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Itty Bitty Pretty Seven
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In the free fall, there were moments of dizzying confusion as the wind hit his face once again. Holding the sutra tightly to his chest, Miroku closed his eyes and forced himself to count to three as he summoned his spiritual power. A fall from this distance might kill them unless they found help - Kirara's demonic powers having been stripped by the spell in someway that prevented her from transforming. It was a nightmare but one that Sango must survive. Even as he counted, his hand was clenched around the small paper and he had barely reached three before he threw the sutra with all his strength….and missed.
"OW! WATCH IT!" came a booming voice from up above as the three plummeted hard into the giant's outstretched hand, "Geez. I'm trying to help you guys!"
Breathing heavily, the monk blinked up at the girl currently sucking on her finger as she glared sternly down at him.
"I must admit I'm confused," Miroku began slowly, "Exactly how are you attempting to help us? Was it not you who put us in our present state?"
"Listen, I'm sorry about that," Emi sighed heavily as she set them down, "And I'll change you back if you hear me out."
Sighing heavily, the slayer and monk exchanged nervous glances before each nodding once in agreement.
"It seems we don't have much of a choice," Miroku grumbled - his attitude failing to come across thanks to the high pitched and squeaky tone of her voice, "Explain yourself."
A muscle twitched involuntarily at the corner of her right eye, her mouth formed a rigid grimace. With arms folded tightly across her chest, she tapped his foot furiously - all the while biting her bottom lip as though she was regretting this decision - before the words tumbled out of her mouth, "So about a year ago, my grandmother began collecting jewel shards in order to gain power. She was a demoness capable of recalling souls and entrapping them in clay vessels to serve her. My mother had gifts of her own. Much like me, she was capable of manipulating the form of any being or object. In the past, my mother and grandmother worked in tandem. Together they were able to create those unholy minions. Once Mother met Father and had me, she refused to help grandmother any longer. At first it was fine. Mother agreed to help Grandmother create new minions to replace her in exchange for being left alone and initially she was. Then the jewel shards appeared. When my mother refused to help her collect the shards, Grandmother cursed my mother, father and grandfather to forever remain in a cave. Their form was unnatural - a mass of goo and ooze with a very loose body. Mother immediately went out after her and began to dissolve in the bright sunlight. Father went to help and he too perished. I waited and waited for Grandmother to come for me but...she never did. I have tried and tried to break the curse but the magic is too advanced for me. So I enlisted the help of a priestess who promised to help me in exchange for the hanyou named Inuyasha."
Releasing a shuddering breath, the girl's eyes darted towards them anxiously as she played idly with her hands, "So I manipulated his form. I am able to create clay copies of myself - much like Grandmother's magic - so I laid a trap. The spell I placed on him was meant to drain him of his demonic energy to make him easier to handle but he's broken it. When I saw you flying by, I thought I could use you to barter with him but...but then my brother described your group as one that might be willing to help."
"What was the name of the priestess?" Sango asked suddenly as she exchanged a nervous glance with Miroku, "Why did she say she wanted him?"
"She didn't give me her name or why she wanted him," the girl answered honestly before adding quickly, "But she had these strange scales over her eyes and silver hair."
"Tsubaki," Sango breathed anxiously before adding loud enough for the girl to hear, "She is a dark priestess. One that we believed to have defeated a few moons ago. How long ago did she request you bring him to her?"
"Some days ago," Emi answered as she paled visibly, "You defeated her?"
"Yes, she almost killed our friend with a dark curse and battled us fiercly. She sold her soul to demons in exchange for immortal youth," Miroku answered wearily, "If she is indeed the priestess of which we speak."
"Oh, so I've teamed up with a bitter enemy then, huh? Well that changes things now, doesn't it?" the girl answered dejectedly as she waved her hand lazily causing the three forms to suddenly and painfully grow to their original size, "Sorry for everything. You can go. I don't expect you to help me now that you know. I'll figure out something else."
"Wait," Sango pleaded as she unsteadily got to her feet, "We will help you but you must help us defeat her."
"Are you serious?" Emi breathed incredulously, "After everything I've done, you'd still help me?"
"That's what we do," Sango replied kindly before adding in a serious tone, "And that priestess is dangerous."
"Well," the girl replied with a shy smile, "Then we..."
Her words were unnaturally cut off when five crimson blades suddenly cut through the clearing and embedded themselves deeply into the girl's body as the monk and slayer watched on in horror.