Chapter Nine - The Explanation

"Who are you…?" Tomoyo asked.

"My name is Himika, and I am a phoenix." the stone replied.

"You're a phoenix? You look like a talking rock to me." Tomoyo muttered under her breath.

"I am the heart and soul. I was ripped out of my body and stored in a stone by the Crimson Malice."

"Who in the hell are the Crimson Malice?" Koga spat.

"An evil group of humans who wanted power by forcing others to suffer. They hunted me down to use my ability to reach the Gods." Himika explained.

"The Gods?" Tomoyo said intrigued.

"Yes. Myself and a dragon, Ryu, could create a portal to the Gods. Thankfully, he escaped therefore the Crimson Malice have not been able to reach them."

"Where did he go?" Yuki asked timidly.

"I do not know where he is. However, there is a way to find him and that's where I need you."

"Us?" Tomoyo cocked her head.

"Yes. Ryu left me clues so I could find him."

"What kind of clues?" Koga asked.

"He sent me a vision of five things: a well, a wardrobe, a shrine, a fountain and a tunnel. Together, they are the divine instruments. A demon and human must go to each of these places and activate them, this will create a map to the place where Ryu is hiding. I need you to find him and protect him." Himika explained.

"How will we protect him?" Tomoyo asked.

"In order to not be found he had to seal himself away in a midnight stone. You need to break the seal."

"What about you?" Koga asked, "once we've found him the Crimson Malice are sure to as well."

"That's the second favour." Himika said.

Two favours! As if one isn't hard enough. Tomoyo thought internally screaming.

"I need you to defeat the Crimson Malice and return me to my original body."

Tomoyo looked up in shock, "why does it have to be us?"

"Because you, Tomoyo are a descendant of the phoenix clan."

"What?" Tomoyo almost-shouted.

"You're the only one I can trust. And you, Koga, you will help her."

"Why me?"

"Because this whole situation caused the death of your friend, Kagome."

Tomoyo and Koga's eyes widened in horror.

"No… Kagome died because she was so ill—her parents told me themselves." Tomoyo said, holding back the tears.

"What?" Koga asked and looked at her, "they told you that?"

"Yes it happened a few months ago there was a funeral—"

"They lied." Himika finally spoke.

Tomoyo's eyes prickled and started watering, "No… I've known their family for years why would they lie."

"Because the truth was too horrific." Himika explained.

"Horrific? Koga do you know what happened." Tomoyo asked the tears falling down her cheeks now.

There was a long silence.

"—I was there…"

"Tell me, please I need to know the truth." she sobbed.

"It was at the ceremony of Kagome and Inuyasha's marriage. A group of men ambushed us and said they needed the Phoenix Priestess. They didn't tell us why they just told us to hand her over."

"Who's the Phoenix Priestess?"

"We didn't know, but they didn't believe us. They felt Kagome's priestess powers and presumed that she was who they were looking for. We tried to protect her, we did—" his voice cracked and he took deep breaths.

Tomoyo took his hand and stroked it comfortingly.

"There was so many of them and we all got seperated. I was with a man named, Miroku. He gave his life in order to save me and that is a debt I will never be able to repay. I heard Kagome screaming Inuyasha's name and so I followed it. She was tied to a tall tree and Inuyasha was pinned to the ground." he continued.

"I ran. I ran as fast as I could. But it was too late. Flames erupted on her body and their deafening screams carved themselves into my memories. I will never forget that day."

Yuki hugged her sister as tears dripped down her face.

No. Kagome. Tomoyo's other half. Her best friend. The girl who cared for her stood by her after her parents tragedy. Sweet Kags. Was gone forever.

"No." Tomoyo cried and buried her face in her hands.

"Do you understand now. The Crimson Malice will not rest until they hunt down and kill every single priestess." Himika explained, "I beg of you, help me."

Koga looked over at Tomoyo and wiped a tear away, "Lets do it."

She looked up, "What?"

"We need revenge and the only way to get it is to complete the mission and destroy the Crimson Malice." Koga told her.

"What did they tell her parents?" Tomoyo whispered.

"What?"

"What did you tell them?" she repeated.

"I don't know. Why? Are her parents here?" he asked.

"They're about 10 miles east."

"Let's go tell them everything." Koga said