Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, setting, etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
The Darkness in Kagome's Heart
Chapter 1: Darkness
The forest was quiet as Kagome and Inuyasha stepped out of Kaede's hut. Their expression were completely serious. Arrows filled the young priestess's quiver as she held her bow in her hand. The half-demon had Tetsusaiga drawn at his side.
Moonlight shown overhead as the power of the Sacred Jewel continued to approach. Inuyasha rose his sword in front of him defensively. He's close.
Kirara ran through the trees, Sango riding her back. Father ... tonight is the night I will finally get revenge for our village! Her eyes narrowed in determination as she held Hiraikotsu over her shoulder. A baboon clothed figure ran ahead of her.
He jumped along the tree branches into the air. The demon slayer's eyes flared and saw her chance, throwing her giant boomerang towards the enemy. At the last minute, the figure dodged the attack as the weapon swiveled back into Sango's possession.
"Naraku!" she screamed, jumping off her demon cat's back and once again arming herself for an attack. She swung Hiraikotsu at the vile half-demon
Said man shot out his tentacle-like arms, preparing to wrap the young demon slayer completely into them. Kirara leapt onto Naraku's back and bit his shoulder. As the large cat demon distracted her prey, Sango took out her sword and headed for Naraku's throat.
In a last effort for success, he released misasma from beneath his baboon clothing. Sango ripped out her poison mask, shielding her nose and mouth from the purple mist. As it cleared, Naraku was seen heading off in the direction of the demon slayer's comrades. She grabbed her weapon and jumped onto the feline's back, removing the mask in the process.
"Miroku!" she shouted, warning her friend of the upcoming danger. The monk held out his hand with the prayer beads and grasped them. Tonight, you die, Naraku, by the curse you set upon me! He saw a flash of white as the enemy approached. Miroku ripped off the rosary and opened his hand.
"Wind tunnel!" he yelled as a gust of wind began to pull Naraku towards the vortex. I've got you now, Naraku! As the half-demon's form closed in on the waiting monk, he ripped away his baboon disguise to reveal a horde of poisonous Saimyosho. Miroku's face clouded over as the insects aimed their bodies towards the hole in his hand.
"Don't Miroku! You'll be poisoned if you suck them in," Sango's voice rang as she tried desperately to hold on from being sucked in as well. The monk quickly closed his hand, sensing the threat to his and the demon slayer's life. The bugs stopped short of his face and disappeared, leaving the image of Naraku before his eyes.
The half-demon's tentacle shot out towards the monk's throat, grabbing him and slamming him into a nearby tree. Miroku screamed as pain shot through his body. Naraku lifted the man up for another bashing when a bright, purifying light detached his grip from his neck.
Naraku's blood red eyes swiveled over to see Kagome standing there, drawing another arrow. Her face was fearless and determination flashed in her eyes. All the pain he has caused innocent people shall end tonight!
"Die, Naraku!" the young priestess screamed as she poised another arrow in his direction. She shot it too late, however, as the evil being avoided it. Naraku jumped and landed in a clearing. A river flowed nearby and the sun began to rise. Miroku and Sango appeared overhead on Kirara's back, staring down at the enemy.
"Windscar!" a voice shouted as a bright light headed straight for the vile half-demon. His eyes widened as it struck him, head on. "Got him!" Inuyasha declared as he ran up besides Kagome.
Their enemy chuckled as he sneered. His body began to grow and transform. Tentacles appeared out of his body as well as numerous parts of demons he had absorbed.
"Is that Naraku's true form?" Miroku asked aloud to no one in particular. Sango observed the way Naraku used his tentacles as a shield to protect hsi body and the Sacred Jewel he held in his possession. A plan formulated in her mind.
"Miroku, you head off the left, I'll get the right." Sensing what the demon slayer was getting at, he nodded his head in agreement. "Kirara." The large cat demon swooped down close to Naraku as her mistress threw Hiraikotsu in the direction of her target area. Sango steered Kirara towards the left and Miroku lashed out at the half-demon's tentacles with his staff.
Naraku's defenses weakened as the two flew out of the danger zone. "Ready Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as he glanced over in her direction, seeing she had already prepared another arrow. The young priestess nodded, determination on her visage.
"Wind Scar!" the half-demon shouted as he threw Tetsusaiga into the ground, sending waves of light towards the enemy. Kagome stood poised as she aimed her Sacred arrow at Naraku's heart. Hit the mark! She released her bow and the arrow paved the way for Inuyasha's windscar. The two attacks became one as they plowed into Naraku's body.
As the attack struck, a bright light enveloped the group and they shielded their eyes. Miroku and Sango held onto Kirara, hoping they wouldn't get blown away by the blast. Inuyasha held onto Kagome as he stood his ground.
When the light dispersed, there was nothing left but a single piece of flesh with the spider mark clearly imprinted on it. Kagome recognized the light shining within and walked over to it, fear absent from her mind. She knelt down and used one of her remaining arrows to pry the object out of the flesh.
The flesh melted away as soon as the Sacred Jewel was in the young woman's possession, leaving no trace behind. Kagome stood, looking at the almost completed jewel in her hands. Inuyasha made his way over to her, sliding Tetsusaiga back in its sheath.
"Is it over?" Sango asked as she came out from hiding. Miroku opened his hand and withdrew the beaded rosary surrounding his wrist. A mix of emotions crossed his eyes as the wind tunnel slowly vanished.
"What is it, Miroku?" the demon slayer asked, worry crossing her visage. The monk stuck up his hand so his friends could see.
"Miroku's wind tunnel is gone!" the girls replied at the same time. Kirara transformed into her smaller self and meowed.
The group walked back to Kaede's hut, excited about their victory. Kagome lagged behind, staring down at the jewel in her palm. Inuyasha noticed her slow pace and stopped.
"Hey Kagome?" he called out to her, seeing the tense expression on her face. Her eyes seemed distant and worried thoughts crossed her mind. She didn't hear her protector call out to her as she was lost in thought. What is this I'm sensing? We destroyed Naraku, but the jewel seems as though it is still tained. I should have purified it when I picked it up, but darkness still remains. The young priestess was pulled from her thoughts as she ran into Inuyasha.
She stumbled backwards, but he caught her arm and steadied her. Kagome looked up into his amber eyes and almost became lost in their depths when his voice ripped her away. "What's the matter?" he asked, curiosity sparked in his facial features. He sensed her distressed as she willed her eyes away, knowing she couldn't lie while she had eyes contact.
"Nothing," she replied, hoping he would let it go. Thankfully, Sango called from up ahead. She and Miroku had stopped, noticing their friends far behind them. Inuyasha finally dropped Kagome's arm as he glanced back over his shoulder at his waiting comrades. He took one last look at the young priestess's face before turning around. No need to go stirring up trouble right after defeating Naraku. He clasped his hands behind his head and closed his eyes as he stolled, finally content without having to continuously watch over his shoulder.
Kagome ran to catch up to him as they approached Kaede's hut. The young woman's arms were greeted with a ball of fluff as Shippo hugged her.
"Did you defeat Naraku?" the fox demon asked, hope in his eyes. When Sango nodded an enormous smile erupted on Shippo's lips. He rubbed his eyes, realizing how tired he was from waiting up all night for his friends' return. Kagome shuffled inside the hut, setting Shippo down as he yawned, trying to evade sleep.
Kaede sat stirring soup in a pot over the small fire. Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku entered, feeling completely exhausted. Miroku sat down against the wall opposite the door while Sango snuck outside to change out of her slayer otufit. When she returned, she ambled towards the perverted monk. She rested beside him and set her head on his chest as he wrapped an arm around her. He laid his head against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to catch up on some much needed rest.
Inuyasha sat down on the other side of the hut, leaning Tetsusaiga in the crook of his elbow and Kaede exited the hut to retrive some water. The half-demon watched as Kagome slipped the Sacred Jewel piece around her next and noticed the worried expression on her face. She kept fingering the jewel nervously and glancing back at the door through which the old woman had gone.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Kagome abruptly left the hut, leaving him with nothing but the crackling of the fire. I wonder what's bugging her. He pushed the thought out of his mind, telling himself it wasn't anything he needed to worry about. He closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep, one he hadn't had in a long time.