The Cursed Iris

Sprout 64: I Am Ayame Akiyama the 14th Incarnation of the Iris

Ayame didn't know what happened moments before, but all she could remember was that there was a massive explosion that Toru, Tenma, and Shizuko protected them from.

She looked around, and she was only with Tenma and Toru, "Oh great, that explosion separated us yet again..." she groaned. Her body ached, but it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. "Okay, Tenma what's exactly the plan now?"

"Tenma would assume that we'd stick to the plan. Toru, do you feel who is on the way?"

He nodded, then he looked at Ayame, "It's time Ayame, the battle to decide everyone's future is here," he stated.

"I know!" she exclaimed. Her hands were trembling, the Dragonaut felt heavy on her back, it was as if all of her senses were on overdrive. That meant one thing... Astraea was nearby. "The gods are all powerful ruling over all of heaven!" her voice boomed. "Dragons are destructive and ruled over the middle world! While the demons are feared and ruled the underworld!"

Astraea appeared from thin air. "Now what does that make us as half breeds?" she asked with a crooked smile. Ayame stared at her with a mystified expression, "Well are you going to answer?" Astraea chuckled.

"I don't know." Ayame responded.

"That makes us the most powerful beings in all of the universe, so why can't we just do what we want? Ayame, why won't you just accept what you are? You are the Iris, quite literally one of the most powerful beings to ever exist, so why are you subjecting to this?"

"You're talking as if you know who I am? I've noticed that, and I've been wondering the entire time who are you really?"

She began connecting the dots again, and then she realized just who Astraea really was, "There's no possible way, but you're..." she muttered. The thought that passed through her mind was simply impossible, although the more she thought about it, the more believable it seemed.

"That's right Ayame. I'm an incarnation of the Iris myself." Astraea stated with a sneer.

Ayame was confused as to how that was even possible, and she was lost in thought, "Focus Ayame," Tenma stated as she pulled on her cowlick. "Tenma knows you're confused right now but worry about the task at hand."

Ayame nodded as she resonated with Toru. "I don't care who you are nor do I care about what you are. All I care about is winning this fight so I can save my friend's homeland."

"So be it then, I'll make you remember that you have a choice. I, Astraea the seventh incarnation of the Iris will show you true power that we have and I will destroy this country as a testament." Astraea stated as she activated a new form.

*****

Kikyo and Shizuko exited a portal, and they saw that they were in another area of the town. There were people on the ground in writhing in pain, not only that she noticed a large orb forming in the sky, "Well, that's not good," she mumbled.

"Looks like their Raiya's are being stolen," Shizuko noted.

Kikyo knew that wasn't good at all, but she wondered why is this happening to them? "Hey Shizuko, you sense that?" she asked.

"It's her," Shizuko growled.

Mizuho seemingly appeared out of thin air, she had a maniacal smile. "That right there is going to be the birth of the end of this world."

"What do you mean by that?" Kikyo said.

"What she means is that they plan on collecting a massive amount of the Four Guardians' essences as a catalyst to awaken whatever they plan." Shizuko explained. "My mother didn't explain this but each of the abilities of the far east is tied to one of the Four Guardians. We can explain later, for now let's defeat this woman."