Chapter 19: Sacrifice
The wooden floor creaked under Alice's feet as she walked through the dark castle.
"This place could really use a makeover," Alice muttered to Kagome, who was to her right.
"Yeah, no kidding," Kagome agreed while looking around the dimly lit hallway.
As they headed down the stairs into the basement of the castle, Alice felt even more uneasy than before. Fog seemed to be forming under the castle, making it difficult to see much of anything; even candles were burned out thanks to the dampness of the room.
Let's get out of here quickly Alice thought as she spotted a stairwell leading up and out of the basement and quickly climbed it. As she rounded the corner of the stairwell, Alice saw yet another set of stairs and decided to go up them as well. The farther away I am from that creepy basement the happier I'll be.
But when Alice came to the room at the top of the stairs she gasped. Two fallen samurai and a priest lay dead on the ground in front of them.
"How horrible," Alice murmured when she saw the corpses.
"Indeed, but there's nothing we can do for them now, let's just head back downstairs," Miroku advised as they left the room.
Alice took one last sad glance back before joining the others downstairs and into the basement again. She, as well as the others, hurried through the basement and up the stairs.
"This sure is a big castle," Shippo pointed out from his position on Kagome's shoulder.
"No kidding," Alice agreed while walking down one of the seemingly endless hallways.
Just then, Alice made out a voice echoing through the halls and stopped to confirm she heard it. After a second voice followed she looked back at the others who by their expressions clearly heard the voice as well. Alice ran toward the sound of the voices, heart pounding in her chest as they grew louder.
Turning a corner, she saw three Samurai backed in a corner by three demons. Though they were badly out matched skill wise, the three stood bravely against the demons.
The head Samurai called out, "Demon, face me in battle!"
The demons immediately lunged toward the three men and started attacking them viciously. Two of the Samurai cried out in pain as the claws of the demons met flesh and blood poured down their arms.
"Are they working in the castle?" Kagome asked as the group looked on in shock.
"Who cares? They're being attacked by demons, let's help them!" Alice yelled while unsheathing her sword and running towards the demons.
"She's right, there's no way that they can beat them on their own with such little experience," Sango agreed as she ran after Alice, holding up her Hiraikotsu ready to strike.
The demons heard Alice's approach immediately and turned around to face her. With her sword raging with cold fire, Alice swiped at the demon to the far left and managed to separate it from the group. The demon snarled and clawed at Alice but got nowhere as she easily dodged the strikes.
This enraged the demon even more, causing the blows to come faster and faster. Alice was doing a good job of dodging the attacks but she knew it wouldn't be long until one of those deadly claws made contact with her.
Just wait for it… There! Alice swung her sword down at the precise moment the demon's defense was at its weakest, killing the demon easily. Sango and Inuyasha had just as easily taken care of the other two demons and were now heading towards the injured Samurai.
"Hey, are you guys okay?" Kagome asked as she knelt down next to the two Samurai that were hit by the demons.
"Stand back," Alice instructed Kagome as she knelt down to the nearest of the two that were injured.
Kagome did as instructed and Alice quickly got to work with healing their wounds. After she was done, all three Samurai looked at her with amazement in their eyes before bowing their heads in gratitude.
"Thank you for saving us and for healing my comrades wounds," the head Samurai said.
"No problem, you were in trouble and we were there at the time, we couldn't have just walked away you know," Alice replied.
"We can't thank you enough," the Samurai to the left said gratefully.
"Yeah, but do you guys know what happened to the castle? Why are there so many demons here?" Alice asked.
"Yes, the castle is crawling with demons mainly because the king himself is possessed by a demon," the head Samurai explained.
"Is Naraku behind all of this?" Inuyasha immediately asked.
"It would make sense since Kagura claimed to be the castle messenger back in Kururugi Town," Miroku replied logically.
"Well then, if that's the case let's destroy them," Inuyasha growled.
Alice nodded and was about to leave the room when another Samurai ran through the doors and addressed the head Samurai, "Yukimara, there you are! Urgent news, everyone in the second squad assigned to the tower was reported dead."
The head Samurai Yukimara replied in astonishment, "What, the whole second squad? That leaves only us to protect the castle."
"Yukimara, is that your name?" Alice asked the head Samurai.
"It is; why do you ask?" Yukimara replied.
"We met your wife in the town outside of the castle. She gave us something to give to you," Alice explained as she reached into her bag and brought out the handkerchief that covered the rice balls that were given to her by the Samurai's wives.
"Here," Alice finished, handing over the rice balls to Yukimara.
"Oh, these rice balls were made by my wife you say?" Yukimara stated in surprise before looking down at the rice balls with an expression mixed with love and sorrow.
"Everyone is worried about you guys and what you're facing here in the castle, so a bunch of women, including your wife, have started to come up with ways of getting you guys help," Alice explained.
"I see, thank you. We can hold on a little longer thanks to everyone's kindness," Yukimara replied as he re-wrapped the rice balls and placed them into a pocket hidden by his red armor.
The other three Samurai nodded in agreement, determination flashing through their eyes.
"We'll take care of things here, you guys should head back to your families," Alice advised.
The Samurai all looked over at Alice before Yukimara shook his head and replied, "I'm afraid we can't do that, we still haven't saved everyone in the tower."
"What are you talking about? You have people who care for you down there! Haven't they waited for long enough to see you return?" Alice objected, "Besides, aren't you at least a little scared for your own lives? There's no point in staying here and dying."
"We are Samurai; it is our duty to protect the King and the people. But we've failed to protect the King, and we can't fail the people as well. We must see to it that everyone still alive in this castle is safe, that is our duty and we must carry it out, even if it means sacrificing our lives in the process," Yukimara argued, as the other Samurai nodded in agreement.
"Still, what will you're families do if you die?" Alice argued back.
Yukimara sighed, "They should understand, even my wife…"
"How could they possibly understand something like that," Alice snapped in frustration.
"It's already decided, there's no turning back from here for us," Yukimara replied simply.
"I don't get you guys, you're supposed to protect the people but when will you realize that you're a part of 'the people' as well," Alice finished while letting her bangs hide her eyes.
"Come on Alice, we've stayed here long enough. Naraku's going to get away if we stay any longer," Inuyasha called from the other side of the room.
"You're going after the demon?" Yukimara asked Alice as Inuyasha left the room, quickly followed by the others.
Alice nodded as he continued, "Then be safe, the demon is located in the castle tower. We stand no chance against the demon, but you may be able to pull it off. Please, take our place and save the King from the demon!"
Alice nodded, walked towards the door of the room and turned back towards Yukimara and the others saying, "You'd better make it out alive, a lot of people care about you out there and desperately want to see that you're okay with their own eyes."
After seeing the Samurai nod in agreement, Alice ran after everyone else. So much for staying together Alice thought with a sigh as she raced down the halls, trying to locate everyone else.
After a few minutes she saw Inuyasha and the others heading up a set of stairs and called out, "Thanks for waiting!"
"Keh," Inuyasha replied as he let Alice pass him and take the lead.
When she reached the top of the stairs, Alice came face to face with a girl roughly her age, wearing a pink kimono.
The girl had a look of pure terror on her face and once she saw Alice and screamed, "Demon! Help!"
"Not this again, I thought all that demon stuff was over," Alice muttered in frustration as everyone ran over to the girl who was now huddled up in the corner of the room.
"Calm down, we're not demons," Kagome said kindly to the girl, who lifted her head and looked back at Kagome in confusion.
"You're not demons?" the girl replied as Alice cut in, "Hey, are you Toki by any chance?"
The girl nodded, "Yes, that's my name."
"Great, your brother asked that we'd give you this," Alice explained as she handed Toki the scarlet pinwheel, "He made it himself, for you."
Toki held the pinwheel and lightly tapped its red blades while smiling. "I see, that means he's okay then. I'm so happy," Toki trailed off as she looked up at everyone with gratitude shining in her eyes.
"The Samurai are downstairs helping the people who couldn't escape, you should head down there and join the others. If you make it there then you'll be able to escape from the castle with the others," Shippo explained.
"Thank you so much," Toki replied before heading down the stairs.
"Be careful!" Alice called after her.
"Good, now we should be able to find Naraku without any more distractions," Inuyasha stated as they ran down the hallways of the upper part of the castle.
Right Alice thought as she realized that with each step she took she was getting closer and closer to where Naraku lay.
Determination flashed in Alice's eyes as she remembered that he was the reason she was here and for so much more pain inflicted upon everyone else. You better be ready for this Naraku, because after we're done with you death will seem like a blessing Alice thought as they climbed up the last set of stairs.
The top floor of the castle was very similar to the basement in which a seemingly thick fog enshrouded the whole floor. But one look of the fancy walls was all it took Alice to realize that Naraku was somewhere on this floor.
"You ready for this?" Kagome asked Alice while readying her bow and arrows. Alice nodded, unsheathing her sword which immediately burned with a bright flame.
Determination filled everyone's eyes as Inuyasha growled, "This is it, no turning back now."
Inuyasha took the lead as the group entered the sole room at the top of the tower. Alice looked around warily for any signs of Naraku when she stiffened at the sound of his laugh echoing throughout the room.
"Your late," Naraku called out towards the group.
"That voice…" Miroku started as Sango finished, "Naraku."
Alice narrowed her eyes as they ran around the screen placed at the entrance of the room and came face to face with Naraku himself.
"Hmph, about time you guys showed up," Naraku addressed the group as they filed out to face him, eyes glowing in hatred.
"Naraku!" Alice spat venomously as she glared up at Naraku who in turn looked towards Alice, grinned and replied, "Alice, nice to see you again."
Everyone glanced at Alice, confusion sparkling in their eyes and when Naraku saw this he let out another creepy laugh, "My, I thought you'd tell them by now. Not very trusting are we?"
"Shut up! You're the one who sent me here weren't you?" Alice demanded angrily.
"You'd like to know?" Naraku replied evenly.
"Why wouldn't I?" Alice yelled back.
Ice blue eyes met crimson red ones as Alice waited for him to answer, her grip on her sword growing ever stronger.
But instead of replying to Alice's demands, Naraku simply turned his head to look back behind him and murmured, "Looks like Alice was the girl."
"What're you mumbling about this time? Naraku get ready, cause you're going down" Sango yelled angrily.
"What a fool," Naraku chuckled as he narrowed his eyes at Sango.
"Shut up! It's time to end this Naraku," Inuyasha growled as everyone prepared for the attack.
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha yelled while swinging his sword.
"Hirakotsu!" Sango added in as she threw the boomerang that was now covered in sacred sutras, courtesy of Miroku.
Kagome let loose on of her sacred arrows while Shippo added his fire bombs to the mix. Finally, Alice swung her flaming sword, producing a wave of flames raging right towards Naraku. The attacks fused together before hitting their target dead on and a cloud of smoke filled the room.
"Is it over?" Alice asked, trying to peer through the smoke.
"Let's not get our hopes up just yet," Sango, who was the closest to Alice, replied.
Alice nodded and waited for the smoke to clear and when it did she couldn't believe her eyes. Naraku was in the same position as he was before, not even a scratch on him as he stared back at the group uninterestedly.
"Hmph was that all you guys could do?" he asked with little enthusiasm.
"Not even close," Alice yelled back though her thoughts told a totally different story.
Even though that attack wasn't out strongest, it still was pretty strong. But in the end it did nothing to Naraku.
"My turn," Naraku grinned as he sent out a wave of miasma that filled the room.
"Don't breathe it in!" Miroku warned Alice as the purple cloud of miasma enshrouded them.
"Wha...?" Alice replied before she covered her mouth and held her breath.
Seconds ticked by and the miasma in the room only seemed to grow stronger as Alice fought to hold her breath. I can't hold it for much longer Alice thought as she looked to see how the others were doing.
Everyone seemed to be doing fine but Alice saw movement within the cloud and soon saw just what that movement was. In a flash, a tentacle had slammed into Miroku, easily knocking him out.
"Miroku!" Sango yelled as she ran over to the unconscious monk.
But it wasn't long until Sango herself succumbed to the miasma and fell down nest to Miroku. Alice was desperately trying to control herself and not to breathe in the toxic air but she was at her breaking point. Kagome and Shippo had already reached their own breaking points and gasped for air a few seconds after Sango hit the ground.
They too fell to the ground as Alice heard Inuyasha yell, "Kagome!"
No Inuyasha! Don't speak or else you'll breathe in the miasma Alice wanted to call out to him, but it was too late as Inuyasha fell to his knees beside Kagome.
"Looks like it's just you and me now," Alice heard Naraku's voice echo through the cloud of miasma, "But just how much longer can you hold your breath?"
He's right; I can't hold it any longer! Alice thought as she closed her eyes tight. Come on, just a little longer…
But Alice's pray went unanswered as she couldn't hold her breath any longer and took in breath after breath of the toxic air. Luckily for Alice, the cloud had thinned drastically when she opened her eyes to breathe, but she took in enough of the miasma that it brung her to her knees.
I can't move! Alice thought as she tried desperately to grab her sword to protect herself and everyone else.
"Damn," Alice heard Sango's voice from behind her and a wave of relief went through Alice to know that she was okay.
"It's over," Naraku finished as he turned towards Alice who looked up at him with anger and a little fear in her eyes, which she desperately tried to hide.
He began walking over to Alice, but before he could even take one step Inuyasha jumped in between the two. Inuyasha! Alice thought as she looked up at the hanyou.
"Not one more step!" Inuyasha growled as he swung his sword towards Naraku.
"Hmph, it's useless," Naraku pointed out as the Tessaiga bounced of a barrier and sent Inuyasha to his knees once more. I see so it was a barrier that protected him from our attack!
"Inu…yasha…" Alice rasped as she tried to move closer to him but her body wouldn't let her so she fell on one side facing Inuyasha.
My vision, it's getting blurry Alice thought as she lay there on the ground as Naraku laughed, "Those who go against me die a painful death."
Naraku then shot forward a tentacle, which knocked Inuyasha away before shooting straight towards Alice. Alice slammed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact, but it never came. Alice's eye flew open as she saw the she was in a Samurai's arms and the Naraku had missed his target.
"Naraku!" Alice widened her eyes in surprise as she recognized Yukimara's voice.
What's he doing here? I thought I told them to get away from the castle Alice thought irritably as she looked over at Yukimara and the team of Samurai he brought with him.
"How is it that you survived, you're supposed to be dead," Naraku addressed Yukimara before continuing, "What is it that you want?"
"I will avenge my king, die Naraku!" Yukimara yelled as he and the other Samurai raced towards Naraku.
"Stop you don't have a chance in beating him," Alice rasped as she looked up into the eyes of the man who held her, desperately hoping that he would talk some sense into his comrades.
The man looked down at Alice, sorrow and knowing shining brightly in his amber eyes, "I know, but like Yukimara said, it is our duty to protect you guys and the castle, even if it costs us our lives."
Alice stared up at him in horror but before she could reply, the man ran over to a wall and sliced opened one of the pictures along the wall.
"Please, tell my wife I love her!" the man whispered to Alice.
"What are you…?" Alice was cut off as the man yelled to the others, "Everyone, use this passage to escape, we'll hold him off."
"Foolish humans, die!" Naraku yelled angrily as he sent a wave of miasma towards Alice and the man.
But before the cloud of toxic fumes could reach them, the man dropped Alice down the passage.
"No!" Alice yelled as she fell into the darkness.
She could barely make out Yukimara's voice saying, "Don't run away, we have to buy them more time!"
Yukimara, no… Alice thought before she closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.
/././././././
Alice's eyes snapped open as she quickly sat up. She was on the bank of a small lake and for a second forgot about everything until memories came crashing down on her.
Everyone! She thought as she looked around frantically until her eyes met five motionless figures. Oh no, oh no! Alice crawled over to the spot where they lay and looked down at the worriedly.
"Guys… Wake up… Please, wake up," Alice said shakily as she shook Inuyasha's shoulder.
Alice drew her hand back in a gasp. He's burning up! She thought in horror as she looked at Inuyasha then to the others. She quickly checked everyone else's temperature and experienced the same thing as Inuyasha.
"Wake up!" Alice yelled at them, tears threatening to poor down her face, "Wake up! Why won't you wake up?"
"They've all taken in a massive amount of poison my dear," a sympathetic voice stated from behind Alice.
Alice jerked around to see Kakuju standing behind her and said frantically, "Kakuju! Kakuju! Please tell me what to do so I can heal them!"
"Hmm… There is a way to heal them, but it's very dangerous. Why don't we…" Kakuju began but Alice quickly cut him off, "Tell me!"
Kakuju sighed as Alice looked up at him with pleading eyes and whispered, "Please, I have to help them."
"Very well then," Kakuju replied, "I'll tell you how to heal your friends."
Alice looked up at Kakuju, with gratitude shinning in her eyes as she said, "Thank you."
Kakuju then moved over to Alice, placed his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes. Alice mimicked Kakuju and closed her eyes as well. Almost instantly the two were plunged into a vision.
The scene was strikingly similar to Alice's current situation in which five bodies lay motionless due to breathing in too much poisonous air. A lone woman stood and gazed down at her companions with a sorrowful expression in her eyes.
After a few moments, the woman sat down, meditated, and after a few minutes of meditating stood in the middle of the group.
Once there, she raised her hand, which held a massive ball of Shikigami, the biggest Alice had ever seen, and called out, "Shikigami, I invoke thee, cast your rays of light down on the one's in front of me so that the darkness that now dwells within them may be banished!"
In a blinding flash of light, the woman released her Shikigami, which in turn flew into all of her companions. The companions glowed with light before the Shikigami left their bodies to return to the woman's. This time however, Alice noticed that the Shikigami glowed a blackish purple instead of the pure white that it had before.
"What's…?" Alice started but before the Shikigami reached the woman and Alice finished, the vision was over.
What was that? Alice thought as she looked expectantly at Kakuju who turned towards her.
"You're wondering what happened aren't you," Kakuju replied as Alice nodded. Kakuju sighed before explaining, "When the Shikigami entered the bodies of the five that lay there it merely transferred the toxins from their Shikigami to the woman's. Once done with this task, the Shikigami will return to its owner, bringing with it all the toxic fumes that it absorbed from the victims."
"I see," Alice replied while nodding her head and proceeding to sit down and close her eyes.
"Wait, you know that if you perform this on your friends you'll only be transferring the miasma to yourself and that you'll have to face it on your own."
"I'm aware of that, but I'll do anything to keep them safe," Alice vowed while looking up at Kakuju with determination in her ice blue eyes.
She then looked over at everyone before closing her eyes and meditating.
Focus, you need to bring out a large amount of your powers after all Alice told herself. After a few minutes of constant meditation Alice opened her eyes. I'm ready. She slowly got up and stood in the middle of the group looking at each one before taking a breath and raising her hand.
A massive amount of white Shikigami formed from her hand instantly as she yelled, "Shikigami, I invoke thee, cast your rays of light down on the one's in front of me so that the darkness that now dwells within them may be banished!"
And with these words spoken Alice released the Shikigami she held in her hand. The Shikigami then swirled up in the air before splitting into five even strands and shooting towards everyone's bodies. Alice stared in awe as each body glowed with her pure Shikigami.
"Here it comes," Kakuju warned as the Shikigami began to leave the bodies, each piece now glowing with an impure light.
Alice braced herself as the Shikigami reformed and shot towards her. On the moment of impact Alice gasped and clutched her chest. It hurts! Eyes opened wide Alice just stared at the ground as the miasma from her companions spread around her body until she was practically glowing purple from the miasma.
"Kakuju…" Alice rasped as she let her bangs cover her eyes, "Make sure they're safe, I wouldn't like it if I did all of this to see them hurt again."
And with that, Alice limped over into the woods to find a suitable spot to fight of Naraku's miasma.
Alice puts herself in danger yet again for the sake of her friends, but what are the consequences of her actions and what will everyone think about her decision?
Find out next time!
Chapter 20: Retrace: Purification
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