Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Always

-8-


Miroku, Sango and Kaede watched Sesshomaru and Kagura disappear into the red sky, listening to the slow wind in between the trees and the scraping sound of the bamboo flap swaying behind them.

"Do you believe it was a wise decision to give them our shards?"

"I stand by our choice Miroku," Kaede replied. "They are the only two demons powerful enough right now to stop Naraku."


It went very still before a short gust of wind came, pulling at Kanna's hair. The mirror in her hands released a faint light onto her porcelain skin. She sat, legs dangling over an old bent tree, its flowers the same startling white as her robe. When she took her eyes from the sunset and peered back into the glass it was no longer her reflection she saw, but a picture.

"Kagura..."


Kagura stood next to Sesshomaru, both unharmed. Hundreds of lifeless demon corpses lay around them, killed in minutes by a cutting wind and a crackling whip of light. The tall black gates of Naraku's castle stood without guard behind them. Sesshomaru stared passively at the entrance, it's dangers hidden in a heavy shadow while Kagura breathed in the stillness of the fortress and tasted the fresh blood on her tongue.

"He knows we are here."

"Then why has he not come to greet us?"

Kagura clenched her jaw and dug her nails into the smooth of her palm. "He is a coward," she said quietly. "No more games Naraku. Show yourself!"

It was silent. Then, the air shifted, slightly and Sesshomaru's hand hovered above the hilt of his sword. They watched as the shadow in the entrance seemed to melt and stretch and harden until a shape was formed. It detached itself and moved forward, gliding across the polished wood of the front steps. The remainder of the shadow spread out behind him like a thick blanket, before separating into five disfigured bodies. As the demon Naraku slid towards them, the minions threw themselves into the air. Sesshomaru and Kagura felt them more than heard them land on the dirt. They were surrounded, yet had their attention only on Naraku when he came to a graceful stop at the bottom of the steps.

He wore no disguises or costumes, only a deep blue kimono. His eyes were neutral as they observed the many dead around his castle. There was an indistinguishable flicker in them when passing over Sesshomaru before they returned to their normal blankness and settled on Kagura.

"You come with the intention of killing me Kagura. Perhaps you are not a complete fool for you do not come alone." He laughed then, a terrible sound that crawled along her skin. He turned to the demon beside her, his face suddenly serious. "Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western lands I have no quarrel with you. Leave now and I will spare your life."

"Save your mercies for a lesser demon. It is not my life you should be troubling yourself with."

There was a moment of silence while Naraku stared threateningly into his eyes. Sesshomaru had no intention of backing down. "So be it," he said softly before glancing at Kagura. "But you will fight alone."

Kagura dropped to one knee, swallowing a pained cry. She felt Naraku's cool fingers wrap around her heart and squeeze again, making her gasp and clench the dirt. Not enough force to kill her but enough to get his message across. He was toying with her.

Sesshomaru saw her fall from the corner of his eye but didn't take them off of Naraku. "What are you doing to her."

"She is mine." Naraku said, the hints of a smile playing on his face. "Her heart belongs to me, her life is in my hands. She will die if you go through with your ridiculous challenge."

The trees were painted black with night, their branches shuddering with the power of the demonic aura. Air hot, moon full, Kagura kneeled in the dirt. Sweat beaded on her skin as one of her hands came up to clutch at the kimono fabric above where her heart should have been.

"Naraku..." Kagura choked, "you bastard." She screamed not long after the words left her mouth and collapsed to the ground. The pain was overwhelming. She was beyond herself now, wanting death, but even more for the life of Naraku. "Kill him,"she whispered so quietly only Sesshomaru heard.

"You are a fool to think I am concerned with what happens to her," Sesshomaru said, drawing his sword. He pulled it back and dove forward taking Naraku off-guard.

She felt the hand around her heart release itself briskly. Naraku had lost his concentration with her. Kagura took a deep breath and nearly spat it back out. The air was thick with a boiling hot power. She slowly got to her feet feeling a rush in her head and a drowning relief of the pain in her chest. Her turned slowly to the sickening sound of Naraku's laughter.

Sesshomaru stood, scowling at the squishy, stinking pieces of the demon reforming itself. The ground shook with his next attack and Naraku's laughter was stifled by the rumbling of raw earth.

When the dust cleared and the wind stilled the courtyard was silent. He picked up Kagura's soft panting with his ears. Naraku could not be seen anywhere but his presence was still felt like a heavy hand pressing down on them.

Kagura had seen this done by Naraku before. "Below you!" she warned and Sesshomaru moved just in time. Two pale hands pushed from the dirt, clawing at his heels. They turned into arms, then a body until Naraku was before them again, clumps of earth falling from him in a small shower. He was smiling but Kagura knew better. Naraku bent his head low and Sesshomaru stiffened. When he raised his head again the skin on his body was bubbling, changing shape.

He was turning into his true form.

Sesshomaru took a step back and Kagura found the strength to run to him. He glanced at her, briefly, and tightened his hand on his weapon. "What is he doing?" He asked, his voice dripping with distaste.

"Defending himself against your attack has weakened him greatly. He no longer has the power to stay in human form."

Pieces of skin fell in plops off of Naraku's morphing body and he grew tall with tentacles spilling out underneath him. His skin going brown and sickly, his iris's black with red pupils.

"We need to end this now," she said, fan seeming to appear in her hand. She raised her arm above her, summoning the energy from inside her. Kagura closed her eyes and spread her power outwards, sweeping the earth. She was aware of every single body on the premises. She turned slowly, her hands swaying, arms moving with her feet , the beautiful silk fan. She drove her power into the bodies, giving them life, filling their minds with the sole purpose of doing her bidding. "Dance of the dead," she breathed and the bodies rose, picking up sword and spear to fight. A cold wind flowed out from her, fighting the hot night air. Sesshomaru couldn't help but watch in mild fascination. She was indeed powerful.

Naraku laughed then, gaining both of their attention. His voice stayed the same though his body was disfigured. The pale skin of his face and arms clashing strongly with the rest of him. "You hope to kill me with mere puppets of my own men?"

"No," Sesshomaru replied, straightening out his sword. "But they will be useful."

Naraku raised his arm and the five demons surrounding the pair jumped to his aid. They came from above, clawed hands tearing through the air towards them, blackened mouths opened wide baring yellow teeth.

"Whip of light," Sesshomaru said softly. A pale yellow strip of brightness curled from his index finger. He drew it back and it curved with the movement before lashing out violently at the demons. They flew backwards with the force, plummeting into the soft dirt floor of Naraku's courtyard. Sesshomaru slowly lowered his hand and turned his head away from their still bodies.

Naraku barred his teeth with frustration. With a loud grunt he clenched his palm so tightly it trembled, opened it and closed it again. Kagura felt his intentions and ran her fingers over the soft blue and white silk before tightening her grip on her fan.

"Perish." Naraku opened his palm again and the wind blew behind him, sending the wet smell of his slimy tentacles to his guests. The demonic aura around the castle went heavy, almost palpable. Sesshomaru's sensitive ears picked up the first sounds of pained cries and savage growls filling the evening air, riding on the summer heat.

A black cloud of demons rushed towards them with the sole intent of killing them.

Sesshomaru raised his sword to fight; Kagura spun toward him. "No need," she said and turned to face hundreds of snarling faces.

"What?"

"Destroy them," she commanded firmly and with a slight movement of her arm the dance of the dead began. Thousands of lesser demons met Naraku's dead soldiers in a loud clash. All around them a battle raged, angry and violent, the force of screams and swords slashing sent the air about them moving at a much faster pace.

"We end this now Sesshomaru," Kagura spoke, her voice powerful over the chaos surrounding them. Sesshomaru nodded, Keeping his eyes on a yellowish creature coming in behind her. She glanced at it briefly but the second she faced Naraku again, a man in armor slit its slippery throat. His dead eyes passed over Sesshomaru before he stepped back into the wall of bodies.

Naraku's eyes narrowed on them and he found himself furious. He took a mighty step towards them and the earth shuddered. Looking down upon them, he let his power rush through him, fill him. He welcomed the evil of Onigumeau, let it flow through his veins and numb his blackened heart. He lashed out one of his arms just to have it slashed off by Sesshomaru's weapon. The Dog Youkai began his advance. Naraku tried again to stop him but Sesshomaru was just getting closer.

He remembered Kagura and found her coming up behind him. Looking at Sesshomaru he spoke, in a last desperate attempt to keep breathing.

"If I die, so shall Kagura. Her heart beats within my body."

"I am more than willing to risk it," she reminded him, her velvety voice wrapping around his morphed body in a chilling caress. "I hope wherever your soul goes, suffering will follow."

Sesshomaru and Kagura looked past Naraku's bubbling corpse and pale face to each other. Their understanding in that moment was perfect. A deep breath, a shaking sigh and both powers were mercilessly unleashed upon the demon.


"Throw it higher Souta, I'm not as short as you!" Kagome laughed and passed the bright blue ball back to her brother so he could try again.

"Alright, Alright," Souta agreed. "It's not my height, you're just a bad catcher," he added as he threw it back. He couldn't help but laugh when she missed it again.

"I'll admit the sun is in my eyes..."

Kagome squinted into the summer sky. Not a cloud was in sight this afternoon and the Higurashi shrine was peaceful in its quiet. She didn't put up much of a fight when she was asked to get some fresh air. He mother insisted it would be good for her. She turned her attention back on Souta, his dark brown hair blew in front of his eyes with the breeze. She smiled wickedly before throwing it as hard as she could toward him. "Try that," she said watching Souta wince and turn his body away from the ball coming fast his way, a smile on his face.

Something strange happened then.

The ball paused in mid air for a couple seconds in between Souta and Kagome before throwing itself into the well house and floating above the wooden planks covering the well. They watched in disbelief as it tore through the wood to hit the sandy bottom with a low thump. The sutras their grandfather had placed over the entrance were immediately turned to ash.

"Did you..."

"Yeah I saw that," Souta whispered, clearly freaked. "I'll go get gramps."

"No need," Kagome said, already on her way towards the well house. "I'll check it out."

"I don't think that's such a great idea," Souta said slowly, "he said-"

"Oh come on Souta, don't be such a wuss." And that was the last thing he heard before she disappeared inside the small hut.

It was much darker in there than it was outside and it smelt of dust and dry wood. She descended the steps carefully, not taking her eyes from the well. She circled it, walking slow, observing the small hole in the planks the ball had made. She tried to peek through it but it was too dark.

She took a steady breath and one last glimpse of the trees and sky through the door before she began to rip the wood covering up the entrance. She touched a burnt seal and rubbed her fingers together, smearing black. Whatever this was, it was strong enough to burn through her grandfathers seals. They aren't that powerful anyway, she reminded herself and it made her feel less afraid.

She was covered in a light sweat after removing all of the planks, the heat making it even more tedious. She saw the sheen of the ball when she looked down over the rim into the blackness, and then, before she could begin to doubt herself, Kagome jumped inside.


"Do you feel hunger Inuyasha?" she asked in a sweet voice.

"I would rather starve than eat anything with you."

Kikyo's face hardened and she clasped the gold arm of her throne harder. "You would rather die than dine with me?"

"For sure. I would die a thousand times if it meant escaping this prison."

She smiled to herself and eased back into her seat, letting go of the throne and hanging one arm carelessly over the side. "Surely you do not mean that, Inuyasha." She began to drum her fingers over the menacing carving of a dragon's head her hand rested on. "I am everything you desire. I am everything you will ever need," she said softly.

Inuyasha turned to her, the thick black silk of his clothes dragging on the floor. He took two steps towards her and let his eyes take her in.

She had pale, smooth skin that was striking against the long, straight black hair that cascaded down to her knees when she was seated. Her robes were breathtaking- a deep crimson with shining embroidery snaking up both sides. A thin gold cord trimmed the bottom just like his own. This was Kikyo-the woman who would pretend not to notice him following her in curiosity when snow caked on rooftops and flakes danced in the winter air. He would watch her picking wheat in the field behind Yamanako's farm when the sun beat down against the long grass and left her sweating in the heat. This was the woman he was happy just to be around, who would let him sit with her under the stars and smile when they crossed paths in the forest. He watched her red lips turn up into an arrogant smirk at his eyes on her and knew in his heart that things had changed. This was Kikyo. This was the woman who was stunningly beautiful, dangerous, violent and cruel.

"I don't want anything to do with you."

"Your hostility towards me will get you nowhere!" she yelled, her anger flaring from her like a long cape. The four torches at the corners of the room flickered with her fury when she stood. "You are unappreciative of everything I do for you! I give you the finest robes. I offer you the most nectarous of foods and the most alluring of women."

She began advancing toward him, her voice reverberated through the room, bouncing off the murals on the high ceiling and scraping on the gleaming floors. Inuyasha resisted the urge to cover his ears. She stopped just in front of him, his pride not allowing him to back away. He looked at her defiantly, right in the soft brown of her eyes as she slowly brought her hand up to his face, caressing his cheek with her thumb.

"I love you. You are only making it harder for yourself when you refuse to let me in." she ran her hand from his face down to his hip, wrapping her fingers around the cloth. She yanked him closer to her, ignoring his grunt of protest, and whispered against his cheek, "Your life is here with me now."

"You know...Kikyo," Inuyasha said, gently taking her hand from his body and stepping back. "you can't force someone to love you back."

"Are you so sure? Perhaps you resist me so because your heart still beats in the pit of hell?"

Inuyasha felt a tightening in his chest.

"If I kill you, you will be forced to love me. There is no way you would be able to return to the realm of the living."

He tensed and put his hands up defensively. "Are you challenging me to a fight?" he asked, laughter in his voice.

"I've killed you once already," she replied. "And besides, down here," Kikyo smiled and it wasn't genuine. "The odds are very much against you."

The two double doors behind him burst open, sending the lost souls of the dead swarming into the room. The sight of them sent cold chills through his body and their cries of pain and devastation were gut wrenching. "What is this?" Inuyasha said, unable to keep the quiver from his voice while staring into solid gray eyes that could no longer see and wide, black mouths that spoke only of misery.

"They can hear your heart beating beneath your skin. They can smell the fresh blood flowing through your veins..." she tilted her chin up condescendingly and her eyes flickered, a mix of sadness and anger coming across her face before she turned her back on him. "I have given them permission to do as they wish with your worldly body, but to leave your soul..." The corner of her mouth went up slightly although she wasn't facing Inuyasha. "...for that belongs to me."

'I can't die down here...then I can never go back to-' "Damn you," he said out loud as the mob of lost souls began its advance toward him. "Is this what you want Kikyo? For me to suffer just like you?"

He watched her in confusion after she turned around to face him, tears coming from the corners of both eyes, pressing her lips together to keep them from trembling. He knew in that moment that his life was truly in her hands, and if she wanted to, she could take it all away. She smiled sadly at him and said, "yes."


-End chapter 8-