Hello dedicated readers. A few comments before we get on with our story:
First the following chapter has a tinge of religion in it…so I hope I haven't insulted anyone. For any one who is …feel free to tell me and I shall make the necessary changes. I never meant it to be so.
Most importantly………PLEASE REVIEW!!! This is my first fic and I'm pretty insecure. Just REVIEW it PLEASE.
Well here it is folks, the grand finale. It's finally here. Again I got over exited and wrote the whole thing as one big chapter. So there'll be no prologue of sorts.
ENJOY…
Chapter 7: Shadows of the Light
Euric moved silently, the darkness around him was no hindrance; he knew where he was going. It was after all, a path he had traveled many times…
Doubts…he hoped he had done the right thing…he hoped he'd made the right choice, lives were about to be changed.
As he came to the familiar clearing in the woods the same blinding light greeted him. Bowing, he gave his report,
"It seems he is worthy. Him and the other four have the necessary qualities we need."
"Very good. Go, the boy is in your care now"
"I have doubts…you have the power, why not let them live a while, then you can make them yours. Such early exposure to…well I'm just saying it might have a de-humanizing effect on them"
"Be mindful of your place Euric. We need them untainted by the world…now silence your tongue and fulfill your duties"
Euric new he'd crossed a line. Accepting his duties, he retreated from the light quickly retracing his steps back to the village, his task needing completion…
The priest stared into the silence, two hundred and fifty years…for two hundred and fifty years he'd watched over Valcos and the others. Initially they were intended to be weapons, weapons in the hands of the light.
But Valcos had proved to be so much more.
The priest couldn't believe the opportunity that had presented itself before the light. The frown found its way back to his lips, he had his orders. The plan needed completion.
Sensing the hostility around him he stoped.
"So, the seven are assembled. You all have done well, all except you, Valcos"
Valcos looked up at the priest, his eyes still watery, his face still pained.
"You…what are you doing here?"
"That is irrelevant, where is my hate Valcos?"
But there was no time for a response, it seemed Sesshoumaru did not approve of the priest's reappearance. The poison whip lashed out at the throat of the priest as it had done before. But this time it never reached its mark…
The priest lowered his arm away from his face, the whip wrapped around his wrist. Energy seemed to flow through the whip towards the demon lord. There was a blinding flash of light and Sesshoumaru felt himself being thrown back. He still landed gracefully on his own two feet, it was then that he felt pain shoot through his entire body. Looking at his shoulder he saw the wound that Valcos had inflicted earlier. Looking back at his right hand he noticed that it was black as soot.
Something didn't add up, this priest was no illusion.
Miroku watched the priest, he definitely wasn't an illusion...but that created more questions than it seemed to answer. Why would the priest want to make the world suffer eternally? More importantly Valcos' reaction upon seeing them for the first time made it evident that he had no idea about the priest's involvement. Something was definitely wrong.
Valcos clutched his wounded chest, still on his knees he turned to the man he once knew-a look of confusion capturing his face.
The priest looked down towards the ground when he spoke again, his voice just above a whisper. He had come so close; he would not let it fall apart now...
"Now Valcos, where is my hate?"
But it seemed that fait didn't want him to have the answer today…at least not without sufficient interruptions.
"Shut your stupid mouth, stop wasting my time you're just a stupid illusion!!"
Inuyasha had finally lost his temper. The pain caused by his external injuries as well as his internal ones were driving him to the edge. Sesshoumaru gave him a scathing glance; clearly his moron of a half brother had no clue as to what was going on.
Tessaiga transformed, the shards of diamond on its blade now sparkled in the mid-day sun. Inuyasha had had enough
"Ill just rip you apart!! Take this you bastard!! Kongosoha!!"
Inuyasha brought the blade down with all his force. Diamond spears erupted from the swing, flying toward its target. The priest didn't move. He stood perfectly still, looking at the same piece of meadow as before. A single spear connected with the man right in the gut, sending him flying backwards.
Valcos tried to get to his feet, but his emotions pushed him back down. Far ahead of him the priest he once knew hung motionless, pinned against a tree, a large diamond spear protruding out of his chest.
Valcos shot a glance towards Miroku; intangible pain shot through his body. The entire group-save the girl-stared at the dead priest, they were right next to him yet they seemed miles away.
'How could things go so wrong…'
The universe had spelt it out for him; from the resurrection to the chosen, everything had been perfect. How could it all fall apart now…
'No'
The word flashed before his eyes, there had to be a way out. It was time the priest revealed his true form.
At first it was a glint-easily mistaken for the sun reflecting of the spear-but soon the light seemed to grow…to grow from within. It began from the wound and slowly grew to encompass the entire body of the priest. The light reached a blinding intensity, erupting into a perfect orb around the tree. Then...slowly...it began to dissipate; shrinking into itself until it was gone leaving behind a single glowing entity.
Standing where the tree once stood was a being not of this earth. Its skin pearly white, its armor, bright gold and silver, its eyes burning with blazing white flames.
The creature glowed with a warm light, emanating pureness. When it spoke, its voice seemed to echo with a sort of deep soothing. Even through the pain Shippo could feel its warmth calming his aching heart.
"Look at you Valcos, has time destroyed your will so much that I must see you so broken"
Valcos looked up at the entity, non pulsed by his presence. He'd known someone had been watching him all his life…someone other than that moron Euric
"So, how many guises have you taken just to watch over me…angel"
The word seemed to linger in front of Kagome's mind 'Angel? What's going on…'
"Hmpf. Angel is such a…Christian name. I prefer lord Galadriel, as in lord of heaven. N-"
But it seemed that was one more interruption left for today. Inuyasha hadn't finished.
"What the fuck is going on!! I'm not going to sit out in the dark any longer. What-"
"SILENCE!"
Kagome had seen Inuyasha express his fear in many ways, but never had she seen him like this. Inuyasha actually jumped back, his ears bent low against his skull. It seemed-in the silences that ensued-that even the world had been struck dumb by the angels command.
Sesshoumaru was intrigued; he'd never sensed such power before-not even from his father. Looking back at the gash in his shoulder, he reminded himself that there was a first time for everything.
"I shall not stand for any further interruptions. We must finish what we so painfully started."
Galadriel turned his attention, once again to Valcos.
"Now my child…WHERE-IS-MY-HATE"
Valcos bowed his head; breathing slowly he collected his thoughts.
"Well, the spell was created to release the hate within me, it would then corrupt the love in all ma-"
"I know what the spell does Valcos. It was I who told you about it! Where is the hate!"
"Just wait…" Valcos' wounds were restricting his ability to speak coherently
"Just wait, I need to think this through, I'm not sure why it's gone…just humor me…I think I should have killed him…ya definitely should have kil-"
"Your being redundant Valcos, tell me where is the hate!!"
"Look…I think I've got it…the spell was based on the presumption that the hate could…ya…that the hate could corrupt the love in all the creatures on the earth. Right so…I guess its logical to presume that it could work the other way…that the love within the monk…I mean the moment he saw that woman die I guess his love for her must have purified all my hate...like a reverse effect. That's why I should have killed him before the hate touched him."
The angel starred at Valcos, unbelieving.
"No, that's impossible!! NO!! There must be more hate!! This cant end NOW! WHERE IS MY HATE!!"
"I don't know"
"Don't test me Valcos where is my hate!!"
"I DONT KNOW!!"
"VALCOS THIS IS NOT THE TIME!! WHERE!! IS!! MY!! HATE!!"
The angel no longer looked calm and benevolent as he did before. His wrath exploded about the meadow.
"Why do you care? What does my hate have to do with you!!"
Valcos' last attempt at defiance pushed the angel over the edge. In one swift motion he unleashed a pure beam of light. It hit Valcos square in the chest sending him soaring through the air. He landed on his stomach yards from Kagome.
Weakly he tried to get up but his shoulders didn't posses the strength. Far behind him the angel composed himself.
"Well I guess you deserve an explanation…"
"All this was part of a grand plan created by myself. Its completion would result in the destruction of hell itself. We would use your hate Valcos. When it spread to all of mortality, we would use it to carry the souls of all those who exist in this dimension to the other world. We would then use the energy created by the souls like a weapon, a weapon that we would use to destroy hell from the face of time forever."
The angel paused a while to let the notion sink in.
"But my plans began with failure. An ill omen I know, but I kept my hopes up. You see, though I have power over the mortals on this plane, there was no way by which I could resurrect a greater lord of hell. For years I searched for a way to bring Incarnius back to life but it seemed that the demon had hidden himself in a deep slumber. Not death, no. But enough to remain entombed…hidden forever. But at last…the answer came to the light around eight moons ago. A power came to this plane which should not have been. What it was I do not know, but the energy released from its arrival set of chain of events which culminated in the resurrection of the beast. Now we could kill the beast and unleash our plan."
Suddenly Kagome's mind flashed back to when she first came to the feudal era, she recalled the pulsing of the jewel…the pieces had begun to fall into place.
"Since then I searched these lands for people worthy of the task." Now the he briefly looked at the others before him.
"You seven. You all had the spiritual strength I sought. I looked to use you to kill, or at least wound Valcos. Thus when the time was right I could take control of his hate and use it for the greater good."
Valcos twitched. Galadriel stared at Valcos…he felt for the boy.
"Valcos, you know more that any that sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. This would have been an unprecedented victory for the light!! We could destroy evil! It is worth any cost!!"
"You monster." Ignoring the pain in her shoulder and the pain in her heart Kagome stood up confronting the divine being.
"Sacrifice!! You call killing every soul on this world a SACRIFICE!! That's slaughter!! You can never justify killing so many innocent souls!!"
"No child" the angel's expression softened. He had to make them understand; his cause was good…no…it was great.
"No child don't you see, souls can never be destroyed completely. We would not be destroying the world forever. The world shall heal; the flowers will boom…life shall begin again. Children will be born…love shall grow. Everything shall be as it is, as it always will be. Except…except it shall exist bathed in goodness. Don't you see, we shall all live free from the darkness, free from he shadow."
"Well what about you own shadow?!! You claim to heal the world when all you do is destroy it. The lives off all who live in this world are too high a cost…whatever the cause."
"Don't you see!! It's for the greater good. None have ever dreamed of achieving what we could have done here. It was an impossible task till this moment!!"
Galadriel was almost pleading with them now. Trying with all his might to show them the true benevolence of the light.
Slowly, he marshaled his thoughts; there was still one piece of news he had to deliver. He never planned on revealing it to anyone, but then he never saw his plans failing so miserably…
'We were so close…he shall understand…it was for the greater good'
'It was the only way…'
"As you know Valcos I can never lie…it is not my way. You must know the whole truth…it is your right."
The angel seemed solemn; regret moving its way across his form.
"The plan I created with your hate…was conceived long before you death."
Valcos seemed to spasm. Suddenly his head shot up. Shock and revelation flowing through his wounded exterior.
Kagome let out an audible gasp…he was no longer teary eyed…no longer human. Death seemed to swarm around him. Slowly he staggered to his feet. Slowly with a sort of wounded determination he made his way towards the angel…sword in hand.
The creature gave Valcos a confused look, a hint of pity in his stare.
"She was a sacrifice before the good of the world. The greater good Valcos! Has selfish earthly greed consumed you all!!"
"You…" Valcos trembled as he spoke; like a man possessed barely able to move let alone carry the weight of his own sword.
"You sanctimonious bastard!! You killed her!! I don't care for you stupid reasons…you killed her!!" Nothing mattered to him any more; he had disgraced her with his own actions. Life had lost meaning…lost purpose. But he would be dammed if he let her killer roam free…however noble his cause.
Valcos lunged at the entity. He had lost himself. Without hesitation the angel threw back his attacker with a beam of light as he had done before.
"Valcos, control you self. Oh how you have fallen!!"
But Valcos was now the least of his problems.
"Wind Scar!!"
The force of the tessaiga came forth, heralding the angel's death. But the simple toys of a mortal were no concern of the divine. With a lazy flick the angel deftly subdued the wave of energy, his irritation growing.
"I'm gonna rip you to shreds you bastard!!" Kagome stared in shock. Inuyasha seemed to shake with rage. As she lay beside Miroku she was unsure as to what had sparked the hanyo's rage, probably it was his way of dealing with loss. The idea caused a small bolt of pain to pass through her. Her mind…her heart was once again dragged down into the blank depths of misery by her memories…
"You wanted to destroy the world!! You killed that man's love!! All just for some noble and virtuous reason which no one gives a damn about!!
Miroku's mind was miles from where he sat. Yet he still felt confusion…it wasn't like Inuyasha to be so concerned for the world.
"More than that it was YOU!! You used us!! You didn't care what happened to us!!"
Miroku had already reached this conclusion long ago. His mind laughed at him as he sat there.
'The priest practically told you…'
The priest's rants came back to him with chilling clarity…their meaning clear as day…'
'Within lies a power unique
Yet one in all mankind'
"You didn't care who got hurt you just wanted to finish you stupid plan!! You bastard I won't let you live…you killed Sango!! Take this
WIND SCAR!!"
The half demons words hit the mark. Kagome felt an uncontrollable rage erupt within her. He was right…the angel had dragged them all into this mess…even Valcos had suffered.
"Impudence!! I wont stand for it any longer!! You faithless shall die!!" Galadriel could stand for this no longer.
Again a beam of light erupted from his outstretched hand. But there was something different about it; instead of merely deflecting the wind scar as it had before it tore straight through it…rushing to greet Inuyasha and all who were beside him…its deadly intent apparent to all.
But Inuyasha wasn't surprised…in fact he was glad to see it coming.
"I've been waiting for that you bastard."
"Bakuryuha!!"
The wind scar clashed once again with the angel's energies. But it seemed to struggle with the magnitude of its power, unable to push it back towards its creator, unable to transform into the tornadoes of energy…
"Such measly tricks will not save you from my wrath!!"
The light now began to outmatch the backlash wave…slowly pushing it back towards Inuyasha.
Kagome got to her feet, bow and arrow in hand. A rage fueled by her pain guiding her hand. Placing the arrow along the bowstring she pulled back preparing for her shot. She bit through the relentless pain in her shoulder, vengeance her only calling…
Miroku nearly lost himself, the sight before him was…otherworldly. Radiant blue energies seemed to whip around the girl like an uncontrollable storm.
Sango's face flashed in her mind…she was ready. With a defiant cry she let fly her arrow. So bright it was that it made the Galadriel's light seem as dark as night.
The angel himself stood aghast.
'Such power'
The arrow seemed to defeat his own energies. It flew directly towards him accompanied by the now swirling tornadoes of the backlash wave. He saw his own power turning on him. Turning his head slightly to the left, he saw a thunderstorm of blue arks heading his way. It was the dragon of the tokijin-Souryuuha surging towards him.
'I have failed. The plans are in ruin...But I must survive. If not me then who…who will have the strength…the devotion to fight the shadow the way I have…the way only I can? No…I must live'
Though powerful, Galadriel knew the waves of energy would not trouble him. Tensing his body he prepared to gracefully leap out of the way, a measly feat for one of his power. But before he could move he was stopped…dead in his tracks.
He swore then, that if he had blood in his body it would have run cold. The sight before him terrified him beyond reason…beyond imagination. There, outmatching the speed of the arrow and all that followed it was Valcos; sword in hand, eyes as empty as death itself.
"You want to know my hate."
He seemed only to whisper yet his words cut through the frenzy that followed his steps.
"VALCOS!!…You must understand!!…It was for the greater goo-kah!…ug…"
It was too late…Valcos was beyond reason.
Looking down Galadriel saw the hilt of a sword protruding from his chest; the rest had gone straight through him.
Reaching for something just below the angel's neck Valcos uttered his last words to him…
"You shall forever know my hate…"
And with that he was gone, leaving Galadriel to face judgment alone…to face his end, unable to escape due to the wounds…
'It was for good…for the light.'
He looked up towards the sky…
'Oh universe…to you I submit my humble spirit'
He felt the arrow rip through his armor. He felt its power surge into him. He felt the waves crash into him and then…nothing.
The meadow was bathed I light. Huge arcs swung about the valley blinding all that looked upon them. Suddenly a huge pillar of white flames shot high into the sky from where the angel once stood. It climbed higher and higher and then…it vanished. The light dissipated, the winds stopped. The valley before them was as it always had been…
No sign remained that an angel was slain here…
Miroku placed one hand before him, praying. Whatever the reason…the slaying of something so holy was an ill deed.
To her right Kagome saw Sesshoumaru departing, tokijin in hand, his white robes bloodied. Suddenly he stopped. Far behind stood a figure, one hand raised far above his head, his hand waving farewell.
"It was a pleasure demon. Maybe we shall meet again under less…hostile circumstances."
Sesshoumaru stared at the form of Valcos. His coat-as well-dripping with blood from a wound he inflicted. Yet he stood tall waving goodbye…a peaceful grin upon his face.
Silently Sesshoumaru tilted his head the slightest…it was the most amount of respect he was ever going to show anyone, especially a human.
Seeing the demon from the valley Valcos now turned to face Inuyasha and the others. He walked purposefully towards them, smiling. His eyes-once again-were full of…life. Inuyasha immediately reached for tessaiga.
"Oh come on…" he said, stoping-his arms raised in mock submission.
"Any way you shouldn't be fighting…with a wound like that and all"
"Shut up!! You take another step and ill…"
"Inuyasha! Lust let him come OK"
Inuyasha whipped around. What was Kagome saying? But the look on her face prevented him from taking the argument any further.
Kagome didn't understand her feelings. But something about the look on Valcos' face…
Valcos walked up to Inuyasha and gave him an assuring pat on the shoulder oblivious to the look of pure death adorning his face. Then he turned to Kagome. Ignoring Inuyasha's threatening growls he spoke…
"I'm sorry. I really am. I was…blinded"
But before Kagome could respond he moved away. Walking slowly, Valcos placed an arm on his shoulder.
Still holding Sango's lifeless body Miroku looked up to meet Valcos' compassionate gaze.
"I can see myself in you…love stolen without logical reason…I feel your pain…please allow me this. We shall all sleep the better…"
Without another word Valcos helped the monk to his feet and respectfully laid Sango's body down before them.
Immediately Kagome felt weak, she felt tears well up within her. Seeing Sango laid out before her was unbearable. She clung to Inuyasha's robes for support, Shippo burying his head in her shirt. On his other side Miroku did the same, only Kirara stood dutifully by her side.
Valcos went down on his haunches. Tenderly he brushed the hair out of her face. Memories flowing back into him…
Suddenly he looked up…up into the heavens and spoke…a huge smile across his face
"Well…you always thought I was some heartless moron with a sword. How about this huh!! See…I do have a compassionate side. Even if it took me two hundred and sixty odd years to find I still have one. You were the only one who could see it; I never believed your crap. Well now all can see it…I love you Faye…I always will…remember that. The day I stop is the day I let the darkness take me. You and I know very well that that's never going to happen. Look at this as a 'forgive me' for my actions."
With that Valcos took out a large golden locket from his inner sleeve. With an almost childish smile he arched his eyebrows…
"Ahh…check it out. Shiny isn't it. Took it from Galadriel before you guys laid him to rest as it were."
They all gasped. None knew what it was; yet they knew exactly what it did. Miroku felt a surge of energy as he watched Valcos gently place the locket around Sango's neck. Hope slowly gave way to happiness…
Standing up Valcos muttered a few words and stood back…
At first the medallion glowed warmly…then it vanished completely.
Every one held their breath waiting for the spark of life they thought they would never see. They all thanked the gods for their fortune…
Nothing…
Miroku looked at Valcos. Confused.
Valcos returned his gaze. Exuding warmth.
"Now her soul can rest peacefully" as he spoke he placed one hand gently on Miroku's shoulder.
"What!!"
Kagome couldn't believe what she was hearing. No…she should be alive…
"No waiting…no purgatory…no judgment. It's a straight pass to heaven…where eternal peace awaits. Free of pain, free of suffering."
With that Valcos bowed his head low and began walking towards the valley pass.
They all-including Inuyasha-slowly lowered themselves towards her silent body. Walls closed in…eclipsing the happiness that was theirs for a fleeting instant…
"T-thank you"
Kagome was barely able to speak. Yet a sort of uncertain calm seemed to flow through her…
Miroku felt at peace. At least her soul shall rest in peace. It was the most they could have done for her.
Moments passed...all was silent.
Then the unexpected happened, Sango's eyes shot open, her back arched into the air as her muscles reacted to the blood now flowing through them. Suddenly she shot up, her eyes already filling with tears as she stared at the incredulous expressions that greeted her.
No words were exchanged…it was not necessary. Before any knew what they were doing the all fell together in one huge embrace, tears falling freely. All was as it was meant to be. Miroku felt her warm skin against his…or was that Shippo or Kagome?? It did not matter any more. The world seemed happy again…it seemed complete. The sun felt warm again, the wind...peaceful. Suddenly life seemed worth living...life felt glorious...
After what seemed like an eternity Kagome released from the others and looked up. Barely able to see straight due to her tears she was able to see Valcos…a look of pure glee on his face in response to their shocked expressions. Arms wide as he spoke
"…OK…so I lied"
With that he touched his hand to his forehead…taking his leave he left he valley…left the group to themselves. It would be a long time before they went anywhere, more than happy to be alive…happy to be together…
So the world…alive, rejoice
Love's strength within the seven
Tears they shed, tears of joy
Like raindrops fall, fall from heaven…
Well hope you guys liked it
THats that...now please review!!! REVIEW!!!! REVIEW!!!