Naraku's Defeat and a Secret Revealed

She saw the white hair of the hanyou as he attacked the demon that stood in front of them. Her arrow had done nothing to weaken the barrier that surrounded the demon.

Her attention was diverted when a tentacle launched itself at her. Taking a couple steps back, she let the taijiya destroy it.

" Thanks, Sango," She cried out to the demon slayer

" Kagome, look out!" The hanyou shouted out a warning, his sword, the Tetsusaiga, flashing in the sunlight.

Taking a fast survey, Kagome screamed at the sight of the demon that was about to attack her. Her arrow pierced the abdomen, the sacred energy ultimately destroying the flesh around the wound.

" Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed in fear as another tentacle sought her out. This one was too close for her to use her arrows against it. She closed her eyes in fear and cowered on the ground. But the tentacle never got to her. Opening her eyes, she saw the red hakama of the half demon. His sword had cut away the tentacle and he growled at the demon when he spoke.

" Inuyasha!" The demon hissed at him. His dark hair flowed around him and a baboon cape hung around his shoulders.

" Naraku!" Inuyasha snarled and raised the Tetsusaiga a couple inches, posing a fighting stance. Without a warning, he lunged, the blade of the Tetsusaiga turning red. One slash was all it took; the barrier surrounding Naraku was gone.

" Hiraikotsu," Another woman shouted out.

A giant boomerang hurtled past the half demon. It thundered into the demon's flesh, taking with it a good deal of the spidery legs that held up the demon. Sango stood in a throwing stance, her outstretched hand catching her weapon skilfully. It was the opening that Inuyasha needed, and he took it. His sword cleaved through the demon, leaving him in two halves.

As Kagome stood up, a small ball of red fur ran to her, Hugging the little fox demon, she grabbed her bow and then headed over to the half demon. The hanyou was staring at the spot where Naraku had fallen. Looking down, she saw a small wooden puppet and sighed. It was another one of Naraku's little times of fun, when he would be laughing out at them whenever they defeated it. It made her really mad, but she couldn't really do anything about it. The Shikon No Tama shards were almost whole again; all they had to find were the ones that belonged to Naraku, and that was getting harder and harder. Ever since they had faced the band of seven, every one had been on their toes, the hanyou especially. He felt responsible for the whole group, and wanted to protect every one, no matter what. He seemed to be the leader of the band to any body who had seen them when they marched past.

Inuyasha was lost in his own thoughts. The band of seven was also on his mind. He was still sore from the fight against Bangkotsu, and was glad that the band was gone, again, and for good this time. He hated it when the people in his little band were threatened, especially Kagome. He had a feeling for her; what it was, he didn't know.

" Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Kagome asked.

" Nothing, I just have a bad vibe about this place, that's all," The hanyou said and realized that his hand was tightly wrapped around the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Letting the sword go, he put it away, the transformation undone. With that, he stalked away, his golden eyes roaming the area as if he knew something was there.

Truth was, he knew there was something out there; there had always been things out in the wild of the Feudal era that went bump in the night. At the moment, he could feel that there was an enemy close by, but he couldn't tell where the thing was. His golden eyes watched the surrounding area with an intensity that would have sent the most stubborn of people packing.

That night, Kagome tossed and turned, unable to sleep. If she ever drifted off, her sleep was fitful, filled with images of death of her friends and Naraku making it across the well. She woke up gasping in fear every time. This time Shippou, the little fox demon woke up as well when he heard his surrogate mother gasp in fear.

" Kagome. What's wrong?" The little kitsune asked, his child-like voice ringing in her ears.

" It's nothing, Shippou. Go back to sleep. I'm going to take a drink of water," Kagome told him and got up, tucking the little demon back into her sleeping bag.

As she went to her large, yellow backpack to get a bottle of water, a sudden flash of red startled her. Realizing that it was Inuyasha, she relaxed. Unable to try to fall asleep, Kagome sat beside the fire and fed it a couple more sticks. Watching the flames as they grew, she didn't hear Inuyasha come up beside her. Biting back a startled cry, she looked over at the half demon accusingly.

" What gives you the right to scare me like that?" She asked, hugging her knees.

" Why are you walking around in the middle of the night?" Inuyasha countered

" I couldn't sleep," Kagome said with a sigh.

Snorting, the hanyou watched as Kagome buried her head in her arms. He knew how it was sometimes, but would never admit it to anybody. No, he wanted the others to think that he was responsible enough not to be bothered by silly little dreams. Instead he took his frustration out on a couple of trees a long ways away from camp. Shaking his head, he put his arms around her.

" Tell me what's got you tied in a knot," He said.

" I keep having these dreams," Kagome started off, reluctantly at first and then continued. " Every one's dying and I can't do a thing about it. It even goes as far as Naraku making it across the well and turning my time into another Feudal era over there." With that she broke down completely. " Inuyasha, I'm afraid!"

" Hey, take it easy. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'll make sure of it," the half demon swore.

Looking up, Kagome saw that Inuyasha's eyes were covered by his white hair. Relieved, she reached up and touched the dog-ears that sat on top of his head. She pulled away when his head whipped up at a sound that was close-by. He got up, hand grasping the Tetsusaiga's hilt, standing protectively in front of Kagome. His growl filled the air as a small bee with red eyes flew overhead.

There came a clap of thunder and a sudden burst of wind. Sango and the demon slaying monk, Miroku, woke up instantly, their weapons ready at hand. What they saw surprised them.

Naraku was walking to them, as many bees as the wind following him and just as many youkai. His baboon cape swirled around him as he walked. Grinning in an almost maniacal way, he opened his hand, revealing the part of the Shikon no Tama that he had collected.

" Inuyasha, nice to see you again. Ah, and that bitch, Kagome," Naraku said, his voice dripping sarcasm. " Too bad you're going to die. It was fun while it lasted."

At that, the demons surged forward. Inuyasha cried out a howling response and met them head on. Kagome, who had been on the ground, staring in disbelief, now scrambled to Shippou and her arrows. She passed Miroku, who was swinging his staff and destroying demons. She watched as he took of the beads from around his hand and unleashed the power from the black hole in his hand.

As Kagome reached her sleeping bag, a demon attacked her, Screaming in fear, she grabbed a stick and beat it with every thing she had. It finally backed away only to be killed by a great bite from Kirara, the two-tailed fire cat demon.

" Thanks Kirara!" Kagome said and grabbed the bow and arrows. She let Shippou climb up her shoulder, as he was so scared. Firing off a couple of arrows, Kagome ducked and hid behind a tree as more youkai tried to get her.

" Backlash wave!" Inuyasha shouted and swung his sword mightily, the attack that was aimed at him turning it back to the demons. The swing went through without a hitch, leaving behind nothing but smoking corpses. He charged and destroyed other demons that were trying to attack Kagome. Turning on his heel, the hanyou turned his attack on Naraku, who in turn attacked with spidery legs.

Inuyasha felt the blood even before he felt the pain from the wound. Ripping his clawed hands into the wound, the hanyou threw another of his attacks. The Iron Reaver Soul Stealer used his blood to work. He watched as the blades only sliced Naraku's clothing and snarled in frustration. Then he heard Kagome scream in pain.

Kagome didn't see or hear the demon that attacked her. All she felt was the stinging pain across her back and arms. Curling in a ball to protect herself, she felt Shippou crying in fear beside her. Then she felt flesh pelting her. Squinting her eyes, she saw the red hakama of a certain white haired hanyou standing over her. Then he was replaced by a man in a baboon cape. Naraku. She felt her windpipe close when he grabbed her throat with his hand, the other digging around for the other shards. When he had finally found them, he smirked and his hand closed even tighter. Black spots began to dance before her eyes, and she didn't see the red of the hanyou's hakama until the demon's hand released its grip on her throat.

Inuyasha went berserk when he saw Naraku trying to choke the life out of Kagome. He tackled the demon and was thrown away. Still he kept at it, trying to keep Naraku busy enough to let Kagome get away. Incredibly, when he was thrown away again, he saw Kagome pounce with almost cat-like grace. With a desperate grab, she held Naraku's hand, her strength coming out of pure desperation.

The jewel that was intertwined between their hands glowed a light pink and it kept getting stronger and stronger until no one could look at it with difficulty. With a look of smug triumph on her face, Kagome suddenly yelled out loud in pain. Her face contorted with the burden and then, with a sudden flash, she was thrown away from the demon, the Shikon no Tama in her hands.

Naraku was also thrown away, but managed to recover his dignity and strength first. He saw the girl, Kagome, lying a dozen of feet away from him, the Shikon no Tama in her outstretched hand. Scrambling to her, he made a grab for the jewel, but found himself being hauled away. Looking around him, he saw Inuyasha dragging him away from Kagome.

Snarling, Inuyasha kept the demon from getting to where Kagome lay. His snarled grew into a full-throated roar as he swung Naraku into a tree. Grabbing the Tetsusaiga from the spot where he had dropped it, Inuyasha swung it with all his might. The blade didn't miss its mark.

Sango panted from exhaustion, and then she realized something. If Naraku had all the shards of the Shikon no Tama, what had happened to her brother, Kohaku? Was he dead? With a sob in her throat, she didn't see Miroku come up and kneel beside her.

" Sango, what is it?" The monk asked, fear building in his chest.

" The shards… my brother…" Sango couldn't continue, the thought of losing the last of her family finally hitting her hard. Burying her head in her hands, she let Miroku hold her. She didn't even know when Kirara came to her, the cat demon back to her small form. Mewing, the little two-tailed cat rubbed her head in her mistress's hand, understanding the loss.

Inuyasha leaned on his sword as he made his way to where Kagome lay on the ground, unmoving. As he covered the last few feet, he saw her chest rise and fall slowly. At least she was alive. He hurried, not wanting to confront the wolf demon, Koga, who also had a crush on Kagome. The truth about that was that he loved Kagome as well, not his dead girlfriend, Kikyo. Hugging Kagome close to his body, he noticed that her facial expression had contorted with pain.

" Sango, Miroku. Come on. We have to get Kagome back to Kaede's village," Inuyasha said and watched as Shippou uncurled and watched Inuyasha with tear-filled eyes.

" Kagome," He said, his voice made small from the fear in it.

" Shippou, get on. I'm taking Kagome back to Kaede's right now," The hanyou said and then felt the small hands and feet of the fox demon as he clambered up his arm onto his shoulder. With a grunt of effort, Inuyasha took Kagome in his arms and waited until Sango and Miroku got on Kirara after she had transformed. With a leap that took him at least twenty feet, he ran as fast as he could to Kaede's village.

Kaede sat outside of her hut, checking her herbs that she had gathered to dry. She lifted her head at a sound of rustling leaves. She watched with mild interest as a demon sprang out of the bushes, running as if it was being chased by the devil himself. Then the demon was destroyed, replaced by Inuyasha. Taking in the scene with a practiced eye, she immediately grabbed some herbs and headed inside her hut, preparing a place for Kagome.

Inuyasha rushed in and gently placed Kagome down with more care than usual. Kaede took a careful note of that. He turned Kagome on her front, so the old woman didn't have a problem healing the wound that Kagome had sustained.

" What happened, Inuyasha?" Kaede asked as she cut away the young miko's shirt with a knife. Then she checked the wound, probing for any serious damage.

" Naraku attacked the camp. He tried to get the Jewel from Kagome, but she some how managed to get up after being wounded and get all of the Shikon no Tama. It's whole now," the hanyou said, pointing to one of Kagome's clutched hands.

" That is well. Now get out, I must work on Kagome with out a distraction," The old woman, who was the sister of his original girlfriend, ordered him.

Taking the hint, Inuyasha backed out of the hut reluctantly, but he knew that Kaede was right. She needed no distractions whenever she was healing either a minor cut or even a wound from an attack by a demon. He headed to Sango and Miroku, who sat on the ground with Kirara and Shippou. Almost immediately, he saw Sango's red face. He then realized that her younger brother also had a shard of the Shikon no Tama in his back. The realization struck him just as hard, just like when his mother had died, over fifty years ago.

Miroku looked at the approaching half demon and shook his head at him. The monk held Sango tightly, not wanting her to feel alone now that her last relative was dead.

Inuyasha felt that there was going to be a turn of events some how.

Watching from the woods, a woman with deep grey hair smiled at the scene. No one knew her real name. The only name that she went by was Nianniai. At least it was a change from her hated real name, which she had long forgotten. She was planning to get the Shikon no Tama and make her strength grow to tens times as strong. Then she was going to kill every one slowly. With a last, wicked chuckle, she vanished into the darkening woods.

Kagome woke up after the next couple of days. Her back hurt, sure, but at least Naraku was dead. She had seen the demon's head roll form his shoulders just before she passed out. Looking around, she saw Inuyasha sleeping, his head resting on his chest. Smiling, she grabbed his hand, startling him awake.

" What! Oh Kagome, you're awake," Inuyasha said, embarrassed at being caught sleeping on his self proclaimed guard duty.

" How is every body?" Kagome asked, her hand returning to her side.

" Sango's pretty shaken up because her brother's dead. After all, if the shard was removed from his back, he would die. Otherwise every body's fine," Inuyasha replied

" Send her in. I want to tell her something," Kagome said, closing her eyes.

Inuyasha left and in a couple of minutes Sango walked in, her body racked in sorrow, her eyes red from crying too much.

" Sango, sit down beside me for a bit, will you? I have something to tell you. Perhaps it will make you feel better knowing this," Kagome paused before she continued. " But your brother, he is still alive, and heading this way. I suggest you go to the east. He should be there within the hour."

Sango stared at her friend with disbelief. Could it be true? Was Kohaku really alive? But how did Kagome know if he was or not?

" How do you know? Does he remember anything?" Sango finally found her voice.

" Hai, he does remember you and he has enough sense to go to a village that he knows will take him in until he can find you. I knew this since the battle with Naraku. I saw it in his mind, I'll guess you'll say," Kagome said and turned away to get more rest. " Go. Find your brother."

Sango couldn't help it. She squealed in delight, hugged her friend and left, uttering apologies to Kagome's curses of pain. She ran as fast as she could go, ignoring the questions from Miroku and the starts from the villagers. She sat on a rock exactly east of the village and kept a constant vigil.

Inuyasha entered Kaede's hut and saw the smile that was on Kagome's face. He put it all together, combined by the fact that Sango ran out of here with a large grin on her face and figured it out. Sango's brother was still alive.

" When did you know?" Inuyasha asked.

" Since the battle. Listen, Inuyasha, I want to tell you…" Kagome started to speak when a wolf demon ran in.

" Get out of my way, mutt," The demon said as he knelt beside Kagome.

" Koga, what are you doing here?" Kagome asked.

" I smelt your blood and I followed it from your battle with Naraku. I knew that this mutt was going to get you hurt," Koga said

" Who are you saying it's their fault, you mangy wolf!" Inuyasha yelled, his eyes flashing angrily.

" Inuyasha. Osuwari!" Kagome said and was rewarded with a satisfying thump as the power of the rosary beads around Inuyasha's neck glowed and caused him to crash face first to the ground.

" Thank you, my love!" Koga exclaimed and took a double take as Kagome turned her scornful gaze on him.

" Koga, go back to your tribe. There is no way I will marry you. I love some one else," Kagome said and turned away.

" Why you goddamn bitch," Koga said and just as he was about to strike her, his hand was caught. Turning to look, he saw Inuyasha holding his hand, the edges of his eyes turning red. With a sudden realization, Koga knew that the hanyou was turning into a full-blooded youkai.

" Leave her alone, wolf. And don't say that I didn't warn you," Inuyasha growled dangerously.

Gulping, the wolf demon backed down. Normally he wouldn't back down from any fight, but deep in his heart, he would never win against a hanyou turning youkai who was protecting what was his. With a snort of exasperation, he left.

" Inuyasha, stop it right now. Please," Kagome said and watched as Inuyasha's face slowly returned to normal. " As I was saying before I was interrupted, I wanted to tell you something. I wanted to say that I… I …"

" Well come on. A simple word isn't that hard to say," Inuyasha encouraged her.

" Well, I … I love you," Kagome said. There she had finally said it and felt some what relieved.

Inuyasha stared. He never knew if she felt the same way the way he did about her. His face reddened a bit and before he could check himself, he blurted out a response.

" I love you too, Kagome," He said and then he was being hugged. Responding, he hugged Kagome back. " We'll tell every body when you're better." Inuyasha said and lay down beside the one he had finally confessed his love to.

As the days passed, Kagome and Inuyasha became more trust worthy in their newfound relationship. They had decided to keep it a secret until they felt absolutely sure that the Shikon no Tama was safe. As far as they knew, the demons had been gathering far away, almost as if under the influence of a powerful being.

" Inuyasha, is it possible now that I've healed to go home to my time and not have you breathing down my back?" Kagome asked as she got up from her bed.

" I suppose so," Inuyasha said as he got up himself and held Kagome's waist. " Just bring back some ramen, will you?"

" Well, Inuyasha tonight is the new moon. You can come on over and stay for the night," Kagome said and grabbed her empty bag, heading out into the sun.

" Feh," Inuyasha said as he followed. He waited as Kagome got on her bike with some fear, but once she had started out, the hanyou followed her.

Shippou watched as Kagome and Inuyasha headed to the bone eaters well. Tonight was the new moon, that he knew. But what where they up to? Kagome hadn't told Inuyasha to sit in a couple of days. Usually, the hanyou was being so obnoxious that he earned more than one sit per day. Some thing was going on here.

Meanwhile, Sango sat with her brother. She had been so overjoyed when she saw Kohaku walking down the dirt road that she had been speechless, finally running to her brother whom she had thought she had lost. They shared their experiences since the day their village was attacked. They were preparing for a wedding. Miroku had confessed his love to Sango the night before and Sango had accepted, provided that he keep his hand off her butt when her brother was present. Kagome was going to buy a present for the both of them and give it to them when she returned.

Watching yet again from the cover of the trees, Nianniai trailed the couple as they headed to the well. Her plan was ridiculously simple. Wait for them to return and then attack, getting the shards back from the girl. But when they arrived at the well, she received a surprise.

Kagome stopped and looked at Inuyasha. Her eyes spoke many volumes as she took off the completed Shikon jewel from around her neck. She then placed them around Inuyasha's neck.

" Inuyasha, I want you to be happy. I just hope that your happiness will be with me," Kagome said, her words simple and clear.

Inuyasha stared at the pink orb of magic that he cupped in his hand. It would bring his deepest wish come true; all he had to do was make the right decision that would make him happy. With a sigh, he looked at her with such a longing that Kagome was half afraid that he would choose Kikyo instead of her.

" I choose to be with you," Was all he said and was engulfed with a warm feeling as the shards made his wish come true. Then he felt such an urge to make love with Kagome that he rushed forward and held her.

Kagome moaned with pleasure as Inuyasha nuzzled her neck. She ran her hands through his silky silver-white hair in response. He kissed her on the mouth as her hands took off the top of his hakama, her fingers scraping his neck, sending chills racing down his spine. She cried out his name as he entered and a burst of violent, yet intense and joyful feelings crawled through her body.

" This will sting, but don't worry; I'm proclaiming you as my mate," the hanyou said and sunk his fangs in the side of her neck. After that was over with, he cut himself and Kagome, mingling their blood. He wanted her to live longer than if she was just a normal mortal and doing it this way, he was insuring it.

After a couple of minutes, Kagome got up and dressed, fixing her hair in such a way so that no one would be any the wiser about their actions. Inuyasha put on his hakama, and when Kagome was ready, he grabbed her bike, grasped her hand and jumped down the well.

Nianniai backed away from the scene. Now that the jewel was gone, she had no way of becoming powerful, but at least she could use the spirits of both human and hanyou to make herself that bit stronger, Not all was lost in the world of magic.

Mrs. Higurashi cut the vegetables for the evening meal when Sota shouted out in glee. Looking out the window she saw Inuyasha and her daughter walk out of the well house and past the Goshinboku tree, where her son sat. Smiling, she kept an eye on the two as they closed the distance to the house. Something was a little strange though. Usually Inuyasha would be sulking, but this time, he had an arm around Kagome's shoulder. There was a good chance that something happened in the feudal era to bring them closer together.

" Mom!" Kagome said as she entered the house. She ran over and hugged her mother, smiling in delight. " We won. Naraku's dead!"

" That's great honey," Mrs. Higurashi replied and stole a glance over to Inuyasha. " And, is there anything new that I should know?"

" Well, yeah," Kagome said, exchanging a sly look with the hanyou behind her. He nodded. "Inuyasha chose to be with me! He loves me!" Kagome was almost shouting now.

Inuyasha smiled smugly at the look on Mrs. Higurashi's look on her face at the news. Now what was she supposed to do? Wait for her grandkids to come around? The hanyou was still smiling when jii-chan and Sota walked in. All it took was one look and they figured it out. They smiled and Sota ran to his sister, launching himself at her with arms outstretched, causing her to lose her balance and fall. Inuyasha caught them before they hit the ground. Keeping an arm around Kagome, he placed Sota on the ground.

Kagome was happy. At least the happiest that she had ever been since she had ever remembered. Looking deep in Inuyasha's golden eyes, she kissed him on the cheek, a quick peck. Then she walked out of the house, the hanyou following her. They sat under the Goshinboku tree. It was the same tree where Inuyasha had been sealed to for fifty years, over five hundred years ago by his dead girlfriend and Kaede's older sister, Kikyo, when Naraku had pitted them against each other by making it seem like Inuyasha was after the Shikon no Tama to become full demon. What he didn't know was that Inuyasha would be freed from the tree and hunting him.

Together, they watched the sun set.

Sota came out the moment before the ball of fire set. He stared in amazement when he saw Inuyasha transform. The dog-ears at the top of his head crawl down to the side of his head, where a normal human's would be. His eyes changed from his normal gold to a smoky violet. His claws retracted into normal human fingernails and the fangs in his mouth disappeared. Yes, he had seen the transformation before, but it never stopped amazing him.

" Sota, what's wrong?" Kagome asked, noticing her brother.

" Mom says that it's time to eat," Sota told them and left. He heard them get up and follow him.

Entering the house, they headed to the kitchen. There they sat down and ate, quietly. Later, when the food had been eaten, both Inuyasha and Kagome left, going to a store where they would pick up a wedding present for Miroku and Sango.

Before they left, Kagome had Inuyasha change into modern day clothes. Heading out, they hurried into a store, looking at anything they thought the newly weds would like to have. They finally decided on scented candles and a couple of very colourful rugs a couple of stores after.

After they had purchased the items, they left the store. They stopped and bought some ice cream from a vendor, and just as they were about to head home some one shouted out to Kagome. Turning around, they saw a small group of girls heading to them.

" Hi Eri! Hi every one. How are you?" Kagome asked her friends.

" We're fine. Hey, who's this? He's cute," Ayumi said.

" This is my… my boyfriend," Kagome said and received looks of envy. " His name is Inuyasha."

" We were going to a movie. Wanna come?" One of the girls asked.

" No, we have plans of our own. And if you see Hojo, don't tell him a thing, please. Not a thing," Kagome begged her friends, almost going as far as putting on a puppy-dog face for them.

They agreed not to say any thing to Hojo and then they headed off to go watch their movie. Walking slowly among the crowds, Inuyasha kept his hand on Kagome's shoulder as he carried the bags. They made sure to take their time, wanting to be together, to make up the time they lost when they were in the feudal era. It was extremely late, or early, around an hour away from morning when they sat down on a bench in the park. Inuyasha angled his head to be on top of Kagome's head and watched the sky, his arm still around her shoulder. They sat there for the better part of the hour remaining before the rising of the sun, watching the east change from black to a pink and orange, when a small gang directly approached them, their hands hidden under their coats. It was only until they took them out of hiding that Kagome stared in fear.

In the hands of the gang members were a various assortment of weapons.

Hai—yes

Hanyou—half demon

Miko—priestess

Hiraikotsu—Sango's weapon

Osuwari—sit