InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ New Life ❯ Chapter 21 ( Chapter 21 )

Year: 1314
Month: Unknown

It was time. She stood before the armies, watching. Her eyes were cold and yet deep within there was a deep sadness. At her hip rested a small dagger. The true weapon she wielded rested on her back. It was a bow of rich ebony wood with protective seals on the wood. She had engraved those very seals herself. It was in honor of the ones she had failed. She had watched them fall, their only thought to protect her against the oncoming hoards. She had watched them all fall and had done nothing. She was about to turn 26. She had found no one to spend her life with and yet she refused to face that. She needed no one. After this battle, this act of vengeance, she would fade to allow others to take her place.

Turning from the armies, nothing more than fodder for her arrows, she advanced to the small cave that she called her home. Entering, she moved to the altar at the back, kneeling. Her prayers were silent as her purity revealed itself in a pink fire around her. There were hints of red within that fire. Honestly it was almost as if she were a flame. She remained like that for what seemed like hours. Her black hair fell down her back to pool at the ground, covering her bare feet. It was a tangled mess and yet it looked to be perfect. A single tear fell down her cheek.

At that moment, a clawed hand gently rested on her shoulder. Opening brilliant green eyes, she turned to face the one that had interrupted her. Her gaze fell on a young-looking man. He only appeared to be about 27 but she knew he was older than that. “Yoritomo-Sama. Why have you come here? Her voice was cold. She could see the pain in his eyes. He professed to love her and yet she had no room in her heart for such a thing. She could not bear the truth of love.

“Miko-Sama, they gather.” She nodded, rising. Her eyes became hard. A whisper in the depths of her heart made her falter. It was that loving voice that had always guided her. It whispered that she need not complete this. She shook her head silently in response to that voice. She must complete this. It was what she needed to do. They had come into her home, murdered them all simply because they had been different and could not be understood. She herself had escaped due to her natural ability to appear as human.

A snort escaped before she looked into the youkai's eyes. “Yoritomo-Sama, it must be completed. I am the last. Never again will there be tales of my kind. After this day, we will pass into mythology.” She moved to walk by him.

Instantly, he grabbed her arm. “Midor.”

She whirled, her hand connecting with his cheek. “I did not give you permission to address me as such. You will call me Miko-Sama and nothing more. Return to your mate and children. This is the last of me that you will see.” She moved stiffly out of the cave.

She bowed her head. Her heart shuddered within as she felt his presence leave. Yes, his mate would need him in the aftermath. If he had remained, he would have died, and he would be shamed. She was no true youkai nor was she human. She was an abomination. A mix of the two and yet neither. The voice within her heart soothed her. It would soon be time. Turning, she hardened herself once more. “Kirara.” Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. A black and white fire neko hopped down from a rock ledge and moved up to her, jumping into her arms. “You will leave as well.”

Instantly the neko growled and hissed in anger. “There will be no battle over this. You will retreat to the Taiya village to protect it. You are needed there.” The neko stared up at her mournfully. She closed her eyes against the pitiful gaze. She would not allow her closest companion to die. Finally, with a mournful cry, the neko leaped out of her arms after licking her cheek.

She waited until Kirara was gone from her senses. Turning her head slightly to stare at her last unseen companion, a sad smile appeared. “You are certain?”

She sighed. This companion would remain to watch over her until the end. There was no sending this one away. She did not wish her to leave. “Sanctus… don't let me hesitate…”

The being bowed what could be considered its head. “I will remain witness. You will not feel the sting of death.” She nodded in relief. She did this out of love for those that would remain. If the three remaining Lords remained… They would tear this world apart. The Fallen would win and there would be no hope in recovery.

Moving to her bedding, she began to wrap it. With nothing but thought, a fire burst nearby. Lifting it, she tossed it into the fire. Her spare clothing went next. All that would remain would be what she wore. Her battle armor glittered in the dying light. Going to her pack, she began to empty it. Once it was done so, she tossed that as well into the blaze. She stared at her belongings. Her gaze rested on a small pink jewel. It was the last thing she held of her people. It held no power, but it was of their making. Closing her eyes now, she began to pull out small stones and placed them on the ground in a circle. These stones varied in sizes and had become used to contain her back up power. Closing her eyes, she placed the pink jewel in the center. She began to concentrate. She pulled her power from the stones one by one and transferred it into the jewel. With each piece placed within, the jewel began to glow brightly with purity. As she finished, it had become translucent.

Her green eyes were tired a she opened them. Her unseen companion moved forward and gently touched the jewel as well. Power surged in the cave and she heard the commotion of the army from even this far away. Then the power was gone. “I have placed half my power within. It will help to protect you.” She nodded.

Lifting the jewel, she gasped in awe. It now burned pure and ethereal. There was a slightly blue aura around it and yet the jewel itself was transparent. Pulling the jewel to her chest, she took a deep, trembling breath.

There was one more she had to place within. The power of her people. “No… if you do so… They have no chance of being given a second chance.”

She nodded. “It will remain within then.” She moved to the object which held the power of her people. It was a diadem with a pink diamond in the center. The intricate silver carving caused her eyes to sadden. Lifting the diadem, she moved to the back of the cave. Carving a hole, she placed it within. She gave it one last longing look before covering it with rocks once more.

Moving to the entrance, she took a deep breath. The sun was beginning to set. “I am ready.” Her unseen companion nodded. Placing the stone around her neck, she formed a silver chain to connect to it. Moving down the path, she moved towards the battlefield. As she walked down the path, she felt a sense of doom washing over her. “Why must… Why am I destined…” She couldn't even finish her questions.

“It is what it shall be. Destiny has no part in this. This is consequences of the choices made. You could have allowed your companions to fight with you. They would have died, and you would have lived.”

She shook her head. “I couldn't ask that of them. They have a future. If I were to live… what kind of future is there for me? I would have no one with me.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Stand strong.” She nodded, determination flashing through her eyes.

As they arrived at the base, it was dark. She could feel the darkness within each of them. She could feel their priestess. She was no more than a child, even in their standards. The Fallen had chosen that child. The child would live beyond this day. That did not matter to her. She had seen nothing dealing with their priestess. She kept her chin raised. Some would think it arrogance. She stood right before the trees. She could practically feel the growls moving through her body as they recognized her. Pulling her bow, she strung it. “It is time…”

As the army surged forward, she let loose. Bright pink and red energy ignited the arrow, searing through the clearing and purifying the youkai that came.

As morning dawned, she pulled back some. It was a never-ending cycle. They had been unable to touch her body due to the shield around her held by her unseen companion. “Rest.”

She shook her head. “I cannot.” Another arrow surged through the crowd of youkai. Her companion shook its head. Turning slightly, she fired another arrow, taking out more youkai. They were circling their barrier but wouldn't get too close. They were attempting to use weapons to break the barrier down.

As night fell, she panted. She paused long enough to grab a leaf from an edible plant before focusing back on fighting again. So far, the barrier was holding. She could feel them coming though. They were tiring of this game apparently. The Fallen wanted this to end so they could complete their take over. It didn't help that their priestess was using her powers as well. Thankfully she wasn't as in tune with them. She could barely form a barrier. The Lord's had taken their best youkai away from the battle to protect her. She was no matter to her. She hadn't had to draw on the spare energy of the jewel yet thankfully.

The next night, they broke through. They had come, supporting their troops. Many of the youkai had gone insane with blood lust. Thankfully they had also turned on their own. Of course, they also came after her. The Fallen had to retreat. So far, she only had cuts and scrapes. Whirling with her dagger, she slashed three youkais. They fell instantly, turning to ash. She grunted as a blade nicked her shoulder.

On the fifth day, she was driven back to her cave. She created a barrier so that she could have some rest. She was tired and bleeding out. Her companion was weak, its energy almost completely gone. She was leaning against a wall. Currently the jewel was holding up the barrier. Youkai battered against the barrier. There was only one way to finish this and she didn't know if she had the strength. They were almost all gone. Closing her eyes, she slipped into slumber, her hand clenched around the jewel.

She woke the next day. Rising, holding the wound on her side, she focused. They were still there, waiting. Closing her eyes, she took a breath. She placed the jewel on her once more. “Give me strength…” Moving to the barrier, she spoke loud and strong. “I wish to speak with the Northern, Eastern and Southern Lord.” Almost immediately the youkai stepped aside and the ones she sought were there. They were angry. “I ask a battle. The three of you against me. No others will be involved.” The males eyed each other. They nodded. Holding her hand up, she allowed them to access the barrier. Only they would be able to enter. Moving back, she pulled her final arrow.

As they entered, she waited. They surged forward, immediately transforming. Their forms were perfection. A dragon, a Kitsune and a phoenix. They were together in this. Pulling her arrow back, she let it fire. The arrow blazed through, but the youkai was able to prevent from being seared alive. Shifting, she moved the bow into a defensive weapon. Yanking her dagger with the other hand, she crouched. As they advanced on her, their youkai speed made her watchful and wary.

It was close to the end. She could feel it. She couldn't let them free though. If she did so… it would be the end. They had over time taken in the youkai that remained. A waste of life in her opinion. They had become extremely powerful. As she dodged another blow, she gave a small cry as a claw tore into her back. Her eyes burned with agony. So, it would revert to this then. “Enough!” Her voice was soft and ragged. Pulling the jewel from around her neck, she held it above her. “A last prayer of forgiveness! Seal them within until someone can be found to destroy them! Forgive my weakness…” She dropped to her knees. Immediately, power rocked through her.

Her body raised into the air as the youkai moved around her. As they curled around her body, preparing themselves for the final strike, she felt herself pulse. The jewel was pressed to her chest by her hand. Then they clamped down. One surged up beneath her, biting her waist. Another clasped onto her back. The other attempted to clasp on to her head. With a loud pulse, her head fell back as she closed her eyes. A silent scream made it past her lips. In that moment, the youkai began to freeze into stone. Their souls drawn into the jewel on her chest. As the stone reached her feet, she sighed softly. In another pulse a piece of her soul separated, being drawn into the jewel. Her chest now contained a hole, the size of the jewel itself. It slipped from her stone fingers, falling to the ground. She felt the power of it pulsing as it came to a stop nearby. As the stone covered the last of her, she turned her gaze to her companion. “Midoriko…”

“Find the one that will be able to end this battle within and completely free myself. Find my half of my soul and keep it close. Don't let them take me away…” Her hidden companion nodded sadly. “Thank you… Sanc…tus…” In that moment it was finished. What once had been alive now was frozen within stone, dead to the world.

Her hidden companion stared down at the jewel. It was the last thing that held her power. It held the power of her own kind as well as the power of the woman she had guided through life. Dropping to land by the stone, it watched it. Evil and good were battling. Within this jewel though, Evil would always have the more powerful sway. Unless a pure guardian could be found. Noise brought its gaze up to view the fire cat and the Inu Lord entering. Both stared sadly at what remained. The neko gazed at the hidden companion and moved to the stone. The Neko would recognize the soul of her mistress. The Inu Lord caught sight of the jewel and anger formed. He moved over, pausing to grab some cloth. Lifting it as though placing it in a bag, he turned to the Neko. “Remove this cursed object. Never do I wish to see this object again.” Kirara grabbed the object and glanced back at the hidden companion of her Mistress. It motioned for her departure. Once she was gone, it watched the Inu Lord. He bowed before the statue. “I vow to find a way to end your suffering. My line will endure and will find you peace Miko-Sama.” His head remained bowed. This honorable, prideful youkai humbled himself before a Miko. There would be hope for the West through him. Hope had to be orchestrated within the other lands. Let the Fallen hear whispered words. Midoriko's soul hovered close. It would do what needed to be done then. Her soul would lure the Fallen into their own demise.