Well, here it is, the last and final part to the "Arashi" Series. Sorry it took me so long to post this... Please, please send me C&C on this part! I got almost none for the last part. All C&C can be sent to me at ShampUsagi@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Part 7: The Final Battle
A raven sailed over the city of Tokyo. It flew low over the rooftops, dodging antennas and ornaments. It dove down and soared just above the streets, rising again as it caught the updrafts from the hot tar under fully spread wings. It touched down on a telephone wire near an apartment building, anchoring itself with its dark claws, using its tail as a counterbalance. A white-haired girl, staring distractedly out the window, noticed it. It cocked its head at her, staring at her with black, beady eyes. A moment later, it spread its wings and sailed away again.
Arashi turned her attention away from the window and back to the sword, which she was holding in her lap as she polished it. These last seven days had passed so quickly. She couldn't quite explain how
she knew this, but something from the very bottom of her psyche was telling her that today was going to be the day that everything would be decided. This reached far beyond her own struggle with her sister. This reached into the very fabric of the universe. Her dreams last night had been full of possible visions of the future, some good, some bad, but all dependant on her powers. She shuddered, ever so slightly. If she died, Nekura would be free to rampage unchecked. One of Arashi's visions had been of Tokyo, laid to waste by her sister and the powers of darkness.
She shook her head to clear it of the awful vision and rubbed the soft cloth she was using over the hilt of the sword, pausing for a moment on the white jewel. What is your power? she asked it mentally.
Why is Nekura so obsessed with getting a hold of you? Does she know how to use the other stone's power? A panicky feeling rose in her throat. She beat it down hurridly. Her guardian had told her that her own stone
would neutralize anything that the other could produce. But, if Nekura got a hold of this one... Arashi vowed not to think about the consequences of that. She must keep it away from Nekura at any cost.
Arashi desperately wanted to go and visit her friends before she had to leave, but she knew she couldn't. She didn't want them to try and come help her, and possibly put themselves in jeopardy. They
were all strong warriors, but Arashi knew this fight had to be between Nekura and herself. Besides, it would be like saying goodbye, and she didn't want to face the fact that she might not come back from this
battle.
Arashi was suddenly snapped out of her reverie as her guardian materialized in the center of the room.
"Arashi! Nekura has captured Rin! She wants to exchange his life for the sword!"
Arashi leapt up. "Where is she?" She asked, already sheathing the sword and buckling it around her waist. It looked as if her feeling had been right. She cursed herself for not thinking of looking after
her friends. Of course that was where Nekura would strike! How could she have been so stupid? But there was no time for self-reproach now. She had to hurry, or Nekura might decide to hurt Rin anyway.
"Be careful, Arashi, it's probably a trap."
Arashi looked at her guardian, eyes narrowed. "I _know_ that," she said, "But what else can I do? I can't just leave him there. Don't worry," she said, turning away and heading towards the door, "I'll die
before I let her have this sword. Now where is she?"
"She's at Rin's temple. Please be careful, Arashi," Her guardian said.
Arashi nodded as she closed the door. "I will be."
The sidwalks outside were crowded with people, all heading home after their long days at work. Arashi dodged through them, trying to make her way through as quickly as possible. A few people stared at her
when they caught glimpses of the sword at her side, but for the most, the pedestrians just ignored her.
When Arashi arrived at the temple, she slowed her pace. She decided to scout things out through the back entrance. She snuck around the perimeter of the temple. She could sense Nekura's energy within.
"Arashi," Arashi heard Nekura's voice in the courtyard. "Welcome." Arashi slapped her forehead. If she could sense Nekura's energy, then of course Nekura could sense hers! She abandoned her attempt at subterfuge and walked boldly into the courtyard.
Nekura was there waiting for her, sword in hand. Arashi halted in the very center of the courtyard, looking at her. She had not yet unsheathed her own sword.
"What have you done with Rin?" Arashi said. Nekura laughed. She made a gesture in the air and Rin appeared beside her. His hands were tied behind his back and his eyes looked like he'd been drugged. Arashi
gasped. "Rin!"
"Give me the sword and I'll spare his life." Nekura placed her own sword along Rin's throat. "Don't, and he'll suffer a very painful death."
Arashi clenched her fists in anger. "All right. Just let him go." She removed the sword from its sheath and held it out, hilt first. "Take it."
A greedy light flared in Nekura's eyes. Sheathing her own sword and dragging Rin with her, she came towards Arashi, one hand reaching for Arashi's hilt. But Arashi had never intended to give her sword up. She brought the hilt up, smashing it into Nekura's jaw. Nekura dropped Rin and scrabbled for her own sword.
"Rin," Arashi said, "Get out of here!" She quickly slashed the ropes binding his wrists. He struggled to stand up. Arashi took hold of his shoulders and lifted him. "Go!" She yelled. He nodded,
dazed, and ran out of the temple.
Arashi turned back towards Nekura. Nekura now had her sword out again and was advancing on Arashi. Arashi raised her own sword in a defensive position. "Let's end this," she said to her twin. Nekura snarled.
"Let's."
* * *
A frantic knocking was heard at the door of the Tendo household. Since Kasumi didn't appear to be around, Akane went to answer it. When she opened the door, she saw Rin standing there, breathing heavily,
his face white with fear.
"Akane!" He grabbed her arm, "You have to come, quickly! Arashi's in trouble! She's fighting with Nekura and needs help!" Akane nodded, once. She raced back into the house and quickly found
Ranma. The three of them sped off towards the temple.
Akane could feel the tension in the air as they got closer to the temple. They halted just outside the main gate, gasping for breath. "This way!" Rin called. "If we go up these stairs we'll come out on
the temple roof. We can stage a surprise attack from there!"
He bolted up the stairs, followed closely by the other two. Oh please, he prayed, let her be all right. He couldn't stand the thought that Arashi was in danger because she'd come to save him. He opened the door that led out onto the temple roof. He could clearly see the entire courtyard. Arashi and Nekura were below, battling furiously, sword to sword. Their blades were striking together so hard they were drawing sparks in the still evening air.
Nekura looked sharply up at the roof out of the corner of her eye. She could sense four presences there. "Lousy sightseers," she muttered under her breath. She silently recited a phrase in her head
and smiled cruelly.
Akane looked up in startlement as the air around them started to glow amber. She suddenly realized she couldn't move anymore! She attempted to lift her arm or move her leg, but it was like trying to wade through thick glue. They were all completely immobilized.
Arashi was beginning to tire. It was evident in her speed, her timing, and the way she held her sword. She was no longer dancing around as nimbly to avoid Nekura's blows. Nekura, who was more familiar
and better trained with her sword, was still going strong. Arashi blocked, and blocked again, her muscles screaming in protest.
Akane watched from the rooftop, unable to move a muscle to help her friend. She wanted to shout warning to Arashi, but the holding spell was strong and she couldn't force her throat to make the words. She knew that time was running out. As the sun sank lower, it seemed that she could feel Nekura's power growing, like a black cloud that puts out the light of the moon.
Arashi slashed desperately at Nekura, trying to turn the tide of battle in her favor. Nekura spotted the desperation of the move and took advantage of it, twisting her sword up under Arashi's guard. A
heartbeat later she drew it out, dripping scarlet blood.
Akane wanted to scream. The world was utterly silent as Nekura stood back, waiting for her sister to fall. Arashi put a hand over the wound in her stomach, a red stain spreading slowly outwards across her
shirt. She sank to her knees on the asphalt. Nekura raised her sword, the light of triumph in her eyes. Arashi looked up at her, the last rays of the setting sun catching her hair and turning it the color of blood. Nekura's blade came speeding down at her, intending to end the fight with a blow to the neck.
Rin tried to close his eyes. He did not want to see what was going to happen next. He felt utter despair rise up inside him, blanketing his soul in darkness. "Arashi," he managed to whisper, tears
welling up in his eyes.
Arashi could only watch as the sword flashed towards her. She could read her death sentence, written on the blade and in Nekura's eyes. Two stupid mistakes too many, she told herself, I wasn't worthy
to be the avatar of light. The blade stopped, no more than an inch away from Arashi's skin. Arashi's eyes opened wide in amazement. Had Nekura had a change of heart?
A quick glance up at her sister told that was not it. Nekura's features were distorted with hatred, and she was straining as hard as she could to push her sword through the invisible barrier that now separated them.
Arashi stood up, slowly, painfully, using the sword as a crutch. She held one hand over the wound in her stomach, the other held the sword out, its tip pointing towards the sky. A voice seemed to come to her
from out of nowhere. It sounded like Hotei's voice, which she had heard in the temple, but different, too. The voice said to her: "Use the stone."
"How?" She cried out mentally.
"It is a focus for all that is good within you. Use that focus, and make it your weapon."
Arashi nodded. If this one stone could harness the power of all that was good within someone, then the black must be able to harness all the evil. No wonder those stones together made up one of the world's most powerful weapons!
The moonstone in the hilt of her sword began to glow with a white-hot fire, and the air around Arashi looked like the sun's corona. Nekura backed away slowly, fear building in her eyes. "This must be the power of the sword, she whispered, "But how does she know how to use it?" She tried to gather her own power around her, but she knew it would not be a match against the power of the moonstone.
All of Arashi's remaining strength was concentrated into the white blast she directed at her sister. She heard Nekura's scream, cut off abruptly, as it hit her. Akane, from her vantge point on the
roof, could see as the black-haired girl disentegrate into ashes, her sword, blackened with soot, falling to rest in the small pile. Arashi's power kept going across the courtyard until it reached the temple.
There it spread out, and encased the entire builing in a silver light that flared brightly in the gathering darkness, turning the dark of near-sunset to day for a moment. Then it disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
Akane found herself able to control her muscles again. She jumped down off the roof top and raced towards the battle scene, followed by Rin and Ranma. A gentle wind began to pick up, scattering
all that was left of Nekura across the courtyard.
Arashi gave up the struggle to remain standing. She collapsed onto the ground, her strength gone, her life's blood spilling out of her onto the dirt and ashes of her sister. It was over. Nekura was
dead. She closed her eyes in pain as the last of sliver of the sun slipped under the horizon, blanketing Tokyo in utter darknes.
It was over.
End of Part Seven
What do you think? What do you think? Good ending? Bad ending? Just to let you know, I did write an epilogue to this story, but I'm still undecided on whether to keep it, or just end the whole thing right here. Write to me and give me your votes on the matter!
This story, and a whole bunch of other crud, can be found on my homepage:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Garden/2324
Thank You's:
There are a couple of people I must thank. First, all the people at the FFML that gave me C&C on this story. It's very much appreciated, even if it may not always seem it! And maybe I don't remember all your names, but you can be sure I remember your advice!
Megane 6.7, although he doesn't know me, probably never will, and probably won't ever read this, must be thanked as well. Not so much for
this story, but for making me laugh when I thought there was nothing left in the world to laugh at. I'm in your debt! ;)
Of course, one of my best friends in the entire world, internet and real life, Arashi-chan. She also helped me out with ideas for this little peice o' work here. Go see her homepage, and tell her I sent ya!
http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6577
And Lauren, though she won't read this either, for being the most individual person I know, and inspiring me with her example. Muuuuu!
Also: Kasumi (R.I.P.), Umi, Mortimer, Rumiko Takahashi (For just being so gosh darned COOL!), and my mommy, who's always encouraged me to reach for my dreams.
Keep the dream alive.
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