Down The Well, Down Again
Chapter One: Death
Wargh
AN: Since I don't know much about writing battle scenes (so I probably won't ever type up anything other than snippets of the final battle), nor about the tail-end of the Inuyasha anime series (seeing as I haven't seen it yet), please forgive any and all mistakes and the creative liberties I have taken. And yes, I know that his true name isn't ever mentioned, I simply prefer calling him Touga (rather than the spelling Toga which reminds me way too much of clothing:)
As the dust settled down to the ground, Kagome, in her torn, blood-stained clothing, rose to her feet and stared at the devastation around her. Something flashed in the corner of her eye, and as she turned, Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's bloody form stretched out on the barren ground. Tears streaming down her face, she ran over to his prone form and knelt at his side. Sesshoumaru wasn't exactly her friend, but Kagome held a great respect for the Lord of the West, and had forgiven him long ago for trying to kill her.
Kagome pressed her fingers against his neck for a moment then drew them away, painful sobs racking her body. Brushing her hand across his face, she closed his sightless eyes and rose to her feet. Suddenly something latched onto her leg and when she looked down, she saw Rin clinging to her leg and sobbing heartbreakingly. Kneeling back down, Kagome embraced the girl tightly, Rin's tears soaking through her shirt.
"Why Lady Kagome, why is Lord Sesshoumaru dead?" She cried out forlornly.
"Why is everything Rin loves taken from her?" Kagome clutched the little girl close as Rin's body shook from suppressed pain.
"First Rin's family was taken from her by bandits, then Rin's life was taken by wolves. Now Lord Sesshoumaru is... Lord Sesshoumaru is..." Kagome's heart broke at the child's words.
"Rin, I..." Kagome cried harder as she tried to find something to say to console the devastated young girl. Realizing there was no way to ease the pain of Rin mourning the man she considered her father, she held her tighter.
"Lady Kagome promise... promise Rin that you will never leave her. Promise Rin that you will never die and leave Rin alone, because Rin doesn't want anyone else to die!" The young girl sobbed out as she clutched the only person she had left in the world. Kagome looked down at the young girl, and not knowing what else to say, whispered
"I promise."
Inuyasha sat on the ground, his back up against the still transformed Tessaiga, blood dripping from multiple wounds as he panted in exhaustion. Placing his hand on Tessaiga's hilt, he boosted himself onto his feet and surveyed the bloody battlefield. His eyes were drawn to a red mound in the grass, and he dragged his body to it as fast as he could, using Tessaiga as a crutch. Falling beside it, his heart stopped as he realized that it was Kikyou, her once white top stained with her heart's blood. Sobbing brokenly, he picked up her body and cradled it to his chest.
"Don't leave me Kikyou, I love you god damn it. I need you beside me, even if I truly have to follow you into the depths of hell." He sobbed out, his tears falling onto her face. Suddenly he felt a hand ghost along his cheek. Opening his golden eyes, he peered into Kikyou's coal black orbs, pain-free in her last moments of life.
"Kikyou, I..." Kikyou softly pressed her fingers to his lips, silencing him.
"Shh, it's alright my love, don't cry for me. Instead, let me see your beautiful smile before I die." Inuyasha smiled just for her, his heart breaking on the inside. Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed her until he felt her go limp. Clutching her body to his chest, he screamed out Kikyo's name, the anguish in his voice breaking the heart of anyone who heard his cry.
Sango turned her head, trying to see beyond Kilala's fur where her face was currently buried, her body stretched out across Kilala's back. Raising her head just the slightest bit, she saw two familiar figures slumped together on the ground. Unable to move herself because of her broken leg, she urged Kilala on with a desperate cry. As Kilala stopped beside the two men, Sango watched, tears running down her cheek, as Miroku knelt over her brother and said a prayer for the safe passage of his soul.
"Miroku." She called out when he had finished his prayer.
"Help me down please. I need... I need to... say goodbye." Miroku stood up and gently lifted Sango's battered body off of Kilala's back and carefully set her down next to her brother's lifeless body. Picking up one of his limp hands, Sango tried to smile through her tears.
"Kohaku, I'm so sorry. I promised that I would save you, that I would free you from this curse. I have failed you my brother." Sango felt a hand rest on her shoulder, and turned her head to look at Miroku who was crying too.
"No Sango, you didn't fail him, look at him. He is finally at peace, he is finally free." Miroku said softly, the tears in his eyes not for Kohaku, but for the grieving sister he had left behind. Sango turned her face back to her brother, and for the first time noticed the happy smile crossing his face. Smiling for real this time, she whispered
"You're right Miroku, he truly is free."
