Chapter Eight:

"First Final Battle: Part II, Kagome's Downfall"

"I cannot forgive my friends for dying; I do not find these vanishing acts of theirs at all amusing."-Logan Pearsall Smith

Falling Down…

Kagome raced through the brush as if hell-hounds were chasing after her.

She knew she should have used the sword to cut the bothersome branches and leaves that hindered her escape, but she was more worried about getting away from Naraku and finding her friends. Besides, she was finding it difficult to carry Shippo and manage the sword at the same time.

She was unconcerned with the scratches she received from running too quickly past outward hanging leaves and tree branches. Her arms were full and she couldn't properly push the low-hanging branches out of the way, so she settled for propelling herself through them. The profuse thicket of tropical shrubs, vines, and small trees growing served as temporary blockades to be ran into and stumbled over.

:: I wish I could see better in the dark like InuYasha and Sesshoumaru.

The light-blocking canopy of the forest had rendered everything beneath it seemingly invisible to the eye.

Kagome started to become teary-eyed, as she continued to crash into things unknown. She didn't want to cry, because she didn't want to further worry little Shippo; who had become increasingly quiet.

He must have sensed Kagome's fear and didn't want to say or do anything that might cause her more distress.

Her breathing was so heavy, that her lungs felt as if they were on fire. It was as if her heart couldn't pump enough oxygenated blood through her body, for her to breathe properly. She was worried sick over her friends and mental images of what they must be suffering through, almost made her stop and throw up in some nearby bushes.

She knew that she needed to get help and she hoped that she could find her friends alive and well. Just then, as Kagome was running, a vine caught her up and she tripped.

Kagome hit the forest floor with such velocity, that she felt as if the very wind had been knocked out of her. Her fall had caused the sword to fall from her grasp and land a few feet away from her. Her impact with the ground had also caused her to forcefully bump heads with Shippo and knock him unconscious.

Gasping for her breath and slightly gagging off the dirt that had gotten into her mouth; she slowly turned over onto her back, as she waited for her aches to dissipate. She made sure to check Shippo for injuries first. Seeing none, she laid his unconscious form off to the side to further protect him from her clumsiness.

Kagome felt the need to move slowly, for fear of fracturing something on her already bruised body.

Taking a moment to close her eyes and mentally demand that her pain go away, she finally looked down to see what she had tripped over. To her surprise, it was vines that had been tightly coaled around her ankles that had been her downfall.

Kagome was barely able to sit up, as she reached down to untangle the vines from her feet.

As Kagome tried to untangle the vines at her feet, they seemed to tangle themselves further into tighter knots. Soon, Kagome was crying out in pain, as the vines tightened around her ankles. Kagome was scared and she didn't understand why the vines wouldn't come undone. The more she struggled with her frantic kicking, the tighter the knots became.

Kagome turned around to see if she could reach the sword, but it seemed to lay lifeless and still from her furthest reaches. She knew that if she could just reach the sword, she could cut herself loose.

Kagome tried to compel the sword to come to her, but it didn't respond. She was unsure why it would react to her one minute and then be lifeless in the next moment.

In her struggle, Kagome didn't notice the vines creeping from nearby trees and the forest floor to surround her legs entirely. She pulled and yanked at the offending vines, but they continued up her torso, until they had her arms pinned to her side.

Unable to move, Kagome watched in horror, as the vines lifted her up and pinned her against a tree behind her.

Kagome continued to breathe heavily as she looked around for what could be causing this disturbance of the vines. Tired and aching, she did the only thing she could, and she began to scream out for help. She screamed with all the power in her lungs and called out for InuYasha, Sesshoumaru, Miroku, Sango and anyone else that could help her.

Kagome screamed until she had nothing left in her, and it was then, that the vines crept up and cover her mouth so that she couldn't scream anymore.

"That was quiet a scream…You must be Kagome."

Startled even further, Kagome looked toward the figure that had spoken. He had appeared out of the darkness of the forest and now stood in front of her.

This demon standing before her looked a lot like Naraku, except for the fact that his hair was in a ponytail high above his head and he had no amour. Instead, he wore a fashionable silk haori and hakama, like the lords in Sesshoumaru's court would wear.

Kagome mumbled behind the vines, to alert the newcomer that she wanted to speak, but the vines remained covered over her mouth.

"I know that you wish to speak, and you probably have a lot to say…you know, worthless threats and all, but we have little time for that. So, you'll have to excuse me if I prefer your silence."

:: Kagome thought, "This arrogant ass!"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mugen no Byakuya, ninth son and servant of Naraku, and you…are in my forest."

Kagome's eyes grew wide. So this was Naraku's latest incarnation and from the looks of it, he was stronger than all the previous ones.

"I hope you and your friends have enjoyed my illusions…and by the looks of it, my barrier didn't give you too much trouble."

Kagome looked to her right and silently implored the sword to come to her aid, but nothing happened.

Looking over to the sword that the girl seemed concerned with that lay lifeless in the grass, Byakuya commented, "That sword would do you no good against me. Even if you could loosen yourself from my vines, you can not strike me with that sword…"

:: Kagome thought, "You just give me a chance and I would slice you through!"

"I am the master of illusions and if I so choose, my body can be as immaterial as my illusions or I can choose to make my body of substance."

:: "That's why he's so powerful…He can choose his own existence!"

"I must confess, Naraku made it seem like you all were quiet formidable, but it looks like he greatly exaggerated your abilities."

He continued, "He even had the audacity to suggest that you might actually be troublesome for me."

:: How about you say that to me when I'm not tied up, you jackass?!

Smirking, he continued, "Your eyes are very expressive priestess and I can feel your anger radiating off of you…It's not as pleasant as your fear, but I know your fear will return when you understand that your friends won't be coming to save you."

Kagome's heart began to speed up.

She knew that she was in a terrible situation and she was afraid for herself and she was afraid for her little Shippo, who still laid unconscious on the ground.

Byakuya saw Kagome worriedly glance toward the little kitsune and he figured out what she was thinking.

"I know you worry for the kitsune, but I will grant you this…consider it a final concession on behalf of Naraku…"

:: What is he talking about? I will KILL him if he harms a hair on Shippo's little head!

"Your 'pup' will be spared. Not for any kindness on Naraku's part, but mostly because he is of no use to us. Also, your death and the death of your beloved friends will foster a great sadness in him for the remainder of his life…and that will be entertaining to watch."

Kagome began to scream in her head. The sound of her mumbling grew. Her eyes darted back and forth from Shippo to Byakuya and she saw the confidence in his eyes. He was fully assured in the things he spoke and Kagome had that sinking feeling return to the pit of her stomach.

Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Kagome began to cry. She cried salty tears of pain on anguish. Her body was hurt and bruised, but it was the pain of losing her friends that had become her family, that made her cry.

"See, I told you the fear would be back."

Byakuya saw the girl's emotion-filled tears, but he was unmoved. It was not his place to feel for the girl or her companions. He had a task to complete for Naraku and that was what he intended to do.

The girls head was bowed and she continued to silently cry.

"It's unfortunate that our time together is to be so short, but I must get back…"

Kagome looked at him angrily.

"First things first…"

And with that, Byakuya took some jewel shards out of the folds of his haori and presented them to Kagome.

Kagome looked shocked at what she saw.

:: Are these Naraku's jewel shards? Did Byakuya steal them from him?

"I need you to fuse Naraku's jewel shards with the almost complete jewel shard you have, so it can be whole again…"

:: Kagome just looked at him and thought, "Now why would I do ANYTHING to help you!"

Unfortunately for Kagome, the remaining jewel shards recognized the almost whole jewel hidden beneath her uniform, and the shards within Byakuya's hands disappeared.

This made him smile.

The jewel shards that disappeared from Byakuya's hands combined with the almost whole shard that Kagome possessed, creating a great light that emanated from beneath Kagome's uniform where her jewel shards lay.

The light was so luminous, that it blinded everything. The brightness caused Kagome to close her eyes so tight, that she thought that she could still see the light from the jewel, under the closed lids of her eyes.

Then a rippling of power surged from the complete Shikon no Tama beneath Kagome's uniform and sent a wave of energy pushing away anything in its path.

This glorious and powerful light energy and waves of power signified that the jewel was whole once again.

:: I hope that my friends saw that light, so they can come to my rescue…

Byakuya seemed remotely unscathed by the jewel's "light" showing of power.

Instead, he stepped closer to Kagome and he saw that she leaned her head back into the tree to get a better to look at him. Her once saddened and teary-eyed expression had been replaced with a calm acceptance and fierce determination.

It was as if her expression said, "You may take the jewel shards, but you won't destroy us! I will find a way to get them back and we WILL destroy you!"

"I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. We WILL win. We will win because Naraku has grown smarter from the yōkai he has consumed with his body…"

Byakuya smiled.

"I really should show you a bit of gratitude for your help with reuniting the jewel shards…'

Kagome saw him reach into the folds of his silk haori and pull out and origami flower. Coming closer to Kagome's face, Byakuya looked earnestly into her wide eyes and placed the flower behind her ear.

"Such a pity for you, that we don't even currently desire your precious jewel…"

Shocking Kagome, Byakuya reached under the blouse of her uniform and grabbed her jewel shard necklace. He ripped it so hard, that it managed to cut into the soft layer of the skin around her neck.

Taking the jewel shard necklace, Byakuya studied it for a moment.

"All this fuss for such a tiny thing…"

In Byakuya's hands, the Shikon Jewel turned an ugly shade of black that continued to darken, as it fed off the evil holding it.

Almost musing to himself, he continued, "Although, I hear it is quiet powerful, so I can understand why Naraku would wish to possess it so…"

Then, without any further thought, Byakuya further shocked Kagome, by throwing the jewel shard necklace over his shoulder, near the still unconscious Shippo.

He threw the jewel shard from him as if it were of no consequence, like Naraku hadn't been chasing after it for years and destroying everyone and everything in his path to get to it.

:: What is he doing? Is this new incarnation so unfamiliar with Naraku's desire for the jewel? Maybe he's like Juromaru and Kagerōmaru and he doesn't let Naraku order him around…But, that doesn't seem right at all…

Truly worried, Kagome looked up into the now malicious eyes of Byakuya.

"Don't look so surprised Kagome. Naraku can come and get the completed jewel any time he wishes…Especially with you out of the way…"

And then, by some silent command, the vines from her mouth loosened and allowed her to speak once again.

"Don't be ridiculous! If I fail, there is always Kikyo!"

Kagome expressed confidence in a woman she didn't truly trust in her motives, but it was the only thing she could think of to stall until her friends could get to her.

"You mean that walking corpse of a dead priestess?"

Kagome nodded.

"She doesn't seem that reliable, if you ask me…Although, I have it on good authority that Naraku has trapped her in Kanna's mirror. So, it really doesn't matter one way or the other."

"You lie!", spat Kagome.

"What need have I to lie? You are about to die and I could already possess your Shikon Jewel if Naraku instructs it of me…"

Haunted, Kagome whispered, "No…"

"Naraku anticipated the priestess's interference and took care of her, before she could be more of a bother."

"Why?", she asked.

"Because I want to hear you take your last breath."

Byakuya knew that that wasn't the question she was asking, but he no longer cared to endure this silly slip of a girl. He needed to end this now, before Naraku finished toying with the others.

And with that final thought in his mind, Byakuya looked at Kagome, as his eyes turned their demonic red. The air around them picked up and blew his ponytail to the side. A wave of energy erupted forth from his body and it smashed into the vines still holding Kagome motionless before the tree.

Kagome let out an exasperated sigh, as the vines began to tighten around her further. The vines were cutting off her air supply, like one would expect a boa constrictor to squeeze the life out of its prey.

:: Oh my Kami! It really is me…it's me that they've been after all along…

Kagome struggled against the tightening vines, but it only made things worse for her. As she breathed out what little air she could exhale, the vines used that extra slack her body gave, to tighten them around her further. Her panicked movements and unsteady breathing only helped to suffocate her further.

:: They know that with me gone and Kikyo trapped, there is no one else that's powerful enough to purify the jewel. If InuYasha and Sesshoumaru get near it, they will become more powerful but they will surely get possessed of the evil within and won't be able to control it.

Kagome now understood Naraku's final frightening plan:

He had planned to get rid of Kagome and Kikyo many times before, but found himself unsuccessful because they were always so well protected. Even death had no hold over Kikyo and when it tried to claim her again, Kagome had stepped in to save her.

Naraku's new ultimate goal must have been to destroy the keepers of the jewel, once and for all.

He knew that he needed to separate Kagome and Kikyo from their protectors long enough, so that he could get rid of them. Once they were gone, there would be no one else strong enough to purify the jewel. Neither yōkai nor hanyō would have the strength to fight off the evil within an unpurified jewel and that would be their ultimate destruction and Naraku's ultimate revenge.

Kagome now fully understood how terrible this would end for all of them.

Sesshoumaru probably wouldn't attempt to go after the jewel, but InuYasha would still want to keep it out of the hands of other yōkai. Unfortunately, InuYasha wouldn't be strong enough to fight off the evil within and would probably be consumed by it. Then, her friends would have to make the terrible decision to destroy InuYasha, before he destroys them and everyone else.

If her friends didn't possess the power to destroy InuYasha, he would go mad and destroy everything in his path until there was nothing left or until someone else killed him.

Kagome was heartbroken. Even in her death, she could not protect her friends.

Naraku would win after all.

He will destroy everything and everyone till there is nothing left.

He would take joy in seeing the jewel becoming more tainted with rage and anger on InuYasha and Sesshoumaru's part. He'd enjoy and the unfathomable depths of her friends sadness. He would derive pleasure from the anger that would be upon him at the loss of both Kikyo and Kagome. He would take joy in the sadness that Shippo, Sango, and Miroku would feel.

His evil knew no bounds.

:: Her last thoughts were, "I wish I could protect them…"

Kagome struggled one last time, before she exhaled the final breath from her body.

Her body spent, and her head bowed; the upper half of her body lying limply against the tree. Byakuya knew that she was gone and so he sent the silent command, for the vines to loosen and release her.

Kagome's body slid gracefully to the base of the tree and with her legs tucked under herself and her head slightly bowed.

She almost looked as if she was merely sleeping and had peacefully nodded off under a nearby tree.

His task complete, Byakuya turned and walked back into the darkness of his forest, disappearing into the nothingness.

oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo

Fighting…

InuYasha and Miroku knew they were going to die.

No amount of fighting could fend off the vicious attacks of Juromaru and Kagerōmaru. The illusions wouldn't die and they couldn't even be wounded.

Their energy spent and blood seeping from numerous wounds, they were content to die knowing that they fought side by side defending their friends against the likes of Naraku.

Hunched over and panting for breath, Miroku spoke, "InuYasha."

InuYasha was back to back with Miroku, as they continued to be circled by their enemy.

Sweat and blood bleeding into his eyes, InuYasha responded, "What?"

"I am ready to die."

"Well, I'm not!", InuYasha yelled, as he lunged at Kagerōmaru, but only managed to go through him.

"I am not saying this to admit defeat, but offering you this knowledge so that you can go now and find Kagome and Sango."

"Are you crazy?! If I leave you, you will die!"

"I can die at peace knowing that I gave my life to protect them. If you survive InuYasha, you can protect them better than I ever could."

"Just shut up, will ya!?", InuYasha spat angrily.

Ready to use his wind-tunnel to create a diversion, Miroku said, "Tell Sango that I loved her and that I will continue to love her even in the afterlife. Let her know that I died happy, knowing that she returned my love."

InuYasha ran to Miroku and grabbed him by the front of his robes and jerked Miroku closer to him, so that he could know that he meant what he was saying.

"Tell her your damn self!"

Miroku would have responded, but he was distracted by the image of Juromaru and Kagerōmaru crisscrossing one another, as they raced to land their final blows.

In his weakness, Miroku slipped out of InuYasha's grasp and did the only thing he could think of to protect him.

He hugged him.

Miroku hugged InuYasha and simultaneously turned him around, so now it was Miroku's back that was being exposed to the final death blow and not InuYasha's.

InuYasha was surprised by Miroku's actions and he wanted to move them both out of the way, but it seemed like it was all going to happen to late. InuYasha watched in slow motion as the images of Juromaru and Kagerōmaru came within a half-inch of attacking them both, before they disappeared right before his eyes.

InuYasha was so stunned, that he continued to hug Miroku. Miroku, unaware of the disappearance of his would-be slayers, held on to InuYasha still, with his eyes closed, shaking and awaiting his death blow.

It was InuYasha who moved first.

He released Miroku, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground and he ran around the surrounding forest, trying to see where their attackers had disappeared to.

Finding nothing, InuYasha returned to Miroku who sat on the ground and was staring blankly at the blood soaked dirt.

Pulling Miroku to stand, InuYasha said, "I don't know why, but they're gone. So, we need to get out of here and find the others."

Miroku agreed by the nodding of his head, but he didn't say a word. He was still in too much shock about what they had just gone through, to want to talk. InuYasha gave him a worried look, but he figured that Miroku would snap out of it once he knew that Sango was ok, so he headed in the direction of her scent.

:: Still in a daze, Miroku thought, "I always had accepted that I would die because my wind-tunnel would consume me, but I never thought I would ever have to face a death like that…a death where I didn't even have a chance to see Sango one last time. From this point on, I have to be the man she needs me to be, so she can know how much I love her…"

Slower than usual, InuYasha and Miroku made their way through the eerily quiet forest. They were being extra cautious and still hurting from so many open wounds they had received. This slowed pace had InuYasha irritated beyond measure. He knew that he had little time to find his friends and he hoped that Sesshoumaru was keeping Kagome safe.

Beyond a stretch of trees, InuYasha caught the scent of Sango's blood and pushed for additional speed, to find her exact location. Once Miroku saw that his beloved Sango lay unconscious on the ground, he jumped from InuYasha's back and raced over to her.

Miroku slowly approached Sango's lifeless body in disbelief.

Upon seeing her shallow breathing, he grabbed her crumbled body and held her close to himself. Miroku wept with such emotion, that it was as if the flood gates had opened and released all his inner feelings.

Unbeknownst to Miroku, he began to gently rock her body back and forth as he held her and calmed himself. So deep was he in his gentle way with her, that he didn't notice that Sango began to awaken.

"Miroku?", she asked with a raspy voice.

Shocked, he looked down into her eyes, "Sango! You're OK! Thank Kami, I was so worried for you!"

"Don't worry about me, just a few cuts and scratches.", replied Sango, as she smiled up at him.

Miroku was so excited, that he hugged Sango close to him and almost prevented her from breathing. Quickly realizing his mistake, Miroku loosened his grip. Instead of being angry with him, Sango continued to smile up at Miroku, as she reached out her hand to caress his cheek.

"I almost thought I would loose you…", said Sango.

"Never. You couldn't get rid of me that easily.", Miroku smiled down to her.

InuYasha stood nervously off to the side. He was grateful that Sango was OK, but he would feel more comfortable if he knew the same for Kagome.

Sango tensed as she asked, "Where is Kagura?"

"Kagura seems to have disappeared for the time being, but we should hurry out of here and find Kagome and Sesshoumaru."

Alarmed, Sango asked, "What happened to Kagome?!"

"We don't know. InuYasha and I were attacked by Juromaru and Kagerōmaru, so we sent her off with Sesshoumaru before she could get hurt."

"Yeah and I think that we need to find her now! Sesshoumaru isn't known for being overly protective of humans.", added InuYasha.

Slowly standing up, Miroku helped Sango right herself and check for any serious injuries. For once, Sango was glad to have Miroku's hands wandering over her body.

As they coyly smiled at one another, InuYasha noticed a peculiar electricity in the air. His senses heightened to scent-out what could be causing the tiny hairs on his arms to prickle.

Preparing himself for another attack, he grabbed the hilt of Tessaiga.

Upon hearing the clank of the swords metal against its sheath, both Sango and Miroku tensed. They knew that neither of them were in the condition to fight again, and that if they were attacked, it would be a battle that they would be hard-pressed to win.

All of a sudden, a blinding light emerged from everywhere and nowhere in particular.

This light penetrated every corner of the forest and sought out the hidden spaces and chased the darkness away. It seemed as if that electricity in the air, which InuYasha had felt before, rippled with power and forcefully pushed them to the ground, in a blast of energy.

Not waiting for the dust to settle, InuYasha jumped up from the floor and quickly turned to make sure Sango and Miroku were all right. When he turned, he saw that Miroku had shielded himself and Sango behind the folds of his robes.

Completely shocked, InuYasha asked, "What the hell was that?!"

Sango replied, "I don't know, but it seems oddly familiar…"

"It must be the power from the Sacred Jewel…", added Miroku.

"…Only something that powerful could penetrate the evil within this forest."

"Well, you don't have to tell me twice! If something is happening to the sacred jewel, then something is happening to Kagome!", yelled InuYasha.

Not waiting for a reply, InuYasha ran off in the direction that he could feel a strong yōkai aura. The light and energy from the jewel had been so strong, that he couldn't pinpoint where it had came from. He hoped that Kagome was still nearby Sesshoumaru, because he could at least track him down by his aura.

:: InuYasha thought, "Sesshoumaru had better be protecting Kagome! I can't smell her blood anywhere, but he better not have let her get hurt or I will tear him limb from limb…"

Miroku and Sango hurried after the barely visible speeding trail of InuYasha's red haori. It seemed that with the added fear of Kagome being in trouble, InuYasha had managed to regain some of his strength in his pursuit of her.

The three rushed through the bushes and pushed passed the low hanging vines and branches, that attempted to interfere with their steady progression towards Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

The group had finally come to a clearing, where they came to an abrupt halt, as they barely dogged an attack from Sesshoumaru's Tōkijin. The blast of Sesshoumaru's Dragon Strike, scorched the earth and air around them and would have surely killed them, if InuYasha hadn't quickly grabbed both Sango and Miroku and leapt them all to safety.

Unconcerned with the image of Naraku hovering above him in the air, InuYasha yelled up at his brother who was also floating in the air.

"Are you crazy?! You could have killed us!"

Always calm, Sesshoumaru replied, "InuYasha, stay out of the way."

"No, YOU watch where you're swinging that sword!"

"Do not be daft InuYasha. Naraku has regained his demonic form and I am now able to wound him."

Both InuYasha and Naraku seemed to be shocked at his words.

InuYasha sniffed the air and he could smell the other hanyō's blood, as Naraku looked towards his right arm and saw that Sesshoumaru had managed to cut into his flesh.

:: Naraku thought, "How is this possible?! Byakuya's illusion of me should hold. Why have I returned to my physical form? Surely that weak girl could not have defeated him?

"'nuff said.", and with a smile on his face, InuYasha released his Wind Scar, in hopes of adding his own damage to Naraku.

Naraku barely missed InuYasha's blast and he was furious that he was left dodging attacks from the canine brothers. Even though they were all slightly weakened, Naraku didn't want to chance a battle with the reunited brothers, the taijiya and the monk combined.

He had decided to take his leave of them, and see what became of Byakuya.

Before leaving, Naraku smiled to himself, and thought that he would add to their collective fear. If Byakuya had managed to complete his task, then the girl would already be dead and gone. If he had not, she would surely be injured from her battle with Byakuya, and was probably dying at that moment.

Either way, her friends wouldn't make it in time to save her or they would be too distracted trying to get to her, to come after him.

"InuYasha, I see that through the years, even though your sword has grown stronger, your skills of hitting a target haven't improved.", Naraku chided.

InuYasha growled his displeasure at him, but kept quiet.

:: I can't let him get to me.

"What? No childish retort? Touché InuYasha. I see you're learning to be just like your 'big brother'."

InuYasha was ready to tear him apart, but something in the back of his mind told him that something wasn't right with this situation. Something didn't sit well with him…

And then he realized…"sit".

Frantically looking from side to side and then over towards Sesshoumaru, InuYasha realized that he didn't see Kagome.

Kagome was what was missing from this picture!

"Sesshoumaru! Where is Kagome?! She was supposed to be protected with you!", yelled InuYasha.

Sesshoumaru still had his eyes fixed on Naraku and his blade at the ready to blast him into nothingness, but this time, he saw fit to answer his brother's ranting.

"Naraku has been after her all this time, so I sent her back to you!", he growled.

It was then, that InuYasha saw the strangest thing happen.

This wasn't like all the other times that InuYasha had managed to anger Sesshoumaru for questioning him. For the first time in his life, he saw Sesshoumaru teetering on the edge of loosing his control. He seemed really pissed about something and InuYasha had no idea why Sesshoumaru would be mad with him.

:: I'm the one that should be upset. He's the baka that lost Kagome! He was supposed to protect her while I was gone!

Naraku began to laugh at the dilemma the two brothers found themselves in. Both had the responsibility of protecting the girl, and yet neither was able to figure out where she currently was.

:: Naraku thought, "I wonder how they would react, when they've found out that they both FAILED to protect the little miko?"

Smiling across to Sesshoumaru and down at InuYasha, Naraku stated, "How inconvenient for you both…It seems that the two of you have managed to loose something of importance to each of you…"

:: Naraku thought, "I might as well breed a little more jealousy between the brothers…"

InuYasha didn't understand what Naraku was getting at, but he didn't like the sound of what he was implying.

:: InuYasha thought, "Does Kagome possess something that Sesshoumaru is after? Is that why he's really been with us all this time?"

Naraku had hoped his verbal jabs would strike a cord with the brothers, but neither of them seemed too moved by his words. He looked over to see that Sesshoumaru had calmed down a bit and was content to have his stoic mask in place again. His hanyō brother, on the other hand, seemed to be mentally fuming over things that he didn't fully understand.

Quickly growing tired with this game that wasn't panning out to his full expectations, Naraku decided to leave them with his final thoughts, before they went off in vain, to search for their companion.

"I hate to battle and run, especially seeing as how the real fun won't begin until I'm gone…"

"What are you talking about—?"

But, InuYasha was cut off by Sesshoumaru who silently seethed, "Where…Is…She?"

Sesshoumaru's patience had worn thin.

His anger forced him to enunciate each word, as if he could barely contain himself. It was enough to make InuYasha, Sango, and Miroku turn to the usually composed Diayōkai with questioning glances.

Naraku fed off the brothers' rage. Surprisingly, the contained Sesshoumaru emanated more wrath than the irresponsible hanyō that had charged himself with the task as Kagome's protector.

Naraku was about to respond, when Sesshoumaru spoke first.

"InuYasha. Go and find Kagome. I will deal with this hanyō."

For once, InuYasha didn't automatically disagree with his brother. He understood that if Naraku had been after Kagome all this time, then she was definitely in danger.

Miroku and Sango were torn.

They knew that they should stay and make sure that they were there to offer help to Sesshoumaru, if he needed it in finally defeating Naraku. But, they also knew that he was unlikely to welcome their interference, so they chose to chase after InuYasha and hoped that they could reach Kagome in time.

oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo

Out of Time and A Time For Many "Firsts"…

InuYasha frantically searched through the forest, trying desperately to pick up Kagome's scent.

The air was frigid and unnaturally still, so it made it harder for him to hone in on her elusive scent; which made InuYasha start to panic.

"KAGOME! Ka-Go-Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

InuYasha yelled to the top of his lungs, only to be greeted with more unnerving silence.

:: Kagome couldn't have gotten far, especially with Shippo with her.

Then it hit him…Shippo! Even if he was having a difficult time tracking Kagome, he could still possibly track Shippo through his little yōkai aura and he should lead him straight to Kagome.

InuYasha stopped for a moment and channeled his senses into a different direction, to pin point Shippo. It took him a moment, but he was able to focus enough to catch on to the aura of the kitsune. InuYasha immediately raced off into the direction of the kit and thanked his lucky stars.

Being in this demonic forest with illusionary yōkai auras, was putting his hanyō senses out of whack. It was the strangest feeling knowing that his trusted senses were purposefully being overwhelmed and mislead.

:: Naraku must really be up to something, to go through all this trouble—

InuYasha's thoughts were cut off as he reached the strongest sensation of Shippo's aura, while his eyes caught the sight of Kagome's limp form under a nearby tree.

He immediately rushed up to her, and ignored the alarm bells his senses were giving off in warning. All he could do is gather her still body onto his lap and close to him, as he rocked her back and forth; in the oddly familiar act that Miroku had shared with Sango, only moments before.

Brushing the stray strands of her off of her peaceful face, InuYasha began to plead with Kagome to wake up. He pleaded for her just to open her beautiful eyes and smile up at him, just like Sango had done for Miroku. He promised that he wouldn't even mind her "sitting" him for the rest of his life, if she were just to open her lovely eyes and look up at him once more.

"Come on Kagome…Open your eyes for me Kagome…"

When Kagome seemed to refuse to respond to his gentle commands, InuYasha became more forceful and desperate.

"Damnit Kagome! I know you can hear me, so wake up! This isn't funny…"

Seeing that this tactic also had no effect of her, InuYasha went back to pleading. But, instead of pleading out loud to Kagome, he tried pleading to Kami.

It had been a long time, but InuYasha found himself once again praying for someone he loved, to a deity he hadn't trusted since he was a child. His nose began to water and unfamiliar tears began to flow from his hazy eyes.

:: I know I don't deserve your mercy, and I'm ashamed that it has taken me till now to realize just how much she means to me…but nonetheless, I love her and I want her to be all right. I want you to bring her back to me. I normally don't believe in miracles, but for you to send me someone so pure and kind and loving…it must be a miracle. She must be a miracle! And I know that you meant her for me…Please don't take her away from me, just because I've been a little foolish. I promise to never take her for granted again. I promise to love her and cherish her for all the days of my life. I promise to give her every happiness I can, and die in the attempt in giving her the happiness that I can't. I promiseI promiseI promiseI promise

InuYasha's mental chanting was finally broken by the onslaught of tears that cascaded down her dirt stained, bruised, and bloodied face. Tears that managed to wash away the evidence of his earlier battles, only to skillfully conceal the hurt that ached deep within his heart.

A bitter acidic taste built up in his mouth, to mix with that coppery taste of blood. InuYasha had been unknowingly grinding his fangs in his mouth and had managed to bite down and cause some bleeding. It didn't matter though. Nothing really mattered anymore.

InuYasha's breathing became more and more labored and heavy, as he attempted to choke down sobs and simultaneously gulp in air to lungs that felt as if they were on fire and burning from the inside out.

She had not moved.

She was not breathing.

Her pulse was non existent.

Her natural aura had been extinguished.

She was gone from him.

For another first time in his life, InuYasha cried out for his brother.

"SESSHOUMARU! SESSHOUUUUUUUUUU-MARU!"

Filled with so much hurt and anguish and pain, InuYasha began to loose control. He was no longer aware of his surroundings, as his eyes pulsed with the red of his inner yōkai. For his loss, he wanted to kill something.

Someone or something else deserved to die…but not her! It should not have been her!

At the sound of his yelling, Miroku and Sango appeared in the groove of trees and stilled instantly at what they saw.

The image would be burned in their minds forever.

There, on the grass, lay a lifeless Kagome in the arms of an enraged hanyō, who was looking back at them with death in his eyes.

They wanted to rush to InuYasha's side to be with Kagome, but they were in too much shock as to what they were seeing, to dare come closer. Their hope, that they were just seeing some horrible illusion, shattered instantly at the recognition of InuYasha's grief.

InuYasha had gone feral.

He looked at the approaching monk and slayer with pure hatred in his eyes, as if he didn't even recognize them.

"Ka-Kagome…No, you can't be—"

Sango was so wracked with grief that she could hardly get her words out. Shaking her head from side to side, she wanted to lunge out and take Kagome out of InuYasha's arms. She saw that InuYasha had somehow managed to revert to a blood rage, even with Tessaiga by his side, but she was unwilling to back down. She wanted to be near her friend!

She was about to attempt to lunge for Kagome, when Miroku jerked her back and it caused her to waver on her feet. Miroku seeing how unsteady she was quickly grabbed her close to him, in an effort to comfort her.

"Sango, I—"

Miroku started to say something, but found that he too was left speechless.

He understood that now was not the time for either of them to try and approach Kagome, when InuYasha was in his current state. If they did, they would be putting their lives at risk as well.

He knew not what had happened, here in this vile place of death, but he understood that the result had been the loss of their friend, their confidant, their sister.

A girl who had become a woman; turned friend to ostracized hanyō, turned mother to orphaned child, turned keeper to wayward monk, turned sister to an emotionally hurt slayer, and finally, ally to an unlikely yōkai.

Kagome had managed to become their…everything.

And now, she was gone.

Leaving them with nothing but memories…

Miroku felt the need to grieve, but he knew that at that time, he could not. With InuYasha incapacitated, the others had need of him. Miroku needed to be strong for Sango and Shippo…

:: Oh Kami! Shippo! What are we to do when he finds out that he has lost, yet another parent?!

Edgily, Miroku searched for the little kitsune, secretly hoping that he was no where near this horror.

His eyes sought out all the visible corners and possible hiding areas, before they came to rest on his still little form. Hoping against hope, that the child was merely knocked unconscious, Miroku managed to slowly maneuver Sango over to him.

Miroku continued his careful journey over to the boy, as InuYasha watched them with red, suspicious eyes. He growled his dislike of their movements near his Kagome, not realizing that he wasn't speaking to them in a way that he could be understood.

Once they got closer to the boy, Sango attempted to lean down to capture his little frame, but ended up stumbling to the ground in a stagger gained from her grief. Picking up the child, she found comfort in the fact that he was breathing and appeared to be ok. She glanced up to Miroku to indicate the child's well being, but saw that his attention was lost, to whatever was uncovered in some bushes, where the boy had lain.

Miroku continued to peer over Sango's shoulder, as if in a trance. Slowly, he bent down and picked up the completed Shikon Jewel.

"Is this what I think it is?", asked Miroku.

Still crying softly, Sango asked, "What is it?"

With disbelief, he uttered, "It's the Sacred Jewel…I don't believe it. Somehow, the jewel has been made whole again…"

Both Miroku and Sango looked at the jewel and then back towards InuYasha, who still held Kagome in his teary embrace.

"How can this be Miroku? With the jewel complete, Kagome should have been able to use some of its power to protect herself."

"Take a closer look Sango. The Shikon no Tama has been tainted with pure evil."

Both the monk and the slayer continued to gaze at the blackened jewel shard that swirled with dark intensity, as if it was filled with black mercury. They both felt an icy shiver run up their spines, just from being near the tainted jewel and knew that the evil within was strong.

"Why didn't she purify it?"

"I don't know Sango, but I would guess that for some reason, she was not able to do so and because the jewel was tainted with evil, she could not use it to help defend herself."

"What shall we do with it? None of us have the power to purify it, like Kagome could.", asked Sango.

"I don't know. There is too much that isn't right with this situation, but discussion of it will have to wait for now."

"Miroku, I want to be with Kagome now…"

"I understand Sango, but InuYasha's grief is too great right now and he may not react too kindly to you trying to take her away from him."

Sango agreed, but she was left numb by the idea of her sister being taken away from her and not having a chance to be with her right now.

"I know what you're thinking Sango, and you will have your chance with her, we all will. We just need to give him time. We all love Kagome…but he…he is in love with her."

Just then, in a blurry flash of white, Sesshoumaru appeared.

It was as if he appeared out of thin air, and it was the gentle swaying of his silver locks, that served as the only indication of his swift appearance.

Sesshoumaru quickly took in the scene of the huddled monk, the yōkai slayer, and the unconscious kitsune. He then glanced over to see his crazed brother barely holding on to his own sanity, as he held on to Kagome, as if for his life. Sesshoumaru immediately recognized the problem.

Sensing his brother's nearness, InuYasha looked up to him in utter rage.

Not bothering to get up for fear of leaving Kagome, InuYasha yelled, "Damnit Sesshoumaru! You rotten fuck! What took ya so long?!"

Realizing that his brother spoke more out of grief, than of intentions to be purposefully rude, he replied in kind.

"Brother, Naraku had to be dealt with. Let us not concern ourselves with that matter for the time being, we must see to your—"

Sesshoumaru found himself not knowing how to complete that statement.

Sesshoumaru had always thought of Kagome as InuYasha's woman. But as of late, things had changed between InuYasha and Kagome, and Kagome had managed to evolve Sesshoumaru into a different being, just by spending time with him. He found himself unwilling to continue recognizing Kagome as InuYasha's, simply because she had had the misfortune to meet him first.

Continuing, he spoke, "We must see to…to Kagome now."

InuYasha was reaching his boiling point of rage and was precariously teetering on the verge of going feral, so Sesshoumaru had to approach him cautiously.

He could already see the bleeding red of InuYasha's yōkai, begin to cloud his judgment. Sesshoumaru wasn't fearful to fight his brother, but he was fearful that an altercation between the two would harm the girl further and waste precious time that they did not have. For once in his life, Sesshoumaru knew fear and it was an odd sensation because it wasn't fear for himself, but fear for her.

:: I must calm the hanyō or he will inadvertently keep me from resurrecting the girl with Tenseiga.

Sesshoumaru remembered the exact moment, when he was battling Naraku, when he heard his brother's anguished cry out to him.

He didn't know what had possessed him to react the way that he did, but he felt compelled that he must get to the girl. He knew that his brother required his help with Kagome.

Admittedly, Sesshoumaru recognized that he was more than likely falling into what Naraku must have planned all along, but that didn't stop him from racing from his battle with Naraku, to heed his brother's distressed call.

Confident in his abilities to right the situation, he approached InuYasha calmly. In return, InuYasha growled at the Diayōkai that at the moment, he only recognized as a threat.

Sesshoumaru spoke, "InuYasha, calm yourself. Was it not you that called me forth from battle to aid you?"

InuYasha momentarily stopped growling, as he tried to make sense of what was being said to him.

Sesshoumaru continued, "Have I not the power to return souls from the dead, if I so wish it? Was this not why you called out to me, so that I might resurrect the girl with Tenseiga?"

The mention of the healing and life-giving sword seemed to bring InuYasha back from the brink of his own insanity. Showing that he understood his brother, he motioned for him to approach.

Sesshoumaru neared, but he remained cautious.

Finally regaining his voice, InuYasha spoke, but he was too edgy to say many words.

Biting his words, InuYasha demanded, "Bring. Her. Back."

Understanding his terse words, Sesshoumaru confidently unsheathed Tenseiga and hovered the sword above Kagome's lifeless body.

It was as if time stood still and the world waited for what was to happen next. InuYasha watched with anticipation, quickly looking back and forth from the drawn sword to Kagome's still form, in hopes that he would be the first to see her take in her first breath and he would be the one she sees looking back at her, when she opened her eyes again.

They waited.

And waited.

And still, nothing happened. Sesshoumaru was concerned when his sword didn't give off that initial 'pulse' of life.

:: What is wrong with this damnable thing? Why would it not choose to return life to one such as she? She who deserves it most of all…

Sesshoumaru's confusion behind how and why the sword chose to work sometimes, never really hindered him before. Usually, when the sword saw fit that he should help someone; it would just annoying pulse at his side, to gain his attention. And yet, this time, it remained deathly silent.

"What the fuck is taking so long?! Don't ya know how to use it or not?!", condemned InuYasha.

Sesshoumaru continued to look back and forth between the girl, and noticed that he didn't see the pallbearers of death this time around. His head started to spin as the sick realization came to him.

:: The sword, Tenseiga is NOT infinite! If I can not to get to someone in need, in time, then I loose the window of opportunity to bring them back!

This realization was so shattering, that it brought Sesshoumaru to his knees.

He knew then, that he could not save her.

He was too late.

For a girl who had unknowingly become someone of great importance to Sesshoumaru, in her greatest time of need, he had failed her. His impotence to make things right for her cut him deeper than any sword could have.

InuYasha was so stunned by Sesshoumaru's seemingly weakened downfall that he almost reached out in concern for his brother. He had never seen Sesshoumaru react like this before and it bothered InuYasha.

Quickly snapping out of his concern for his brother, InuYasha demanded, "Get the fuck up! Don't just sit there!"

Sesshoumaru just looked over to his raging brother with a blank stare of disbelief.

He continued, "Use your sword and fucking save her! You know you can, so for once in you damn arrogant life, stop being cruel and heartless and think of someone else!"

Sesshoumaru knew that InuYasha spoke of what he didn't understand, and yet, Sesshoumaru was unwilling to tolerate his angered diatribe any longer. InuYasha wasn't the only one hurting and he needed to understand that Kagome's death didn't just affect him.

Sesshoumaru turned to give back some angry invective in return, but at the sight of his brother's tears, found that he could not hurt the boy more than he already was hurting.

Angered now, even more than before, at his inability to rage at his brother, Sesshoumaru gracefully stood and turned as if to just walk away.

Before he proceeded, he looked down upon Tenseiga and he uttered with great disdain, "Worthless sword!"

Shocking the group, instead of walking away and without warning to anyone, he took the Tenseiga and lunged it at a tree, off into the distance. His power so great from his impassioned fury, that the thrown sword smashed through several trees, before impaling itself on another tree some twenty-plus yards away.

Not caring to turn and see where his sword had landed, Sesshoumaru looked over to where Kagome lay and saw the sword she took from him before she ran. That sword was meant to protect her, and yet, it too had failed in its purpose.

Sesshoumaru had had enough! Surprising the group even further, he leaned his head back, so that he faced the sky and his hair almost touched the ground, and he screamed out a tormented cry.

His cry was so great, that the fowl of the air lurking in the dense trees flew off in a torrent of hurried escape from a tortured predator.