A/N: Manga spoilers for chapters 376 and 530s. Inspired by a piece on Deviant Art entitled "Regret -- 20K Kiriban."
Renewal
His breath came in almost raggedly for the first time in centuries, since his father used to spar with him as a boy. Doubled over, Sesshomaru dry heaved.
Naraku, you craven wretch.
Claws clutching Bakusaiga's hilt, the daiyokai ordered his body to control compose itself. Perhaps now that he was in Naraku's slimy core, the coward would reveal himself and fight head on.
Perhaps Inuyasha would become a full demon, too.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. He'd become light-headed enough to jest – not good.
Suddenly, from the pitch darkness emerged a figure, the shadows sliding off his form.
"At last you've come." The Explosive Fang was deftly drawn with a muted snik – then it was stabbed uselessly into the ground. Sesshomaru's lips quivered and his silted pupils dilated with haunted recognition at those crimson eyes, that musky scent. He choked out the name, his only coherent thought.
"Kagura."
The wind witch zipped out her trademark fan, scarlet gaze gleaming proudly just as it used to. "Miss me?"
Sesshomaru stood, never realizing he'd crashed to his knees. "It is impossible for you to be here." His voice betrayed nothing.
"Are you so sure?"
"You weren't kept trapped in Naraku. You were smiling. I saw you freed. I – "
"You didn't use Tenseiga. For all you know, my father reabsorbed me." She reached out a hand and as much as he hated to, Sesshomaru flinched. "After all, I am merely an extension of Naraku – a ghost, a child, a shade, a sliver."
Long talons moved forward as if for a caress. "Kagura…"
"Poor fool."
"This," Sesshomaru sighed, "IS AN ILLUSION!!"
The kaze yokai's form was shredded with a single swipe.
No, the image evaporated.
Bakusaiga was sheathed next to its companion blade, the sword that because of its ineffectiveness had freed a soul. Sesshomaru dashed off with strength anew. Naraku was breathing his last.