Loose Ends: Tie them off or sever 'em
Author's note: The following is a fan fiction created by myself, Joshua Franklin. I do not own any of the characters herein, as they were created by Rumiko Takahashi. The beginning is a brief summary of the tale to the best of my knowledge, leading up to where my story begins, so any people who are already familiar with Inuyasha can simply skim over the first few pages. Please enjoy. Any feedback is appreciated.
*Some vocabulary: Youkai-Demon, Hanyou-Half demon, Miko-Priestess, Kitsune-Fox Demon, Kitsune Bi-Fox fire, Arigato-Thank you, Gomen-Sorry, Baka-Fool/idiot, Hentai/Ecchi-Pervert/lecher, Kami-God(s), Shikon no tama-Jewel of four souls, Kazaana-Air rip/wind tunnel, Kaze No Kizu-Cutting Wind, Sengoku Jidai-Warring Era,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One
Throughout Inuyasha's life, there have been moments that stand out vividly against the rest of his past. The memories produced by these moments have made him the man that he is. All of his characteristics, attitude, speech, motion, habit, have been fashioned by his reaction to his experiences. All of his mannerisms are the sums of these reactions. Those vivid moments have not been many, nor have they been often, but he recalls every detail about them because of their importance. A few have been enjoyable recollections; a pleasant surprise, an instant of great joy… A feeling of love.
But most of the moments that he most readily remembers are harsh, painful periods of his life. His has ever been a life of hardship, and the amount of tears shed far outnumbers the amount of smiles worn. The death of a loved one… Being tormented and demeaned his heritage… The sting of betrayal…
In his youth, the sheer enormity of these numerous pains had often threatened to overwhelm him. After the death of his mother, the solace and protection that she gave to shelter him from these memories died with her, and Inuyasha was left with yet another grief that haunted him. To protect himself, Inuyasha's demeanor changed from that of a kind, innocent boy, to a brash, acrid attitude that was quick to anger and slow to trust.
Consciously, the hanyou did not know that the ghosts of his past had come to determine his future. These memories were regarded as painful recollections that were best not thought of. When a powerful memory was imprinted, Inuyasha merely regarded it as an ordinary remembrance and shrugged it away. Or so it had been.
* * * * *
His perceptions about memories were altered immeasurably when he encountered the miko, Kikyou, who had guarded the Shikon no tama. When he had first learned of the powerful jewel, his intentions had been entirely focused upon attaining the jewel and he hadn't even considered the possibility of a miko guarding it. He'd been arrogant enough to assume that he would find the jewel and use its power to cast aside his mortality and become a full youkai. Anyone or anything that got in his path would have to vacate or be destroyed. It was as simple as that. He was oblivious to the fact that he wasn't the only being in search of the mystic jewel.
The Shikon no tama was a jewel that contained an unimaginable amount of power, which it bestowed to its possessor. Even a small fragment of the jewel was rumored to increase the strength and prowess of a mortal by a hundred-fold, and a demon by two. Naturally, many ambitious beings would seek out the jewel to further their own desires for power. However, those who found the jewel's location also encountered the miko who had been charged with guarding it.
Kikyou was a human miko of exceptional ability. She possessed a vast amount of skill in both archery and magic. These she coupled together and enhanced her arrows by channeling her powers through them. Her abilities were great enough to defend the Shikon no tama from every being who sought it for their own intentions. Demons and mortals alike were dispatched with cool efficiency.
Inuyasha proved to be no exception. However, unlike the others, she did not finish the hanyou, instead choosing to merely defeat Inuyasha and protect the jewel. And she spared him again the next time. And again the next time. And then the following occurrence as well. This mercy earned a grudging respect from Inuyasha, and though he was still determined to have the Shikon no Tama, but he was resolute that the Miko would not be harmed in the process.
Over time, the rivalry turned into quiet friendship, with Inuyasha accompanying Kikyou on her journeys and helping her guard the jewel. And from that companionship: love.
Inuyasha eventually discarded any notion of stealing the jewel, and Kikyou forsook her role as shrine guardian, though she still retained ownership of the Shikon no Tama. At this point, Inuyasha had abandoned all notions of using the jewel to become a full-blooded youkai, and when Kikyou suggested using the jewel to bolster his mortality instead of his youkai side, Inuyasha readily agreed. As even half-demons have longer life spans than mortals, the prospect of growing old beside the woman he loved as opposed to merely watching time touch her and not him appealed immeasurably to Inuyasha.
However, when the appointed day arrived, neither the amended wish was made, nor the wedding vows exchanged. A cunning demon named Naraku had formed a plot, which made each believe the other had betrayed them. Kikyou was mortally wounded and the Shikon no tama was taken by a being with her love's likeness even as Inuyasha was waylaid by the same figure in the guise of Kikyou.
Though her wounds would soon prove fatal, Kikyou lived long enough to pierce Inuyasha with an enchanted arrow, meant to bind the hanyou into a stasis for the rest of his years. Kikyou succumbed to her wounds soon after, and Inuyasha was bound to a tree for half a century before being released by the reincarnation of the miko, Kagome, who had been granted accidental passage through time.
Kagome lived in present-day Japan, and her family property rested on the same spot that Inuyasha was imprisoned, abet five centuries in the future. One day, Kagome stumbled into the family's ancient, sacred well. Unexpectedly, the well transported Kagome back into the feudal era, Sengoku Jidai. There she came across the village where Kikyou once resided. The miko's little sister, Kaede, had followed in the footsteps of her deceased sister and became a miko herself, and this allowed her to realize that Kagome's soul was that of her sister. Because of this fact, Kagome was granted the raw talent with which Kikyou had been blessed, though she lacked any of the training that her former incarnation had undergone. Also, Kagome found herself immune to any wards that Kikyou had erected, including Inuyasha's spell.
Kagome freed the hanyou, but Inuyasha was unaware of the time his stasis had eclipsed and to he mistook Kagome for his betrayer and attacked. Kaede, who had been overseeing Inuyasha's release, managed to cast a spell of subjugation on the hanyou and gave control of it to Kagome, should she again need to protect herself.
After hearing of his half-brother's release, the demon-lord Sesshoumaru sought out Inuyasha in hopes of gaining the Tetsusaiga, a mystical blade forged by their mutual father. Sesshoumaru found the trigger for the sword's location hidden inside Inuyasha's right eye. When the trigger was activated, all of them where sent to the burial ground of their father, and the resting place of the sword.
Though both hanyou and youkai attempted to free the blade from its restraints, it was the mortal Kagome who succeeded and gave the sword to Inuyasha. The brothers fought, both for the sword and out of loathing for the other, and Inuyasha defeated his brother and severed his left arm, though Sesshoumaru lived and fled.
It was soon revealed that Kagome was also in possession of the Shikon no tama, and the girl accidentally sundered the jewel into hundreds of shards. Kagome agreed to hunt down the shards with Inuyasha after realizing the danger if just one of the shards were to fall into the wrong hands.
However, they were not the only seekers of the shards. One such youkai, Urusae, thought to gain the shards by using the former guardian of the Shikon no Tama, Kikyou. Using dirt from Kikyou's grave, and human bone, the youkai resurrected the miko by combining the elements with Kagome's stolen soul. Having other ideas, Kikyou destroyed Urusae nearly did the same to Inuyasha. Death had done nothing to temper her feeling of betrayal, and her rage surprised the hanyou, leaving him defenseless to her attack. Only the intervention of Kagome spared the hanyou and caused Kikyou to flee with part of Kagome's soul in her possession.
In the aftermath of the reunion with Kikyou, it became clear to all that neither of the pair had turned on the other, and that someone else had interfered. After a period of inspection, Naraku was revealed as the culprit and Inuyasha swore an oath of vengence.
Gradually, the party of the Shikon hunters grew in size. The young kitsune, Shippo, joined with Inuyasha and Kagome after the two avenged the murder of the kitsune's parents. The murderers, the Thunder Brothers, were slain and their jewel shards reclaimed.
The cursed monk, Miroku, came across the companions and decided to accompany them after learning that they too sought the Shikon shards and Naraku. The hentai monk revealed that he also was in search of the youkai Naraku for the curse that had been bestowed upon Miroku's family. The Kazaana was the curse given to his grandfather, and passed down to him. While the curse is a powerful weapon, it would eventually turn on Miroku unless Naraku was destroyed.
The Youkai Exterminator, Sango, was deceived by Naraku and all of her family and kin were killed as a result of Naraku's manipulations. Her village of origin was also destroyed and Sango now sought revenge upon Naraku, as well as hoping to release her brother, Kohaku, whose soul Naraku had captured. She now traveled with her new friends and family during this search.
* * * * *
Inuyasha knew that this moment would be would be forever imprinted into his memory. He knew, with no uncertainty, that he would see this vision for the rest of his life. And that knowledge terrified him to the depths of his soul.
To the hanyou, time seemed to slow down, as if in an attempt to mock him as much as possible. His eyes were wide and disbelieving as he desperately parried aside the monstrous youkai's fierce blow. His body was bent in an odd posture, back arched at a sharp angle with his feet wide apart and arms locked above his head as he held the Tetsusaiga in both hands. The impact had been jarring, nearly enough to make his knees buckle, but never did his eyes travel to his assailant. Instead, they remained fixated on the spectacle of Kagome.
As time slowed to crawl, Inuyasha was able to study every detail of Kagome's figure. He was nauseatingly aware of the pain etched on her delicate facial features, and his mind noted the way her mouth was flung wide in a breathless scream. He was able to see that she still held her bow, though her arms were spread out at her sides and in no position to fire an arrow. He saw the direction she'd been launched from the demon's simultaneous attack on her even as it attacked him as well. The night wind was blowing sharply through her raven hair and she was completely off the ground.
As time began to resume its normal pace, Inuyasha realized that the blow would send her from the cliff and as the youkai began to surge forward with another attack, he also realized that there was nothing he could do to intercept Kagome's flight. He knew, with startling clarity, that he would never forget this image, and that knowledge smote the hanyou's heart greater than the youkai could ever hope to.
"Kagome--!"
* * * * *
It seemed that time was fickle this day, because the world also seemed to slow down to Kagome's sensibilities as well. The girl wasn't seriously injured-it seemed that the youkai hadn't really intended to finish her- but Kagome figured the impact that awaited her at the end of her flight would more than make up for the demon's faux pas. As time seemed to simply cease movement, Kagome was also able to gaze at her friends. The relief she felt that no one else had been harmed offered scant comfort in the face of her doom, but she was content that none of the others would be dispatched as easily as she.
Sango was dressed in her armor and appeared to be entirely focused upon the application of her craft. She hadn't had time to summon and ride Kirara's alternate form, so she'd fallen into a ready stance and had just released her sacred boomerang, the Hiraikotsu. She did not seem to have noticed that Kagome was now airborne.
Miroku was the closest to Kagome's side, and though he had braced himself for the youkai's attack, the fiend had yet to assault him. Due to the close proximity of the beast, Miroku was unable to implement his Kazaana and instead held his staff before him in both hands. Unlike the exterminator, Miroku's stunned expression and bleak eyes revealed that he knew full well of Kagome's plight, and he looked as though about to turn away from the fight in an effort to aid the girl.
Kagome's eyes next flew to the hanyou and she was grateful that his guard had proved sufficient to protect him against the first assault, and though his body was aligned to combat the fiend, his head was turned toward Kagome and the two were able to briefly gaze into the other's eyes. The grief he felt was written plainly in his amber eyes, and Kagome dimly heard him calling her name.
"Kagome--!"
As if this sound alerted time of its blunder, the events around Kagome unexpectedly accelerated back to normal pace and she was unable to issue a final cry as she crested the cliff's rim.
* * * * *
As he saw Kagome in her ill-fated flight, Miroku did not hesitate in the least. Though his plan would likely demand his end in the place of Kagome's, the monk knew in his heart that he would gladly make that sacrifice if it meant that the maiden would be spared. However, as he began to move, his gaze swept over Inuyasha and he noted that the hanyou was not fully focusing on the battle at hand. Indeed, it seemed that Inuyasha was about to follow Kagome right over the cliff. Though the monk sympathized, he knew the tactic to be flawed.
"Inuyasha, remain here and fight on! Leave Kagome's safe return to me! I can offer little aid here, and this is too great a foe for Sango or me to combat alone. Stay here and finish this youkai! If you do not, Kagome's killer may elude our grasp!"
Miroku shouted this as he moved toward the cliff's edge and was beginning his descent as he finished his plea. He prayed that his words had stirred the hanyou's rage enough for the anger to override Inuyasha's heart's demands to attempt the rescue himself. At the same time, Miroku began to undo the prayer beads wrapped around his right hand.
Focusing on the fleeting figure of Kagome as opposed to the dark waves crashing against rock face far below, Miroku offered one last prayer as he unleashed the Kazaana. "Kami, please, grant your servant skill and perfection in this, his final task."
* * * * *
As Kagome felt the first tug on her back, she realized Miroku was attempting to pull her back up with his curse and hope began to shine again within her grim thoughts. There was still the possibility that the Kazaana would kill her instead, but Kagome was far more willing to place her life in the care of the monk rather than the thunderous waves below. Barely managing to peer behind her, Kagome was shocked to see that Miroku had followed her in descending, rather than pull her up from the cliff.
She shrieked, "You baka! What are you thinking? Now both of us are doomed!"
The Kazaana had lured Kagome near enough for her to see Miroku quirk an eyebrow as he replied, "Now really, Kagome. The youkai would hardly have simply stood aside and patiently allowed me to pull you back up. Now be still. We have little time and I must concentrate."
With this, the monk deemed Kagome close enough and resealed his curse with the beads, quieting the Kazaana's raging wind and permitting gravity to resume its influence on the girl. Though she still fell, she was now close enough for Miroku to grasp a hold of and he did so, taking a firm grip on her arm and drawing her close.
Kagome was about to ask "What next?" but the words died in her throat as the monk unexpectedly let go of her arm and instead grasped the neck opening on her school uniform top and gently pulled the garment far enough away from her chest for him to peer into the opening. He nodded in satisfaction at what he saw.
Kagome's eyes went wide and furious as she snatched her shirt out of the monk's grip and hugged it close to her chest. "You hentai! Even at a time like this-"
The rest of her words were lost to an involuntary gasp as Miroku then used the same hand to grasp the waistband of Kagome's uniform skirt and pull it open an inch or so. He then used his other hand, the one still holding his holy staff, to plunge his weapon down the front of her shirt, all the way down to exit the nether side of her skirt. The staff was now fixed to Kagome's person because of the front of her clothes. By reflex, Kagome folded her arms tightly over her chest and squeezed her thighs together with the staff parallel and in between her bent legs.
With only a murmured "Hold tight", Miroku firmly grasped the top of the staff--just above Kagome's neck opening--in both hands and angled their descent toward the rock wall.
Miroku tensed just before they reached the rocks, and Kagome seemed as though she were trying to become as one with the staff's metal. With a wrenching impact, the staff's butt end buried itself into a crevice. With a slight smile, Miroku released his hold on the staff, as he doubted that the metal could tolerate the halting both of their momentums. Kagome's clothes and limbs kept her secure and though the staff did indeed bend alarmingly, her position remained fixed and her descent ceased. By her horrified expression, it seemed that she hadn't even noticed. As the staff swayed a bit and Kagome's view of the monk obscured, the last she saw of him was flipping himself around so that he might fall headlong toward his doom and face his death.
With her breath stolen from her abrupt stop, Kagome was only able to offer a faint "No…" in denial.
* * * * *
Content as he was with the thought of perishing so that Kagome would yet live, Miroku was hardly about to fly into death's waiting embrace without exploring every available option. Now that Kagome was out of harm's way, for now if not later, his actions were no longer desperate in their intensity, but he still wanted to live this life for a few years longer.
As Kagome had seen, Miroku had indeed turned himself over so that he faced the not too distant waves below. What she did not see was him again removing the bindings on his Kazaana. With a murmured, "Well, I was lucky once…" he unleashed the Kazaana and hoped for the best.
As the calling of the Kazaana summoned everything in its path, the waves below were unable to resist its call and as the water was pulled toward the monk. It seemed that the sea had suddenly come to possess an inverted waterfall.
As the torrent of water sped toward Miroku, he again measured his target's progress toward him. Just as the liquid began to enter the Kazaana, he quickly sealed off his curse. Taking a deep breath, Miroku plunged into the frigid geyser. The water's momentum provided by the Kazaana's call battled with the insistent demands of gravity for a few breaths longer until succumbing to the latter force.
As the water's resistance to his directional velocity waned and then began to imitate his vector, the monk hoped that his actions had been sufficient save his life and he dimly wondered if he had ever expressed his true feelings to Sango.
* * * * *
Though the activity down the cliff face had occurred in far less time than it takes to tell, the actions of those on top of the cliff were no less frenzied. The three combatants had exchanged several blows, but little headway had been made by either side. At this time, Kirara had transformed into a larger, twin-tailed, saber-feline and Sango sat astride upon her back. Any successful strikes that Sango landed with Hiraikotsu were stoically accepted by the youkai while the fiend mainly kept its attention on Inuyasha.
The two had faced off, but neither had been able to slip past the other's guard. Inuyasha, half-crazed with grief and rage over Kagome's apparent death, clutched the Tetsusaiga in both hands and audibly growled his frustration. To this, the youkai merely laughed.
"Heh, What's wrong half-breed? Lost your woman have you? How unfortunate. Of course, what more could be expected from a mere hanyou? Didn't your father ever teach you any wisdoms about mates, whelp? You really should learn to protect your female."
This, an insult in far too many ways, was more than enough to cause Inuyasha to abandon any and all restraints for his rage, and his mind became sheathed in a veil of crimson. As an apt expression of his anger, the energy surrounding Tetsusaiga flared to even greater intensity. Putting all of his emotion and determination behind his strikes, Inuyasha battered aside the youkai's defenses, then unleashed the Kaze No Kizu attack which completely overwhelmed the youkai in its ferocity. The attack not only sheared through the youkai, but also laid waste to much of the landscape behind the fiend.
"Shut up and die, you bastard," the hanyou hissed through clenched teethe. "Damn it, monk. You had better have rescued Kagome. I swear, if you failed, death won't prevent me from gettin' my claws on you!"
With this, Inuyasha spat once on the youkai's remains before turning towards the cliff's edge, intent on discerning the fate of his friends. He whirled back around when he heard Sango's warning cry. "Ware! Guard your back Inuyasha! The battle is not yet won!"
When he again faced the youkai, Inuyasha found the portions of the corpse merging back together with alarming speed. "Damn. The bastard really does possess a shard of the Shikon no tama! Maybe more than one! Without Kagome at my side to spot 'em, I could spend all day tryin' to find where they all are," Inuyasha cursed to himself. Then, to Sango he called, "Oi! We need Kagome to finish this fight! Miroku should have saved her, so take Kirara and bring her back here!"
The exterminator hesitated before inquiring, "And… Miroku?"
"We need Kagome for this battle! I swear to you; we'll find Miroku after this youkai is dealt with, but that won't happen unless Kagome is beside me!"
Sango's face tightened into a grimace but she nodded her agreement and urged Kirara into the air. Flames erupted from the cat's paws and the two took flight.
"Alright, youkai. I may not be able to slay you now, but you can still feel the pain of my rage," Inuyasha called to the youkai. His eyes flashed dangerously and a wicked smile found his lips as he concluded, "Things should be interesting this way."
With that, Inuyasha hefted Tetsusaiga over his head and charged forward with a roar.
* * * * *
Sango found Kagome readily enough, jutting out from the rock like she was, but her hopes of finding Miroku with the girl proved unfounded. Flying Kirara up close to Kagome, Sango began to carefully extract the staff from the rock crevice. Kagome feverishly talked throughout the whole process.
"Sango! Miroku… He fell! I-I didn't see what happened to him-the damn staff turned me around and I couldn't see--but he must be below us. Don't worry about me for now; just get him! Make sure he's alright. Sango? Did you hear what I said? Sango!"
Having finished liberating the staff, Sango then took great care in guiding Kagome into a controlled descent onto the back of Kirara. She then cut short the Kagome's dazed babble with an upraised palm, saying, "Kagome, the youkai does indeed possess at least one jewel shard. You were right in your directions. However, as Inuyasha cannot slay the fiend without you, I'm uncertain how long he can combat it without your sight."
As Kirara began to ascend, Kagome busied herself with the removal of the monk's staff while Sango concluded, "We haven't any time to waste, Kagome. You have to give aid to Inuyasha as quickly as you are able. If Miroku did survive, I'm sure he will be fine for the time needed to slay the youkai. The search for Miroku will simply have to wait until afterwards."
Despite the exterminator's words, Sango could not prevent herself from gazing intently, desperately, at the dark waves raging below, both hoping for and dreading against some sign of Miroku's condition. Kagome had finished extracting the staff by this point and when she spoke in a quiet, somber tone, her words both surprised and confused Sango.
"You are certain the youkai possesses at least one shard? His wounds will regenerate?"
Wondering if Kagome was inquiring about the necessity of delaying Miroku's rescue, Sango slowly said, "Yes…"
Kagome's somber response when they reached the top of the cliff only increased the slayer's bewilderment all the more.
"Good."
* * * * *
Inuyasha came in with a powerful overhead swipe with the Tetsusaiga, only to have it parried aside by the fiend's armored forearm. Backing off a few steps, Inuyasha again charged forward with a vicious backhanded slash to the youkai's midsection. Again the forearm easily deflected the blow harmlessly past. However, this time the hanyou went with the sword's momentum and spun about in a complete circle, lifting his right leg as he went and kicked out at the youkai's chest, causing the sturdy creature to stumble backwards a few paces. Still turning, Inuyasha closed the distance between them and thrust Tetsusaiga deep into its stomach, where its scaly armor was meekest. The Tesusaiga eagerly burrowed into the flesh and erupted out of the demon's back in a fountain of blood.
An expression of shock suffused the demon's features as Inuyasha came to a halt a few inches away. Grimacing slightly, the fiend gave a small smirk as it grabbed the hanyou's wrist and drove the sword in further, to the hilt. With the hanyou thus in range, it then struck Inuyasha once, twice in the face with ringing blows before Inuyasha could break its grip and retreat with Tetsusaiga still in hand. The youkai then issued a deep, belly laugh as the gaping wound began to swiftly mend.
"Pain is easy enough for me defeat, half-breed. I merely accept it, subdue it, and toss it aside as though it never was." It then splayed its arms out to their sides as it continued, "Go ahead and attack me as much as you wish, whelp. Consider it a final favor before I tire of you."
Briefly pausing to spit out some of his blood, Inuyasha replied, "Oh, you'll be gettin' a lot more agony to join that one by the time I'm through with you." Upon hearing a certain battle cry behind him, the hanyou offered his own sly grin as he amended his promise.
"Or perhaps we'll just skip to the part where you lay down and die, eh?"
As he spoke, the Hiraikotsu whipped past him and slammed into the youkai full on in the face, jarring its head back painfully. Sango and Kirara landed beside Inuyasha while Kagome, who had been dropped off before Sango had attacked, scanned the fiend for the location of where the Shikon shards were imbedded.
With its head back and gazing at the night sky, the youkai hissed, "That one hurt, mortal. Know that you will be paying for that blow." The fiend began to lower its gaze slowly as it continued silkily, "The price will cost you, girl, and most dearly. And I fully intend to make the most of that due, in every manner possible."
As its gaze again settled on the companions, the fiend was surprised to find that Inuyasha had sheathed his blade. "What's this, half-breed? Do you intend to surrender and beg for my mercy? As amusing as that may be to witness, you needn't bother wasting the last few seconds of your life. I have no mercy to appeal to."
Inuyasha, still giving that cold smile, closed his eyes as he clarified, "Surrender? Who said anything about surrender? I merely sheathed the Tetsusaiga because I knew it would surprise you… Lower your guard enough for me to do this!"
As he said the last of this, Inuyasha dashed forward with blinding speed and used his right hand to slash the fiend across its face with his claws, effectively blinding it. Simultaneously, Inuyasha dropped his left hand to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga in a reverse grasp, with the blade extending out the back of his fist. In one brutal motion, the hanyou drew the sword and attacked, slashing the youkai in its waist and shearing through while implementing the Kaze no kizo.
This caused the youkai to be horizontally split in two for an instant before being shredded by the Kaze no kizo. Following through, Inuyasha did a half turn to demand from Kagome the location of the shards. The fact that he turned to face a small volley of oncoming arrows understandably amazed him. The arrows passed close enough on either side of the hanyou for him to feel the wind of their wake.
Briefly pausing to see that Kagome was the sole archer, Inuyasha realized that she had been aiming at the youkai. He whipped back around to find that each arrow had struck some part of the youkai's torn body. Upon impact, the magic within the arrows activated and the flesh around the Shikon shards was instantly burned away to reveal a shard.
"Six shots… Kagome launched six arrows in one breath. While her targets were moving in mid-air, no less. Since when has Kagome been able to do that?" Pausing a moment, Inuyasha was struck by another realization, "If her aim had been just a little off, she would have pierced me instead!"
"Oi, woman!" As Inuyasha turned about to give Kagome an idea of how he felt about nearly becoming a seamstress' cushion, the rest of his words died on his tongue in the face of the girl's fury. Sango also regarded Kagome in amazement. Both Inuyasha and Sango had witnessed Kagome's anger on occasion, but this rage was something else entirely. The sheer intensity of her emotion was almost tangible. Her cool anger seemed to surround her like an invisible shroud, fully freezing all the combatants' sensibilities into immobility.
With her gaze completely focused upon the youkai's remains, Kagome walked by Inuyasha as though she didn't even realize he was there. The Shikon no tama shards were laying beside the dispelling arrows, but again Kagome walked by indifferently. The youkai's head still possessed some life, though barely, and it was this that Kagome stopped in front of. Kneeling down, the girl grasped the severed head firmly and forced it to lock gazes with her. Taking a deep breath, she then said in low, even tones, "I can accept the fact that you attacked me, even to the point of trying to kill me. However, know that if Miroku is anything less than whole and hearty because of your actions… Then the afterlife will not spare you from my wrath."
And with these words, Kagome allowed a spark of her raw power to form in her palms, causing the disembodied head to incinerate and turn to ash.
Sango and Inuyasha remained rooted to the ground, so great was their shock. After a long silence, Sango called out, "Kagome?" The girl started at these words, and quickly turned around to face the pair. From the confusion and dawning horror in her eyes, it was evident that she was just as shocked by her actions as her friends.
"'The afterlife will not spare you from my wrath?' Kagome, when did you become so skilled in your abilities? First the arrows, and now it seems that you can influence the dead… What's goin' on, Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded, covering his surprise and fear for the girl by assuming a dominant, commanding air.
Kagome trembled slightly as she averted her gaze from her wary friends and stared intently at the ground. "I… I don't know, Inuyasha. I just…" Shaking her head in frustration, the girl tried vainly to give words to her experience. "I just… I just did it, that's all," she said quietly.
Sango stared fixedly at her friend. Finally, she offered, "For Miroku's sake. Your actions were wrought from you desperation toward Miroku."
Still looking at the ground, Kagome answered, "Yes. I-I suppose that's it. I really don't know how I did those things."
Nodding, Sango grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder to gain his attention. "Come. It's time we find Miroku."
Solemnly, the three wordlessly started off, anxious to discover the whereabouts of their friend.
* * * * *
Upon reaching the rocky bay that the waves thundered into, the trio agreed to split-up. Inuyasha would search the ground while Sango and Kagome would use the aerial view provided by Kirara. Bounding in great leaps, Inuyasha swiftly began a through search of the area. As he strained his senses to their keenest, he desperately clung to the hope that he had not lost his friend. Ever had friendship been an elusive art to him, and the thought of losing such a rare commodity was nearly as maddening as the notion of losing Kagome. Desperately the hanyou searched, all the while assuring himself that the monk was alive.
Suddenly, a sharp cry slashed through Inuyasha's brooding thoughts. It was Sango.
"Oh Kami, Miroku--!"
Her voice began as a soft call, barely discernable to the hanyou due to the distance, and ended as a ringing sob which resonated several times within Inuyasha's head. Momentarily, his face twisted in bitterness and grief over the death of his friend, which was an accurate display of his heartfelt emotions. Slowly, his features straightened and smoothed into an unreadable expression. Only his eyes continued to betray what his heart felt. The amber orbs showed a weary resignation, a fatigue that had little to do with the battle against the youkai or the swift march to the bay. His shoulders bowed under the weight of despair as he located which direction Sango's call had come from and he leapt off, toward the resting place of the cursed monk.
* * * * *
From the air, Inuyasha saw Sango and Kagome recklessly dash toward the waterline, apparently having landed some distance away, as Kirara followed at their heels, paying scant heed to the tenuous footing provided by the rock-strewn beach, so great was their desperation. Following the line of their course, Inuyasha finally caught sight of Miroku.
The monk lay partially awash upon the shore, on his back with his face pointed straight up toward the heavens. A serene aura enveloped the man, belying the scratched and bruised flesh, as well as the torn robes. His face remained strangely unmarred, as though the sea had taken great care not to harm his features. The same strange care seemed to have been given to his right hand, as the fine strand of prayer beads and the gauntlet were still intact and undamaged, gloving the monk's palm and continuing to restrain the Kazaana.
Landing beside Miroku with barely a whisper of sound, Inuyasha stood quietly beside his friend. Though he spoke no words, any observers would note that he didn't need to, as his eyes spoke the message from his heart better than his tongue ever could. His eyes grew misty, though whether from the sea spray or from tears was impossible to discern. His sharp hearing became flooded with the pounding of his heart and the crashing of the waves. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, Inuyasha stood motionless at his friend's side.
Panting, Sango and Kagome then skidding to a halt around the two. At the sight of Miroku, Sango's knees buckled and her momentum carried her collapsing into a kneel over the fallen monk. Oblivious to the sharp stones her knees fell upon, the exterminator buried her face into the front of Miroku's robes and her shoulders began to shake from the sobs wracking throughout her body. Kagome stood beside Inuyasha with her hands over her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks, too horrified to speak.
The three remained that way for an indeterminable length of time. An eternity passing within a second would be the most accurate description. No one spoke during this interlude, as Sango was too stricken with grief and both Inuyasha and Kagome, having long since been aware of the budding relationship between the two, realized that mere words could not serve as a balm against the woman's pain. Nothing could be said.
Eventually, Sango began to stand up straight, though her movements were jerky and hesitant, in a manner which suggested she was learning how to do so for the very first time; almost as if the monk had become so much a part of her life that without him, the world seemed a strange and alien place. When she did find her footing, she stood straight with her head downcast, eyes closed, and shoulders still quaking. With a voice that broke only a few times, Sango began a prayer for Miroku's spirit. The words were meant to act as both a traditional sending, and as an assurance to the monk against any concerns he might retain about his untimely passing.
"Kami, I pray to you on the behalf of another. I do so because this person is no longer able to, and I wish to ask that you grant this person the station in the afterlife that he deserves.
"Miroku was a monk who ever remained as your servant. His faith was as steadfast any mortal's, and so were his strength and honor. Ever were his actions in collusion with your will, and his presence brightened the lives of all he met. I ask that you consider these traits as you weigh his transgressions. He was a good man, and I pray that you embrace him upon his arrival to your divine halls. Arigato."
Her next words were directed at Miroku, in hopes that he might still hear her for one last time.
"Miroku… I have so much to say, yet have so little time. I cannot delay you from what awaits you in the hereafter. As such, I-" She paused then, and swallowed. Consciously forcing words past the lump in her throat, Sango continued. "I will make this brief. I know of the vow you swore upon with your father before he was consumed by his own Kazaana and thus passed the curse on to you. Before he fled the distance needed to spare you, he had you swear upon your family's honor that you would slay the youkai Naraku or produce an heir to the family lineage."
Blushing slightly, Sango continued to keep her eyes shut as she continued, "To my knowledge, you have no heir, nor has Naraku been slain." A deep sadness and touch of remorse entered her voice and warred with a deeping blush at her next words. "It is too late for your son. I… We… were never given the time… It never felt right between us. Our relationship hadn't matured enough… And now it never will…"
Pausing a moment to take a deep breath and square her shoulders, Sango concluded, "But I can change the condition of Naraku. Upon my honor, I swear to undertake your vow as my own and end Naraku. I--"
Suddenly, a strong hand seized her wrist, gripping just short of causing pain, as a steely voice interrupted.
"That is not needed. Though the sentiment is appreciated, I am yet capable of fulfilling my oath to my father. One way"--she swore she could almost hear the ecchi smirk-"or another."
Sango's eyelids flew upward, and the sight before her nearly caused her to swoon. Miroku was still prone, but his head was turned toward her as opposed to the stars overhead. It was his hand which held onto her arm.
"Miroku!"
Dimly, Sango pondered the notion that this was a dream, an imaginary moment fashioned by her mind in a last, desperate attempt to deny reality.
The all-too-familiar pressure on her backside fully dispelled that notion.
Flinging herself headlong upon Miroku, Sango again buried herself into his chest and wept openly as she hugged him as fiercely as her body was able. This surprised the monk, for he had fully expected a blow for his grope, not an embrace. Stifling a wince from the sharp stones pressing upon his back and stoically hiding a shiver as yet another wave washed over his legs, Miroku attempted to gain Sango's attention.
"Sango…"
When she failed to respond, Miroku seized her shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes.
"Sango! I've told you before, my dear. Tears do not become you."
Chuckling helplessly at this, Sango shook her head from side to side as she beamed a smile which she had thought lost to her forever and never to wear again.
The monk smiled as he replied, "Much better, love. It suits you far more." Shifting her weight off of him, but careful to maintain his hold on her shoulders at all times, Miroku rose out of the water and turned to face Kagome and Inuyasha. Both appeared dumbstruck and speechless.
Finally, Inuyasha growled and stepped ahead of Kagome. "Watch it. This could be a trick of some sort. I didn't see or hear his chest move in a pulse or breath, and I still don't."
Feeling Sango stiffen in his grasp, Miroku cast an annoyed glace at Inuyasha and kicked a rather large rock at his feet. Though the rock did not budge, Miroku did not seem dissuaded by this fact. He called out to the hanyou, "Hear that, Inuyasha? Notice anything odd about the sound?" As if to emphasize his point, Miroku again struck the stone.
Inuyasha paused a long moment before replying, as his face crinkled up in confusion. He had indeed heard the kicks striking the stone, but both times the sounds had sounded faint an hollow, as had the monk's voice. Miroku promptly informed him of his ignorance.
"You baka! We're on a rocky shoreline! Did you honestly think to hear my vital signs that far away with the waves crashing all around us? And how do you expect to see my chest rise a few inches through your te-- um... This mist?"
Kagome's eyes widened indeed when she realized what word had not been finished and she swiftly turned toward Inuyasha, but the hanyou had already turned his back to the group, cursing to himself.
"Damn monk! Doin' a half-assed job of savin' Kagome, then doing an even worse job of savin' himself and puttin' us through all this grief…" Raising his voice, Inuyasha roared over his shoulder, "And don't think I've forgotten how you went about 'rescuing' Kagome, hentai! Do somethin' like that again and I'll personally make sure you won't have to worry about mates anymore!"
At Miroku's side, Sango also recalled how the monk had 'inspected' Kagome's clothes during their fall, as well as his grope a few seconds ago. Sango promptly smacked Miroku on the back of his head, knocking him flat, though she continued to smile throughout the blow.
As Sango and Inuyasha started off, Miroku stood back up, rubbing the knot on his skull. He stopped motionless when he saw that Kagome still remained where she was.
Giving as slight smile, Kagome said, "Arigato, Miroku. And Gomen." With that she turned around and started after Sango and Inuyasha.
Swiftly catching up with Kagome and falling in step with her pace, Miroku replied, "Your welcome, Kagome. I'd do it again in an instant if need be. And think nothing of the peril that resulted to me. Saving an innocent from an undeserving end is a reward unto itself."
Rolling her eyes at this, Kagome cuffed the monk on the shoulder before quietly saying, "I'm glad you're back with us."
Fixing Kagome with a strange look and a slight smile, Miroku returned, "I was never gone, my dear. But arigato."
Author's note: The following is a fan fiction created by myself, Joshua Franklin. I do not own any of the characters herein, as they were created by Rumiko Takahashi. The beginning is a brief summary of the tale to the best of my knowledge, leading up to where my story begins, so any people who are already familiar with Inuyasha can simply skim over the first few pages. Please enjoy. Any feedback is appreciated.
*Some vocabulary: Youkai-Demon, Hanyou-Half demon, Miko-Priestess, Kitsune-Fox Demon, Kitsune Bi-Fox fire, Arigato-Thank you, Gomen-Sorry, Baka-Fool/idiot, Hentai/Ecchi-Pervert/lecher, Kami-God(s), Shikon no tama-Jewel of four souls, Kazaana-Air rip/wind tunnel, Kaze No Kizu-Cutting Wind, Sengoku Jidai-Warring Era,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One
Throughout Inuyasha's life, there have been moments that stand out vividly against the rest of his past. The memories produced by these moments have made him the man that he is. All of his characteristics, attitude, speech, motion, habit, have been fashioned by his reaction to his experiences. All of his mannerisms are the sums of these reactions. Those vivid moments have not been many, nor have they been often, but he recalls every detail about them because of their importance. A few have been enjoyable recollections; a pleasant surprise, an instant of great joy… A feeling of love.
But most of the moments that he most readily remembers are harsh, painful periods of his life. His has ever been a life of hardship, and the amount of tears shed far outnumbers the amount of smiles worn. The death of a loved one… Being tormented and demeaned his heritage… The sting of betrayal…
In his youth, the sheer enormity of these numerous pains had often threatened to overwhelm him. After the death of his mother, the solace and protection that she gave to shelter him from these memories died with her, and Inuyasha was left with yet another grief that haunted him. To protect himself, Inuyasha's demeanor changed from that of a kind, innocent boy, to a brash, acrid attitude that was quick to anger and slow to trust.
Consciously, the hanyou did not know that the ghosts of his past had come to determine his future. These memories were regarded as painful recollections that were best not thought of. When a powerful memory was imprinted, Inuyasha merely regarded it as an ordinary remembrance and shrugged it away. Or so it had been.
* * * * *
His perceptions about memories were altered immeasurably when he encountered the miko, Kikyou, who had guarded the Shikon no tama. When he had first learned of the powerful jewel, his intentions had been entirely focused upon attaining the jewel and he hadn't even considered the possibility of a miko guarding it. He'd been arrogant enough to assume that he would find the jewel and use its power to cast aside his mortality and become a full youkai. Anyone or anything that got in his path would have to vacate or be destroyed. It was as simple as that. He was oblivious to the fact that he wasn't the only being in search of the mystic jewel.
The Shikon no tama was a jewel that contained an unimaginable amount of power, which it bestowed to its possessor. Even a small fragment of the jewel was rumored to increase the strength and prowess of a mortal by a hundred-fold, and a demon by two. Naturally, many ambitious beings would seek out the jewel to further their own desires for power. However, those who found the jewel's location also encountered the miko who had been charged with guarding it.
Kikyou was a human miko of exceptional ability. She possessed a vast amount of skill in both archery and magic. These she coupled together and enhanced her arrows by channeling her powers through them. Her abilities were great enough to defend the Shikon no tama from every being who sought it for their own intentions. Demons and mortals alike were dispatched with cool efficiency.
Inuyasha proved to be no exception. However, unlike the others, she did not finish the hanyou, instead choosing to merely defeat Inuyasha and protect the jewel. And she spared him again the next time. And again the next time. And then the following occurrence as well. This mercy earned a grudging respect from Inuyasha, and though he was still determined to have the Shikon no Tama, but he was resolute that the Miko would not be harmed in the process.
Over time, the rivalry turned into quiet friendship, with Inuyasha accompanying Kikyou on her journeys and helping her guard the jewel. And from that companionship: love.
Inuyasha eventually discarded any notion of stealing the jewel, and Kikyou forsook her role as shrine guardian, though she still retained ownership of the Shikon no Tama. At this point, Inuyasha had abandoned all notions of using the jewel to become a full-blooded youkai, and when Kikyou suggested using the jewel to bolster his mortality instead of his youkai side, Inuyasha readily agreed. As even half-demons have longer life spans than mortals, the prospect of growing old beside the woman he loved as opposed to merely watching time touch her and not him appealed immeasurably to Inuyasha.
However, when the appointed day arrived, neither the amended wish was made, nor the wedding vows exchanged. A cunning demon named Naraku had formed a plot, which made each believe the other had betrayed them. Kikyou was mortally wounded and the Shikon no tama was taken by a being with her love's likeness even as Inuyasha was waylaid by the same figure in the guise of Kikyou.
Though her wounds would soon prove fatal, Kikyou lived long enough to pierce Inuyasha with an enchanted arrow, meant to bind the hanyou into a stasis for the rest of his years. Kikyou succumbed to her wounds soon after, and Inuyasha was bound to a tree for half a century before being released by the reincarnation of the miko, Kagome, who had been granted accidental passage through time.
Kagome lived in present-day Japan, and her family property rested on the same spot that Inuyasha was imprisoned, abet five centuries in the future. One day, Kagome stumbled into the family's ancient, sacred well. Unexpectedly, the well transported Kagome back into the feudal era, Sengoku Jidai. There she came across the village where Kikyou once resided. The miko's little sister, Kaede, had followed in the footsteps of her deceased sister and became a miko herself, and this allowed her to realize that Kagome's soul was that of her sister. Because of this fact, Kagome was granted the raw talent with which Kikyou had been blessed, though she lacked any of the training that her former incarnation had undergone. Also, Kagome found herself immune to any wards that Kikyou had erected, including Inuyasha's spell.
Kagome freed the hanyou, but Inuyasha was unaware of the time his stasis had eclipsed and to he mistook Kagome for his betrayer and attacked. Kaede, who had been overseeing Inuyasha's release, managed to cast a spell of subjugation on the hanyou and gave control of it to Kagome, should she again need to protect herself.
After hearing of his half-brother's release, the demon-lord Sesshoumaru sought out Inuyasha in hopes of gaining the Tetsusaiga, a mystical blade forged by their mutual father. Sesshoumaru found the trigger for the sword's location hidden inside Inuyasha's right eye. When the trigger was activated, all of them where sent to the burial ground of their father, and the resting place of the sword.
Though both hanyou and youkai attempted to free the blade from its restraints, it was the mortal Kagome who succeeded and gave the sword to Inuyasha. The brothers fought, both for the sword and out of loathing for the other, and Inuyasha defeated his brother and severed his left arm, though Sesshoumaru lived and fled.
It was soon revealed that Kagome was also in possession of the Shikon no tama, and the girl accidentally sundered the jewel into hundreds of shards. Kagome agreed to hunt down the shards with Inuyasha after realizing the danger if just one of the shards were to fall into the wrong hands.
However, they were not the only seekers of the shards. One such youkai, Urusae, thought to gain the shards by using the former guardian of the Shikon no Tama, Kikyou. Using dirt from Kikyou's grave, and human bone, the youkai resurrected the miko by combining the elements with Kagome's stolen soul. Having other ideas, Kikyou destroyed Urusae nearly did the same to Inuyasha. Death had done nothing to temper her feeling of betrayal, and her rage surprised the hanyou, leaving him defenseless to her attack. Only the intervention of Kagome spared the hanyou and caused Kikyou to flee with part of Kagome's soul in her possession.
In the aftermath of the reunion with Kikyou, it became clear to all that neither of the pair had turned on the other, and that someone else had interfered. After a period of inspection, Naraku was revealed as the culprit and Inuyasha swore an oath of vengence.
Gradually, the party of the Shikon hunters grew in size. The young kitsune, Shippo, joined with Inuyasha and Kagome after the two avenged the murder of the kitsune's parents. The murderers, the Thunder Brothers, were slain and their jewel shards reclaimed.
The cursed monk, Miroku, came across the companions and decided to accompany them after learning that they too sought the Shikon shards and Naraku. The hentai monk revealed that he also was in search of the youkai Naraku for the curse that had been bestowed upon Miroku's family. The Kazaana was the curse given to his grandfather, and passed down to him. While the curse is a powerful weapon, it would eventually turn on Miroku unless Naraku was destroyed.
The Youkai Exterminator, Sango, was deceived by Naraku and all of her family and kin were killed as a result of Naraku's manipulations. Her village of origin was also destroyed and Sango now sought revenge upon Naraku, as well as hoping to release her brother, Kohaku, whose soul Naraku had captured. She now traveled with her new friends and family during this search.
* * * * *
Inuyasha knew that this moment would be would be forever imprinted into his memory. He knew, with no uncertainty, that he would see this vision for the rest of his life. And that knowledge terrified him to the depths of his soul.
To the hanyou, time seemed to slow down, as if in an attempt to mock him as much as possible. His eyes were wide and disbelieving as he desperately parried aside the monstrous youkai's fierce blow. His body was bent in an odd posture, back arched at a sharp angle with his feet wide apart and arms locked above his head as he held the Tetsusaiga in both hands. The impact had been jarring, nearly enough to make his knees buckle, but never did his eyes travel to his assailant. Instead, they remained fixated on the spectacle of Kagome.
As time slowed to crawl, Inuyasha was able to study every detail of Kagome's figure. He was nauseatingly aware of the pain etched on her delicate facial features, and his mind noted the way her mouth was flung wide in a breathless scream. He was able to see that she still held her bow, though her arms were spread out at her sides and in no position to fire an arrow. He saw the direction she'd been launched from the demon's simultaneous attack on her even as it attacked him as well. The night wind was blowing sharply through her raven hair and she was completely off the ground.
As time began to resume its normal pace, Inuyasha realized that the blow would send her from the cliff and as the youkai began to surge forward with another attack, he also realized that there was nothing he could do to intercept Kagome's flight. He knew, with startling clarity, that he would never forget this image, and that knowledge smote the hanyou's heart greater than the youkai could ever hope to.
"Kagome--!"
* * * * *
It seemed that time was fickle this day, because the world also seemed to slow down to Kagome's sensibilities as well. The girl wasn't seriously injured-it seemed that the youkai hadn't really intended to finish her- but Kagome figured the impact that awaited her at the end of her flight would more than make up for the demon's faux pas. As time seemed to simply cease movement, Kagome was also able to gaze at her friends. The relief she felt that no one else had been harmed offered scant comfort in the face of her doom, but she was content that none of the others would be dispatched as easily as she.
Sango was dressed in her armor and appeared to be entirely focused upon the application of her craft. She hadn't had time to summon and ride Kirara's alternate form, so she'd fallen into a ready stance and had just released her sacred boomerang, the Hiraikotsu. She did not seem to have noticed that Kagome was now airborne.
Miroku was the closest to Kagome's side, and though he had braced himself for the youkai's attack, the fiend had yet to assault him. Due to the close proximity of the beast, Miroku was unable to implement his Kazaana and instead held his staff before him in both hands. Unlike the exterminator, Miroku's stunned expression and bleak eyes revealed that he knew full well of Kagome's plight, and he looked as though about to turn away from the fight in an effort to aid the girl.
Kagome's eyes next flew to the hanyou and she was grateful that his guard had proved sufficient to protect him against the first assault, and though his body was aligned to combat the fiend, his head was turned toward Kagome and the two were able to briefly gaze into the other's eyes. The grief he felt was written plainly in his amber eyes, and Kagome dimly heard him calling her name.
"Kagome--!"
As if this sound alerted time of its blunder, the events around Kagome unexpectedly accelerated back to normal pace and she was unable to issue a final cry as she crested the cliff's rim.
* * * * *
As he saw Kagome in her ill-fated flight, Miroku did not hesitate in the least. Though his plan would likely demand his end in the place of Kagome's, the monk knew in his heart that he would gladly make that sacrifice if it meant that the maiden would be spared. However, as he began to move, his gaze swept over Inuyasha and he noted that the hanyou was not fully focusing on the battle at hand. Indeed, it seemed that Inuyasha was about to follow Kagome right over the cliff. Though the monk sympathized, he knew the tactic to be flawed.
"Inuyasha, remain here and fight on! Leave Kagome's safe return to me! I can offer little aid here, and this is too great a foe for Sango or me to combat alone. Stay here and finish this youkai! If you do not, Kagome's killer may elude our grasp!"
Miroku shouted this as he moved toward the cliff's edge and was beginning his descent as he finished his plea. He prayed that his words had stirred the hanyou's rage enough for the anger to override Inuyasha's heart's demands to attempt the rescue himself. At the same time, Miroku began to undo the prayer beads wrapped around his right hand.
Focusing on the fleeting figure of Kagome as opposed to the dark waves crashing against rock face far below, Miroku offered one last prayer as he unleashed the Kazaana. "Kami, please, grant your servant skill and perfection in this, his final task."
* * * * *
As Kagome felt the first tug on her back, she realized Miroku was attempting to pull her back up with his curse and hope began to shine again within her grim thoughts. There was still the possibility that the Kazaana would kill her instead, but Kagome was far more willing to place her life in the care of the monk rather than the thunderous waves below. Barely managing to peer behind her, Kagome was shocked to see that Miroku had followed her in descending, rather than pull her up from the cliff.
She shrieked, "You baka! What are you thinking? Now both of us are doomed!"
The Kazaana had lured Kagome near enough for her to see Miroku quirk an eyebrow as he replied, "Now really, Kagome. The youkai would hardly have simply stood aside and patiently allowed me to pull you back up. Now be still. We have little time and I must concentrate."
With this, the monk deemed Kagome close enough and resealed his curse with the beads, quieting the Kazaana's raging wind and permitting gravity to resume its influence on the girl. Though she still fell, she was now close enough for Miroku to grasp a hold of and he did so, taking a firm grip on her arm and drawing her close.
Kagome was about to ask "What next?" but the words died in her throat as the monk unexpectedly let go of her arm and instead grasped the neck opening on her school uniform top and gently pulled the garment far enough away from her chest for him to peer into the opening. He nodded in satisfaction at what he saw.
Kagome's eyes went wide and furious as she snatched her shirt out of the monk's grip and hugged it close to her chest. "You hentai! Even at a time like this-"
The rest of her words were lost to an involuntary gasp as Miroku then used the same hand to grasp the waistband of Kagome's uniform skirt and pull it open an inch or so. He then used his other hand, the one still holding his holy staff, to plunge his weapon down the front of her shirt, all the way down to exit the nether side of her skirt. The staff was now fixed to Kagome's person because of the front of her clothes. By reflex, Kagome folded her arms tightly over her chest and squeezed her thighs together with the staff parallel and in between her bent legs.
With only a murmured "Hold tight", Miroku firmly grasped the top of the staff--just above Kagome's neck opening--in both hands and angled their descent toward the rock wall.
Miroku tensed just before they reached the rocks, and Kagome seemed as though she were trying to become as one with the staff's metal. With a wrenching impact, the staff's butt end buried itself into a crevice. With a slight smile, Miroku released his hold on the staff, as he doubted that the metal could tolerate the halting both of their momentums. Kagome's clothes and limbs kept her secure and though the staff did indeed bend alarmingly, her position remained fixed and her descent ceased. By her horrified expression, it seemed that she hadn't even noticed. As the staff swayed a bit and Kagome's view of the monk obscured, the last she saw of him was flipping himself around so that he might fall headlong toward his doom and face his death.
With her breath stolen from her abrupt stop, Kagome was only able to offer a faint "No…" in denial.
* * * * *
Content as he was with the thought of perishing so that Kagome would yet live, Miroku was hardly about to fly into death's waiting embrace without exploring every available option. Now that Kagome was out of harm's way, for now if not later, his actions were no longer desperate in their intensity, but he still wanted to live this life for a few years longer.
As Kagome had seen, Miroku had indeed turned himself over so that he faced the not too distant waves below. What she did not see was him again removing the bindings on his Kazaana. With a murmured, "Well, I was lucky once…" he unleashed the Kazaana and hoped for the best.
As the calling of the Kazaana summoned everything in its path, the waves below were unable to resist its call and as the water was pulled toward the monk. It seemed that the sea had suddenly come to possess an inverted waterfall.
As the torrent of water sped toward Miroku, he again measured his target's progress toward him. Just as the liquid began to enter the Kazaana, he quickly sealed off his curse. Taking a deep breath, Miroku plunged into the frigid geyser. The water's momentum provided by the Kazaana's call battled with the insistent demands of gravity for a few breaths longer until succumbing to the latter force.
As the water's resistance to his directional velocity waned and then began to imitate his vector, the monk hoped that his actions had been sufficient save his life and he dimly wondered if he had ever expressed his true feelings to Sango.
* * * * *
Though the activity down the cliff face had occurred in far less time than it takes to tell, the actions of those on top of the cliff were no less frenzied. The three combatants had exchanged several blows, but little headway had been made by either side. At this time, Kirara had transformed into a larger, twin-tailed, saber-feline and Sango sat astride upon her back. Any successful strikes that Sango landed with Hiraikotsu were stoically accepted by the youkai while the fiend mainly kept its attention on Inuyasha.
The two had faced off, but neither had been able to slip past the other's guard. Inuyasha, half-crazed with grief and rage over Kagome's apparent death, clutched the Tetsusaiga in both hands and audibly growled his frustration. To this, the youkai merely laughed.
"Heh, What's wrong half-breed? Lost your woman have you? How unfortunate. Of course, what more could be expected from a mere hanyou? Didn't your father ever teach you any wisdoms about mates, whelp? You really should learn to protect your female."
This, an insult in far too many ways, was more than enough to cause Inuyasha to abandon any and all restraints for his rage, and his mind became sheathed in a veil of crimson. As an apt expression of his anger, the energy surrounding Tetsusaiga flared to even greater intensity. Putting all of his emotion and determination behind his strikes, Inuyasha battered aside the youkai's defenses, then unleashed the Kaze No Kizu attack which completely overwhelmed the youkai in its ferocity. The attack not only sheared through the youkai, but also laid waste to much of the landscape behind the fiend.
"Shut up and die, you bastard," the hanyou hissed through clenched teethe. "Damn it, monk. You had better have rescued Kagome. I swear, if you failed, death won't prevent me from gettin' my claws on you!"
With this, Inuyasha spat once on the youkai's remains before turning towards the cliff's edge, intent on discerning the fate of his friends. He whirled back around when he heard Sango's warning cry. "Ware! Guard your back Inuyasha! The battle is not yet won!"
When he again faced the youkai, Inuyasha found the portions of the corpse merging back together with alarming speed. "Damn. The bastard really does possess a shard of the Shikon no tama! Maybe more than one! Without Kagome at my side to spot 'em, I could spend all day tryin' to find where they all are," Inuyasha cursed to himself. Then, to Sango he called, "Oi! We need Kagome to finish this fight! Miroku should have saved her, so take Kirara and bring her back here!"
The exterminator hesitated before inquiring, "And… Miroku?"
"We need Kagome for this battle! I swear to you; we'll find Miroku after this youkai is dealt with, but that won't happen unless Kagome is beside me!"
Sango's face tightened into a grimace but she nodded her agreement and urged Kirara into the air. Flames erupted from the cat's paws and the two took flight.
"Alright, youkai. I may not be able to slay you now, but you can still feel the pain of my rage," Inuyasha called to the youkai. His eyes flashed dangerously and a wicked smile found his lips as he concluded, "Things should be interesting this way."
With that, Inuyasha hefted Tetsusaiga over his head and charged forward with a roar.
* * * * *
Sango found Kagome readily enough, jutting out from the rock like she was, but her hopes of finding Miroku with the girl proved unfounded. Flying Kirara up close to Kagome, Sango began to carefully extract the staff from the rock crevice. Kagome feverishly talked throughout the whole process.
"Sango! Miroku… He fell! I-I didn't see what happened to him-the damn staff turned me around and I couldn't see--but he must be below us. Don't worry about me for now; just get him! Make sure he's alright. Sango? Did you hear what I said? Sango!"
Having finished liberating the staff, Sango then took great care in guiding Kagome into a controlled descent onto the back of Kirara. She then cut short the Kagome's dazed babble with an upraised palm, saying, "Kagome, the youkai does indeed possess at least one jewel shard. You were right in your directions. However, as Inuyasha cannot slay the fiend without you, I'm uncertain how long he can combat it without your sight."
As Kirara began to ascend, Kagome busied herself with the removal of the monk's staff while Sango concluded, "We haven't any time to waste, Kagome. You have to give aid to Inuyasha as quickly as you are able. If Miroku did survive, I'm sure he will be fine for the time needed to slay the youkai. The search for Miroku will simply have to wait until afterwards."
Despite the exterminator's words, Sango could not prevent herself from gazing intently, desperately, at the dark waves raging below, both hoping for and dreading against some sign of Miroku's condition. Kagome had finished extracting the staff by this point and when she spoke in a quiet, somber tone, her words both surprised and confused Sango.
"You are certain the youkai possesses at least one shard? His wounds will regenerate?"
Wondering if Kagome was inquiring about the necessity of delaying Miroku's rescue, Sango slowly said, "Yes…"
Kagome's somber response when they reached the top of the cliff only increased the slayer's bewilderment all the more.
"Good."
* * * * *
Inuyasha came in with a powerful overhead swipe with the Tetsusaiga, only to have it parried aside by the fiend's armored forearm. Backing off a few steps, Inuyasha again charged forward with a vicious backhanded slash to the youkai's midsection. Again the forearm easily deflected the blow harmlessly past. However, this time the hanyou went with the sword's momentum and spun about in a complete circle, lifting his right leg as he went and kicked out at the youkai's chest, causing the sturdy creature to stumble backwards a few paces. Still turning, Inuyasha closed the distance between them and thrust Tetsusaiga deep into its stomach, where its scaly armor was meekest. The Tesusaiga eagerly burrowed into the flesh and erupted out of the demon's back in a fountain of blood.
An expression of shock suffused the demon's features as Inuyasha came to a halt a few inches away. Grimacing slightly, the fiend gave a small smirk as it grabbed the hanyou's wrist and drove the sword in further, to the hilt. With the hanyou thus in range, it then struck Inuyasha once, twice in the face with ringing blows before Inuyasha could break its grip and retreat with Tetsusaiga still in hand. The youkai then issued a deep, belly laugh as the gaping wound began to swiftly mend.
"Pain is easy enough for me defeat, half-breed. I merely accept it, subdue it, and toss it aside as though it never was." It then splayed its arms out to their sides as it continued, "Go ahead and attack me as much as you wish, whelp. Consider it a final favor before I tire of you."
Briefly pausing to spit out some of his blood, Inuyasha replied, "Oh, you'll be gettin' a lot more agony to join that one by the time I'm through with you." Upon hearing a certain battle cry behind him, the hanyou offered his own sly grin as he amended his promise.
"Or perhaps we'll just skip to the part where you lay down and die, eh?"
As he spoke, the Hiraikotsu whipped past him and slammed into the youkai full on in the face, jarring its head back painfully. Sango and Kirara landed beside Inuyasha while Kagome, who had been dropped off before Sango had attacked, scanned the fiend for the location of where the Shikon shards were imbedded.
With its head back and gazing at the night sky, the youkai hissed, "That one hurt, mortal. Know that you will be paying for that blow." The fiend began to lower its gaze slowly as it continued silkily, "The price will cost you, girl, and most dearly. And I fully intend to make the most of that due, in every manner possible."
As its gaze again settled on the companions, the fiend was surprised to find that Inuyasha had sheathed his blade. "What's this, half-breed? Do you intend to surrender and beg for my mercy? As amusing as that may be to witness, you needn't bother wasting the last few seconds of your life. I have no mercy to appeal to."
Inuyasha, still giving that cold smile, closed his eyes as he clarified, "Surrender? Who said anything about surrender? I merely sheathed the Tetsusaiga because I knew it would surprise you… Lower your guard enough for me to do this!"
As he said the last of this, Inuyasha dashed forward with blinding speed and used his right hand to slash the fiend across its face with his claws, effectively blinding it. Simultaneously, Inuyasha dropped his left hand to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga in a reverse grasp, with the blade extending out the back of his fist. In one brutal motion, the hanyou drew the sword and attacked, slashing the youkai in its waist and shearing through while implementing the Kaze no kizo.
This caused the youkai to be horizontally split in two for an instant before being shredded by the Kaze no kizo. Following through, Inuyasha did a half turn to demand from Kagome the location of the shards. The fact that he turned to face a small volley of oncoming arrows understandably amazed him. The arrows passed close enough on either side of the hanyou for him to feel the wind of their wake.
Briefly pausing to see that Kagome was the sole archer, Inuyasha realized that she had been aiming at the youkai. He whipped back around to find that each arrow had struck some part of the youkai's torn body. Upon impact, the magic within the arrows activated and the flesh around the Shikon shards was instantly burned away to reveal a shard.
"Six shots… Kagome launched six arrows in one breath. While her targets were moving in mid-air, no less. Since when has Kagome been able to do that?" Pausing a moment, Inuyasha was struck by another realization, "If her aim had been just a little off, she would have pierced me instead!"
"Oi, woman!" As Inuyasha turned about to give Kagome an idea of how he felt about nearly becoming a seamstress' cushion, the rest of his words died on his tongue in the face of the girl's fury. Sango also regarded Kagome in amazement. Both Inuyasha and Sango had witnessed Kagome's anger on occasion, but this rage was something else entirely. The sheer intensity of her emotion was almost tangible. Her cool anger seemed to surround her like an invisible shroud, fully freezing all the combatants' sensibilities into immobility.
With her gaze completely focused upon the youkai's remains, Kagome walked by Inuyasha as though she didn't even realize he was there. The Shikon no tama shards were laying beside the dispelling arrows, but again Kagome walked by indifferently. The youkai's head still possessed some life, though barely, and it was this that Kagome stopped in front of. Kneeling down, the girl grasped the severed head firmly and forced it to lock gazes with her. Taking a deep breath, she then said in low, even tones, "I can accept the fact that you attacked me, even to the point of trying to kill me. However, know that if Miroku is anything less than whole and hearty because of your actions… Then the afterlife will not spare you from my wrath."
And with these words, Kagome allowed a spark of her raw power to form in her palms, causing the disembodied head to incinerate and turn to ash.
Sango and Inuyasha remained rooted to the ground, so great was their shock. After a long silence, Sango called out, "Kagome?" The girl started at these words, and quickly turned around to face the pair. From the confusion and dawning horror in her eyes, it was evident that she was just as shocked by her actions as her friends.
"'The afterlife will not spare you from my wrath?' Kagome, when did you become so skilled in your abilities? First the arrows, and now it seems that you can influence the dead… What's goin' on, Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded, covering his surprise and fear for the girl by assuming a dominant, commanding air.
Kagome trembled slightly as she averted her gaze from her wary friends and stared intently at the ground. "I… I don't know, Inuyasha. I just…" Shaking her head in frustration, the girl tried vainly to give words to her experience. "I just… I just did it, that's all," she said quietly.
Sango stared fixedly at her friend. Finally, she offered, "For Miroku's sake. Your actions were wrought from you desperation toward Miroku."
Still looking at the ground, Kagome answered, "Yes. I-I suppose that's it. I really don't know how I did those things."
Nodding, Sango grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder to gain his attention. "Come. It's time we find Miroku."
Solemnly, the three wordlessly started off, anxious to discover the whereabouts of their friend.
* * * * *
Upon reaching the rocky bay that the waves thundered into, the trio agreed to split-up. Inuyasha would search the ground while Sango and Kagome would use the aerial view provided by Kirara. Bounding in great leaps, Inuyasha swiftly began a through search of the area. As he strained his senses to their keenest, he desperately clung to the hope that he had not lost his friend. Ever had friendship been an elusive art to him, and the thought of losing such a rare commodity was nearly as maddening as the notion of losing Kagome. Desperately the hanyou searched, all the while assuring himself that the monk was alive.
Suddenly, a sharp cry slashed through Inuyasha's brooding thoughts. It was Sango.
"Oh Kami, Miroku--!"
Her voice began as a soft call, barely discernable to the hanyou due to the distance, and ended as a ringing sob which resonated several times within Inuyasha's head. Momentarily, his face twisted in bitterness and grief over the death of his friend, which was an accurate display of his heartfelt emotions. Slowly, his features straightened and smoothed into an unreadable expression. Only his eyes continued to betray what his heart felt. The amber orbs showed a weary resignation, a fatigue that had little to do with the battle against the youkai or the swift march to the bay. His shoulders bowed under the weight of despair as he located which direction Sango's call had come from and he leapt off, toward the resting place of the cursed monk.
* * * * *
From the air, Inuyasha saw Sango and Kagome recklessly dash toward the waterline, apparently having landed some distance away, as Kirara followed at their heels, paying scant heed to the tenuous footing provided by the rock-strewn beach, so great was their desperation. Following the line of their course, Inuyasha finally caught sight of Miroku.
The monk lay partially awash upon the shore, on his back with his face pointed straight up toward the heavens. A serene aura enveloped the man, belying the scratched and bruised flesh, as well as the torn robes. His face remained strangely unmarred, as though the sea had taken great care not to harm his features. The same strange care seemed to have been given to his right hand, as the fine strand of prayer beads and the gauntlet were still intact and undamaged, gloving the monk's palm and continuing to restrain the Kazaana.
Landing beside Miroku with barely a whisper of sound, Inuyasha stood quietly beside his friend. Though he spoke no words, any observers would note that he didn't need to, as his eyes spoke the message from his heart better than his tongue ever could. His eyes grew misty, though whether from the sea spray or from tears was impossible to discern. His sharp hearing became flooded with the pounding of his heart and the crashing of the waves. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, Inuyasha stood motionless at his friend's side.
Panting, Sango and Kagome then skidding to a halt around the two. At the sight of Miroku, Sango's knees buckled and her momentum carried her collapsing into a kneel over the fallen monk. Oblivious to the sharp stones her knees fell upon, the exterminator buried her face into the front of Miroku's robes and her shoulders began to shake from the sobs wracking throughout her body. Kagome stood beside Inuyasha with her hands over her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks, too horrified to speak.
The three remained that way for an indeterminable length of time. An eternity passing within a second would be the most accurate description. No one spoke during this interlude, as Sango was too stricken with grief and both Inuyasha and Kagome, having long since been aware of the budding relationship between the two, realized that mere words could not serve as a balm against the woman's pain. Nothing could be said.
Eventually, Sango began to stand up straight, though her movements were jerky and hesitant, in a manner which suggested she was learning how to do so for the very first time; almost as if the monk had become so much a part of her life that without him, the world seemed a strange and alien place. When she did find her footing, she stood straight with her head downcast, eyes closed, and shoulders still quaking. With a voice that broke only a few times, Sango began a prayer for Miroku's spirit. The words were meant to act as both a traditional sending, and as an assurance to the monk against any concerns he might retain about his untimely passing.
"Kami, I pray to you on the behalf of another. I do so because this person is no longer able to, and I wish to ask that you grant this person the station in the afterlife that he deserves.
"Miroku was a monk who ever remained as your servant. His faith was as steadfast any mortal's, and so were his strength and honor. Ever were his actions in collusion with your will, and his presence brightened the lives of all he met. I ask that you consider these traits as you weigh his transgressions. He was a good man, and I pray that you embrace him upon his arrival to your divine halls. Arigato."
Her next words were directed at Miroku, in hopes that he might still hear her for one last time.
"Miroku… I have so much to say, yet have so little time. I cannot delay you from what awaits you in the hereafter. As such, I-" She paused then, and swallowed. Consciously forcing words past the lump in her throat, Sango continued. "I will make this brief. I know of the vow you swore upon with your father before he was consumed by his own Kazaana and thus passed the curse on to you. Before he fled the distance needed to spare you, he had you swear upon your family's honor that you would slay the youkai Naraku or produce an heir to the family lineage."
Blushing slightly, Sango continued to keep her eyes shut as she continued, "To my knowledge, you have no heir, nor has Naraku been slain." A deep sadness and touch of remorse entered her voice and warred with a deeping blush at her next words. "It is too late for your son. I… We… were never given the time… It never felt right between us. Our relationship hadn't matured enough… And now it never will…"
Pausing a moment to take a deep breath and square her shoulders, Sango concluded, "But I can change the condition of Naraku. Upon my honor, I swear to undertake your vow as my own and end Naraku. I--"
Suddenly, a strong hand seized her wrist, gripping just short of causing pain, as a steely voice interrupted.
"That is not needed. Though the sentiment is appreciated, I am yet capable of fulfilling my oath to my father. One way"--she swore she could almost hear the ecchi smirk-"or another."
Sango's eyelids flew upward, and the sight before her nearly caused her to swoon. Miroku was still prone, but his head was turned toward her as opposed to the stars overhead. It was his hand which held onto her arm.
"Miroku!"
Dimly, Sango pondered the notion that this was a dream, an imaginary moment fashioned by her mind in a last, desperate attempt to deny reality.
The all-too-familiar pressure on her backside fully dispelled that notion.
Flinging herself headlong upon Miroku, Sango again buried herself into his chest and wept openly as she hugged him as fiercely as her body was able. This surprised the monk, for he had fully expected a blow for his grope, not an embrace. Stifling a wince from the sharp stones pressing upon his back and stoically hiding a shiver as yet another wave washed over his legs, Miroku attempted to gain Sango's attention.
"Sango…"
When she failed to respond, Miroku seized her shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes.
"Sango! I've told you before, my dear. Tears do not become you."
Chuckling helplessly at this, Sango shook her head from side to side as she beamed a smile which she had thought lost to her forever and never to wear again.
The monk smiled as he replied, "Much better, love. It suits you far more." Shifting her weight off of him, but careful to maintain his hold on her shoulders at all times, Miroku rose out of the water and turned to face Kagome and Inuyasha. Both appeared dumbstruck and speechless.
Finally, Inuyasha growled and stepped ahead of Kagome. "Watch it. This could be a trick of some sort. I didn't see or hear his chest move in a pulse or breath, and I still don't."
Feeling Sango stiffen in his grasp, Miroku cast an annoyed glace at Inuyasha and kicked a rather large rock at his feet. Though the rock did not budge, Miroku did not seem dissuaded by this fact. He called out to the hanyou, "Hear that, Inuyasha? Notice anything odd about the sound?" As if to emphasize his point, Miroku again struck the stone.
Inuyasha paused a long moment before replying, as his face crinkled up in confusion. He had indeed heard the kicks striking the stone, but both times the sounds had sounded faint an hollow, as had the monk's voice. Miroku promptly informed him of his ignorance.
"You baka! We're on a rocky shoreline! Did you honestly think to hear my vital signs that far away with the waves crashing all around us? And how do you expect to see my chest rise a few inches through your te-- um... This mist?"
Kagome's eyes widened indeed when she realized what word had not been finished and she swiftly turned toward Inuyasha, but the hanyou had already turned his back to the group, cursing to himself.
"Damn monk! Doin' a half-assed job of savin' Kagome, then doing an even worse job of savin' himself and puttin' us through all this grief…" Raising his voice, Inuyasha roared over his shoulder, "And don't think I've forgotten how you went about 'rescuing' Kagome, hentai! Do somethin' like that again and I'll personally make sure you won't have to worry about mates anymore!"
At Miroku's side, Sango also recalled how the monk had 'inspected' Kagome's clothes during their fall, as well as his grope a few seconds ago. Sango promptly smacked Miroku on the back of his head, knocking him flat, though she continued to smile throughout the blow.
As Sango and Inuyasha started off, Miroku stood back up, rubbing the knot on his skull. He stopped motionless when he saw that Kagome still remained where she was.
Giving as slight smile, Kagome said, "Arigato, Miroku. And Gomen." With that she turned around and started after Sango and Inuyasha.
Swiftly catching up with Kagome and falling in step with her pace, Miroku replied, "Your welcome, Kagome. I'd do it again in an instant if need be. And think nothing of the peril that resulted to me. Saving an innocent from an undeserving end is a reward unto itself."
Rolling her eyes at this, Kagome cuffed the monk on the shoulder before quietly saying, "I'm glad you're back with us."
Fixing Kagome with a strange look and a slight smile, Miroku returned, "I was never gone, my dear. But arigato."