Curse of Asmahrany

Hot breath blew onto her neck and Kagome strained to see who the captor was. “Fourth time… Kagome…” The voice was a silky husk of a whisper, and Kagome could recognize it anywhere… Inuyasha?!

Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

-x-

- Prologue -

-x-

Urasue. Kikyo’s eyes widened as she scribbled the name down on a piece of parchment before rolling it up and tucking it into her sleeve. Glancing over her shoulder, Kikyo stood up and quickly exited her small little home, hoping to make it to the Temple of Four Souls in time.

Wrapping a cloth tightly around her body to keep the cold winds of the night out, Kikyo decided to make two stops before proceeding to the Temple. The moon was shining ominously over the small little village located somewhere in Egypt and Kikyo winced as a cold gust of air flew past her.

She had to get to the two families before Tsubaki did. It was the last thing Kikyo could do before Tsubaki ruthlessly killed her. Keeping the small parchment tucked tightly under her sleeve, Kikyo walked over the cool sand, keeping her head bent low, hoping to keep a low profile. Making it to the first stop, Kikyo breathed in deeply before pushing back the curtain. She spotted her target right away: a small baby.

“Priestess Kikyo!” A young woman gasped seeing Kikyo gaze at her small baby.

“Aria,” Kikyo greeted, “I’ve just come to greet Rin.” Kikyo gestured to the small baby sleeping peacefully in her cot.

Aria tilted her head, “Anything the matter, priestess?”

Kikyo merely shook her head. “Do not worry. Just… if a Priestess by the name of Tsubaki comes by… do not fight back. Give her what she needs. If you hold a fight then-… just don’t.”

Aria frowned but nodded nonetheless. Kikyo smiled and stroked Rin’s head before turning around and leaving. Glancing back, Kikyo headed straight to another house, wanting to greet that family too before she walked straight to her death…

At this house Kikyo heard a baby shrieking. Smiling fondly, Kikyo remembered blessing the baby and giving her a name when she was born a few months ago, exactly seven days after Rin was born. Pushing the curtain aside, Kikyo saw a groggy mother cradling her daughter.

“Korari,” Kikyo whispered as the young woman looked up, her eyes wide.

“Priestess Kikyo!” she smiled, standing up with her whimpering child. Kikyo held her hand up to stop Korari.

“I’ve come to say that… if a priestess by the name of Tsubaki comes around, do not fight her. Give her exactly what she wants… even if it’s…” Kikyo gulped, “even if it’s Kagome…”

Korari’s eyes widened as she looked down at her baby girl before looking up at the Priestess. “What do you mean?”

Kikyo smiled sadly. “Just do as I say and please… take care of your daughter. With all your heart and all your soul…”

Korari’s fear started to take over. “Priestess—Priestess Kikyo!”

But Kikyo had already turned around and left towards the Temple of Four Souls…

-x-

A large pyramid stood before a vast lake that glistened under the moonlight. Two small trees stood erect on either side of the pyramid, sort of like guards. Kikyo pulled her scarf off her head and looked up at the large temple that shaded her. The Temple of Four Souls, Kikyo thought urgently to herself as she rushed to the small entrance carved at the base of the pyramid.

The lake seemed to swirl under the soft winds and Kikyo nervously glanced at it, her fear rising. The lake—the Sacred River as the villagers like to refer to it, seemed to be warning Kikyo. A sort of warning that forbade her from entering the Pyramid.

Kikyo paid no heed.

Just as Kikyo made it to the entrance, she felt somebody land gracefully behind her. She stiffened. Slowly turning around, the young maiden saw a woman, clad in a black robe with flowing grey hair smirk wickedly at her.

“Priestess Kikyo,” The woman greeted her voice in a snide whisper.

“Priestess Tsubaki,” Kikyo nodded as she took a step back, in obvious fear.

“I see you’ve taken a slight peek into your future, have you?” Tsubaki sneered as she took one step towards Kikyo. Kikyo took another step back.

“Who wouldn’t?” Kikyo whispered. “With your obvious hate and greed towards the line of Priestesses that guard the Shikon jewel, I had to see the future.”

“Well then,” Tsubaki cracked her knuckles, “a great premonitions priestess as yourself can probably figure out that I’ve come to…”

“Kill me?” Kikyo finished Tsubaki’s statement before Tsubaki could even start. The dark priestess smirked.

“I see you aren’t stupid at all.” Tsubaki finished as she lunged towards Kikyo. The young priestess gasped as she turned around and quickly ran into the great pyramid that housed the Shikon Jewel. Tsubaki screamed as she hit against a shimmering blue barrier.

“WHAT IS THIS?” Tsubaki roared as she glared at the barrier cast before her. Kikyo smiled.

“It’s a barrier, as obvious as it may seem, it only allows the protectors of the jewel in and those of impure souls out.”

“You little wench!” Tsubaki shrieked as she blew a powerful energy blast to directly hit against the barrier. No harm was made. Kikyo, after she was sure that the barrier would keep Tsubaki out, turned around and ran deeper into the pyramid, her sandals slapping against the sand that had collected on the marble floors.

The walls of the pyramid housed many pictures of previous Pharaohs and their pure deeds. Long pillars held the walls and ceilings up as a golden brown hue danced off of the ceiling and the walls.

Kikyo’s footfalls created loud echoes to ring throughout the pyramid. Panting heavily, she could faintly hear Tsubaki still trying to break the barrier. Turning a left into a secluded hallway, Kikyo urged her legs to go faster.

I need to get to the jewel! Kikyo thought to herself as she spotting the sparkling small jewel near the end of the long hallway. Just as Kikyo was merely a few feet away from the Shikon Jewel, the entire pyramid rumbled, causing the young priestess to fall.

Oh no! Kikyo thought dangerously to herself as she sensed Tsubaki’s aura flying near. Holding the little curled up piece of paper, Kikyo closed her eyes.

Hide in the safest place in this entire room. Hide in such a place that nobody can find it until the time is right… Opening her eyes, Kikyo noticed that the small parchment had disappeared. It had hidden itself somewhere that not even Kikyo knew…

“KIKYO!” Tsubaki screamed as she flew on top of Kikyo, holding the young maidens neck with her long bony fingers. Kikyo’s eyes shot open as she stared at the dark priestess before her.

“Tsu-ba-ki…” Kikyo hoarsely cried out as she tried to pry Tsubaki’s fingers off of her neck.

“Running away from me eh??” Tsubaki snarled, her teeth bearing almost canine-like.

Kikyo’s eyes widened as she looked up at Tsubaki. Forming a small little energy ball in the palm of her hands, Kikyo blasted Tsubaki’s stomach. That was all she needed to scramble away, gasping for air. Running to the best of her ability, Kikyo heard Tsubaki flying after her.

Need to get out of here. Kikyo thought. I need to reseal this temple…

Seeing the light of the pale moon, Kikyo broke free from the temple walls. Turning around, she held her hands out in front of her, a light blue light coming from the palm of her hands. Just as the light surrounded the temple, Tsubaki also exited.

“KIKYO!” Tsubaki screamed, running to tackle the young priestess. Kikyo’s eyes widened as she finish chanting the spell that housed the Temple underneath a spiritual barrier. Just as the Temple was protected once again, Kikyo turned to run but Tsubaki tackled her from the back.

“Now now Kikyo,” Tsubaki smirked, “no point in running,” a long thing snake circled around Tsubaki’s body and bore its fangs near Kikyo’s neck. Kikyo’s blood ran cold…

“You hid from me when I needed you the most. You went behind my back when I expected you not to… you even impaled my Snake… what kind of teacher are you, Kikyo?” Tsubaki trailed her fingers down Kikyo’s neck, rather monstrously.

“The kind of teacher,” Kikyo strained out, “that risks her life for her people—for her students.”

Tsubaki’s gaze darkened. “You put a barrier around the Shikon Jewel. I can’t even get two feet within touching distance of that damned Jewel!”

Kikyo smiled painfully. “It’s what I do best, Tsubaki.”

Tsubaki tightened her grip on Kikyo’s neck. “I know the next in line to protect the Shikon Jewel after your demise Kikyo,” Tsubaki sneered, “and I will get her.”

“Stay-away…” Kikyo strained, “From Rin and Kagome…”

Tsubaki cackled. “Kagome? Why I wasn’t going to do anything to her poor soul… but now that you mention it, she is quite a beautiful baby…”

Kikyo’s eyes widened.

“She’ll grow up to be a lovely lady… just think: Rin’s spiritual powers and Kagome’s physical features… no man would be able to resist me- ah… yes…” Tsubaki’s grip tightened even more and Kikyo was thrashing now.

“Thank you Kikyo,” Tsubaki smirked, “you’ve been a great teacher.”

“TSUBA--…” Kikyo couldn’t finish as the Snake’s fangs pierced Kikyo’s throat. Stepping up, Tsubaki stared disgustedly down at Kikyo’s dead body.

“If she insisted, I would’ve let her live.” Tsubaki laughed manically as she kicked Kikyo’s body. The body turned over slightly and Kikyo’s right hand dipped into the Sacred River.

“Time to get Rin and Kagome.” Tsubaki spoke to her snake as she started casually walking towards the village…

-x-

Korari had just calmed down a jittery Kagome and placed her back in the cot when a knocking came from outside of her door. Frowning, Korari glanced at her sleeping husband before grabbing a large stick for self protection. Heading towards the door, Korari pushed away the curtain to reveal the dark priestess, Tsubaki.

“Priestess Tsubaki!” Korari gasped as the Priestess smiled wickedly at the young mother as she slowly passed her a small gourd filled with a kind of liquid.

“Make Kagome drink this just as the sun begins to rise. If you don’t,” The snake whirled up Tsubaki’s body and bore it’s fangs to Korari, “your baby’s life shall be mine.”

Korari gasped as Tsubaki spun on her heels and headed off. Glancing down at the small gourd in her hand, Korari remembered what Priestess Kikyo had said earlier that night.

“I’ve come to say that… if a priestess by the name of Tsubaki comes around, do not fight her. Give her exactly what she wants… even if it’s…even if it’s Kagome…”

Glancing at the horizon, Korari sensed that dawn was near. Clutching the gourd, Korari gazed at her daughter, fear rising in her stomach. What… what is happening?

-x-

Tsubaki didn’t even bother knocking on the door as she tore into the home of Rin. Idly shooting her eyes in the direction the sleeping figure of Aria, Tsubaki picked up the young girl sleeping soundly in her cot. An evil smile played on her lips.

“Why aren’t you the cutest thing?” Tsubaki cooed as she stroked Rin’s head. “You’re going to make Auntie Tsubaki a very proud woman.”

Glancing down at the sleeping woman, Tsubaki instructed her snake to kill Rin’s mother and father. Within the blink of an eye, the snake pierced Aria’s neck and her husband’s neck, sucking their body’s dry of any source of life.

Turning around, Tsubaki headed back towards Kagome’s home.

-x-

Korari saw that the sun had just began rising and instantly picked the gourd up from the ground. Lifting her baby from her cot, Korari pressed the gourd tightly against Kagome’s lips, her hands shaking.

Almost like Kagome was suckling her mother’s breast, she drank the contents of the gourd without so much as a care about what it might by. A lone tear streaked down Korari’s cheek as Kagome kept on sucking the gourd dry.

“I’m so glad you listened to me, Korari.” Tsubaki spoke as she walked into the hut with Rin in her arms. Korari spun around.

“What do you want, Tsubaki?” Korari hissed, her voice demanding. Tsubaki merely smirked.

“Why nothing really. Place Kagome on the floor, now.”

Hesitantly, Korari did as she was told. Tsubaki placed Rin beside Kagome and held her hands above the two girls.

“One till dusk,
The other till dawn,
Live in union,
Two minds as one.
Two Souls combined,
It shall be mine…
Until that day
Two minds, one body,
Curse of Asmahrany.”

A pale black light shone from Tsubaki’s palms as it engulfed both girls. Korari’s eyes widened in horror.

“What- what’re you doing?” Her voice shaking as she saw Rin’s body disappear and Kagome’s body glow. Tsubaki kept on chanting something incoherent as the black light started to lessen. Just as the sun fully pulled up past the horizon, Tsubaki pulled her hands back, quite content with her work.

“Rin and Kagome,” Tsubaki started, “are cursed. By day you’ll have Kagome but by night Kagome will transform into Rin. Don’t ask me why. I have my reasons. Train Rin to be a powerful Priestess. She must continue her duty of protecting the Shikon Jewel.” Tsubaki turned to Korari, her eyes darkening.

“Tell anybody about this curse and the lives of you and your daughter will be history.”

Korari felt tears streak down her cheek as she saw her Kagome wiggle on the floor, sobs escaping her lungs. Tsubaki merely smiled, picked up Kagome and kissed her forehead before putting her back in the cot.

“I shall return when the time is right. From today on… your daughter shall live with the Curse of Asmahrany…” Turning around, Tsubaki exited the house and disappeared with the flowing sand…

-x-

Happy 16th Birthday, Alia!! Bee eff effs for... EVAHHH XD I've known you since you were THIIIISSSSS little and now you're THIISSSSS big and well... I WUHVE YUHH FOREVER!!!... This is my birthday present... to YOU XD (muwah)