A/N: Really want to get this fanfic done as soon as possible. There will be one more chapter after this one, until "Sparked" is officially finished. Thanks to all my readers who have supported and followed this fanfic. I'm glad to know that you're all enjoying my writing. Here's Chapter 21!
Chapter 21:
Hiyori let out a gasp when she saw the Minoseki Toji before her. Kanami's body was wrapped in an orange fiery energy, shining with aradama radiance. There was only one individual that Hiyori knew of, who had those evil, cold orbs for eyes.
"Tagitsuhime..." Hiyori choked.
Kanami ignored her, only stepping in front of Konoka with a terrible expression that Hiyori thought she'd never see on the Minoseki Toji's face. For a moment, Hiyori was terrified. Terrified about dying. Terrified about Kanami being killed. And terrified about Tagitsuhime being in control of her friend. That was when confusion swept over Hiyori. Just how could Tagitsuhime even merge with Kanami? The ability to fuse with aradama was something only the Origami and Hiiragi families could carry out.
Kanami stood over Hiyori protectively, snarling at Konoka, "You hurt Hiyori-chan..."
The dark and almost maniacal edge to her voice made even Hiyori shudder with fear. It seemed to frighten Konoka as well, as the green-haired woman gripped Shitsuren tightly, her face bloodless and white. However, Konoka refused to show any fear. She wouldn't back away from what she viewed as a simple-minded, middle-school Toji.
"Death is what she deserves," Konoka replied.
"Shut up!"
Hiyori clutched her wound, trying to regain control of her breathing, as she stared at Kanami in dismay. As the Minoseki Toji's rage started to boil more, Onimaru and Oodenta appeared in her hands, lit ablaze with aradama energy.
"Have you lost your mind?" Konoka snorted, raising Shitsuren.
Then, with a cruel smile, she added, "Don't worry. You can join Juujou Hiyori in death as well."
Kanami didn't need to wait for Konoka to strike; she already started to attack the woman with everything she got. The Minoseki Toji had no fear of the aradama woman before her. She wasn't even her usual patient and observant self in combat. No, right now the only emotion Kanami had in this moment was the lust to kill. Without hesitation or the slightest feeling of morality.
Konoka was in awe of the supreme swordsmanship Kanami displayed. Never before had she fought an opponent like her. Not even Fujiwara Minato could compare to the cold-blooded girl attacking her. The Minoseki Toji fought with such strong emotion that Konoka found she couldn't help backing away.
Kanami, on the other hand, despite fighting with immense speed and strength, was struggling to control her sanity. What with the massive power and rage of Tagitsuhime combined, the heavy toll on her body and mind was making her lose her self-restraint. Just how did Hiyori do it all this time?
'Let me take control...'
Kanami let out a pained grunt, once she felt the throbbing in her head. No! Now was not the time!
"Your efforts are worthless," Konoka mocked. "You really think killing me will save your incestuous lover from death?"
"Shut your trap!" Kanami yelled, her voice now almost sounding like Tagitsuhime's.
"K-Kanami..." Hiyori weakly groaned. "No..."
Panic began to set in her mind. If there was anything worse than being an aradama, it was Kanami succumbing to the darkness. Hiyori couldn't bear the thought of the girl she loved becoming a monster like Tagitsuhime. However, she could only helplessly watch Kanami and Konoka swing at each other madly, as her vision started to becoming more blurry.
'Give it up, Etou Kanami. Let my power and your rage consume you!'
'I don't need to!' Kanami screamed, internally. 'I've already got her!'
"Is this all you've got, Etou Kanami?" Konoka laughed. "How pathetic. You could've been a great aradama yourself too."
Kanami took a few deep breaths, controlling herself, as she replied, "I may now have Tagitsuhime's future sight, but I never needed it in the first place. You and Hiyori-chan have the same weakness..."
Konoka raised an eyebrow, until she felt her left foot slip slightly. Her eyes widened once she realized where she was...on the edge of a cliff.
"You lose concentration at full power!" Kanami yelled, before swinging Onimaru in a certain way.
Shitsuren was flung from Konoka's grip and before the green-haired woman could grab the weapon once more, Kanami had already put her foot on it. The Hiiragi woman was now trapped between Kanami's okatanas and the cliff behind her. Kanami's orange eyes dissipated back to their normal light-brown, as she dematerialized Onimaru and Oodenta, before picking up Shitsuren in her hands.
Frantic as a deer in the headlights, Konoka desperately threw a barrage of lightning bolts at Kanami. However, the Minoseki Toji wordlessly deflected them all with one of Shitsuren's blades. No trace of emotion could be seen on Kanami's face, only the apathetic stare of a silent, sorrowful girl.
"You think with that weapon you can defeat me?" Konoka laughed, nervously. "I'm the embodiment of all the forces of evil! I am evil itself!"
Her face twisted itself as she maniacally laughed, her body wrapped in energy. Lightning flashed as the crazed woman cackled in the rain. Kanami simply stared at the mess Hiiragi Konoka had become. A woman so deranged from loneliness and arrogance, driven only by her hunger for power. Pity, not vengeance, made Kanami stab Konoka straight through the heart. A saddened smile formed on the Hiiragi woman's face.
"Looks like you got your revenge," Konoka wheezed.
Kanami shook her head with mournful eyes. Although she had fought several opponents before, never had she ever killed someone.
"No, Hiiragi-san. All I got was a stain on my soul," she answered.
Konoka let out a short laugh of despair, as she fell down to her death, her body dissolving into noro. With nothing and no one, Konoka's body and soul melted away.
Not wasting another second, Kanami rushed back to Hiyori. Seeing her friend's eyes closed filled Kanami with dread, as she threw Shitsuren to the side and took the limp form of Hiyori back in her arms.
"Hiyori-chan! Hiyori-chan! Look at me!" Kanami pleaded.
With extreme difficulty, Hiyori slowly opened her eyes. Her hair and eyes were still flickering with energy, but just barely. Kanami's throat was tight from tears, as she stared at the gash in Hiyori's chest. One look at it and Kanami knew that it was futile. With Hiyori mortally wounded like this, Kanami knew even if she tried, she'd never be able to get Hiyori to a hospital in time.
"Kanami? C-Can you promise me one more thing?" Hiyori asked, weakly, before coughing.
"Of course!" Kanami gasped.
"Take care of Kagari for me and...please be happy."
"Hiyori-chan?"
"Promise me..."
"I p-promise," Kanami hiccupped.
This couldn't be happening! What did she and Hiyori do to deserve this? Why did Hiyori have to live such a sad life and meet a tragic end? And herself...was she doomed to live life alone? Losing first her mother...Kanami couldn't bear losing the love of her life too.
"I'm sorry," Kanami wept, her voice ragged with tears. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I didn't share half the burden."
In her grief, Kanami didn't notice the four Elite Guards and the Akabane Sword Team running up to them. Their breaths were ragged and their faces damp with sweat from their exhaustion. However, their eyes widened with shock once they saw the sight of the Minoseki Toji cradling Hiyori's inert body.
"Kanamin..." Ellen gasped. "Hiyoyon!"
"Tch. We were too late," Maki said.
Up above them, the storm disappeared almost instantaneously, as Hiyori's life force and power drained and diminished. The lightning stopped and the rain ceased, as the black clouds parted revealing bright sunshine and blue sky. Everyone's mood did not match the sunny weather however.
The pain in Kanami's chest hurt more than when Hiyori was stabbed and absorbed by Tagitsuhime. This time, she knew Hiyori was never coming back.
"Goodbye, Hiyori-chan..." Kanami whispered, before kissing her one last time.
Kanami did not remove her lips from Hiyori's for a quite a while, not even when she felt something like burning hot liquid pass between them. She just wanted to stay in this position for the last remaining moments of Hiyori's life. Hiyori's lips still had the same peppermint-flavor that Kanami remembered.
She felt someone gently place a hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes, thinking it was Ellen or Mihono. However, Kanami was shocked when she saw that it was instead the palm of the Toji in her arms. Shock, confusion, and happiness swelled Kanami's mind. But she didn't care. All that mattered in that moment was the fact that Hiyori was alive and well.
"You're alive..." Kanami breathed. "How?"
"Who cares how?!" Mihono cried.
Ellen cheered, "All that matters is that we have Hiyoyon back! Group hug!"
A few seconds later, Hiyori found herself squished between the bodies and arms of everyone around her. Except for Mirja, Kofuki, and Maki, who never were the type who initiated physical affection. However, that did nothing to stop the smiles on their faces from forming. Once they broke apart, several questions came forth.
"I still don't get how you're alive," Kanami said. "What happened?"
Hiyori began, "I-"
Then, her body jolted as searing pain made its way through her. It was as though something was trying to burst out of her. Hiyori remembered this kind of pain all too well.
"Hiyori-chan! What's wrong?" Kanami gasped.
Hiyori let out a pained cry, as she doubled over before crumpling to the ground. In the confusion that followed, everyone's eyes widened with shock and fear as a figure wrapped in blue aradama light broke out of Hiyori's body. A series of coughs and gasps escaped Hiyori's throat, as she lay on the ground. Her hair and eyes lost their blue color, and her skin turned back to its normal fair complexion.
In pain, Hiyori slowly turned her burgundy eyes to stare at the figure everyone was gaping at. A gasp of disbelief and fright left her mouth once she saw who it was.
Flowing blue hair styled in the shape of two crow-like wings, adorned with a fan-shaped headdress... Glowing cerulean eyes that projected arrogance, ruthlessness, and cruelty... Dressed in a black dress with sheer, blue, kimono-like sleeves... Hiyorihime projected the intimidating aura of a proud, bewitching aradama princess.
Her blue eyes glared at Hiyori, as she snarled, "Look at how pathetic you've become."
She then raised her hand, summoning Shitsuren into it. Her murderous gaze did not leave Hiyori's.
"You're weak."
Immediately, Maki and Kofuki dived towards the aradama princess, but despite their attack, Hiyorihime merely pushed them away with a blast of blue energy. Her expression was stoic, but everyone could tell she was outraged, due to the blue sparks of fire literally burning right out of her eyes.
"Hiyori-chan?" Kanami whimpered.
Hiyorihime turned to Kanami with a simpering smile and softened eyes. She brought a cold hand to Kanami's cheek, stroking it affectionately.
"Kanami..."
"Stay away from her!" Hiyori yelled.
"Fool," Hiyorihime crooned, before turning to everyone around her, "You're all fools!"
"I'd rather be a fool than what you are," Suzuka said, unsheathing her okatana.
"Let's finish this, aradama-hime-sama!" Kofuki said.
"No need. I have what I want now."
With a wave of Hiyorihime's other hand, a familiar baby girl appeared in her arm. The piercing cries of the child rang through Hiyori's ears, and immediately her motherly instincts shot through her mind. In rage, she sprang towards Hiyorihime, not caring about her life.
"Give Kagari back!"
"Stand back, vermin!"
With a swoop, Hiyorihime blasted Hiyori aside and into Kanami, knocking them both down. Cackling, the aradama princess disappeared in a flash of lightning, taking Shitsuren and Kagari with her. It was all so sudden that everyone just stood still in shock. Except for Hiyori, who only stared hopelessly at where Hiyorihime and her daughter just were. Now that she was powerless, Hiyori had no fear of releasing her emotions. So, she did the first thing every mother would do when their child is taken away...
She cried.
A/N: Yippee! Finished another chapter. Sorry it was so short. FYI, to those of you who didn't understand how Hiyori came back to life, basically when Kanami kissed her, Tagitsuhime (in the form of noro) passed between their lips saving Hiyori's life (giving her back her life force). Literally the kiss of life. LOL.
Hmm...so now we have a new villain, the Princess and Goddess of Lightning, Hiyorihime! And just what did Konoka mean when she referred to Hiyori as Kanami's "incestuous lover"? Hmm...that will definitely HAVE to be explained later on.
One more chapter to go before this fanfic is done! Let me know what you guys think and peace out!