her chest earlier that night as Hiei smirked at her, the mischievous glint in his sharp red eyes and the tantalizing smirk curled on his lips. No! She refused to give up! She called Dimitri back to her and he was too weakened to protest. Then, she dipped into the Song, reaching deep into her soul for Dimitri. She searched the labyrinth of her mind, turning corners but she couldn't find him. She heard the Song, but where was he?!
Vana cried out as a ghost bit her arm and her concentration broke. One of the skeleton hands curled around the bullet wound from earlier and dug its bony fingers into the wound. Pain seared through Vana as she struggled to stay on her feet, but several other skeletons grabbed her sword arm and dragged her to the ground. With a cry, Vana called upon her Song sent out a burst of energy. The attack disintegrated the skeletons and ghosts around her, but more enemies began to fill the gap. Her jaw clenched, Vana pulled herself to her feet and took hold of her sword.
"Not today!" she cried, bracing herself and preparing for the next wave. The ghosts and skeletons lunged at her, their cacophonous screams filling the air, but suddenly there was a white force that knocked Vana to the ground. She shut her eyes on instinct, the light blinding her, but she heard the ghosts and skeletons began to wail and then—silence.
When the light faded and she blinked, her eyes refocusing on a large figure lying on the ground in front of her. No, not a figure. A man. He was more solid than the ghosts, but still had an ethereal air about him.
Then man pulled himself up sputtering and looking around wildly. "Eh? Hey what's the big deal, Sis?!" the man screeched, his fist raised towards the sky. "I can't believe you would punch your own baby brother like that!"
Stunned, Vana stared at him. He was a tall, broad shouldered man dressed in white billowing pants, similar to the martial arts clothing Yusuke favored. He was bare chested but wore a long white coat. Vana thought there was large black writing on the back of it, but her ability to read kanji wasn't as good as it used to be.
Vana frowned. He seemed familiar, but he was definitely a spirit. His body had the same ethereal glow as the ghosts, but seemed sturdier, as though he were solid. He looked back and forth crudely and pulled himself to his feet. Finally, his long-pointed face and beady black eyes fixed on her. His hair was oddly shaped, like a funnel, and… bright orange? Then, recognition hit her. It wasn't possible! It couldn't be!
He pointed at her, wide eyed. "Mîra-chan!"
"Kuwabara!" she exclaimed, shocked.
Vana could not believe her eyes. Kazuma Kuwabara stood there grinning before her. He began to walk towards her but she skirted back. "This isn't possible! You're dead!" She exclaimed.
Kuwabara looked taken aback, but then a ghost materialized behind her. Without hesitation Kuwabara charged forward with a yell, summoned his Spirit Sword, and sliced the ghost in two. It dispersed with a wail. Other ghosts crowding around them paused in their movements. As he stood over her Vana felt a strong, protective energy emanate from him.
He swung his sword on his shoulder and he grinned out at the ghosts and skeletons hovering around them from the distance, "Yeah that's right! This lady here is under my protection. So, you'll have to go through me, the great Kazuma Kuwabara, to get to her! Just try it!"
Was he… posing? Vana resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her former brother-in-law. Oh yeah, he was definitely posing.
Surprisingly, the undead enemies retreated and disappeared. Vana pulled herself to her feet and Kuwabara turned to her grinning. "It's been a long time, Mîra-chan!" he exclaimed.
But Vana was still in shock at seeing her dead brother-in-law. "How are you even here?"
Kuwabara frowned at her. "Well, you asked for help, didn't you?" He struck another pose with his hands on his hips, "I, the great Kazuma Kuwabara, am an excellent an excellent protector!"
Ask for help? She did, from the Ancestors. If Kuwabara was here then… maybe they did hear her prayer. After all, he was family through marriage. Hope rose in her chest and she couldn't help but grin.
"You're right. Thank you, Kuwabara," Vana replied, giving him a tired smile.
He grinned back and gave her a thumbs up. The, he frowned, looking at their surroundings. "Uh, now what?"
"I need to get out of the forest but it seems this magic is preventing me from identifying where I am, or even leaving." Vana pulled out the holo and showed Kuwabara the compound. "Here is where I entered, and over here to the east is where Ryuji and Hiei entered the building. I was hoping to gain access through the same door and rendezvous with them inside."
"Hmm…" Kuwabara stared at the map frowning. "I don't know where we are but the exit is that way." He pointed off to the south.
"What? How can you be sure?" Vana said taken aback. Surely it should take longer to determine which way to go. Kuwabara began to walk and his protective aura moved with him. Hastily, she got in step alongside him. Pain shot through her with each step of her wounded leg, but she didn't slow her pace.
Kuwabara tilted his head down at Vana slightly and he smiled confidently. "I just do!" Then he stopped and looked at her appraisingly. Then, without warning, he placed his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes. Surprisingly, Kuwabara's hands rested solidly on her but his touch was freezing cold. His aura grew and shifted, and a comforting warmth washing over her. The pains from the bullet wound and other scratches and scrapes from the ghosts seemed to ebb away. Overall, she felt refreshed and rejuvenated. When he released her, she placed her hand on her cheek. The cuts seemed to be gone completely.
"There! Now you're good to go!" Kuwabara said. He turned and continued marching forward.
Vana followed him completely stunned. Yukina mentioned Kuwabara grew into a powerful spiritual healer but to be able to heal her wounds, summon a protective aura, and use his sword despite being dead? That was just incredible. But the rules of the dead seemed to be slightly different in this world too. Was the connection to the Spirit World able to amplify his power?
Out of the corner of his eye, Kuwabara seemed to notice Vana staring at him curiously and he said, "I don't know much about what's going on. I work with Koenma and all but I don't deal with the living." He looked a bit saddened as he added, "I can't form an attachment or anything." But then his beady eyes sharpened with focus. "But I know my son is in trouble. I'm glad you, Hiei, and Ryuji are here to help him."
"Is he behind the attacks?" She asked, rushed.
Kuwabara shook his head. "Koenma filled me in but I didn't start watching the live feed from his office until you all showed up in the woods. It's the first time I've seen into the living world since I-" He paused and did not continue. Even admitting death was difficult, it seemed.
"Anyway," he shrugged, "I don't know any more than you. But, I have a bad feeling Minoru is in trouble. Maybe he deserves some consequences for starting a gang, but he's not heartless or evil, ya know?"
Ever since the assassination attempt, Vana heard that Minoru would not do this or that from various members of his family. She didn't believe any of them. History taught her otherwise, and it didn't matter if it was someone you thought you could trust with your life: If something felt wrong or suspicious, there was a reason.
But hearing Kuwabara speak so honestly about his own son gave her pause. Maybe they were right. She always intended to hear Minoru out before deciding what to do, and Hiei already hinted at arresting him and handing him over to Spirit World as a possibility, but maybe she could try and be more sympathetic. She thought of Ryuji's sentiments earlier-'I could have been Minoru. Easily.'
Kuwabara pulled her out of her thoughts. "How come you need my help anyway? Aren't you supposed to be all-powerful?" he jeered at her.
Vana gave him a sharp glare. "I am powerful. But dealing with spirits and necromancy is not something I'm familiar with because it stems heavily from arcane magic. My people did not delve into the arcane arts, unlike Durintavar. Even with King Soron's obsession with the arcane, human mages were far more proficient. In fact, my only encounter with necromancy was on a mission with my husband."
The words left her without a thought, but Kuwabara stopped in his tracks. "Husband?" He asked, surprised.
Vana sighed. "Yes, I got remarried, but he's been dead now for almost a century now." Vana didn't have an issue admitting to her relationship with Sig, but seeing Kuwabara in front of her, she wondered if Sig was able to hear her prayers from Valhalla. A wistful nostalgia overcame her and she suddenly ached for Sig's cheery smile and joyous, "Hello, Darling!"
She swallowed and continued, "Sigmundr, my second husband, was one of the most powerful human wizards of the time. While traveling through the human countryside, we encountered a village that was being attacked by the undead. Sig and I investigated the problem first hand. I discovered that my magic, primary elemental magic, was unable to touch spirits or ghosts. Anything physical I could handle, and Sig dealt with the ghosts and necromantic magic."
"So," Kuwabara sniggered, "This is basically your weakness." He seemed to be amused by the fact that he found some sort of weakness in her. How was it, after all these years, he was still an immature idiot?
"It is not a weakness," she snapped defensively. "It's a very difficult obstacle that I did not expect."
At that, Kuwabara burst into laughter and Vana stalked ahead of him in protest, but she stopped short of where the aura ended. It wasn't far, so Vana whirled on him.
"Are we going to continue, or are you just going to stand there pointlessly?" She snapped.
Still grinning, Kuwabara began to walk again. Vana walked in step with him, her chin raised, as she ignored him. They walked in silence for a bit and the father they walked, the more worried Vana became. How much time passed while she was stuck in these woods? Were Hiei and Ryuji okay? Did they find Minoru?
"Hey, Mîra, what are you doing here anyway?" Kuwabara asked her.
"I thought you knew. I'm here to find out what's going on with Minoru and Rising Sun."
"No, I mean, why are you here in this realm? Are you and Hiei getting back together?"
Oh. That.
Whenever anyone asked her why she returned to the Makai, she would find some excuse to avoid the truth because it was pathetic and pitiful, and Vana refused to be seen as either. But she was so tired and confused that she didn't have the will to deceive an ancestor's spirit.
"I don't know," she said quietly. She avoided Kuwabara's gaze.
"Wait, you don't know about why you're here or if you and Hiei-"
"I said, I don't know!" she snapped angrily. She stopped walking and stared down at her gloved hands. "I don't… I can't…" The words choked in her throat. She felt numb and Vana stared at the tear drops splattering on her gloved hands.
Vana hated crying. Ada always told her never to cry and instructed her to keep her chin up to let the world see her strength. But here she was, sobbing like a small child in front of a dead man for no reason other than the general feeling of misery welled up inside of her chest.
"Sorry, Mîra. I didn't mean to make you cry!" Kuwabara added quickly. He clearly did not expect this reaction from her. "If Hiei's being a jerk, I'll kick his ass for you, okay?"
That made Vana laugh. Well, it was more akin to a choking-snort-laugh, but the thought of Kuwabara attempting to kick Hiei's ass was entertaining enough to lift her spirits a little. The thought reminded her of the old days, back when that were happily married. Whenever they visited Genkai's temple, Vana always knew that Hiei and Kuwabara would end up in an argument resulting in them nearly coming to blows, if not for Yukina's well timed interventions. That was a good time in Vana's life.
"It's not your fault," Vana said. She wiped her face and then, forcing a neutral expression on her face, she asked, "Are we close?"
Kuwabara frowned at her, his beady eyes staring at her with concern, but he didn't press her. "I think we're close."
They started walking again, and sure enough, soon the white, thick mist began to thin. Hope began to rise in Vana's chest. She would get out of here alive. She would see Hiei again, for all that was worth.
Suddenly Kuwabara stopped in his tracks and he shivered violently. "Somethings isn't right here. This area feels different than the rest of the forest."
Vana pulled out her sword and began to look around cautiously. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know, this area feels corrupted."
"The whole forest is corrupted," Vana snapped impatiently. Her nerves were acting up, making her feel edgy.
Kuwabara shook his head. "No. There's definitely something causing the mist, but the forest isn't corrupted. But here, in this spot, the forest is corrupted." He bent down and touched the ground. Vana watched him as he murmured a few words and a bright light emitted from his palm. Then the ground shook and Vana almost gagged at the rancid smell air suddenly surrounding them.
"Uh, oops?" Kuwabara said and Vana glared at him. He looked up at her and his bravado returned. "Well, I found the source of the ghosts!"
"Great," Vana replied, her voice dripping in sarcasm. Kuwabara never got the chance to respond to the retort as mist began to swirl into a ball in front of them. Then, the mist spread, creating the silhouette of a figure. No, a man. Vana shifted her stance, ready to pounce with her sword at a moment's notice, and Kuwabara readied his Spirit Sword, partially standing in front of her protectively.
As the figure took a more solid shape, Vana became uneasy. The figure seemed to be a middle-aged man wearing a loose blue tunic and brown breeches with leather boots. A short sword rested at the figure's hip, and though the hilt seemed to be custom, Vana could not make out what it looked like clearly. The face of the man began to shape into someone with shaggy brown hair and a thick, well-trimmed beard. Vana sucked in a breath as the figure's ethereal face became defined, with a narrow nose and round blue eyes.
Vana's sword drooped, her mind to stunned to comprehend the figure in front of her. Why were the Ancestors doing this to her? She thought they were answering her prayers by sending Kuwabara. Was that all a farce?
"Eileifr?" She whispered in disbelief. He was staring at them with a hard glare and Kuwabara stepped forward.
"Hey! Get out of our way or I'll make you!" He threatened, brandishing his Spirit Sword.
"No!" Vana cried in protest, placing a hand on Kuwabara's arm. "You can't hurt his spirit, that's my son!"
Leif's ethereal figure drew his sword and pointed it at her. "Don't call me that," he snarled. "I am not your son!"
Vana felt a sharp pain as old wounds ripped open inside her. "Leif, Ion, we reconciled long ago. What are you doing here?"
"Reconciled? How can I reconcile with a conceited elf like you?" he howled. Then, to Vana's horror, he charged at them with his sword. Vana stared at him rooted in place, unable to move. Kuwabara's sword transformed into a brightly glowing shield and he raised it to block Leif's attack. The cackling of the sword hitting the shield snapped Vana out of her daze. She stepped out from Kuwabara's shadow and called out to her son again.
"Leif, why is your spirit here? You should be resting in Valhalla!"
He whipped around to face her and charged again, yelling, "I'm here to end you! All my life I've been a joke to you, Rodynar, and all of Alyatavar!"
"That's not true!" she responded desperately, easily dodging his blade. "We all loved you so much!"
"Liar!" he snarled. "You wanted to abandon me the first time you laid eyes on me!" He readied another attack, but all Vana could do was stare.
Leif's words echoed in Vana's ears like an old, sad song. He spoke similarly to her left Alyatavar at 17, angry, hurt, and confused. Back then she tried to explain what happened as best she could, and she tried emphasize there was never a moment she considered abandoning him or leaving him in someone else's care. Even though it was his cries that drove her mad and caused her to plunge the blade into his mother's heart, the moment she picked him up out of bassinet, squalling and crying, all she could think about was how he had Sig's face and round blue eyes.
She remembered turning to Rodyn, who was standing behind her, his eyes transfixed on her bloodied hands cradling the infant. "I shall raise him with honor. The way his father would have wanted," she declared. Rodyn did not protest, and so, Vana brought Eileifr to Alyatavi court and raised the boy as her own. She often told him stories about Sig growing up, and told him that Sig was watching from the stars above, with the rest of Leif's ancestors. She wanted the boy to love his father and remember him how she wanted to remember Sig—bright and full of laughter, joy, and kindness.
It wasn't easy to love Leif. Some days she looked at him and all she could see was Elanor, laughing at her. Other days, it was Sig coughing to death over her. But she found ways around the ghosts that haunted her so that Leif didn't notice for a long time. She knew her day of reckoning would come, but, until then, Vana made sure Leif knew he was loved.
Because as she stood there holding the bawling infant with her bloodied and dirty hands, she vowed that she would not abandon him like Hiei was abandoned. She would never be Rui who abandoned an innocent in her own weakness. Leif would never grow up like Hiei, alone and full of hate and anger for the world around him. Leif would grow up surrounded by love, joy, and happiness for as long as possible. Eventually, it was that love which ultimately helped Leif and Vana reconcile. When Leif peacefully died as an old man, Vana had no regrets with her son.
Suddenly everything clicked into place, like a light in her mind that she didn't know was out suddenly turned on. How could she have been so forceful, so insistent on killing Minoru? His family was desperately trying to save him with love and forgiveness, no matter his deeds, yet here she was on a mission to destroy him and anyone else in her path.
When did she become so cold and unforgiving? When did she forget to truly laugh and enjoy something without a weight bearing down on her? How had she let the years chip away at her, like the ocean wearing down a rock? She didn't want to die like this, and she didn't want to live as this person anymore. This… Black Queen. This tainted and cursed soul. Vana didn't recognize herself anymore. She didn't know how, or even if she could, but Vana refused to let herself go down this path any further.
Vana let Víraserce drop from her hands. Her beloved sword hit the ground with a muffled thud, and she stood firmly as Leif charged at her in slow motion. She began to sing and as she dipped into her Song, she felt it change into something new. As she connected with Dimitri, she felt peaceful but resolute. In the background, she heard Kuwabara chanting something but it did not matter. Leif's sword came closer towards her, but she only stood there singing, with her hands clasped over her heart.
Leif came at her, his eyes brimmed with anger, but the sword suddenly stopped mid-motion, the tip gently pressed against her midsection. She reached out and cupped the sides of his face with her hands gently, continuing to sing and staring down at him lovingly. Leif's ethereal image began to shift and blur. His eyes began to dart around wildly, until they landed on Vana. His blue eyes locked with hers and widened.
Then, Kuwabara let out a yell and punched the ground. The world went white, blinding Vana and causing her to stumble backwards. Her concentration broken, her Song ended abruptly. The light died down, but with her vision still blurry, she groped around on the ground for her sword. She found the blade easily and wrapping her hand around the cool metal sent a wave of reassurance over her.
"Kuwabara?" She called. She blinked and the forest slowly came into focus. Kuwabara was standing proudly with a smug grin on his face, his arms crossed.
"Been awhile since I performed a cleansing but that was spot on!" he grinned. "I still got it!"
"Cleansing?" Vana echoed. She looked around and sure enough, the mist was completely gone. Through the trees she could see a clearing and then the compound. Vana sheathed her sword and her eyes fell on Leif. His previous anger and rage seemed to be completely gone as he stared down at himself in a mixture of fear, awe, and surprise. He looked younger now, not quite the teen he was when he left Alyatavar, but rather the strapping young man with a stubbled chin and dashingly styled hair who married Viviane and became king of the northern human kingdom.
He looked up at her and his blue eyes widened again. Then he cried, "Amil!" She extended her arms to him and he ran to her, throwing his arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry again, but this time she didn't bother to hide it. Warmth swelled in her chest as she held her son tightly, despite how cold his body felt pressed against hers. Eventually, Leif pulled back from the embrace.
"Amil, what happened to me? I don't understand…" He trailed off.
Kuwabara chimed in. "Someone rigged the forest to force dead spirits to attack anyone who stepped foot in this place. The bad guy used this spot as a way to anchor the dead here. But he was no match for me, the great Kazuma Kuwabara!" He struck a pose again, his thumb pointing at himself. "Those spirits are all free now and you're cleansed from the corruption."
Leif strode over to Kuwabara and bowed. "I thank you Sir Kuwabara. For both releasing me and helping my mother."
"You're welcome!" Kuwabara grinned.
Leif turned to Vana, a sly grin forming on his handsome face. "I hear you're trying to get back with your Demon King, Amil. I never thought you would be so forward in your romantic pursuits," he said humorously. "From what I remember, you let them all come to you." Vana couldn't help but smile as she got the distinct impression that Ryuji and Leif would get along fabulously.
"Well, it takes Hiei a bit longer to get moving. I have to work on him," Vana responded grinning. "He's not like your father." Her grin faded. Once, that was true. Now, Hiei was very clear in demonstrating exactly how he felt about her and Vana had done a fine job of ignoring it out of… what, fear? Her chest tightened thinking about the argument at the temple.
"Amil," Leif said gently, taking his cold hand in hers. Her eyes widened as his ethereal form began to fade. "I hear you, Amil. Father hears you too." Vana stared at him shocked, but before she could ask about Sig, Leif continued, "Be good to yourself, Amil. Khil Cín Elwe." He placed a kiss her cheek and then his image blurred and disappeared.
Vana whirled to Kuwabara, who was also starting to fade. She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you, Kuwabara." His cold arms went around her tightly.
"Take care of my son, Mîra." He said. "Tell Yukina I love her, and Sakura, and Isao, and when you find him, Minoru. And tell Urameshi he was lucky he wasn't here because I've been itching for a fight, and I'm stronger than ever so I woulda pounded him into the ground."
Vana laughed a nice, genuine laugh. "I will. Tell Shizuru I miss her. Keiko too."
But Kuwabara never responded as his form faded into a gentle glow that hovered in the air, and then disappeared.
Vana sucked in a deep breath and stared at the tree line of the forest. She pulled out the holo and checked her location. The marker showed her on the north side of the forest. She edged to the tree line carefully. The tower that Hiei and Ryuji were supposed to handle was manned again and there were several groups of guards on patrol or stationed along the perimeter. It seems many of them either poured outside and weren't able to get back in, or Hiei and Ryuji were still undetected.
'I say we take them, Babe. I don't want to be in this forest any longer,' Dimitri's voice said lightly, but she was able to detect the hesitation as well.
'I agree,' She thought back. After a moment she added. 'You're right and I'm sorry.'
The was a pause before Dimitri responded. 'Eh, don't worry about it, Babe. Just get me some cookies and we'll call it even.'
Vana looked down at her sword and placed a hand on the hilt. Khil Cín Elwe, Follow Your Heart. The message was inscribed on Víraserce, something she always carried, and yet it had been years since she thought of the phrase.
Vana closed her eyes and centered herself. The Ancestors did hear her prayers. They were with her. Kuwabara, Shizuru, Keiko, and Koenma were with her. Leif was with her. …and Sig was with her too. If Sig could see her now, she knew he'd scold her. She could hear him chiding her in her head: 'Darling, why must everything with you be about fire and blood? Don't look at this as a mission to destroy the raiders, see it as a way to help and protect the villagers. We both know you're strong, but you're ferocious when you're fighting to protect!'
She was able to see clearly now that as the years wore her down, she forgot what it was like to fight to protect someone, or something. The Sig in her head was right—she knew how to draw a line in the sand and hold it. That's exactly what she was going to do now.
Vana's hand curled around Víraserce resolutely. She was going to find Minoru and judge him with compassion, even though she it was difficult for her to remember how. She was going to apologize to Hiei for stubbornly being a wall that kept him out, while he was tearing down his own walls to let her in. She was going to stop hiding from Dimitri and acknowledge that they are indeed one entity.
She was going to get past these guards, this tower, find Minoru, and then follow the advice that had been by her side all this time.
"Khil Cín Elwe," she murmured like a prayer, before drawing her sword and leaping out into the clearing.
I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter and Kuwabara's cameo! Originally, Sig was also supposed to make an appearance to help stop Leif's corrupted spirit, but as a I was writing the scene, I felt Sig wasn't necessary. I also like that Mîra's regrets and issues with her relationship to Sig ended unresolved. Ultimately, I decided I wanted to set Mîra on the path towards acceptance and forgiveness, but I didn't necessarily want her to be at that stage so quickly. It just didn't seem realistic.
SoW Trivia: The music I listen to while writing Mîra's sections varies from the White Stripes and Imagine Dragons to Lady Gaga. For the past few chapters, it's been a selection of Game of Thrones tracks-mostly Dany's themes. Her themes are the best because they are either strong and powerful, or uplifting and inspirational while being always regal.
Sow Trivia: Hiei's writing music is consistently Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men. Both music groups have introspective, painful, and wistful tones and themes that I tried to write Hiei with throughout this story.
Translation Notes:
Ada: Father
Amil: Mother
Ion: Son
Khil Cín Elwe: Follow your Heart