InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Story of Two Sisters ❯ My Sister ( Chapter 14 )

 

Days past and the group found themselves approaching a clearing. The path continued over gently rolling hills. InuYasha began to pick up a familiar scent on the wind.

“Sesshoumaru.” He growled.

Miroku and Sango stopped dead in their tracks and looked down the path. Akira made her way to InuYasha's side, “Elandra.”

Making their way up the gently inclining hill Elandra and Sesshoumaru saw the object of their searching. In an instant both older siblings were standing face to face with their younger siblings.

“Akira you have proven to be quite a nuisance to find.” Elandra said annoyed. She eyed the half demon at her sister's side and the two humans standing behind them. “I see you have made friends.”

“As have you, older sister.” She said looking over Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru began stepping towards InuYasha. “How sweet little brother, seems you have given up on that human girl and found another half demon to take her place.”

InuYasha drew his Tetsuaiga, “What business is it of yours?” he growled.

Miroku looked at Sango, “I think we would do better to stay out of this one.” He took her by the arm and pulled her back to a safer distance.

“Akira.” Elandra said shocked to finally see her younger sister.

Akira glared at her older sister, “What are you doing here.” She hissed placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

“Now, now that is no way to greet your older sister.” Elandra lowered her brow staring at Akira. “Don't draw your sword little sister unless you are planning to use it!”

“If you plan to take me back with you, it'll be my corpse you return with!” Akira hissed louder.

“Don't you think you have caused enough death?” Elandra said as she began walking circles around her sister.

“What are you talking about?” Akira replied trying to follow her older sister with her eyes.

“After you left our people were almost wiped out. Certainly you don't think the tiger clan would have taken mercy on us just because you ran away.” She scolded her younger sister.

“I-I didn't think-“ she began but her sister cut her off.

“That's right you didn't think of anyone else when you left did you? You didn't think about how I was going to be left to yet again clean up the mess left by my younger sister. You didn't think of how our people would pay for your selfish actions.” Anger boiled in Elandra's veins.

“You can't possibly expect me to spend the rest of my life with the people who killed my mother!” Akira argued back.

“That is only a rumor! It's not as if father did not have other enemies!” Elandra growled as she completed her last circle around her sister and stood face to face with her. “If death is what you choose, then I will give it to you!” She began drawing her sword with her judgment clouded by her emotions.

InuYasha stood ready for anything, sword drawn. Meanwhile Sesshoumaru pondered the reasoning of Elandra. She had been searching for her sister for quite sometime and now that she found her…was she really going to kill her after all this? The two stood idly by as the events unfolded before them.

As Elandra drew out her sword she wasted no time in attacking her younger sister. She swung her sword hard at Akira, not having the time or space to counter the attack the Akira jumped back. Akira rose into the air bringing her sword down in front of her on top of her sister. Elandra raised her sword above her meeting Akira's blade pushing her back back. Akira landed gracefully before her. Elandra ran full speed at her younger sister slashing at her midsection left to right. Akira sucked in her stomach and quickly backed away dodging her blows. Elandra came at her again from Akira's left side, but this time Elandra aimed to cut her head off. Akira ducked and rolled over to a kneeling position. Quickly she rose to her feet and with her sword held high staring at her sister catching her breath.

Akira then again began her attack on her older sister. She ran full force and as Akira brought her sword down on her sister the sky flashed with lightening, thunder echoed across the sky as rain began to fall lightly. The two stood face to face their swords still struggling to overpower one another. Annoyed by the dead lock the older sister's eyes began to glow a bright green. Her mind began to slip out of even further from any reasoning. Elandra bared her fangs at her sister and as her hissing warning intensified the rain began to fall harder on the two sisters. Akira struggled to keep her feet and blade in place. It was at this moment a bright green glow took over Elandra's sword. The eerie glow made the sword look as if it was burning with bright green flames.

Before Akira had time to take it all in and realize what was happening before her the sword charged itself with power and released it on Akira. She flew back through the air finally landing hard on the ground and sliding across the wet ground a few yards. It was the base of a tree trunk that stopped her as she came to a violent stop slamming into the tree. Barely holding to consciousness she opened her eyes and made her way sluggishly to her knees in and attempted to stand. But her body had not yet recovered from the blow and she could not stand upright.

InuYasha stood watching Akira struggling to stand. He was amazed how easily the younger sister seemed to be caught off guard by her sister's power. Not realizing it he spoke out loud, “Does she not know how powerful Elandra is? She's going to be killed!” He stepped forward only to be met by Sesshoumaru's outstretched arm.

“This is not our business InuYasha. I will not let you interfere.” Sesshoumaru said never turning his eyes from the battle before him.

Some small level of consciousness began to bleed back to Elandra as she realized what she had just done to her sister. The green glow faded quickly from her sword and her eyes. She stood amazed herself by the power she had drawn from her sword. By this time Akira had regained enough strength to stand and with narrowed cold eyes she stared at her sister. She walked back towards Elandra with her sword in front of her held with only one hand. Realizing her younger sister was not going to back down Elandra ran at her sister. As the two closed in on each other Akira began swinging her sword but missed her target upon her first few tries. Akira turned swinging her sword, but she felt the sting of Elandra's blade on her right side. She jumped back away from Elandra and looked down to see blood trickling down from her wound.

The rain continued to fall hard soaking both sisters to the bone. Elandra only gave her an instant to examine her wound. Akira turned her attention back to her sister who was already coming down hard on her again. Akira kneeled down keeping her sword above herself to block her sister's sword. While she was holding off her sister's blade she drew her dagger from her boot and slashed upward cutting her sister above her navel. Elandra pulled back away from her sister far enough to be out of her reach and looked down at the wound inflicted by her younger sister. She reached down touching the wound and then raised her hand looking at the blood. By the time Elandra had turned her attention back to the battle her younger sister was standing before her and with the handle of the dagger still in her hand delivered a blow to her jaw. Elandra stumbled back but was able to balance herself before falling. Akira swung her sword upward and Elandra quickly blocked the attack, but while holding off her sister's sword again she felt the impact of her sister's fist on her face again. Unable to stable herself she slipped on the wet grass and fell back.

As Elandra struggled to sit up Akira kicked her sword from her hand sending it out of her reach. Elandra used her left leg kicking her sister's legs out from under her. Akira fell back landing with a thud on the ground. Elandra struggled across the soaked ground beneath her over to her sister. She straddled her sister holding down one arm with her knee while trying to pull the dagger from her other hand. After a few moments of struggling for the dagger the older sister finally gained control of it. She pushed the blade into Akira's neck barely breaking the skin. A tiny trickle of blood coated the blade.

“You've gotten better little sister, but you will never beat me.” Elandra laughed. “And now I will spill your blood for the death of our people!”

Akira's tears mixed with the rain as they seeped from the corners of her eyes. She felt her sister's grip on her arm begin loosen as she spoke and held the blade to her throat. She yanked her arm out of her sister's grasp and with her claws slashed her sister's face. It was enough to push Elandra back off of Akira. Elandra struggled to an upright position and noticed the dagger was laying some feet away from her. Akira leapt over to her sister pinning her to the ground. Elandra looked up into her sister's glowing blue eyes and no longer saw the eyes of her sister, but that of a killer. Akira held her down by the throat with her left hand and raised her right hand, claws exposed to strike. Elandra tried to pry her sister's hands from her neck but the grip was too tight.

Sesshoumaru took a step towards the two sisters but InuYasha stepped in his path. “Like you said Sesshoumaru…this is not out fight. But if you want a fight I'll give you one!” he growled in a warning.

Hearing InuYasha's voice distracted Akira and her eyes returned to normal as she looked down at her silently sobbing struggling sister. She relaxed her claws and her arm returned to her side. She released her sister from her gasp and rose to her feet. Akira picked up her dagger and returned it to her boot. Elandra stood up still rubbing her neck and watched her sister as she gathered up her sword.

Elandra quickly made her way to her sword picking it up. “You think I would just let you go?” she hissed. Akira ignored her as she started walking in InuYasha's direction.

“Look out!” InuYasha warned Akira.

 

 

Akira spun around to see Elandra flying trough the air sword held high above her head. She drew out her sword and braced herself for Elandra's attack. Again their blades met ringing out through the silent forest. Both pushed the other back and both sisters stood face to face only a few feet from each other. Akira stepped forward swinging her sword. Elandra met each swing with her own blade. After several blows their blades locked as they stood nose to nose.

Elandra's eyes turned a bright green as Akira's shined a bright blue. “If you plan on beating me little sister, you had better make sure I am dead!”

Akira lifted her left leg with great force and landed her knee in her sister's stomach, as she pushed her blade to the right. Elandra gave a low grunt and she hunched over with pain as her wound began to bleed once again. Akira wasted no time connecting her left fist with the side of Elandra's face. Elandra fell to the ground in a kneeling position. Akira swung her sword down as hard as she could knocking Elandra's sword once again from her hand. She then kicked her in the chest. As Elandra lay with her back on the wet ground, Akira approached her holding her sword to her throat.

Elandra narrowed her eyes as she looked up at her sister. Akira began to speak, “I will not be the one to kill you. Do you not understand that I cannot?” Tears began to fall from her eyes as she spoke those words.

“That's too bad little sister.” Elandra laughed. “Because I have no problem killing you!”

Akira's eyes grew large in disbelief at Elandra's words. Elandra pulled a dagger from her belt and began pushing Akira's blade away from her throat. As soon as she had enough room she rolled out of the way of Akira's sword. She rose to her feet and in a flash of light appeared standing behind Akira. She placed the dagger at her neck.

“It's sad really.” Elandra whispered into her ear still holding the blade to her throat. “The compassion you hold in your heart came from your human mother. I do not share your care for life. It's ironic how I spent centuries protecting you, raising you, and now I will be the one who sends you to join your mother.”

Angered by Elandra's words her tears ceased to fall and her heart began to change. “You will not kill me!” she yelled as she elbowed her sister in the face. Disoriented Elandra still held her grip on her younger sister refusing to let go. Akira flipped her sword, which was still in her left hand, into a reversed position and with her back still turned to her sister impaled her own sister with the blade. Akira paused for a moment, standing there her sister still impaled on her sword. Before she could withdraw her sword she felt her sister's body still moving. Unexpectedly Elandra brought around her right arm and stabbed her sister with her dagger in the chest.

“I told you little sister…you…you can never beat me.” Elandra managed with ragged breath into her sister's ear before falling away.

Akira tried to turn around to face her sister but her sister's body had already fallen to the ground. Loosing blood fast and unable to keep to consciousness Akira also fell to the ground. As darkness overtook Akira a single thought rang in her head, `So…this is how it ends…'. The two sisters lay on the muddy ground side by side both only inches if that far from death.

InuYasha was quick to run to Akira's side and take her in his arms. He walked slowly back towards the edge of the forest where Miroku and Sango were standing. Neither of his travel companions knew what to say both were just as concerned about Akira's state. InuYasha said nothing as he continued down the path. They were going to return to Kiade's village to see if there was anything she could do for Akira.

 

 

 

 

 

***

Sometime later Elandra awoke deep in the woods. She sat up quickly looking to examine her wounds, but they were gone. Standing to her left she saw Sesshoumaru lost in thought. Noticing she was once again moving he looked down at her.

“What happened?” she asked. “Why am I still alive?”

“The Tensaiga has the power to bring souls back from the dead.” He replied coolly.

“And my sister? Did you use this on my sister as well?” she asked.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. “Would you have asked me to spare her as well?”

“No.” she replied. The anger in her heart had turned to sadness. “I fear I acted to hastily. I punished my sister for what the tiger clan is responsible for.” Tears began to sting her eyes. “And perhaps I was looking for her to punish me for failing to protect my people.”

Sesshoumaru walked over to her and extended his hand to help her up. “What is done is done.” He said simply.

As Elandra took his hand and stood up she nodded choking back her tears. The two set out to the north to join Rin and Jaken. As they walked in silence Elandra held her mourning inside. `Father, I am truly sorry. I have failed you…sister, please forgive me.' A single tear rolled down her cheek as she quickly wiped it away as to not show her sorrow.

Miles away InuYasha, Miroku, Sango, and Kiade sat in Kiade's hut looking down on Akira's body. Miroku sat back close to the wall watching as Kiade finished bandaging the wounds of the girl. Sango began to gather up left over bandages and supplies that lay on the floor. InuYasha sat back in a darker corner and said nothing.

“These wounds are much worse than those she had before. The wound in her chest is deep and I am not sure how much longer she will live.” Kiade said before she walked outside followed by Sango.

InuYasha still sat in silence as he choked back his own tears. A linger of guilt taunted his mind as he recalled the battle between the sisters. `Should I have interfered? Should I have left her to fight alone? Would she have even let me?' He questioned and cursed himself as he sat forcing himself to look at the half dead girl lying before him. Unable to stand it any longer he rose up and walked out of the hut not saying a word or looking at anyone. Miroku trailed behind him.

“InuYasha,” Miroku said softly as to try and comfort him in some way. “Akira's battle was her own. And she is very strong. I believe that she will survive this.”

InuYasha still stood silently staring off as Miroku spoke. After a moment he replied, “Perhaps she will.”

Miroku's eyes grew large. “What worries you my friend?” he asked confused.

“Eh Miroku, it's not something I can't manage on my own.” InuYasha said as he turned and walked away from the hut.

Miroku stood and watched him walk away knowing that he was just trying to hide his fear for the girl.

 

Kiade stayed to watch over Akira as Sango stood with Miroku watching the half demon disappear. Sango gave Miroku a questioning look, but he only lowered his head and closed his eyes in response. Realizing she wasn't going to get any answers out of him she returned inside the hut.

A few hours later Akira's eyes gradually opened as the sun began to fall slowly from the sky outside the hut. Her once deep blue eyes were now pale and almost lifeless. She looked up to see Sango staring back down at her with a relieved look on her face.

Sharp pains began to fill her chest as the wound reminded her of the event that had happened only hours before. It was far from being healed yet. Her eyes grew large as they began to fill with tears. `No! No…. This can't be! I killed my sister!' The memory of the battle began burning in her mind.

“ELANDRA!” she screamed out as she struggled to sit up. Sango and Kiade watched her at first not knowing what to expect.

Akira held the bandaged wound on her chest as she rose up from her knees. Even though the blade had pierced her chest she had been lucky. It had barely missed her lungs and heart, but it was still painful. She stood in silence as everyone watched her waiting anticipating her next move. Two steps were all she could manage before she fell to her knees sobbing uncontrollably. Sango hurried to comfort her and help her back to the pallet where she had been laying. Weak, disorientated, and disheartened she welcomed the slumber that overtook her once again.

InuYasha had been withdrawn since they returned to the village. He sat with his back against the bone eaters well taking in his dilemma. His heart torn apart, wanting to dive into the well and go to Kagome. Kiade had told him that she had returned and waited for his return before going home to her time a few weeks before. Another part of his heart warned him of this, he was where he belonged and had started to care a great deal for Akira, though he was afraid to show it as he had been before. `I can't just leave her like this, lying there in the hut half dead to chase after Kagome. She made her choice and she chose the life she would have in her own time.' Somehow in his heart he began to understand Kagome's choice. He realized that she could not live in his world, just as he could never live in hers. Their meeting each other and the love they shared was not a mistake but a part of their destiny. While he was sitting deep in thought, he heard Akira's voice call out her sister's name. He raced back to the hut to see how she was doing. And in that instant, though he would not realize it until later, he had made his choice.

He arrived to find she had fallen asleep again. The night that followed was long for everyone. Miroku and Sango began to wonder if Kagome was now their only link to find Naraku since he had still not come for Akira again. And if she was would InuYasha return to her time to bring her back. InuYasha waited patiently for Akira to open her eyes again.