Tuesday, May 31, 2005

The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 12*

Kohaku and Kirara have been following the jagged corridor through the ice for some time now. Kirara’s flames have kept the boy alive, and they have continued onward, uninterrupted. At length, they enter a large chamber with a level floor. In the center of the cavern, there is a great pillar of ice. Imbedded in the column, is a sight that makes Kohaku’s blood run colder. If he lives to be a hundred, he will never forget the face of the figure, half-frozen into the icicle. It is his tormenter and his protector; his savior and his murderer; his god and his worst enemy. In the room ahead of him, Kohaku sees Naraku, restrained but not subdued. Much worse then that, Naraku sees him and the demons eyes cut through him, leaving him paralyzed with fear. Not so green by several centuries and not possessing the worst of his memories, Kirara moves into a defensive stance in front of Kohaku. Although unable to move most of his body, Naraku can still strike out with his tentacles to a considerable range. The flame-cat blocks the first blow and the second. But she will not budge from her post before Kohaku and she alone is no match for Naraku, even in his weaken state. As the boy watches helplessly, Kirara is seized by several of Naraku’s arms and pinned against a wall. With her contained, the dark one turns his gaze back upon Kohaku. He says, “So Kohaku, have you come to beg me to take back your memory? Or perhaps you wish me to end your suffering in a more permanent fashion. Well, which is it? Maybe you should run away. I cannot move, so you might be able to escape my reach. Decide quickly, little boy, or I will decide for you.” With that, Naraku strikes out at Kohaku. With inches to spare, the boy dodges the blow and turns to run. Then he hesitates. His fingers move over the handle of his weapon as he searches his soul. He draws his blade and turns to face the embodiment of his fears. Naraku laughs maliciously. He says, “You should have run when you had the chance.” He begins to attack the boy with increasing speed as he continues, “You cannot stand against me. Others may defeat me, but you cannot. I own too much of your soul. You are weak, and you shall be swept asi…” The demon’s speech is brought to an abrupt halt, when Kohaku’s scythe slices through his throat. The blow causes no real damage, but the mere shock of being attacked by this one silences Naraku. As his neck heals, the demon pulls back the tentacles not holding Kirara. He looks at the boy, granting him a level of contempt which he had previously considered Kohaku to not be worth. He asks, “Which fire burns so brightly within you? Is it from when I wiped out your people? The villages I had you destroy? Your father and sister? Kagura?” Something in the boy’s eyes flashes; Naraku snickers. “So is that it? You wish to punish me for that week of ecstasy I had, grinding Kagura into submission. Tell me boy, do you hope to make her your woman? Would you like to hold her once again, only this time without thoughts of pain? Do you honestly think she would consider such a thing? She is a demon. More then that, she is of my flesh. If he will have her, she will mate with Sesshomaru as soon as possible. If not, she will seek out another demon, with power nearly as great, and give herself to him. She would never be so desperate that she would choose a mortal, and even if she did, she would choose one mightier then you. Your pity and your love are wasted on her, as she can neither receive nor return them. Do not squander what little time you have left, in which to hate me, hating me for her sake.” Naraku lashes out at Kohaku, but the demon slayer rolls out of the path of the attack and at the same time, sends his weapon flying away from Naraku. Only when he feels his limbs being severed does Naraku realize that the boy has freed his companion. As Kirara gets to her feet, and moves to stand next to him, Kohaku readies his blade and prepares to attack again.
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