The Cursed Iris

Sprout 48: The Messenger of Inari

"Kikyo watch out!" Shizuko yelled as Mizuki launched an attack at her.

She barely dodged it, and a large explosion followed, "This woman is unhinged," she groaned as she looked at the damage. She saw that the area she that she previously stood was completely gone. "I had better not get hit by that."

Mizuki laughed. "Kikyo Narukami you have a little talent after all."

"Thanks for the flattery."

"So why don't you join our side?" Mizuki questioned.

The question surprised Kikyo that she had almost gotten hit with a sneak attack from Mizuki. If Shizuko wasn't there, Kikyo would've been done for. This woman Mizuki knew how to get under her skin.

"Kikyo get a hold of yourself please!" Shizuko scolded.

Kikyo nodded, "Okay," she could feel her spirit energy getting lower. Also her eyes had lines in them like they were beginning to crack. She felt lightheaded as well.

"Hmmm seems to me that you can't keep this up little Kikyo. Your eyes are beginning to lose their luster," Mizuki teased. "I'll kill you now just to take that away."

She attacked Kikyo, and this time neither she nor Shizuko could dodge it, "You're finished," Mizuki said with a sadistic smile.

Is this it? Kikyo thought.

Mizuki's attack was about to land until an ominous but familiar feeling caused her to hesitate. Kikyo took advantage of her hesitation, and she swung the Kitsu-Kukan just barely missing Mizuki.

"Damn it," she scoffed.

They both had an intense stare down with each other, "You really are an interesting little girl," Mizuki giggled. "Maybe I'll let this little scar you gave me remind me of that."

She began to vanish, "No wait damn it!" Kikyo yelled, but Mizuki was already gone. Kikyo was battered, her eyes looked like shattered glass, and she was breathing heavily. "I'm sorry Shizuko. I couldn't get Jaku's Hoshi-no-Tama back."

She began to pass out, but Shizuko in her fox form caught her, "You are a handful, but a good handful. I guess it makes sense why my mother chose you. I guess that's one of the primary reasons huh?" she asked herself. As she took a look at the landscape, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She began to remember Kikyo's words about helping her bring Izanami's soul to this realm.

She opened a portal to her mother's shrine, then walked through it leaving Ne-no-Kuni behind.

*****

Back at Inari's shrine Kikyo was still unconscious. Inari and Shizuko were both by her side; Shizuko had a somber expression, and Inari noticed it, "Cheer up," she reassured as she patted her head, "Kikyo seems like she's getting a good grasp on her abilities with the Kitsu-Kukan and her eyes. The damage she's suffered to her eyes can be healed."

"But if she keeps on using them too extensively, then she'll be in big trouble."

Inari had a slight grin. "I know what you mean. Shizuko do you not trust me as to why I made the decision to choose Kikyo as my next messenger?"

Shizuko shook her head. "I don't to be honest, but I feel as if I see instances as to why you've chosen her. Kikyo is talented that's for sure, and if it were based on talent alone then yeah I'd understand."

"Shizuko you can really give me hope when you try."

Shizuko leaned her head against Inari's shoulder. "I want to try and do right by Kikyo, but for some reason I just can't. Every time I look at her I just get reminded of my first master."