Raindrops

Chapter 7: Shadows of the Light

Euric moved silently, the darkness around him was no hindrance; he knew where he was going. It was after all, a path he had traveled many times…

Doubts…he hoped he had done the right thing…he hoped he’d made the right choice, lives were about to be changed.

As he came to the familiar clearing in the woods the same blinding light greeted him. Bowing, he gave his report,

“It seems he is worthy my lord. Him and the other four have the necessary qualities we seek.”

“Very good…hopefully they shall live up to their potential. Now go, the boy is in your care now.”

“I have doubts my lord…you have the power, why not let them live among the world a while, then you can make them yours. Such early exposure to…well I’m just saying it might have a de-humanizing effect on them”

“Be mindful of your place Euric. We need them untainted by the world…now silence your tongue and fulfill your duties”

Euric new he’d crossed a line. Not uttering another word, he retreated from the light, quickly retracing his steps back to the village, his task needing completion…

***

The priest stared into the silence as he walked. Two hundred and fifty years…for two hundred and fifty years he’d watched over Valcos and his companions. In the beginning they were intended to be weapons, weapons in the hands of the light.

But Valcos had proved to be so much more.

The priest couldn’t believe the opportunity that had presented itself before the light. The frown found its way back to his lips, the plan needed completion.

But on sensing the hostility around him he stopped. Not looking up he addressed them.

“So, the seven are assembled. You all have done well…all except you, Valcos”

Valcos looked up at the priest, his eyes still watery, his face still pained.

“You…what are you doing here?”

“That is irrelevant, where is my hate Valcos?”

But there was no time for a response, it seemed Sesshoumaru did not approve of the priest’s reappearance. The poison whip lashed out at the throat of the priest as it had done before. But this time it never reached its mark…

The priest lowered his arm away from his face, the whip wrapped around his wrist. Suddenly, energy seemed to pulse through the priest’s arm and flow through the whip towards the demon lord. There was a blinding flash of light and Sesshoumaru felt himself being thrown back. Still, he landed gracefully on his own two feet. It was then that he felt pain shoot through his entire body. Looking at his shoulder he saw the wound that Valcos had inflicted earlier. Looking back at his right hand he noticed that it was black as soot. Something didn’t add up.

Miroku watched the priest, he definitely wasn’t an illusion...but that created more questions than it seemed to answer. Why would the priest want to make the world suffer eternally…what was in it for him? More importantly Valcos’ surprise upon seeing them for the first time made it evident that he had no idea about the priest’s involvement. Something was definitely wrong.

Valcos clutched his wounded chest, still on his knees he turned to face the man he once knew, a look of confusion capturing his face of the warrior.

The priest looked down towards the ground when he spoke again, his voice just above a whisper. He had come so close; he would not let it fall apart now...

“Now Valcos, where is my hate?”

But it seemed that fait didn’t want him to have the answer today…at least not without sufficient interruptions.

“Shut your stupid mouth, stop wasting my time you’re just a stupid illusion!!”

Inuyasha had finally lost his temper. The pain caused by his external injuries as well as his internal ones were driving him to the edge. Sesshoumaru gave him a scathing glance; clearly his moron of a half brother had no clue as to what was going on.

But tessaiga had already transformed, the shards of diamond on its blade now sparkled in the mid-day sun.

“Ill just rip you apart!! Take this you bastard!! Kongosoha!!”

Inuyasha brought the blade down with all his force. Diamond spears erupted from the swing, flying toward its target. The priest didn’t move. Perfectly still, he continued looking at the same piece of meadow as before. A single spear connected with the man right in the gut, sending him flying backwards.

Valcos tried to get to his feet, but his emotions pushed him back down. Far ahead of him, the priest he once knew hung motionless, pinned against a tree, a large diamond spear protruding out of his chest.

Valcos shot a glance towards the Miroku; intangible pain shot through his body. The entire group-save the girl-stared at the dead priest, they were right next to him yet they seemed miles away.

How could things go so wrong…

The universe had spelt it out for him; from the resurrection to the chosen, everything had been perfect. How could it all fall apart now…

‘No’

The word flashed before his eyes, there had to be a way out. It was time the priest revealed his true form.

At first it was a glint-easily mistaken for the sun reflecting of the spear-but soon the light seemed to grow…to grow from within. It began from the wound and slowly grew to encompass the entire body of the priest. The light reached a blinding intensity, erupting into a perfect orb around the tree. Then…it slowly began to dissipate; shrinking into itself until it was gone…leaving behind a single glowing entity.

Standing where the tree once stood was a being not of this earth. Its skin pearly white, its armor, a bright silver. Its eyes burning with blazing white flames.
The creature glowed with a warm light, emanating pureness. When it spoke, its voice seemed to echo with a sort of deep soothing. Even through the pain, Shippo could feel its warmth calming his aching heart.

“Look at you Valcos, has time destroyed your will so much that I must see you so broken”

Valcos looked up at the entity, non pulsed by his presence. He’d known someone had been watching him all his life…someone other than that moron Euric

“So, how many guises have you taken just to watch over me…angel”

The word seemed to linger in front of Kagome’s mind ‘Angel? What’s going on…’

“Hmpf. Angel is such a…Christian name. I prefer lord Galadriel, as in lord of heaven. N-”

But it seemed that was one more interruption left for today. Inuyasha hadn’t finished.

“What the fuck is going on!! I’m not going to sit out in the dark any longer. What-”

“SILENCE!”

Kagome had seen Inuyasha express fear in many ways, but never had she seen him like this. Inuyasha visibly jumped back, his ears bent low against his skull. It seemed-in the silences that ensued-that even the world had been struck dumb by the angels command.

Sesshoumaru was intrigued; he’d never sensed such power before-not even from his father. Looking back at the gash in his shoulder, he reminded himself that there was a first time for everything.

“I shall not stand for any further interruptions. We must finish what we so painfully started.”

Galadriel turned his attention once again to Valcos.

“Now my child…WHERE-IS-MY-HATE”

Valcos bowed his head; breathing slowly he collected his thoughts.

“Well, the spell was created to release the hate within my grave, it would then corrupt the love in all ma-”

“I know what the spell does Valcos. It was I who told you about it! Where is the hate!”

“Just wait…” Valcos’ wounds were restricting his ability to speak coherently

“Just wait, I need to think this through, I’m not sure why it’s gone…just humor me…I think I should have killed him…ya definitely should have kil-”

“Your being redundant Valcos, tell me where is the hate!!”

“Look…I think I’ve got it…the spell was based on the presumption that the hate could…ya…that the hate could corrupt the love in all the creatures on the earth. Right so…I guess its logical to presume that it could work the other way…that the love within the monk…I mean the moment he saw that woman die I guess his love for her must have purified all my hate…you know, like a reverse effect. That’s why I should have killed him before the hate touched him.”

The angel starred at Valcos, unbelieving.

“No, that’s impossible!! NO!! There must be more hate!! This cant end NOW! WHERE IS MY HATE!!”

“I don’t know”

“Don’t test me Valcos where is my hate!!”

“I DONT KNOW!!”

“VALCOS THIS IS NOT THE TIME!! WHERE!! IS!! MY!! HATE!!”

The angel no longer looked calm and benevolent as he did before. His wrath exploded about the meadow as he spoke.

“Why do you care? What does my hate have to do with you!!”

Valcos’ last attempt at defiance pushed the angel over the edge. In one swift motion he unleashed a pure beam of light hitting Valcos square in the chest, sending him soaring through the air. He landed on his stomach yards from Kagome.

Weakly he tried to get up but his shoulders didn’t posses the strength. Far behind him the angel composed himself once again.

“Well I guess the least you deserve is an explanation…”

“All this was part of a grand plan created by myself. Its completion would result in the destruction of hell itself. We would use your hate Valcos. When it spread to all of mortality, we would control it…use it to carry the souls of all those who exist on this plane to the other world. Don’t you see, once we controlled the hate, the souls of all mortality would be tainted and at our command. We would then use the energy created by the souls like a weapon, a weapon that we would use to wipe hell from the face of time forever.”

The angel paused a while to let the notion sink in.

“But my plans began with failure. An ill omen I know, but I kept my hopes up. You see, though I have power over the mortals on this plane, there was no way by which I could resurrect a greater lord of hell. For years I searched for a way to bring Incarnius back; but it seemed that the demon had hidden himself in a deep slumber. Not to be mistaken for death, no. But a slumber deep enough to remain entombed…hidden forever. But at last…the answer came to the light around eight moons ago. A power came to this plane that should not have been. What it was I do not know, but the energy released from its arrival set of chain of events that culminated in the resurrection of the beast. Now we could kill the beast and unleash our plan.”

Suddenly Kagome’s mind flashed back to when she first came to the feudal era, the vision of the pulsing jewel clear in her memory…the pieces had begun to fall into place.

“Since then I searched these lands for people worthy of the task.” Now he briefly looked at the others before him.

“You seven. You all had the spiritual strength I sought…you also had the physical strength I sought. I looked to use you to kill, or at least wound Valcos. Thus when the time was right, I could take control of his hate and use it for the greater good.”

Valcos twitched. Galadriel looked back at Valcos…he felt for the boy.

“Valcos, you know more that any that sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. This would have been an unprecedented victory for the light!! We could destroy evil itself! No cost is too high for such greatness!!”

“You monster.” Ignoring the pain in her shoulder and the pain in her heart Kagome stood up confronting the divine being.

“Sacrifice!! You call killing every soul on this world a SACRIFICE!! That’s slaughter!! You can never justify killing so many innocents n-!!”

“No child” the angel’s expression softened. He had to make them understand; his cause was good…no…it was great.

“No child don’t you see, souls can never be destroyed completely. We would not be destroying the world forever. The world would heal; the flowers would boom…life would begin again. Children will be born…love shall grow. Everything shall be as it is, as it always will be. Except…except it shall exist bathed in goodness of the light. Don’t you see, we shall all live free from the darkness, free from he shadow.”

“Well what about you own shadow?!! You claim to heal the world when all you do is destroy it. The lives off all who live in this world are too high a cost…whatever the cause.”

“Why don’t you see!! It’s for the greater good. None have ever dreamed of achieving what we could have done here. It was an impossible task till this moment!!”

Galadriel was almost pleading with them now. Trying with all his might to show them the true benevolence of the light.

Slowly, he marshaled his thoughts; there was still one piece of news he had to deliver. He never planned on revealing it to anyone, but then…he never saw his plans failing so miserably…

‘We were so close…he shall understand…it was for the greater good’

‘It was the only way…’

“As you know Valcos I can never lie…it is not my way. If you ust know the truth then you shall know the whole truth…it is your right.”

The angel seemed solemn; regret moving its way across his form.

“The plan I created with your hate…was conceived long before you death.”

Valcos’ body seemed to spasm. Suddenly his head shot up; shock and revelation flowing through his wounded exterior.
Kagome let out an audible gasp…he was no longer teary eyed…no longer human. Death now seemed to swarm around him. Slowly he staggered to his feet, and with a sort of wounded determination he made his way towards the angel…sword in hand.

The creature gave Valcos a confused look, a hint of pity in his stare.

“She was a sacrifice before the good of the world. The greater good Valcos! Has selfish earthly greed consumed you all!!”

“You…” Valcos trembled as he spoke; a man possessed, barely able to move let alone carry the weight of his own sword.

“You sanctimonious bastard!! You killed her!! I don’t care for you stupid reasons…you killed her!!” Nothing mattered to him any more; it had been he who had disgraced her with his actions. Life had lost meaning…lost purpose. But he would be dammed if he let her killer roam free…however noble his cause.

Valcos lunged at the entity. He had lost himself. Without hesitation the angel threw back his attacker with a beam of light as he had done before…again it stopped short of killing him.

“Valcos, control you self. Oh how you have fallen!!”

But Valcos was fast becoming the least of his problems.

“Wind Scar!!”

The force of the tessaiga came forth, heralding the angel’s death. But the simple toys of a mortal were no concern of the divine. With a lazy flick the angel deftly subdued the wave of energy, his irritation growing; matched only by Inuyasha’s sudden anger.

“I’m gonna rip you to shreds you bastard!!”

Kagome stared in shock. Inuyasha seemed to shake with rage. As she lay beside Miroku she was unsure as to what had sparked the hanyo’s wrath, probably it was his way of dealing with loss. The idea caused a small bolt of pain to pass through her. Her mind…her heart were once again dragged down into the blank depths of misery by her memories…

“You wanted to destroy the world!! You killed that man’s love!! All just for some righteous reason which no one gives a damn about!!

Miroku’s mind was miles from where he sat. Yet he still felt confusion…it wasn’t like Inuyasha to be so concerned for the world.

“More than that it was YOU!! You used us!! You didn’t care what happened to us!!”

Miroku had already reached this conclusion. His mind laughed at him as he sat there.

‘He practically told you…’

The priest’s rants came back to him with chilling clarity…their meaning lucid as day…’

‘The path it moves, forever winding
The faithful follow blind
Within lies a power unique
Yet one in all mankind’

“You didn’t care who got hurt you just wanted to finish you stupid plan!! You bastard I won’t let you live…you killed Sango!! Its because off you she’s dead!! Take this

WIND SCAR!!”

The half demons words hit the mark. Kagome felt an uncontrollable anger erupt within her. He was right…the angel had dragged them all into this mess…even Valcos had suffered…and for what…

“Impudence!! I wont stand for it any longer!! You faithless shall die!!” Galadriel could tolerate this no longer.

Again a beam of light erupted from his outstretched hand. But there was something different about it this time; instead of merely deflecting the wind scar as it had before it tore straight through it…rushing to greet Inuyasha and all who were beside him…its deadly intent apparent to all.

But Inuyasha wasn’t surprised…in fact he was glad to see it coming.

“I’ve been waiting for that you bastard!!”

“Bakuryuha!!”

The wind scar clashed once again with the angel’s energies. But it seemed to struggle with the magnitude of the angel’s power, unable to push it back towards its creator, unable to transform into the tornadoes of energy…

“Such measly tricks will not save you from my wrath!!”

The light now began to outmatch the backlash wave…slowly pushing it back towards Inuyasha.

Kagome got to her feet, bow and arrow in hand. A rage fueled by her pain guiding her hand. Placing the arrow along the bowstring she pulled back preparing for her shot. She bit through the relentless pain in her shoulder, vengeance her only calling…

Miroku nearly lost himself, the sight before him was…otherworldly. Radiant blue energies seemed to whip around the girl like an uncontrollable storm.

Sango’s face flashed in her mind…she was ready. With a defiant cry she let fly her arrow. So bright was it that it made Galadriel’s light seem as dark as night.

The angel himself stood aghast.

‘Such power’

The arrow seemed to defeat his energies with ease. It flew directly towards him accompanied by the now swirling tornadoes of the backlash wave. He saw his own power turning on him. Turning his head slightly to the left he saw a thunderstorm of blue arks heading his way. It was the dragon of the tokijin-Souryuuha-surging towards him.

‘I have failed. My plans are in ruin. But I must survive. If not me then who…who will have the strength…the devotion to fight the shadow the way I have…the way only I can? No…I must live’

Though powerful, Galadriel knew the waves of energy would not trouble him. Tensing his body he prepared to gracefully leap out of the way, a measly feat for one of his power. But before he could, he was stopped…dead in his tracks.

He swore then, that if he had blood in his body it would have run cold. The sight before him terrified him beyond reason…beyond imagination. There, outmatching the speed of the arrow and all that followed it was Valcos; sword in hand, eyes as empty as death itself.

“You want to know my hate.”

He seemed only to whisper, yet his words effortlessly cut through the frenzy that followed his steps.

“VALCOS!!…You must understand!!…It was for the greater goo-kah!…ug…”

It was too late…Valcos was beyond reason.

Looking down he saw only the hilt of a sword protruding from his chest; the rest had gone straight through him.

Reaching for something just below the angel’s neck Valcos uttered his last words to him, an eerie smile upon his face…

“Now you shall forever know my hate…”

And with that he was gone, leaving Galadriel to face judgment alone…to face his end, unable to escape due to the wounds…

‘It was for good…for the light.’

He looked up towards the sky…

‘Oh universe…to you I submit…my humble spirit’

He felt the arrow rip through his armor. He felt its power surge into him. He felt the waves crashing into him and then…nothing.

The meadow was bathed I light. Huge arcs swung about the valley blinding all that looked upon them. Suddenly, a huge pillar of white flames shot high into the sky from where the angel once stood as if reaching for the heavens. It continued to climb higher and higher and then…it vanished. The light dissipated, the winds stopped. The valley before them was as it always had been…

No sign remained that an angel was slain here…

Miroku placed one hand before him, praying. Whatever the reason…the slaying of something so holy was an ill deed.

To her right Kagome saw Sesshoumaru departing, tokijin in hand, his white robes bloodied. Sopping only for a moment to look back. Far behind stood a figure, one hand raised far above his head, his hand waving farewell.

“It was a pleasure demon. Maybe we shall meet again under less…hostile circumstances.”

Sesshoumaru stared at the form of Valcos. His coat dripping with blood from a wound he inflicted. Yet he stood tall waving farewell…a peaceful grin upon his face.

Silently Sesshoumaru tilted his head the slightest…it was the most amount of respect he was ever going to show anyone, especially a human.

Seeing the demon from the valley Valcos now turned to face Inuyasha and the others. He walked purposefully towards them, smiling. His eyes-once again-were full of…life. Inuyasha immediately reached for tessaiga.

“Oh come on…” he said, stooping-his arms raised in mock submission.

“Anyway you shouldn’t be fighting…with a wound like that and all”

“Shut up!! You take another step and ill…”

“Inuyasha! Just let him come OK”

Inuyasha whipped around. What was Kagome saying? But-once again-the look on her face prevented him from taking the argument any further.

Kagome didn’t understand her feelings. But something about the look on Valcos’ face…

Valcos walked up to Inuyasha and gave him an assuring pat on the shoulder…oblivious to the look of pure death adorning his face. Then he turned to Kagome. Ignoring Inuyasha’s threatening growls he spoke…

“I’m sorry. I really am. I was…blinded”

But before Kagome could respond he moved away. Walking slowly, Valcos placed an arm on his shoulder.

Still holding Sango’s lifeless body Miroku looked up to meet Valcos’ compassionate gaze.

“I can see myself in you…love stolen without logical reason, the light extinguished in ones life…I feel your pain…please allow me this. We shall all sleep the better…”

Without another word Valcos helped the monk to his feet and respectfully laid Sango’s body down before them…words of protest to far from their lips.

Immediately Kagome felt weak, she felt tears well up within her. Seeing Sango laid out before her was unbearable. She clung to Inuyasha’s robes for support, Shippo buried his head in her shirt. On his other side Miroku too, looked for support, only Kirara stood dutifully by her master’s side.

Valcos went down on his haunches. Tenderly he brushed the hair out of her face. Memories flowing back into him…
Suddenly he looked up…up into the heavens and spoke…the smile still across his face

“Well…you always thought I was some heartless moron with a sword. How about this huh!! I guess I do have a compassionate side. Even if it took me two hundred and sixty odd years to find I still have one. You were the only one who could see it; I never believed your crap. Well now all can see it…I love you Faye…I always will…remember that. The day I stop is the day I let the darkness take me. And you and I know very well that that’s never going to happen. Look at this as a ‘forgive me’ for my actions.”

With that Valcos took out a large golden locket from his inner sleeve. With an almost childish smile he arched his eyebrows…

“Ahh…check it out. Shiny isn’t it. Took it from Galadriel before you guys laid him to rest as it were.”

They all gasped. None knew what the locket was; yet they knew exactly what it did. Miroku felt a surge of energy as he watched Valcos gently place the locket around Sango’s neck. Heir hope slowly giving way to happiness…

Standing up Valcos muttered a few words and stood back…

At first the medallion glowed warmly…then it vanished completely.

Every one held their breath; waiting for the spark of life they thought they would never see. They all thanked the gods for their fortune…

Nothing…

Miroku looked at Valcos. Confused.

Valcos returned his gaze. Exuding warmth.

“Now her soul can rest peacefully” as he spoke he placed one hand gently on Miroku’s shoulder.

“What!!”

Kagome couldn’t believe what she was hearing. No…she should be alive…

“What do you mean Valcos??”

“No waiting…no purgatory…no judgment. It’s a straight pass to heaven…where eternal peace awaits. Free of pain, free of suffering.”

And with that Valcos bowed his head low and began walking away from the group towards the valley pass.

They all-including Inuyasha-slowly lowered themselves towards her silent body. Walls closed in…eclipsing the happiness that was theirs for a fleeting instant…

“T-thank you”

Kagome was barely able to speak. Yet a sort of uncertain calm and tranquility seemed to flow through her…

Miroku felt at peace with the world around him. At least her soul shall rest in peace. It was the most they could have done for her.

Moments passed, all was silent. The world continued to move, uncaring for the petty trials and tribulations of men.

Then the unexpected happened, Sango’s eyes shot open, her back arched into the air as her muscles reacted to the blood now flowing through them. Suddenly she shot up, her eyes already filling with tears as she stared at the incredulous expressions that greeted her. Time slowing down…

No words were exchanged…it was not necessary. Before any knew what they were doing, they all fell together in one huge embrace, tears falling freely. All was as it was meant to be. The world…turning, took no care yet all seemed to have become beautiful again, the transformation, magical. Miroku felt Sango’s warm skin against his…or was that Shippo or Kagome?? It did not matter any more. The world seemed…no was happy again…it was complete.

After what seemed like an eternity Kagome released herself from the others and looked up. Barely able to see straight through her tears she was able to see Valcos…a look of pure glee on his face. Arms wide as he spoke

“…OK…so I lied”

With that he touched his hand to his forehead…taking his leave he finally left the valley…left the group to themselves. It would be a long time before they went anywhere, more than happy to be alive…happy to be together…

So the world…alive, rejoice
Love’s strength within the seven
Tears they shed, tears of joy
Like raindrops fall, fall from heaven…

***

well that’s it please review.
There is a prologue left
So watch out for that…itl have details of any possible sequel

Again please review