Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha. I can only say that in one language so I hope all of you lawyers out there speak English.
Author's Note: This fic has some angst, so give me all the constructive criticism you want! ^_^ I'm not very good with angst... look out for character death...
Guided Souls
By:Dewfire
Chapter 1:The Reality...
Inuyasha look out! Miroku shouted to his hanyou friend, who dodged another slithering tentacle just in time. The final battle had finally arrived (as final battles tend to do...), and Naraku had been prepared. With scores of lesser demons as a distraction he'd managed to kidnap Kagome, who he now held as his trump card.
Shut up bouzou, I can take care of myself! You should be watching your own back! Inuyasha retorted snappily as he shredded a youkai trying to attack the monk from behind. Miroku nodded his thanks before returning his attention to the next dozen youkai who were just asking to be killed by approaching him. Sango was elsewhere on the battlefield annihilating dozens of youkai at a time with her Hiraikotsu, just to have those replaced with more.
Will they never end? she muttered wearily under her breath. Kirara was helping as much as she could by tearing into any youkai that was unfortunate enough to get too close to her master. Shippou searched desperately through the chaos for the girl he had come to see as his adopted mother, his youkai senses were of no use to him with the overpowering stench of blood. His only lead to Kagome's location was Sesshoumaru, who had the strongest sense of smell of any of the warriors in the fray, and was undoubtedly heading straight for Naraku. Shippou had to stifle the urge to vomit at the sight of Kouga's lifeless body in the middle of the mayhem, lying in a pool of his own crimson blood, his shards brutally torn from his legs. It seemed he'd gone down fighting however, Kagura's remains lying not far from where he'd fallen. Sesshoumaru didn't give the bodies of the two youkai a second glance, and ignored the kitsune kit who was following him, his attention completely focused on the destruction of the hanyou, Naraku. Said hanyou came into view a few moments later. Sesshoumaru snarled as he saw Inuyasha's wench pinned to a nearby tree by soul stealers, and picked up the scent of bones and burial soil somewhere nearby. It was just like Naraku to stoop as low as to hold hostages.
Ah, Sesshoumaru. I wasn't expecting you to be the first to arrive, no matter, it just allows you the honor of being the first to be eradicated, Naraku chuckled evilly. Shippou hid behind Sesshoumaru and whimpered upon seeing his adopted mother helplessly latched to a tree.
You are not worthy of the honor of speaking to this Sesshoumaru, he growled as he unsheathed his sword. Naraku waved his finger in the air as if admonishing a small child.
Sorry Sesshoumaru, I have no intention of fighting. I have someone much more suited to deal with the likes of you, Naraku sneered. Kikyou stepped out from the forest, an arrow notched and ready to fire, but before she could release it Inuyasha appeared.
he breathed. The undead miko did not take her eyes off of her target, the taiyoukai, but her grip tightened on her bow in response to Inuyasha's appearance.
Well, isn't this interesting. Inuyasha has shown up just in time to witness the death of one of his beloved mikos. Inuyasha gasped as Kikyou quickly turned around and fired an arrow at the trapped Kagome.
Nooooooo, Kagome!!!! Shippou cried as the arrow sped toward the defenseless miko. An energy stirred around Kagome. She didn't want to die, not here, not now, and especially not at the hands of some dead miko b*tch! She let out a cry of fury as the arrow struck her shoulder, and the battlefield was bathed in an aquamarine light. Silence reigned over the land for a moment before the light faded. Only three full youkai, three humans, a zombie miko, and a single hanyou were left where only a moment ago thousands of youkai had been ensnared in a fierce struggle. Kagome stood, an ethereal glow surrounding her, with the complete and purified Shikon no Tama in her cupped hands. Everyone there gazed in wonder at the show of raw power this girl from the future had just displayed. Shippou was the first to break out of his awe-inspired trance and happily bounded over to the exhausted young woman.
Kagome! You're okay! he squealed with delight as he hugged her tightly, afraid that if he let go she would disappear. Kagome weakly returned his embrace. Sesshoumaru was the next to snap out of it, and just observed the proceedings, while Sango and Miroku followed the example of the fox kit, although refraining from hugging their friend in her weakened state. They were all crying tears of joy, they had a right to. Miroku was no longer cursed, Sango had avenged the deaths of her family, and the jewel was completed. What else was there to do but celebrate now? Inuyasha ruined the happy moment as he took the Tetsuaiga into a battle stance, startling his companions as well as his brother. Before anyone could react though, he charged at his shard detector'. All of those near her were thrown away by the sheer impact of the collision, and knocked out. It was for the best, none of them could have bared to see the sight before them. Kagome was fatally wounded, coughing up blood. Even Sesshoumaru's eyes had widened a bit at this unexpected turn of events.
Kagome questioned, no pleaded, with the last of her energy as she desperately held onto life, desperate to hear an explanation of why the one she had trusted with her life, had decided to end it. Inuyasha sheathed his sword, now forever stained with Kagome's blood, and seemingly holding no remorse for the atrocity he had just committed.
Kagome, you were a means to an end, a shard detector, and now that the jewel is whole, you are no longer needed, he stated simply, as if it were the easiest thing in the world to understand. In a way it was, he'd betrayed her. Kagome gave a dry laugh in between a few more coughing fits.
Would you mind elaborating a bit, after all I think I deserve the detail on why the one I trusted most decided it was my time to die! You could have gotten rid of me when this battle began. You could have let me return home, why did you choose to kill me? she demanded bitterly, surprisingly firm considering this girl undoubtedly didn't have long to live. Inuyasha glared at her, she was always able to tell when he was lying, or was it that she just ALWAYS thought he was hiding something he thought slightly amusedly.
Kikyou needs her soul back, her entire soul, she needs it if I'm going to wish her back to life, Inuyasha explained coldly. Kagome's vision was failing now, but at least she knew why, she knew why she and Inuyasha could never be, why things had to end this way. Of course she wouldn't let the son of a b*tch get his way, she would take the blasted jewel with her to the afterlife if she had to, he would NOT succeed. Her sacrifices would NOT be in vain. So as she felt the last of her life energy slip through her fingers, she used what remained of her miko powers to command the jewel, to hide its aura and bring it with her to the next world. As her last breath escaped her the jewel of four souls faded away, along with hers.
Inuyasha was not pleased. The jewel had disappeared, Kagome was dead, and Kikyou said her soul had yet to return. To top it all off his half-brother was staring at him as if he'd grown a second head. He could handle his brother attacking him, but he wasn't, just staring at him.
What are you looking at!? he finally exploded. Sesshoumaru snorted. His half-brother was a complete and utter fool. He'd not only chosen death over life, but he hadn't had the intelligence to think ahead as to what would happen when his companions awoke to find the miko girl deceased. It was none of his concern however how stupid Inuyasha could be, what DID concern him was the fang.
What I want dear brother, is the Tetsuaiga, he stated, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he said dear brother'. He was bewildered as the hanyou threw the sheathed sword to him which he caught deftly.
Fine, now that it's taken a human life I doubt it'll transform anyway, Inuyasha grunted as he left the clearing, with the mud miko, as Sesshoumaru had dubbed her, in tow. Sesshoumaru picked up the sword, which didn't repel him as he'd expected. Why hadn't he thought of taking it with the sheath on before? No matter, he had what he wanted, it was time to leave, but something pulled at him. The miko lying on the ground, her eyes closed in eternal sleep, and her blood starting to pool around her. Contrary to popular belief, he had a heart, and anyone who'd been in battle with him knew he had honor. This miko had indeed been powerful, and her actions against the abomination that was Naraku had been commendable, her blind trust in the simpleton of a hanyou Inuyasha was what led to her downfall. He hadn't had the intelligence to see that for all of the power this girl contained, she couldn't possibly be the reincarnation of his dead b*tch. Her death had been in vain. The least he could do was provide her a proper burial. So he dug a grave and laid the miko in it, leaving a marker on top for her friends to find.
You should have been born a demon, were the words he whispered at her grave before he departed.
Author's Note:Flames, reviews, compliments? I have no idea what to expect, so I'll accept what I get and try to make chapter two better! ^_^ Which reminds me, the title for chapter two is Sweet Dreams'.
Inuyasha: Why did I kill Kagome?!
Dewfire: If you read the story you'd know why.
Inuyasha: I read the frikken' story, I mean why did YOU have ME kill KAGOME!
Dewfire: Would you rather have killed Kikyou?
Inuyasha: ...not really...
Dewfire: Then who Inu-kun, I'm getting impatient, you won't like me when I'm impatient.
Inuyasha: I already dislike you.
Dewfire: That's it! No more waiting! *pulls out a giant flyswatter and commences chasing Inu-kun*
Inuyasha: *running from the insane girl with the flyswatter* Ahhhh!
Dewfire: Review please, or Inuyasha will suffer the consequences!
