Chapter 5. Fox vs. Dragon

Midoriko, she was the one who brought me here; to this glade where the full moon shone down, making me feel like I was filled with fire. Over these past few weeks she had been training me. It was true that I never really could control my foxfire, but now I could; my foxfire would obey me. My power was growing, but still, Midoriko defeated me every time we fought. Perhaps it was because I was a demon and she, a priestess; but, no matter what she said I just couldn’t bring myself to really attack her, even though Midoriko couldn’t be hurt, I always held back. Still never the less, I was becoming stronger. Sometimes demons broke through Midoriko’s mystic barrier that separated this world from the crossing place of this world and the after life. At first Midoriko would exercise the demons, but soon I became adept and could exorcise demons on my own without Midoriko helping. After a while I couldn’t bear the longing anymore and, with my newly found powers, I opened a rift that led to the mortal world, turning it into a portal, and escaped the glade. Words echoed through my head as I left, “You will fight the weapon that has freed your power and you will suppress the dragon.” They were a prophecy, one I knew I was destined to fulfill.

I sat alone in the forest, having only moments before I had run from Inu-Yasha, Kagome, and the rest of the group after Teto disappeared. Tears were streaming down my cheeks, leaving clear pathways in the mud and grime covering my face.

“Shippo...Shippo...Shippo!” The whole forest became covered in ghostly white fog in seconds. A small blue flame lit itself at my feet and began to grow bigger by the second. Finally it roared up twenty feet high. The white fog gathered inside the fire and became a human figure. The fog glowed and pulsed fading away to leave a figure behind; Teto. As the fire melted away I ran up and hugged her.

“Teto!” I cried breathlessly. But she seemed to be staring at the area around us in horror.

“Look, Shippo it’s an illusion.” She raised her hands and we were standing in a cavern of fire. Pools of molten rock surrounded us.

“Well, well, look who is back” Kagura’s cold voice said above me. “Wandered into the dragon’s den didn’t we.” Dragons began to swarm over the entrance to the cavern, but before they could completely close it; Rin dove trough.

“I made it!” she sighed.

“You sure cut it close in doing.” said Teto. The dragons glared at us, their gaze seeming to pierce our souls. All of the dragons seemed deadly in a way, with their claws gleaming in the light and pearly white fangs barred into snarls.

“If we’re fighting count me in!” Rin threw Shippo the Tetsusaiga and gave me Sounga’s sheath. “Old man Myoga, Totosi the sword smith, and grandfather Saya thinks that you can suppress Sounga’s demonic aura and destroy the ancient dragon spirit that it harbors. That’s why I brought you this.” she belted Tensaiga. The prophecy echoed in my mind once again; You will fight the weapon that has freed your power and you will suppress the dragon. Sounga was possessed by a dragon’s spirit. To quell this spirit I needed to fight the sword’s owner. I rammed Kagura’s arm with the sheath. She let go of Sounga and I pushed her away from the sword. Instantly a purple dragon made of inky darkness rose up from the soil and wrapped itself around the blade.

“This complicates things,” Shippo muttered. He swung Tetsusaiga, slicing through a rivet in its scales. The slice went smoothly, cutting the dragon’s tail. The dragon trashed around, writhing in pain. With a savage roar a dragon at the cave entrance bellowed its fury, fire spewing from its gaping jaws. Rin ducked, I jumped out of the way, and Shippo dodged. The dragon of darkness hissed as intertwining beams of shadowy blackness spiraled and became whole, completely healing the huge wound that the Tetsusaiga had left. Rin stuck Tensaiga in the ground, feigning defeat. Then Shippo slashed through the scar where the two demonic forces met in the form of wind.

“Dragon Strike!”

“Wind Scar!”

“Want to play games huh? Have it your way. Dragon Twister!” the dragon of shadows hissed menacingly.

The effect was a disaster. Lightning, wild multi-colored light, and a twister of energy smashed into each other. The explosion that followed was huge. It was kind of like being in the middle of a supernova. I was surprised that the cavern didn’t fall to pieces. I was even more surprised that I came out of it unhurt. The dragon was also unhurt but that was to be expected. I looked around but I could not see Shippo or Rin any where.

“Never take your eyes off me, and if you do expect to die.” The dragon knocked me into a pit of molten rock (or lava, magma, and what ever else you choose to call it). Thank goodness for my foxfire. Even as I was sinking, it came to life, protecting me in a blue flame. I transformed into my true form, a cross between a squirrel and a fox. Surfacing, climbed out of the molten rock, and lunged; my fangs sinking into the soft flesh of the dragon’s underbelly. There was only one complication; in my true form I was less than one foot tall. The dragon spewed enveloping darkness from his gaping jaws. I whirled, spinning out of the way. As though we were caught in a fiery dance we spun and clashed, then whirling apart for a few seconds before linking together in this strange dance. With a snarl I became an elephant ramming the dragon of shadows with my tusks. Then a mouse, scurrying to and fro over the rocky floor. I was a giant dog slashing with my claws. After that a fleet footed cheetah my speed more than a match. A unicorn, spiraling crystal horn drilling through the scales. A ferret so nimble, not a blow was landed. Finally an eagle dipping deep into those many coils and coming out with a sword. Then I was myself, sealing Sounga inside the scabbard. The purple dragon faded and the rest had been destroyed when the attacks of the three swords met. I looked around. No Shippo, no Rin. I felt as though a wide chasm had been ripped open in my heart.

We had been watching as Teto fought the dragon. We had seen Teto concur Sounga’s demonic aura. Now we saw Teto crying, crying because she thought we were dead. Midoriko had brought us here to keep us safe.

“Time to go” she said ever so softly. Then we were waking up inside the cavern where Teto still sat with her back turned to us, crying. Teto turned, in seeing us a look of relief washed over her face; Shippo began to run. In a moment they were in each other’s arms, caught in a tight embrace.

“I won’t ever leave you again.” Teto vowed. And trough out the rest of her life she stuck to her promise and Shippo stuck to Teto’s promise too. Sounga is still useful even now.

Epilogue

The water swirled inside the pond making the picture blur. I released the power that held the image there. A glowing red stone that looked like a marble floated to the surface. I sent tendrils of the spell for purifying demon souls into the jewel and the water. The jewel became considerably lighter. I called out. Acrossed many different planes of time and space, she heard me. Kirara was at my side in an instance, melding her strength with mine. The jewel became just an ordinary jewel. In short it was no longer the Jewel of Four Souls (the Shikon Jewel) but just an ordinary marble; however, it was seeped with purifying power. I exiled it from the spirit world and into Sounga’s hilt, forever sealing that overwhelming presence inside the jewel then expelling into the pure, good power of light. Then the last words I heard before I ascended was Teto saying “Thank You!”

Author's Note:

Sorry about putting the wrong chapter up and not fixing it, but my computer crashed and we just now got it back up. It was trying to install an update and when it finally finished the internet wouldn't work. Poor me , I uninstalled the update so I could read fanfiction again :) . The computer then tried to reinstall the update but the computer crashed. Now I couldn't read fanfiction :( . But now the computer works again an I hope youv'e enjoyed the story because that was the last chapter. But who knows, I may wright a sequel!