A/N: The last chapter! Gasp! This could also mean something else…those two stories slated to come out later this month may come out earlier than I anticipated! Yay! Right? Of course, I hope this one still gets some nice reviews, and thanks for all the reviews so far!
Summary: A Place Where I Belong: AU. Kagome accidentally discovers a secret that her abusive family has hidden from her. She was adopted. Desperate to find her birth mother, Kagome enlists the help of Inuyasha, a private detective who always finds what he's looking for. But what happens when she finally finds the truth? Will Inuyasha be able to help her find where she truly belongs?
---
A
Place Where I Belong
Chapter Ten: To the Rescue
Inuyasha closed his eyes.
Kagome screamed. "No!" She slammed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face as Kagura released the blade. She heard the sound as the blade met Inuyasha's neck, and she cringed, her body racked in sobs.
Her physical pain was ignored. He had taken everything from her. He had ruined her life. He had taken away the man she loved. The kit she considered her son. He had robbed her of everything…
"You…you son of a bitch…" Kagome growled.
"It's not my fault, Kagome…" Naraku smirked. "Take a deep breath. All that blood…even a human like you could smell something like that…and it's your fault. Just tell me where the jewel is, and it's over…"
Kagome scowled. "I would rather die." She snapped at him. "You messed up if you thought I would ever tell you where the jewel was after what you've done…"
He nodded. "I thought you'd say that." He turned. "Kagura…"
Kagome turned her confused attention to Kagura, who brought out another one of her fans, and smiled. "Dance of the Dead!" she hollered out.
Kagome's eyes widened.
Inuyasha and Shippo stood.
"Kill her!" Kagura commanded, pointing to Kagome.
Kagome swallowed hard. They were going to kill her. She couldn't even try to run away…
---
"Kagome!" Sango screamed. "Miroku, Inuyasha's going to kill her!"
"He's dead. He's being controlled by Kagura's Dance of the Dead," Sesshoumaru mused. "He'll have killed them all before we even manage to break the damn barrier." He growled.
Inutaisho could no longer contain his growling. "I refuse to watch this massacre any longer, damn it! We have to get in there and help her!"
Sango yelled out again as Inuyasha rushed forward, shoving his clawed hand through Kagome's middle. "She's gone…" Sango stammered, her shaky voice barely above a whisper.
"Maybe I can help?"
Sesshoumaru pivoted on his heel. "Where in the hell have you been?" he growled at his daughter. "You told me you were keeping an eye on him. Look what happened!"
"Father, calm yourself." Shimane replied quietly. "Naraku is too rash. He ordered the girl killed before he attained the jewel. She still has it. I break the barrier, you bring the girl back, and she'll handle Naraku…using the power of the jewel this Naraku character wants so much…"
"Kagome would not use the jewel, Shimane…" Miroku warned.
Shimane shook her head. "The spirit of the priestess Midoriko still resides in the jewel. Through their miko power, I am guessing that she and the girl share some sort of link. The jewel's power should help her all on its own. The rest of it is up to her own personal power…"
"And if you 'guessed' wrong?" Sango smirked bitterly.
Shimane frowned. "I am not wrong," she defended herself. "Why would I risk the remainder of our lives to test a theory? I will break the barrier…you just get ready to fight," she basically ordered.
Sango gulped and nodded.
"You and the monk will help my grandfather preoccupy Naraku and Kagura. You may have to double-team the wind witch while my grandfather handles Naraku. My father and I will see to Kagome and the others…but you must keep Kagura and Naraku occupied!" she emphasized.
Miroku nodded. "If you do your part to bring our friends back, we can handle Kagura…" he promised.
"I shall do everything I have promised." She replied confidently.
Sango nodded. "We can definitely tell who's daughter you are," she smirked.
---
"Gee…that sure was smart," Kagura hissed. "You still don't have the jewel, Naraku. So what good was all of this if you still don't even know where the damn thing is? This was a complete waste of time, as far as I'm concerned."
"You're not." He snapped. "You are here to follow orders."
"But how are you supposed to get the jewel if she's…"
"You're not." Came a quick response.
Naraku jerked his head to the side. Somehow, a hanyou he was unfamiliar with had managed to break through his barrier rather easily, and was standing several feet away from him with a large smirk on her face.
"And just who in the hell are you?" he demanded.
"She's none of your concern," Inutaisho growled. "I will be your opponent…"
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"After you…" Inutaisho smiled, rushing towards the abhorred half demon in front of him.
Sango and Miroku ran towards Kagura, who looked even more shocked than Naraku had earlier. "What are you doing?" she scowled. "Your friends are dead. Naraku has won. Do you really wish to follow your comrades into death so quickly?" She made a motion with her hand, and Sango threw her boomerang bone.
"I don't think so," she shook her head. "I see a fan come out, and you will lose an arm. I doubt it will grow back after Naraku is dead, so I would watch your footing…" she warned.
Kagura blinked. "Did you just…threaten me?"
Miroku nodded. "You can think it's a threat all you like, Kagura. I dare you."
"You will pay for hurting my friends…" Sango said between gritted teeth.
---
"What I did with grandfather was a complete accident…" Shimane admitted. "But at least I know how I did it…and you have the tenseiga, father, so this should be fairly easy…"
"Don't underestimate the task, Shimane. We can only do this one person at a time. The fox will have to be the last one I attend to, since his mate is involved. I can bring them back if you can just use your power and protect them while I do this. If Naraku or the wind witch realize what is going on, we could have trouble on our hands…"
Shimane nodded in agreement. "You got it. Will the miko be first?"
Sesshoumaru did not nod, but he removed his sword and pointed the tip toward the dead priestess. "Yes," he said, "She can help my father stave off Naraku while we finish this…"
He swung his sword. Seconds later, Kagome gasped, her eyes fluttering open in surprise.
"Sesshoumaru?" she frowned. "What are you guys doing here? You could be killed!"
"I'm saving your ass so that you can save everyone else's," he shrugged.
Kagome's eyes widened as the gravity of the situation hit her. Kagura had killed Shippo and Inuyasha…and then used her Dance of the Dead to turn them on her. She had died by Inuyasha's hand…
She cringed as she remembered it.
"Don't think about it." Sesshoumaru commanded. "You can't let your emotions overpower you. Tap into your power. Use that to defeat Naraku. We will help you…but you are the only one who can finish him off…"
Kagome nodded, and a tear slid down her cheek. "But Inuyasha…"
Sesshoumaru smiled…something Kagome had not only never seen him do, but did not know he was capable of. "I'm going to handle that," he promised. "You just concentrate on getting rid of that pain in the ass…"
"But what if I can't…" Kagome began.
"You'll be able to do it…one way or another…" Shimane answered.
Hesitantly, Kagome nodded. When she started to stand, her legs were shaky at first, but it seemed Sesshoumaru's sword healed the break in her leg. She stared at it curiously for a moment before walking slowly towards Naraku. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do, or how she was going to do it…he had taken her weapon. But hopefully, Shimane was right about what she said…
"I can do this…" Kagome whispered to herself.
"How in the hell did you…?" Naraku gasped in surprise.
"Welcome back, Kagome," Inutaisho smiled at her.
She gulped. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.
Kagome…?
She didn't know who was talking…but somehow, she recognized the voice.
I know you can hear me, Kagome. We are linked. Listen to me. Clear your mind…
Kagome nodded slowly, although neither Inutaisho nor Naraku understood why she was nodding. She took a deep breath.
Summon all of your power…you can do it. Tap into the jewel. It won't hurt you. I can protect you from it, Kagome. Just do it…
Sesshoumaru swung his sword at his younger brother. Seconds later, Inuyasha stood. He glanced around at the scene playing out before him, but stopped when he caught sight of Kagome.
"What the hell is happening to her…?" he whispered out loud.
Sesshoumaru and Shimane turned in time to see that Kagome was emitting a bright pink glow around her body. She seemed unaware of everything else around her as Inuyasha's father engaged Naraku only a few feet away.
"She's using her power, Inuyasha…" Shimane mused. "Look how much power she weilds…"
"She's using the jewel to help her…" Sesshoumaru added.
Inuyasha shook his head. "No way! That's too dangerous! I don't care what we agreed to earlier, Sesshoumaru! Did you see what Naraku did?" He made an effort to rush forward, but Sesshoumaru grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't." He warned. "She knows what she is doing…"
"Kagome…" Inuyasha worried.
Let him take you, Kagome. Let him think he's won. You can only destroy him from the inside. You have to let him have you…when he has you, just let go. Let go of all the energy…and Naraku will be nothing more than a bad memory…
Shaking slightly, Kagome began to walk forward again. Inutaisho and Naraku stopped their battle to watch her. Naraku wore a large smirk on his face.
"What are you doing, Kagome?" Inutaisho mouthed.
No response.
"Great work, Sesshoumaru! I kill the bitch and you bring her back just so she can die again? That's extremely smart of you…"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed. "What the hell are you doing, Kagome? Get away from him, damn it!"
"Calm down, Inuyasha. Kagome knows what she is doing!" Shimane growled.
"Of course she knows what she's doing, Inuyasha. She's about to die. Again." Naraku laughed.
Kagome stopped. She was standing right in front of Naraku now.
"You want the jewel, Naraku?" she asked, her voice dangerously low. "Take it. You've done everything else. Although…you'd have to take me with it…" she tempted him.
"Gladly…" he smirked, wrapping a tentacle tightly around her body.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelped, desperately trying to jerk himself free of the hold Sesshoumaru had on him. "Let go of me you son of a bitch!" he screamed. "He's trying to absorb her!"
"Then let him!" Shimane snapped.
"You're crazy!" Inuyasha accused.
Naraku laughed as Kagome disappreared.
"Kagome!" Sango screamed. "Let her go, Naraku! What the hell is going on? Why did she let him do that?"
Miroku shook his head. "Trust Kagome, Inuyasha. I don't think things are over just yet. Kagome wouldn't just give herself and the jewel up that easily. There's something going on inside her head that we just don't know about yet…"
"I hope so…"
Naraku laughed manically. Kagome was gone. He had devoured her.
"Is this what you wanted?" he taunted. "The miko is gone!"
Let go, Kagome…release the power…
"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered, his voice faltering.
Let it all go, Kagome…
"You son of a bitch, Sesshoumaru! She's gone! You let him take her! Let me go, damn it! I'll kill him!" Inuyasha swore.
"Calm yourself, Inuyasha. Just wait. Can't you feel it?" Miroku asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What?" he whined.
"The power…" he clarified. "It's Kagome. Quick!" he gasped, huddling everyone close and slamming his staff into the ground. A bright pink barrier appeared around the group.
Kagura growled. "What the hell are you doing, monk? I'm not done with you yet!"
"You will be…" he smiled.
"What?" Naraku frowned.
That's it, Kagome…do it now!
Kagura jumped back suddenly as Naraku let out a scream of surprise. Miroku held tight to his staff as Naraku began to glow a bright pink. He looked around in confusion.
"What is going on?" he demanded. "Stop this! No! I have the girl! I won, damn it!"
Kagura paled as the pure aura devouring Naraku pulsed outward. The pure energy struck her with the force of a heavy blow. She flew backwards and hit a nearby tree. She did not move.
Naraku howled out in pain. "No! You little bitch!" he cursed as one last wave of energy pulsed through his body. The pink light became even brighter, and the group under Miroku's protection shielded their eyes. There was one last scream from Naraku.
When the group opened their eyes, Naraku and Kagura were both nothing more than a pile of dust.
Inuyasha glanced around in worry. "Where in the hell is Kagome?" he worried.
"Inuyasha…look!" Sango pointed.
Kagome was somehow above their heads, falling towards the ground.
"What the…Kagome?!" Inuyasha jumped up, catching the girl as she fell. "Kagome, are you all right?" he shook her, but she did not respond. However, she did not smell of death. "Wake up, Kagome…" he pleaded.
After a moment, Kagome's eyes fluttered open, and she glanced up at Inuyasha. "What…what happened?"
Sesshoumaru 'keh'd' in a very Inuyasha-like mannerism, and walked towards Shippo, whom he had still not revived.
Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief.
"You kicked Naraku's evil ass, Kagome. I've never seen anything like that before in my whole life. How did you do it?" Sango asked.
Kagome thought about it for a moment, but no answer would come to her. In fact, the last thing she remembered was waking up to Sesshoumaru holding the tenseiga over her body. She must have died…
But then…what else had happened?
She glanced around with worry, fearful that Naraku or Kagura would still be nearby, but saw no one. The demonic aura that had once surrounded the area was gone.
"Is Naraku…?" she began, confusion in her eyes.
Inuyasha blinked and nodded. "What do you mean? Of course he is! You…well, I don't know what you did, but it worked. Naraku is gone…"
"I did…" Kagome repeated.
"Yes, Kagome…" Sango grinned. "It's finally over. Everything is finally over."
"I knew you could do it," a newly revived Kaede nodded proudly. "Everything is as it should be now…" the old woman pointed to Shippo, who was holding a sleeping Aiko in his arms. "Everything is all right now." She said, a note of finality in her voice.
Kagome smiled, but shook her head at the same time. She wanted to celebrate with everyone else, but at the same time, she was fighting to hold back her tears.
"What's wrong, child?"
Kagome swallowed hard. "Everything is not fine…" she managed to choke out. "The jewel ruined my life, Naraku killed my mother, and now the jewel is gone and I have no family and no way to get back to where I belong…"
Inuyasha pulled her tightly to him. "Stupid wench, that's not true at all." He paused as Kagome studied his face looking for the meaning behind his words. "You don't need to get back to the future. All of your family is right here with you right now. This is where you belong. Here. With us…" he nuzzled her cheek.
"Besides," Shippo cut in, "do you honestly think me and Kirara would allow that whole fiasco from last time to happen again? Hell no. The next time we get split up better be when we all die of unnaturally old age…"
The group couldn't help but laugh at the kitsune's statement, for in their hearts, they all knew that there was a certain ring of truth to his words…
---
A/N: And that's a rap, ladies and gents! Bwa ha ha and evil laughs! It's all…cutesy at the end! Sequel, you ask? Hmm…lets consult the mystical magic 8 ball for the answer…
…but only I get to see what the mystical magical 8 ball says!
Okay, seriously though. If you guys would like a sequel, let me know in your reviews, and I will work with that. It will come out after the other two have gotten started, but seeing as how I'm done with this one early, I'm going to move up the release date on these other two…
Upcoming Story Info:
'Somewhere, Sometime': Kagome and her best friend Sango find a photo in the Higurashi shrine's well house. They've found strange things in the well house, and even the well before, but this is different. Kagome finds herself falling in love with the man in the photo...a hanyou. Even stranger is the writing on the back of the photo...in Kagome's own handwriting! Will Kagome be able to unlock the mystery of this man...a man she will never get to meet...? Or will she...? Scheduled for release on 11/7
'The
Bird and the Fish': AU. "A bird may love a fish, Signore, but
where would they live?"---They came from two different worlds,
but what happens when those two worlds collide? Can the impossible
become a reality? (NOT based on the movie 'Ever After', only
inspired by a quote within the movie!!) A college fic---with my own
personal twists! Inu/Kag, Mir/San, Sess/Rin, Kouga/Ayame…and
Shippo/Kirara…
Scheduled for release on 11/7
COMING VERY SOON!