Kikyo waited patiently by the entryway to Kanna's temple and the lair of the gorgon Kagura, unable to do anything but wait for their return. If none of them returned, then none of it mattered anymore. Ryukoytsei and Naraku would bring about an age of darkness and despair, and no one would be safe from their tyranny. Her only hope... mankind's only hope... lay with Inuyasha.
Finally, however, she saw movement by the entrance, and a figure step out of the cave shadows. Inuyasha stood there, and hanging from his hand was a bag. From its size and shape, there was no need to guess what its contents could have been.
They had triumphed. The cost had been very high indeed, but they had triumphed. Kagura's head was theirs, and now, the salvation of Edo was at hand. Ryukoytsei's defeat was inevitable.
Kikyo breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled...
... seconds before a length of sharp metal erupted from her belly.
She gave a scream of agony as Inuyasha watched in horror, sprinting down the short distance to her.
"NO!" he yelled, rushing towards her.
As he did, he caught sight of something big and ugly rising up behind her. The monster who'd fought them back in the forest. The monster whose poisonous blood made for demonic scorpions. The wielder of the unholy blade of Naraku, Tokijin.
Takemaru, the fallen king.
With a mighty heave, one handed at that, he tossed Kikyo's limp form aside like she was a doll, drawing out his sword and raising it up, pointing it towards Inuyasha, his true target. He glared up at the hanyou as his hand tightened around the horrific sword-hilt piercing his arm with its tendrils. His other limb, the one where Bankotsu had cut off his hand, now sported a tri-pronged blade attached to the stump. A crude but undeniably lethal looking instrument.
"Now it's just you and me... son of Inutaisho," he growled.
Seeing Kikyo cut down so quickly and callously filled the golden-eyed hanyou with a terrible rage. With a mighty roar, Inuyasha threw down the bag and his shield and charged forward with sword alone, determined to reduce his enemy to so many bloody chunks. Takemaru knocked him aside with a mighty kick, sending him crashing into what remained of his comrades gear. Not intent to give the hanyou a chance to escape alive twice, Takemaru reared back his sword and slashed through the air. Inuyasha dodged the attack, rolling onto his back, but Takemaru relentlessly continued to try and dice him into little pieces. Inuyasha parried one such blow from the tri-pronged wrist-blade, but a twist of the metal snapped his own sword in two. Now clutching only the broken half of a sword, Inuyasha was rapidly running out of options on how to fight.
He replied with a low thrust that dug his broken sword into the bigger man's thigh. Growling, Inuyasha tried to bury his blade in there, if not pierce clean through the leg, but if he'd hope this would make Takemaru fall, he was sadly mistaken. The power of a mighty demon lord flowed through his body, giving him phenomenal strength. Tokijin pulsed in his hand, giving him the power to stand and ignore the pain of his injuries, and he lashed out with another kick, catching Inuyasha in the face and sending him tumbling away.
Inuyasha rolled to his feet, spitting out a tooth that had been knocked loose, his lips bloody as he charged again. He feinted with his sword, with Takemaru dodged, and swung a fist instead into the beast's face, hoping to repay the lost tooth. He may as well have been striking a cliffside. Takemaru growled, responding with a vicious punch from his sword arm, crashing it into Inuyasha's stomach and knocking the wind out of him. His sword clattered to the ground from nerveless hands as Takemaru impaled him with his pronged hand, tearing through Inuyasha's shoulder. With a mighty heave, the great brute sent the white-haired hanyou sailing through the air to crash into another stone cropping, tumbling to the ground...
... inches from the broken, battered, bent form of a familiar sword.
The Tetsusaiga, having somehow tumbled out of Bankotsu's pack in the fight.
Inuyasha stared at it in horrid fascination, looking over to Kikyo, who lay dying on the rocky ground nearby. Blood trickled from her pale lips, staining them red as she managed a small nod. Use it, she urged him. A gift from his father. It may yet counter the demonic weapon that Takemaru wielded.
Growling, Inuyasha lashed out a hand and grabbed the sword's hilt, feeling it pulsate in his grip. The blade instantly manifested its full demonic form, growing many times in size, becoming sharper and keener than any mortal blade, as Inuyasha reared it back in his hand. He swung hard, and Takemaru countered, the blades clashing against one another. But the sheer force of Inuyasha's blow knocked Takemaru clean off his feet, tumbling back over hard rocks. Now purely on the defensive, the great brute ducked and dodged, not wishing to let their blades come into contact again, as Inuyasha pressed his assault. Swinging like a wild man, Inuyasha attacked with the Tetsusaiga so fast it seemed to cut through the very air itself.
But this new weapon did not ensure victory. Takemaru kept up with quick jabs of his other arm, the blade holding off or deflecting Inuyasha's demon powered sword so he could continue with strikes from his own wicked weapon. Tokijin proved to be almost as powerful as the Tetsusaiga, and may have been faster besides. The superior weapon would not determine the winner of this battle.
It would come down to strength, skill, and willpower.
Inuyasha drove the fallen king right to the edge of the water, to a small rock outcropping. Determined to end this fight once and for all, the white-haired hanyou grabbed his blade with both hands, lifting it up and giving a mighty yell. He struck with all of his strength as Takemaru did the same. The Tetsusaiga and Tokijin collided in mid-air... and the blade of Naraku shattered as Inuyasha's fang tore through it in a downward sweep, then thrust forward to bury itself in Takemaru's breast, right through his blackened heart. As the blade buried deeper in his body, the divine power washed over Takemaru, washing away the foul taint of Naraku's influence and restoring the man he'd once been. The blackened hilt of his own wicked weapon released its grip on his wrist, the tendrils dissolving into smoke as it clattered to the ground.
Finally himself again, Takemaru gazed up in horror at Inuyasha, who bore down on the blade with all of his strength. But his rage vanished like mist in the morning sun as he beheld the man behind the brutish aura. The real Takemaru, so long lost in his own pain.
"Inuyasha...! Don't... become like them..." he gasped out with his dying breath.
His final words said, Takemaru stumbled backwards, falling off the rocky outcropping and into the murky water below, sliding off the Tetsusaiga in the process. His body swiftly vanished beneath the brackish waters, vanishing from sight moments later.
For his part, Inuyasha could not have been more stunned if the final blow had been through his chest. He finally realized just who it was he had slain, piecing the puzzle together with his final words. That had been King Takemaru, his mother's husband. In many ways, another father of Inuyasha's. And he'd just died by Inuyasha's own hand. No, he decided. Naraku was to blame. That was his demonic aura surrounding Takemaru. And the sword Tokijin. Swiftly Inuyasha kicked the broken hilt into the water with its former wielder. Naraku would be the one to pay for this. All of it.
Quickly remembering more important matters, Inuyasha sprang through the air, dropping the Tetsusaiga in the process, and bounding over to Kikyo's side. He was there seconds, easing her onto her back and into his arms.
"I'm here," he said quickly, having no clue what to do. He had no knowledge of medicine, and the wound looked uncomfortably mortal. "I'm here."
"There is no time," she said, oddly serene as she seemed to grow still paler, all the color leeching out of her features. "The eclipse..."
Following her gaze skyward, Inuyasha saw indeed the moon was starting to make its way gradually in front of the sun, obscuring the light. Edo's ten days were up. The doom foretold by the Lord of the Underworld was about to come to pass. Ryukoytsei was going to rise in a matter of hours.
"Inuyasha, you must go before it's too late," she insisted.
He shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere," he protested.
She favored him with a small smile, even as more color faded from her cheeks. "My fate is certain, but the fate of Edo is still in your hands."
"All my life, you've been there. You've never left me. I'm not leaving you now," he declared, ignoring the stinging in his eyes. "I can't lose you too."
Kikyo reached out a cold hand, softly resting it against his cheek. "This part of the journey you must do alone."
I never wanted to take part in any stupid journey, he thought. I just wanted to avenge my family. I don't want to be alone again. His eyes squeezed tightly shut as tears streamed down his dirty cheeks.
His turmoil must have been plain as the nose on his face, for Kikyo intoned gently, "Inuyasha... son of Izayoi... you are not just part human, and part demon... you're the best of both. For that is what a hanyou is. Everything will be all right."
"How do you know?"
"I just do," she said, her voice growing ever softer. "Everything will be all right."
As Inuyasha watched, Kikyo's eyes closed and she breathed out slowly. And in doing so, her material form faded into light. Blinking in astonishment, Inuyasha could only watch as a number of wispy white spirits floated away in place of Kikyo, the final remnants of her soul drifting off towards the afterlife. It was beautiful, yet sorrowful. Yet his sadness quickly faded as he reminded himself this had likely been what she'd been seeking her entire life. A way to find peace. A closure to her long, sorrowful existence.
Sighing, he dried his tears, determined to mourn Kikyo properly once all was said and done. But for now, he would honor her memory, and finish what they'd started.
By slaying Ryukoytsei.
Unfortunately, his task was easier said than done. He had no allies left to call on, no guide to figure out the way back to Edo, he no longer even had a bribe for the ferryman to take him back across the river. He dare not chance swimming for it, even a hanyou could die in those waters, he suspected. He was trapped. As surely and thoroughly as if he'd been locked in a cell on the other end of the world.
Or so it seemed.
As the eclipse began, and the light grew dimmer still as darkness encroached, a shape flitted across the sky, coming to land on the shoreside beside Inuyasha. Blinking golden eyes in surprise, Inuyasha lifted his head as he saw what it was, having all but forgotten about her. But here she was, back in the very nick of time. A means of reaching Edo soon, perhaps within the hour.
Kirara, the Great Demon Cat.
Landing on the rocky beach, the great beast growled in greeting at Inuyasha, who timidly approached the mighty demon cat. She watched him with eyes far too wise for any simple animal. They were the eyes of a wise soul, who had lived a love life and seen many things. Oh but if they could speak of such things, but time was wasting. Remembering how Kikyo had tamed Kirara back in the forest, Inuyasha tentatively stroked it under the chin. Kirara purred, evidently pleased, and then lowered itself onto the ground. As clear an invitation as any to mount up.
He wasted no time, grabbing up his sword, shouldering the bag with Kagura's head, and mounting the demon cat. Kirara gave a mighty roar as her paws and tail burst into flame, and she leapt into the air, carrying the hanyou into the sky. In mere moments they'd crossed the river of death and were on their way. Kirara raced the wind itself all the way back to Edo, and Inuyasha held on grimly, anxious to be there.
Just a little longer, he promised.
The moon slid across the sun until all the land was lit by the black light of the eclipse. As prophesized, ten days had passed since the declarations of war. Ten days since the Lord of the Underworld had sealed Edo's fate. The appointed time had come. Sacrifice or destruction, the choice was now in their hands. In their seats in the Heavens, the demon lords watched as the light faded and darkness reigned. Many nervously cast their glances left and right to their fellows, wondering if they all shared the same growing sense od read.
None watched the coming eclipse more closely than Inutaisho, who stood at the very center of them, gazing down at the image of Edo. He did care for humans, he could not help himself. He loved them, wanted to see them safe, and strong. But they had defied him and his rule for long enough, and a punishment was needed.
Naraku's bone armor materialized out of the darkness by his left hand, as Choro stepped up by his right, the old Sea Wolf looking leery of the presence of their youngest sibling, but accepting his necessity in being there.
"Brother..." said Naraku, his voice slick as oil. "It is time for the mortals to pay. My unholy child awaits the command. To do your will."
Inutaisho nodded. It had come down to this, but there need be no more eyes to watch the tragedy to unfold than necessary. "Leave us," he commanded, addressing the lesser demon lords.
One by one they departed, flapping great wings or dematerializing in a column of light, vanishing back to their respective domains. Tekke, Hiten, Manten, Midoriko... even the Queen of the Demon Lords dipped her head and departed in a swirl of silver at her husbands request. Choro was the last to go, nodding his head to his brothers as a crest of water engulfed him and spirited him off to his watery domain. The Heavens were far bigger than any human could possibly comprehend, but for the moment, this centermost council chambers where the King held court, was empty of all save two. Inutaisho stepped up to his throne, eyeing the marble seat disdainfully, and then turned back to regard Naraku. His younger brother was ready, even eager, to begin the destruction of Edo.
A necessary evil, for a greater good.
"Release... Ryukoytsei!" Inutaisho decreed, his powerful voice echoing throughout the Heavens. Demons of all shapes and sizes cowered in fear at his proclamation.
Doom was upon them all.
Deep below the oceans waves, in the darkest depths of the watery abyss, the ground was split by a mighty force. Cracked asunder by the will of Naraku as he called to his beloved child, Ryukoytsei, the destroyer. Doom was indeed upon them all.
At the exact same moment, in Edo, the high priest and his flock had finished their arrangements, preparing to make their sacrifice. The black sun cast a gloomy light on them as the rumbling began, far off in the distance, yet heard even this far away. There could be no mistaking what it signified.
The hour of judgement was upon them.
"Ryukoytsei comes now!" the priest proclaimed. "Our suffering ends when the beast is sated! Will it take us? Or will it take... THE PRINCESS?!"
The answer was a resounding chorus of cries for the princess, as if there would be any doubt. Kagome could hear them all the way back at the palace as she watched in dawning horror. Not only for her own life, precious though it was to her, but for her fellows. They'd become little more than frightened beasts.
"It's my name they are calling," she whispered, more to herself than to faithful Rin, always at her side. "This cannot go on."
She did not need to look down to see the gates to the palace fall as the citizens tore them from their hinges, knocking down the number of guards in their way. The will of the people was stronger than the rulers this day, as they stormed the palace, driven on by fear and madness. But Kagome refused to allow anyone else to die on her behalf. She had made her decision.
The angry mob of peasants and commoners recoiled briefly when they saw Kagome stepping down the final staircase herself, moving to meet them with a grace and dignity that left them momentarily humbled. She felt no hatred for them. Only pity.
Her show of dignity in the face of certain death did not sway them, however, the mad priest himself took her hand and guided her along to her sacrifice, howling the entire way, shouting praises to the demon lords until it seemed like his throat would become bloody and torn.
I should be so lucky, Kagome thought, tired of his prattling.
They arrived with little time to spare. Already the outermost sentries had spotted the rising swells in the ocean as Ryukoytsei drew nearer, his engorged form slithering under the water, the waves caused by his passing smashing against the docks. Thunder boomed overhead as the skies grew dark with heavy clouds. The priest and his congregation of zealots wasted no time in shackling Kagome to a raised wooden platform, the highest and easily reached position in all the city.
"NARAKU!" hollered the priest. "We sacrifice our princess in your hallowed name. Her blood is yours to claim! Take her! Spare us, dark liege! Spare us, Lord of the Underworld!"
Kagome watched in growing horror as a shape began to rise up in the bay before Edo, a dark, writhing shape. Despite her hope of meeting her end with calm, she felt a scream welling its well up her throat.
"It comes, brothers and sisters! IT COMES!" proclaimed the priest. He sounded almost rapturous.
Ryukoytsei began to rise from the waves, and even these simple, small movements from so titanic a creature caused countless hundreds to die as devastation washed over Edo.
Authors Notes:
Included a cameo by Sesshoumaru's mother as Hera, primarily to fill time. As well as some of the other prominent demons of Inuyasha's era as the demon lord/gods of this story.
