DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.
Chapter 5
"K-Kikyou?!" Kagome started in disbelief. "You can't be-"
"Playing the fool? Really." The creature shook her head. She leaned closer still, her lower arms grasping the trunk. "And here I was looking forward to our little reunion."
Kagome backed away. She bumped into a root and flinched. "L-listen, okay? I'm not-"
"Not in the mood?" The monster gave a tut. "Oh, I know you better than that."
"You don't know me at-"
"Oh Kikyou." The monster gave a throaty chuckle. The tree groaned in anguish as her claws dug into its trunk. "I have missed you."
She reared up and lurched forwards. The tree gave an ominous creak. There was a crack like kindling. The humans scattered like seafoam as she tore herself free.
"Kagome!"
Akitoki's hoarse cry was drowned by the crash of water. Hitomiko sped towards Kagome atop a surging wave. She swept through the monster's path and snatched her away from her grasp. The creature hit the snow with a snarl.
"Damn you!"
Hitomiko surged onwards without so much as a glance back. She clutched Kagome's parka with one hand. The other urged the wave forwards. Kagome gasped and clutched at her arm.
"Th-Thanks!"
Hitomiko made no reply. She swung round in a wide arc to face the monster. Kagome tightened her grip.
Hitomiko tapped her on the shoulder. "The vial." Her voice was as calm as her face.
Kagome handed it over. She still couldn't take her eyes from the creature towering above them. "Wh-why does she-"
"Spirits are drawn to the oasis." Hitomiko tapped the bottle with her finger. "The water calls her."
"Th-that thing?"
"She's... corrupted." A tinge of doubt crept into her voice. She pushed it aside with a frown. Her frown deepened as the spirit reared up and bared her fangs.
Kagome shook her head. "That's no bedtime story, that's for sure."
"Perhaps we can calm her."
"Calm?" This was the furthest from calm Kagome had ever been. "How-"
The young bender rushed at the spirit with a yell. She hurled a water whip at the creature's face. The thief shot a stream of fire from his fists. They cleaved straight through her shadowy body.
The spirit gave a tsk. "Pathetic."
She splayed her arms and lashed out her claws. The thief flung himself aside. The young bender wasn't so quick. She went down in an arc of blood.
"Umi!"
Hitomiko threw a water whip towards her. She coiled it around her waist and swept her away from the spirit's grasp.
The spirit hissed in fury. She made a dive for Hitomiko. She dodged her with a single swerve. The spirit hit the snow with a snarl.
Hitomiko thrust Umi into Kagome's arms. "Stay with her."
She swept them both away before she could protest. Kagome washed up beside Takeshi, still clutching a gasping Umi. The spirit turned on her before she could regain her bearings.
"Hiding behind the wounded?" A smirk rose to her lips. She raised her talons once more. "Well, if you wish to amuse me..."
A jet of water shot straight through her face.
The monster turned to Hitomiko with a tut. "Rude." She slammed her talons down towards her head.
Hitomiko swept herself aside. The tendrils slashed past her face, lacerating the night. They caught only a scatter of hairs.
The spirit gave another snarl. She thrashed her coils in frustration. Hitomiko avoided them with ease. The spirit responded with a swipe. Hitomiko weaved in and out of her blows, never taking her eyes from her quarry.
"What is she-"
Kagome was interrupted by a burst of flame. She ducked as the thief sailed overhead.
The spirit's head snapped round. A firebolt took her clean in the face. She shook the flames away and whirled on him with a roar.
He met her charge head on. He shot past her in a burst of fire. Her talons caught only smoke.
Kagome lay breathless, her eyes darting from one figure to another. Hitomiko paid the thief no mind. She continued her dance around the spirit, drawing tendrils of water from the snow. She sent them snaking towards her. The spirit repelled them with a swipe.
The thief hurled another punch at her face. The flames didn't so much as singe her. Yet the thief didn't back down an inch. He sprang aside from every blow, filling every gap with bursts of fire. They only stoked the monster's fury.
Hitomiko regathered the tendrils for another attempt. Kagome took the chance to get a word in edgeways.
"Why's he help-"
Takeshi laid his hand on her shoulder. She gave a start. He shook his head and pointed towards Hitomiko. A faint glow emitted from her right hand; the one clasping the vial.
Kagome nodded. "Right." She turned her attention back to Umi. Her gloves were already crimson with the bender's blood. "Oh no."
Takeshi took one look at her wound and pulled back his hood. Akitoki gave a weak cough. He gestured towards his fallen knife.
Takeshi bent down to take the knife with one hand. He took his parka's hood in the other. He cut it away in one clean movement and handed it to Kagome.
"Th-thanks." She pressed the hood to Umi's wound, desperately trying to staunch the blood. Umi gave a groan. At least it was better than her gloves.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout. The thief had lost his patience with the stalemate. He tore past the spirit's lashing claws and went straight for Hitomiko.
Kagome's warning emerged as a shriek.
Hitomiko whipped out one of the tendrils and swatted him out of the air. He hit the snow with a grunt. She dumped a snowdrift on him for good measure.
"Do not inter-"
"Master Hitomiko!"
Hitomiko spun to find the monster looming over her. Her fangs were bared in frustration. Her coils lashed with fury. Her talons spread before her, whipping into tendrils. Her eyes narrowed as they homed in on her prey.
Hitomiko rolled aside. The talons shot past her and grazed her shoulder. She landed in a crouch, a globe of water ready in her hands. She waited for the spirit to strike.
The spirit tossed her a glare. She spun away from Hitomiko and went straight for Kagome.
Hitomiko threw up her arms. Her water rushed out to form a wall of ice. Kagome threw herself over Umi. Takeshi shielded them both. The barrier held fast.
There was a deafening screech. Kagome peeked out from between her fingers. She caught a glimpse of the spirit's tail rising from the snow. It slammed into Hitomiko before she could let out a scream.
She crashed face-first into a snowdrift. The vial rolled from her outstretched hand.
The spirit whirled on her with a grin. She raised her talons with a roar of triumph.
"Master Hitomiko!"
Kagome tore herself from Takeshi's grip. She scrambled to her feet without so much as a thought. She half-ran, half-stumbled through the snow, Hitomiko's name burning in her throat.
The thief staggered to his feet. He took one look at Kagome and sprang straight for the vial. Kagome was caught in his path. The spirit loomed above her. There was no time to think, let alone move.
Kagome's heart froze in her chest. Her eyes closed on a plea. All she could do was throw up her hands and hope.
There was a crash like a breaking wave.
It was enough to force her eyes wide. The sight that met them made them wider still. The thief was literally frozen in midair. His body and limbs were snared in a huge iceberg spike.
The spirit drew back in shock. Mouths gaped at her from all sides. Even the thief was at a loss for words.
Kagome gaped back, her feet frozen as fast as the thief. She still held her hands before her, as if to hold him at bay. Her knees threatened to collapse into a puddle. The silence weighed on her like an avalanche.
A low chuckle rippled through it.
"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." The spirit's smile was as sharp as her talons. She raised them to the moonlight and let them fly.
Kagome threw herself over Hitomiko. The monster's claws ripped over their heads. They were showered in splinters of ice.
Hitomiko cracked an eye open. She lifted her head and gave a weak cough. "The vial..."
"Here." Kagome snatched it from the snow. "Come on, we need to get you out of here."
"No..." Hitomiko attempted to turn her head. Kagome looked over her shoulder just in time to see the spirit's fangs bearing down on her. She rolled them both aside with a shriek.
The spirit's jaws closed on empty air. Kagome came up gasping. Her hand still gripped the vial. The monster's gaze homed in on it like a hawk. She backed away. She flinched as her back came up against solid ice.
"Go." Hitomiko ordered her. "I can-"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"Ever the humanitarian, aren't we?" The spirit's voice dripped sarcasm. "Of course, there's no need for her to die." She flicked her gaze towards the vial.
"No." Kagome and Hitomiko spoke as one.
"Are you quite sure?" The spirit gave her a lazy smile. She sent her talons crashing down inches from the two women. Kagome was sent sprawling in the snow.
"And here I thought you had some fight left in you." The spirit's voice was almost bored. She raised her tail and claws as Kagome raised her head. "I suppose I could always-"
Kagome gritted her teeth and flung up her arms.
A puff of snow blew up around her. The spirit tensed as the snow rose. Kagome let out her breath and threw out her arms.
The snow collapsed into mist.
Kagome stared at the puddles around her in horror. The water was already beginning to freeze. She shook herself and lifted her hands again. If she could do it once...
The puddles gave a wobble. She flung out an arm and hoped for the best. A spray of water leapt up and splashed the thief in the face. He shook his head with a splutter.
The spirit gave a chuckle.
"What're you waiting for, Kikyou?"
Kagome glanced up and found the thief glowering down at her. He'd finally found his voice again. He'd also found a sneer to match his tone. He raised an eyebrow in mock expectation.
She gave him a bewildered stare. "I'm not-"
"Really now?" The spirit shook her head with a smile. She sidled closer, baring both fangs and claws. "Enough talk, Avatar." She flicked her talons towards Kagome.
Kagome yelped and ducked. The spirit's claws sheared off a chunk of ice. The thief took the impact with a yell.
"Shit! Nice going, Avatar." He shot her a glower.
A prickle of irritation skittered over Kagome's face. She glanced up with a glare. "What? Can't you just firebend your way out?"
"Sure. Hands-free firebending. Why didn't I think of that?" He snorted in contempt.
Kagome bit back a groan. "You know, you're really not help-"
The spirit's claws swept past her. She threw herself flat. Pain flared across her shoulder. She crashed to the ground. She rolled aside to avoid another swipe.
The spirit's claws sheared through half the ice spike. It gave a dangerous wobble. Kagome skittered backwards, clutching her bleeding shoulder.
"There's nowhere to hide, Avatar." The spirit recoiled her talons with a chuckle. Her smile was pure satisfaction.
Kagome gritted her teeth. She hauled herself onto one knee, gripping the ice for support. She fought to keep her voice and breath steady. "Look. For the last time, I'm not-"
"Oh for the love of - what the hell is wrong with you Kikyou?" The thief's voice teetered between frustration and desperation.
Kagome clenched her fists. The ice gave a creak. "How many times do I have to tell you-"
The thief responded with another snort. "Don't tell me you're not just playing dumb here."
"Hey! You're the one who got us into this!"
A tremor went through the ice spike. Cracks began to form. Hitomiko's eyes widened. Takeshi ducked to cover Umi and Akitoki.
"Really now? You don't see me summoning demons, Kikyou."
"I already told you! I'm Ka-"
The spirit came crashing down like a thunderbolt.
Kagome scrambled for cover. The ice took most of the impact. It gave way with a snap. She was swept aside in a torrent of ice and snow.
A crack sounded above her. She threw up her hands as heat flared overhead. The thief gave a yell of triumph.
It was cut short by a scream of pain.
Kagome glanced through her fingers and caught sight of the thief impaled on the monster's talons. She dropped her hands in shock. The spirit turned on her with a grin.
Her tail came up behind her.
There was no time to dodge. Kagome was thrown against the Goshinboku like a stuffed doll. She slumped to the ground with a groan.
The spirit was on her in a heartbeat. She crowed in triumph as her coils encircled her prey.
Kagome was borne up and against the tree. The monster's face loomed large in her hazy vision.
"At last..." The spirit's voice trembled with excitement. "It's been a long fifty years, Avatar."
She whipped out a hand and pinned Kagome's right wrist against the tree. Kagome winced as she forced her hand open. The vial dropped from her grasp.
The spirit caught it with another hand. She held it up with a smirk.
A water whip smacked her across the face. A boomerang passed through the other side of her jaw.
The spirit gave a hiss. Takeshi stood below her, clutching the boomerang. Hitomiko was crouched in front of him with murder in her eyes.
"Let her-"
The spirit flattened them both with a lash of her coils.
"Master Hitomiko! Takeshi!"
"Humans." The spirit turned back to Kagome with a tut. She stared at her bleeding shoulder with a ghastly hunger in her eyes. "My, but you are a state. I forget how fragile you humans are-"
Her voice was cut off by a firebolt to the face.
The spirit scowled. She turned her stare on the thief. He stared back at her, his right fist ablaze.
"I ain't finished with-"
She slammed him against the tree. The thief yelped as her talons bit deeper. The flames faltered. Fresh blood spilled from his wounds.
"Honestly," the spirit sighed.
She reached out and lifted Kagome's chin with a talon. She forced her wavering gaze to meet her own.
Kagome glared at her through narrowed eyes. Her left hand clawed feebly at the spirit's coils. The dusting of snow on the nearest branch began to tremble.
"You resist? Still?" The spirit gave a mirthless chuckle. She craned her neck forwards until she was mere inches from Kagome's face. Her talons reached for her bloody shoulder.
A shudder rippled through Kagome's body. A chill seized her heart as the water in the vial began to darken. Her instincts screamed at her to pull away. She turned her face aside.
"You can't fight forever Kik-"
The spirit choked on the Avatar's name. Her talons recoiled like whips. Her head snapped back in disgust. She clapped a hand over her mouth.
"What in the-"
Kagome stared down at her chest. A sulphurous stench wafted up from her torn parka. She recoiled with a gag. The spirit did the same. Spirits bless Grandpa. It was almost enough to make her smile. To think that such a creature could be affected by something so...
A burst of flame shot past the spirit. It fizzled out inches from her face. She peered up at the thief with a frown. "Again?"
He shot another firebolt in response. This one didn't even make it to her shoulder.
"Damn... you..." he gasped. His fists flared with fury.
She smashed him back into the tree. The flames sputtered. They still didn't give out.
The spirit shook her head in mock pity. "Perhaps I should just put you out of your misery." She drew back her arm and readied her claws.
Kagome's heart lurched as the spirit's coils tightened. A wave of pain threatened to engulf her. She set her jaw against it and reached for the only hope she had left. Her fingers made a feeble grasp for the Goshinboku's trunk. They brushed the bark just as her eyes slid shut.
A single spark glinted in response.
The tree gave a shiver. A sudden breeze stirred against Kagome's face. She forced an eye open. A faint blue light bloomed above her. The spirit's grip eased a fraction as she looked up in confusion. The earth gave a sudden shudder.
There was a crack that split the night.
All eyes turned to the tree. The breeze rose to a whispering wind. The sparks flared into flames. A blaze of blue lit the sky.
The onlookers' murmurs rose with the wind. The spirit hissed in suspicion. Her tail thrashed restlessly. Kagome eased her other eye open as her coils slackened. Even the thief ceased his struggles.
"What the-"
A lance of blue light shot through the spirit's chest.
"Curse you, Kikyou!"
The spirit shrieked and tore at the beam. Her claws slipped through it like smoke. The light flared into a beacon.
She lunged for Kagome with a howl. The tree pulsed in response. Her talons were blocked by a blinding flash. The light pierced her outstretched hands. She was enveloped in an azure inferno. Her screeches were lost in a thunderous roar.
Her coils slackened in an instant. Kagome plummeted to the ground. Hitomiko flung out a hand to soften her fall. Her impact was cushioned by a snowdrift.
The vial hurtled after her. The thief followed in its wake. He snatched towards it as he fell.
It slipped his grasp by an inch.
"No!"
His voice broke into a scream as his hopes shattered on the ground. He crashed down to join them.
Kagome blinked away her shock and attempted to get to her feet. She fell back into the snow with a groan. The lights swam before her. She lifted a hazy hand.
The thief's head snapped towards her. "You..."
Flames coiled around his fists. They writhed about his torn flesh as he staggered forwards. Kagome backed away as his wounds began to close. The sight of him in flames chilled her to the core. Just what was this boy? She lifted her arm to shield herself from the rising inferno.
"This." He fixed her with a stare that could cut steel. "All of this. It's all your-"
"I didn't-"
He leapt forwards in a blaze of fury. Hitomiko's voice rang in her ears. She flung up her hands in desperation.
She was knocked flat by a sudden gust.
"Kagome!"
Nanashi? She lifted her head and made out a hazy figure ploughing his way towards her. His face was a mere blur. She caught the reassuring clunk of a wooden staff. She attempted a wave.
"Shit..."
Her head snapped towards the thief's voice. She glimpsed a huddle of ragged furs slumped against the Goshinboku. His fire had been doused in an instant. She drew back instinctively as he raised a hand.
A wave rushed from the snow to engulf him. He was pinned by a sheet of ice before he could regain his senses.
"Enough."
The second voice was much older and hoarser than Nanashi's. It wasn't a familiar one. Yet something about it tugged at Kagome's memory.
She blinked the world back into focus and tried to haul herself upright. The effort sent her staggering. A couple of warriors emerged from the mist to rush to her aid.
"Don't move!"
Kagome snatched at a root for support. She caught her balance with a gasp. The warriors drew to a halt. She glanced up to meet their stares.
"What's...?"
Kagome followed their gazes towards her bared shoulder. The shock had faded away but the pain had yet to return. She dabbed at the wound with her finger. It came away bloody but the flesh it met was sound. Her jaw dropped.
"How...?"
The warriors stood in silence, their eyes and mouths as wide as the moon. Kagome looked around for answers. Her gaze caught the elder's. A flicker of something passed between them. Recognition?
She raised a shaking hand to her mouth.
Her senses rushed back in a torrent. The roar of flames, the reek of ash, the sting of the winter wind and there in the midst of it all was... her. Stooped and weathered and aged beyond recognition yet unmistakable. Undeniable.
The elder gave voice to her thoughts. "Sister..."
Kagome shook her head. She blinked to chase away the lingering sparks. What was she thinking? This woman was a stranger.
Wasn't she?
The elder's shock gave way to a frown. Her question hung in the air. The weight of her eyes pressed upon her.
Nanashi's voice parted the silence.
"It seems we have much to discuss, Avatar."
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I update once a month.
