Chapter 39: A Reason to Live
Birdsong fluttered over Alice's head as she lay in a lush meadow filled with sunshine and serenity. With her eyes closed in peace, she listened silently to the notes playing on the wind. It was one of those moments where she never realized that nature could hold so much beauty until actually seeing it –or in this case hearing it- in person.
Letting out a relaxed breath of air, she looked up at the balls of cotton in the sapphire sky that lazily floated along with the gentle breeze that swayed the tree branches above her. A swirl of pink flower petals crossed her vision for a moment, bringing with it the warm scent of the forest. It seemed for once that things were beginning to look up.
That is until Alice heard a peculiar sound. A sound that did not belong in her paradise. Frowning, she looked to her left and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just your average trees in your normal forest. She was beginning to think that she had imagined the noise when it echoed around her once more, this time with more force than before.
What is that? She wondered, sitting up to get a better look of things as the echoing continued. It sounds familiar… But I can't quiet tell what exactly it is…
"Inuyasha!" a barely audible voice sounded, one that the girl just barely managed to catch.
"Huh?" was all she could say as the pounding got ever louder in her ears. It was then that she could make out the sound of feet scampering swiftly on a wooden walkway. But where would such a walkway be in a forest?
Her answer came when she blinked open her eyes at the exact same moment that a bundle of fur burst in from the door next to her. The tiny kitsune was gasping for breath and looked as if he was about to lose it. Sitting up painfully, Alice quickly got his attention while Kirara was letting out a low questioning murmur.
"Shippo? What's the matter?" Alice asked, frowning at the sight of the named person. His usual smooth fur and attire was strewn with branches and leaves. It looked as if he had just fallen out of a tree and landed in a bush roughly.
"It's terrible Alice! I have to find Inuyasha and the others!" Shippo replied as he started for the door, realizing they weren't there.
"Whoa, hold on there!" Alice intervened, grabbing his small hand, "What happened?"
The kitsune turned his aqua eyes on her as he stammered, "I-It's Kikyo! I saw her in the graveyard to the west of the village and-and…" he trailed off, trying to keep his cool.
"It's okay Shippo, you're safe now," Alice soothed him, though she could feel a wave of fear and worry build up inside of her.
Allowing him to catch his breath and recover for a moment, Alice gently brought him into her arms and hugged his small, shivering body before holding him at arm's length and saying, "Now, what happened to Kikyo?"
"She-She's in trouble Alice…" Shippo stuttered in fear, his eyes wide and scared, "Kanna and Ut-Utsugi were there an-and they threatened Kikyo. Things got out of control quickly and th-they started to fight… Bu-But Kikyo is losing, she's going to get killed Alice!"
It felt like the wall holding back all her fears and worry crumbled as Alice stared in horror at Shippo before hardening her gaze and shakily getting to her feet, causing him and the neko behind her to let out startled gasps and looks. "Alice! What're y-you doing?" Shippo stammered.
"I'm going to help Kikyo," Alice replied through gritted teeth, struggling to maintain the pain her body was in.
"But your wounds haven't recovered yet Alice! You should stay here or else you could get hurt as well," Shippo argued, taking hold of her leg even though he knew she could just as easily throw him off and continue on.
Alice looked down on him sympathetically and rubbed his head, "Don't worry Shippo I'll be fine. I won't do anything rash I promise."
"But…But…"
"Listen Shippo, I must go and help Kikyo. If I don't she could get seriously injured, or worse," Alice interrupted, "You can't stop me, you know that, but there is something you can do."
The kitsune looked up into Alice's blue gaze questioningly as he sniffled, "W-What?"
Alice smiled warmly down on him and replied, "Go find Inuyasha and the others. Tell them all that you have told me and have them come to the graveyard. I'll go on ahead. You're right about me being injured, and that it will make me vulnerable, but if I can hold Kanna and Utsugi off until you guys get there than Kikyo will be safe."
"So will you do as I say?" Alice finished while grabbing her sword and placing it in her obi's loop.
A small nod from Shippo quickly answered as Alice spoke, "Good, then I'll meet you there. Kirara," she said while looking towards the neko, "I'll need your help to get there and I'm counting on you to get me there in time."
The neko nodded and Alice swiftly got onto her back as they headed out of the inn. Before leaving the room Alice looked back at Shippo, who was wiping away the tears in his eyes, and said reassuringly, "Don't worry Shippo, we'll save her."
He gave a small nod as Alice turned away and Kirara shot forwards. Within moments they were racing along the path that would lead them to Kikyo. Throughout the journey Alice was numb to the pain in her body, the only emotion flowing through her being worry overpowered her sense of pain and almost her sense of her surroundings. However, she wouldn't let it get to that point, not when there was so much at stake.
In moments, the wrecked village, accompanied by a blanket of dense fog, came into view, startling Alice. This village… I know it's the same but, what happened? It's even more devastated than before. Did I do all of this? She wondered as a pang of guilt rushed through her, which was quickly blown away as Kirara rounded a corner, causing them to come face to face with three figures.
"Kikyo!" Alice gasped at the sight of the priestess, who was on one knee and looked as if she could barely hold herself up.
The named person turned her gaze on Alice and widened her eyes a fraction of an inch before narrowing them in pain as a few of her souls left her body. Growling, the Shikigami user glared at the other two in the clearing, who turned to face the new arrival.
"So you've arrived," Utsugi greeted, "Have you reconsidered about giving up your soul?"
"As if," Alice spat, "What are you doing Utsugi? Why are you attacking Kikyo?"
"Humph. I would've thought that would be obvious," Utsugi responded simply, "Kikyo is a hindrance to both Naraku's plans as well as my own."
Eyes narrowed in hate, Alice glared at her ancestor while Kirara growled menacingly. The tension between the two groups was immense as they waited to see who would make the first move. It was a short wait as Alice lunged forwards, off of Kirara, and towards Utsugi, her sword already ablaze with blue fire. The ground shattered as Utsugi dodged her attack, but Alice couldn't care less. Harming Utsugi was never her motive in the first place.
"Kikyo!" Alice spoke urgently to the priestess, who was on her knees, supported by her bow.
"Alice, you must get out of here," Kikyo warned, "It's not safe to be here."
"No!" Alice objected, "I realize the danger but I won't run away and leave you here to die."
"I'm already dead," Kikyo chuckled coldly, "What diff-"
"It makes a whole lot of a difference Kikyo!" Alice interrupted, grabbing the woman's shoulders, "You're not alone. And you're a fool if you think that your life holds no meaning! What about the people in your life who hold you dear? What about Inuyasha? Or Kaede? Or me? Do you think that any of us would be happy if you died?"
The priestess' brown eyes widened a bit at Alice's words as she continued, "You can't give up Kikyo, not when-"
The Shikigami user was cut off as a she felt the all too familiar tugging sensation. Gasping she whipped around to see the blue-white hue of her soul being absorbed by Kanna's mirror. Narrowing her eyes, she quickly turned back towards Kikyo, determined to push her out of the way so her soul wouldn't be taken as well when she felt herself sink to the ground.
Struggling to raise her head, Alice's eyes widened in horror as she saw Kikyo on the ground next to her, the souls infused in her body being sucked out at a much more rapid pace. "No!" Alice yelled as she fell to the ground, cheek pressed firmly against the cold soil.
Kirara! The girl scanned the area until her eyes laid upon the neko, who was being held up by Utsugi. Her ruby eyes were distraught as she attempted to reach the two, only to be blocked by the dark Shikigami user. Reaching out, Alice desperately willed the feline to get past Utsugi, though she was losing consciousness fast.
"Kaze no Kizu!"
The voice, which made Alice's heart skip a beat, was soon followed by a thundering boom and a gust of wind that blew her cobalt hair back. Opening an ice blue eye, Alice looked up to see Inuyasha and the others running up to confront Utsugi and Kanna, who now stood in front of Alice and Kikyo.
"Alice!" Kagome shouted, her voice echoing in the named person's head as she struggled to keep her view on the young priestess and her companions clear.
"Kikyo! Damn it, what did you do to them?" Inuyasha growled angrily at the two in front of him.
"Neither can move, seeing as their souls aren't fully within them," Utsugi responded monotonously.
Narrowing her eyes, Alice strained to keep her head up but it was as if someone had their foot pressing down on her skull. Reluctantly she lowered her head back down to the ground, breathing hard in an effort to remain conscious. All the while she searched her mind for possible solutions to the rising mess they had gotten into, but coming up empty each time.
What do we do? Kikyo's unconscious and if we don't get her souls back then she could die! Damn! If only I could've gotten here sooner before she was attacked, then this whole mess could've been avoided Alice thought bitterly before a droning sound met her ears, making her eyes snap open.
Flying –more like buzzing- towards the group was a pair of demon bugs. Ones that she only knew too well.
"Saimiyosho!" Sango called out in surprise as the wasps drew near Utsugi, who turned her cold blue eyes on them.
Returning her gaze towards the group, Utsugi spoke, "It seems like our visit together is being cut short. Very well, Kanna," she looked at the white girl, "I'll leave the rest to you. Make sure you get all of the girl's soul, even if it means releasing the other's."
"Ehh?" Inuyasha questioned angrily, "Where do you think you're going?"
Alice narrowed her eyes as Utsugi began to walk away from them. Shooting a look at Inuyasha that clearly said "Don't let her escape!" Alice felt a boiling air of frustration well up inside her that she could do nothing as her enemy, who was a mere two feet away from her, was getting away.
Inuyasha, for one, sure didn't want Utsugi to escape as he lunged forwards, yelling, "Stop!"
Unfortunately, he was too slow as the dark Shikigami user waved her hand in front of her, sending out a wave of Shikigami that enveloped her in a blinding pillar of light. Narrowing her eyes, Alice could faintly make out Utsugi's figure melting away into the light, disappearing before the hanyou even made it half way to her.
Blinking to adjust her eyes, Alice clenched her teeth at the absence of Utsugi's form. Inuyasha looked to be just as angry, as he whipped around to face Kanna, who was now the only remaining person between him and the two.
"Be careful Inuyasha!" Shippo warned, "Kanna's mirror can reflect the Kaze no Kizu back at you!"
"Keh, I know that!" Inuyasha growled back while holding his Tessaiga up, preparing himself for battle.
Kanna merely stared blankly at the group, unable to show a strand of fear or confidence. From first looks she would appear to be an easily beaten foe, but one reckless attack on her could prove fatal. Alice and the others knew that all too well.
Making the first move, Inuyasha charged at the albino child, ready to swing his sword down. However, just as he reached her, Kanna held up her mirror, which both blocked and repelled the hanyou's attack. Inuyasha was sent to the ground as he growled threateningly at the incarnation.
"Damn!" he snarled, getting to his feet.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called, as the monk ran up to the named person.
Once there they turned to look at each other and appeared to be having a conversation of some sort. Alice could only hope that their plan wouldn't take too terribly long, since her powers were fading fast. Her prayers were answered as Miroku attacked Kanna with his staff.
The girl nimbly dodged his attacks, while the monk himself made sure to keep on his toes. There was no telling when Kanna might draw up her mirror and reflect his attack or even attempt to take his soul. While they were fighting, Alice could make out Inuyasha standing with his sword ready, awaiting the perfect chance to strike.
The opportunity soon arrived when Miroku managed to get Kanna facing him with her back turned towards Inuyasha. Seeing this, the hanyou smirked and unleashed his attack just as Miroku dodged out of the way. But before the raging attack could meet its mark, Kanna turned swiftly and held up her mirror.
Without warning, Inuyasha's attack was reflected back at him and the others as Miroku and Alice screamed, "No!"
Adrenaline shot through Alice as she quickly grabbed her sword from where it lay next to her and threw it in the path of the reflected attack. When the roaring winds came within inches from the midnight blade, the suddenly were dispersed as a light blue flame rose in front of her companions.
Everyone – with the exception of Kanna – looked at the sword in a mix of surprise and awe as the two forces slowly dimmed out until there was nothing more. From where she stood, Alice could feel everyone's gaze on her as she felt her body tremble with effort to remain upright. Her breathing came in short, quick gasps, desperately trying to hang on to the conscious world.
However, the Shikigami user was determined to do one more thing before letting her body give in. With her last remaining strength, Alice raised her hand, which glowed with a striking green light, at Kanna. Instantly the girl was enveloped in the light, unable to move.
"Now Inuyasha!" Alice gasped as she collapsed to the ground, unable to support herself any longer.
The last thing she heard was the hanyou's voice, followed by a massive gush of wind, before darkness enshrouded her vision.
Hey there everyone! Long time no see, eh?
I'm terribly sorry for going on such a MASSIVE leave and not saying a word... School was relentless and rawr, giving me little to no time to write TwT But that storm has finally blown over and the sunshine of summer is here! (Not really since it's been raining practically every day since we've gotten out... Fml)
Anyways~ I should be uploading a lot more than before so the next chapter should be out pretty soon ;D
Love you all,
Tally
(who sadly owns nothing except for the lovely Alice in this story)
