Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha.

-----"Sesshomaru," Naraku intoned huskily. "You are here to fight me?"

But Sesshomaru was making a beeline for his father's tomb, angered by the hole there where the others were standing. Defilers. He spotted his brother, Inuyasha. Fueled with fury, he didn't even look at Naraku.

He looks so angry, thought Kikyou.

As he landed among the bones and rubble, he sent Inuyasha reeling with a punch that contained all of his hatred.

Rubbing his cheek and looking quite pitiful, Inuyasha questioned his older brother angrily. "What's your problem?"

Inuyasha, Kikyou thought fretfully. She only heard about Sesshomaru for the most part, and only met him a few times. And that was usually just passing by.

She remembered saving the girl named Rin from the Schichinintai. The girl had thanked her and ran off with the demon Lord. Such strange choices we mortals make, Kikyou mused. Sesshomaru was a cold man indeed.

"Worthless hanyou," boomed the demon Lord. "Defacing our father's tomb." Without another word, Sesshomaru flew towards Naraku.

"Are you okay?" Kagome ran over to Inuyasha.

"I'm fine Kagome," the hanyou stood himself up.

"Look, Sesshomaru's trying to fight Naraku!" Shippo pointed at the rock Naraku stood upon.

Naraku looked on smugly as every move the dog-demon tried failed, merely rippling his strong barrier. His sword and whip and poison claws ceased to make a dent in it.

Sesshomaru furrowed his brows. This angers me. He floated midair for a while, trying to decide what to do. His eyes flickered once more towards his father's tomb. Inuyasha-tachi was there as usual, including Inuyasha's mortal woman, Kagome. However, the miko that Naraku had killed a while back was also there. That Kikyou person.

She should have died in that miasma, he remembered. And she saved Rin at that one time. I am in her debt for that.

-----"Cut open my body, Inuyasha," the weak voice of Housenki instructed.

Inuyasha looked as confused as the others felt, and was seriously wounded.

"Open my body with your sword, and Tetsusaiga will have new power."

"The power of kongoseki?" Inuyasha said quickly. "I want it."

"However," the creature continued, "if you fail, you will die."

Inuyasha laughed. "I won't fail."

Inuyasha, Kagome thought. "Don't do it!" She yelled.

Kikyou could hardly contain herself. This little fool, she fumed. This interfering girl. Will she ever give up and let Inuyasha fulfill his destinies?

"I accept," the silver-haired hanyou said, ignoring Kagome. He tried to slice through Housenki, but the diamond-like substance was so hard that he didn't make a dent. To make matters worse, bits of the kongouseki flew at him, wounding him.

Will I die here? Inuyasha thought bitterly. He glanced at Kagome, who looked close to tears. The others looked on frightfully. The hanyou stole a glance at Kikyou. The miko met his eyes forcefully, reminding him of another time long ago. Kikyou… His mind raced. I will do this for you.

-----"I will let you cut me, demon." Naraku extended tentacles out towards Sesshomaru. The Lord of the Western Lands quickly sliced through them, releasing much miasma.

The miasma covered the tomb, and soon Kagome began pulling out arrows to purify it. She looked spitefully at Kikyou. "Won't you help?"

Kikyou met her eyes. "My arrows serve a much more noble purpose."

"Nobler than saving our lives? Inuyasha's life?" Kagome spat, realizing she had only one arrow left. Reaching for it, hot electricity crackled through her hand and arm. Kikyou's arrow… It's rejecting me. The girl thought worriedly. "Kikyou! Won't you please help?"

"Stand aside," the miko ordered. Kagome shrank back.

"What is she going to do?" Sango whispered to Miroku.

"Kikyou-sama knows what she's doing," he answered semi-confidently. "I think."

"Inuyasha," Kikyou said. "Show Housenki your true strength."

"My true strength?" Inuyasha questioned as another flood of miasma entered the tomb. Her eyes, they are penetrating me. He turned to Naraku, ignoring Housenki for the moment. If I don't do something, everyone will die.

"What's the matter, Inuyasha?" Housenki taunted. "Not strong enough to receive my true power?"

"Shut up!" The hanyou yelled. "How strong can I really be if I let my friends die?" Then what Kikyou had said dawned on him. Show him… My true strength.

Yes, Inuyasha, Kikyou's heart leaped.

Although he knew it was useless, Inuyasha sent a Kaze No Kizu ripping through Naraku. Of course, it didn't make a dent. But this time, everyone gazed in shock at the barrier. It was surrounded by kongouseki.

"Your sword!" Shippo pointed, drawing attention to Tetsusaiga, which was now covered in the slivers of diamonds as well.

Housenki spoke. "If you would have continued fighting, you would have died. But protecting your friends is your true strength, and the one reason Tetsusaiga was made. You have inherited Kongousouha." With that, his body cracked in half.

"Kikyou," Inuyasha limped over to her. "Thank you."

Kikyou leaned over, inspecting his wounds and holding his back with her hand.

To be with Kikyou always felt so good, he thought. "Kikyou, you've always supported me."

"That is what I'll always do," Kikyou said, and smiled; a rare sight that delighted Inuyasha. He held her in his arms. "Oh!" she gasped, surprised.

Kagome flushed, enraged.

"Please, Inuyasha," Kikyou whispered. "Let us celebrate this small victory when Naraku has been defeated."

"There isn't going to be any celebration!" Kagome shouted furiously. "What do you think you're doing, Inuyasha! Come fight Naraku and get your hands off Kikyou for crying out loud!"

Realizing what he was doing, the hanyou blushed and awkwardly stepped away from Kikyou.

"All right, Naraku! You're going down!"