The Newest Ally

Chapter Ten

Enjoy

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Kagome felt as though she were drowning, it was the only comparison she had to explain it. Her mind felt numb to her, her ears felt deafened, and her limbs seemed to move of their own accord. A war raged around her, a war that she was intimately involved in, but had never felt more outside of.

Battle was nothing like she had imaged. Movies, books, even classes couldn't have prepared her for what it was really like. Seeing a man ripped apart, or seeing someone accidentally felled by a teammate, or just seeing the hundreds of bodies, demon ally and enemy alike, that lined the plain's ground was nothing she could have been prepared for.

At first she had noticed these things, she had cried out when she saw Ginta ripped from Kouga's side, and saw him tore limb from limb within moments, his face still not even showing that he knew what was happening. Rushing from one place to the next she had been hesitant to tread over the bodies, but eventually realized that there seemed to be no true ground anymore.

Her eyes were able to take in the carnage at first, her spiritual powers whipping around her and around the arrows she shot into the hearts of as many enemies as she could. However eventually her body numbed, it could have been disastrous if it hadn't. Eventually she wasn't distracted by the piercing cry of a dying warrior, or the never ending shower of blood that came through the air. Eventually her body gave up on noting that.

She fought with all she could. When ever she let an arrow loose she filched one from the wreckage around her, making sure to be never caught unawares without weapon ready. She wasn't quite sure where the majority of her friends were. She saw Sango's Hiraikotsu fly through the air from somewhere to the right, and noticed Youko's whip streak behind her every now and then, and also caught Sesshomaru's bloodlust ahead of her. A few times she thought she saw Inu-Yasha battling…Naraku.

She never thought that it'd be this hectic. She thought they would be heroes streaking through the battlefield as a ground.

Kagome wasn't prepared for this.

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"Inu-Yasha," Kagome breathed. She had made her way to the center of the battlefield now. All around her powerful demons were clashing in battle. Allies, or rather minions, of Naraku were being killed in a steady stream of multi colored blood by the ferocious duo of Kyuubi and Gaara. Kagome rushed past an irate Sesshomaru who was pulling around for another joint dive at Naraku with Inu-Yasha.

Youko was no where to be seen.

She watched what was going on before her like a hawk. Trusting enough that she wasn't about to get impaled in the back with a sword.

Everyone was injured; it was hard not to be. She herself had a littering of scraps and superficial cuts all along her body, one particular one that kept blood flowing into her eye at the most inopportune of moments. Her white haori was riddled with a tale of death now, not unlike those that were around her.

Inu-Yasha was a mess. His battle with Naraku was certainly fierce, and Kagome wasted a moment considering that she thought it was lucky that Sesshomaru had decided to use his fierce sword and will to attempt to destroy the half-breed Onigumo.

Kyuubi looked moderately untouched, but weary beyond measure. The red head at his side was drenched in blood, and with bile in her throat Kagome turned away, unable to tell if it was from the demons he brutally slay or his own.

Naraku looked…disenchanted. It seemed he hadn't been quite prepared for the might they had rallied against him, unprepared for the Southern Lord that came with legions of trained demons behind him. He kept looking to the air, as if expecting Kagura's feather to be streaming downwards to aide him. Kagome vaguely wondered if Kagura had met her demise.

Kanna had. Kagome had seen that much, it had been bloody, and Kagome wasn't quite sure whether she was prepared to ever meet Sesshomaru's eye again.

Kagome watched, an arrow nocked, as she saw Inu-Yasha lunge at Naraku. He raised Tetsusaiga high and brought it down in a curving arc, unleashing all of its power on the dark haired villain. It impacted him with variable harm, but mainly served to eradicate the legion of demons behind Naraku, Sesshomaru barely managing to escape the blast.

Kagome saw Inu-Yasha grin at this, and she shook her head. Sesshomaru flung a growl across the way.

"This is impossible," she muttered vaguely. She dared to look over her shoulder at what was behind her, and watched as blood splashed itself across her chest from a too close kill. Her nocked arrow flew straight and true to help Sango. All at once she felt her numbness disappear.

Kagome felt unerring fear. Fear for herself, and her allies, fear for what it would mean if they failed, and fear, just a little bit, for what it would mean if they won. Then something more awoke within her. She felt power in her veins.

With the smell of blood so strong that she could almost taste it she barely noticed the wind pick up around her. The nonexistent breeze came to life in a tumultuous wave. For a moment it seemed as if the high level demons around her paused and spared her a glance, but the battle sought there attention back. Naraku struck Inu-Yasha across the face.

Sesshomaru sought to cleave Naraku's head from his shoulders, but succeeded only to clip his hair. It was barely noticed by Kagome. Her entire focus was on the being that had tried to destroy her friends and herself, and the world around them, for longer than she cared to remember.

The tides turned, though she couldn't tell if they were in her favor, when Naraku suddenly noticed her as well.

She felt his eyes on her, and a cold grip clench around her heart, and then her strength faltered some, the wind dying down slightly, as she noticed Naraku change direction. Instead of landing a second blow on Inu-Yasha he shifted his feet and pivoted himself and his great pelt in a new direction.

Directly towards Kagome.

Kagome felt a scream rip her throat as she felt Naraku's cold fingers run across her skin, and up towards her mouth, but it was a scream for naught. Naraku had found his prize, and it wasn't Kagome's life.

He held the Shikon Jewel shards in his hands, freshly ripped away from Kagome's neck, and grinned triumphantly at all around him. His maniacal laugh echoing all around.

Kagome felt the wind die down fully, and felt hot tears begin to wind their way down her cheeks. She couldn't believe it.

She had failed.

"No," Kagome croaked, reaching a fruitless hand out in front of her. She couldn't believe that she was as weak as she was. Naraku, evil, dastardly Naraku, had took what was most precious to her and her cause from her with a single move. How could she let him?

Kagome felt Inu-Yasha's eyes on her and dropped her face, clenching her hands to her ears, wishing that the battle would block out just as it had before, wishing that she could make Naraku's triumphant calls disappear.

"I can't believe I let everyone down," she whimpered to herself, hearing Sesshomaru engage Naraku in the battle once more. She felt inhumane anger replace her fear and shock, and her sadness too. She couldn't believe that what had just happened was reality.

She felt the Jewel become one once more. In her very bones Kagome felt her shards join with Naraku's and then everyone felt the shockwave that resulted next.

Everyone in the immediate vicinity froze, and the outer battle still raging around them. Everyone knew that Kagome had let down her friends and allies.

Kagome gritted her teeth together and fisted her hands around her bow. "No," she said loudly and then "No!" she screamed.

The wind picked up again as if it had never left, the angry adrenaline being replaced by something more powerful in her veins.

She nocked another arrow and leveled her bow at the dark champion in front of her. He was clutching a darkened jewel in his hands. "Naraku," she called. Her voice was clear, and there was something more on it as well, an authority that had never previously been there.

"What little priestess?" he called back "Do you think your arrows can help you now?"

Kagome wasn't sure. However she wasn't quite thinking clearly anymore. A tunnel had been created between her and Naraku, a one minded track that had her only thinking of his demise.

She didn't notice Sesshomaru or Inu-Yasha advancing on either side of Naraku, great battle blades raised.

"Naraku," Kagome said. Her voice was barely above a whisper but she knew that Naraku heard her as clearly as she was standing beside him "I will kill you, and I will be happy about your death, happier than any person has ever been at the death of another."

Kagome loosed her arrow; its aim was for his heart. Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru raised their blades as well, and all three powers met in a tumultuous clash of heat and power that all were certain this world had never experienced before.

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Youko had felt the shockwave, and feared that the worst had befallen the battle. He briefly thought of his uncle's life, and then dismissed the thought. A demon never concerned himself with outside thoughts during a battle. Bloodshed was the ultimatum in a battle, and being a thief had taught Youko Kurama that much.

He felled the demon before him, watching the wolf demon idiot of Kagome's hop over the carcass and onward towards the center of the battlefield. He 'humphed.' "Let the whelp go," he muttered, cracking his long vine whip in the air around him.

Youko's eyes were drawn back to the front of him as another opponent stepped before him.

"What do we have here?" murmured the fox. "A human wants to become my prey?"

The man in front of him was obviously a man who had spent his life wallowing in the sty of human life. He was a street urchin who thought with his money pouch instead of his head or heart. The man was obviously a killer.

His hair hung in greasy tangles about him, and his dirty haori was hanging lazily off a shoulder. He had naught a weapon on him but a single samurai blade.

"Youko Kurama, you have a bounty on your head," the man said, his voice matched his hair.

"I've had many bounties on my head," replied Kurama. He was cocky, but what was a human to his great power? Many had come to claim his hide before, and no one had ever succeeded, obviously.

The man only grinned, unsheathed his sword, and then literally disappeared.

Youko growled. What kind of human was this? He turned and looked all around him, his whip clutched tight. There was no sign of the man. He couldn't even sense the man's spirit energy.

"Right here!" whispered a voice, before Youko spun just in time to avoid a direct blow to the abdomen. He shifted to avoid the human but felt the tip of the man's sword grate along his chest.

Youko grinned as the human showed a face of mild surprise. "You really are legendary."

Youko sneered. "You'll be dead soon."

"No," said the hunter "You will be though."

"I doubt that," responded Youko. He moved swiftly towards the hunter, reaching both with his whip and with the shrubs below, that snaked up to entrap the man's ankles.

However, the damn man disappeared, again.

Youko didn't even hide his frustration; there was no time for that. He hadn't felt the man reappear the last time, and he doubted this time would be any different.

He was right. The hunter reappeared and plunged his sword through Youko's arm, tearing flesh and muscle from bone. Youko restrained a moan of pain and whirled to face the man, only to find that he couldn't.

"What?" he muttered, his face scrunching as he felt a cold sweat begin to bead its way down his face. His whip fell from his grasp, and he met the ground below, straining to keep control of his senses.

The hunter kneeled next to him.

"The legendary Youko Kurama wasn't even aware of the poison that ran from my sword to his veins?" question the hunter sarcastically. His laughter echoed another man's laughter, one from further away that Youko had trouble focusing on.

Youko felt his brow furrow further. How had he not detected the man's poison when the first cut had befallen his chest? He had dealt with more than his fair share of poisons in his time on this earth. How had a mere human been able to surmount all of that?

"The demons are a failing race," the hunter continued, his voice a malicious flirt in Youko's ears "Humans have been gaining strength while you brawn demons have been hiding in your lairs and preying on the weak."

Youko couldn't even manage a retort; he was trying to control his body as best he could. He refused to die here!

"Humans will inherit this Earth," the hunter said before rising. He spit on Youko's body and laughed again "One thousand ryo for your death, fox! One thousand ryo for five minutes of my day!"

Youko couldn't believe it. He closed his eyes as he felt the hunter depart and realized that emotion that he had long suppressed was welling behind his eyes.

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Kagome smiled. Kagome grinned. Kagome giggled, then laughed, and fell to the ground in great guffaws of triumph.

It had been beautiful. Her arrow meeting with the conjoined arcs of Sesshomaru and Inu-Yasha, and it had been powerful. Naraku had burned in front of them all, the Jewel flying into the air, and all of his demons disappearing with him. They were little more than a foul stench on the wind.

The allies that had marched with Naraku had taken moments to defeat after that, moments. All around her there was celebrating on the field. Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru were exchanging equally satisfied glances, neither of them seemingly aware that they were supposed to hate each other as usual.

Kagome only had eyes for what was in nestled in the grass, meters from her.

The Shikon no Tama.

"At last," she said. Her limbs felt spent but still she found the energy to walk across the patch and pick up the Jewel, purifying it with a touch. Happy tears erased her tears of fear, and their tracks from earlier.

"Kagome," said Inu-Yasha, his chest heaving from exertion. "You did it."

"We all did," she smiled, a feeling of unquenchable fondness growing inside of her. It was true; everyone on that plain had a part in this victory.

Her smile began to fade though. She felt odd all of a sudden.

"Kagome?" asked Inu-Yasha, his voice felt like it was a long ways away, with an unbridled amount of worry in it.

Her world went black, and then white again all at once.

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"Kagome?" sang a sweet voice. For a moment Kagome thought it was her mother's voice, but she blinked away that thought and looked around her.

The world she was floating in was bright all around, no sign of shadow or of the battle that should be surrounding her. She was stripped of her wounds, and her clothing too. She could still feel the weight of the Shikon no Tama in her grasp though, and she looked down at it.

When she looked back up there was a women before her, a women more beautiful than she ever though she had ever seen. Power emanated from this woman as well, pure, wondrous power.

"Midoriko?" breathed Kagome, her soul already knowing the answer.

"Thank you, Kagome," replied the other woman "For all that you have done."

Kagome wished she could kneel before the woman, however her thoughts were barely processing what was going on around her.

"It's time," the woman said, no, Midoriko said.

"For what?" asked Kagome reverently.

Midoriko only smiled, her voice sounding like an echo. "You know what for, Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome returned Midoriko's smile, barely feeling her cheeks tilt upwards "For the wish?"

Midoriko nodded.

Kagome's smile faltered. "But can I do this?" she asked "Can I really do this; I've failed at so much…"

"Kagome," Midoriko said "Do you truly believe that? Think of all the good that you and your friends have wrought the world, all that has been saved from destruction. The legacy that you will leave."

Kagome still didn't seem convinced.

"Just speak from your heart," Midoriko said "What is it that every fiber of your being truly wishes for?"

Kagome thought of everything that she could ever want, everything that her friends could ever want, however her very soul seemed to thrive when she thought of the correct thing. She tilted her head backwards and held the jewel out towards Midoriko.

"Midoriko-sama," she said "I wish the jewel would disappear from the world, and never would a power like that seek to thrive here again."

Midoriko nodded and Kagome continued "And…I think that we need a chance at peace."

She opened her eyes again and looked imploringly at the spirit in front of her "Give reality another chance to prove itself. Our world needs a chance at peace."

"And so it shall be done," replied Midoriko, and the world around Kagome faded, as did the jewel in her hands.

Kagome felt peace.

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Youko more felt the shadows over take him, than actually see light diminish. He was almost bereft of his senses. It was his uncle that turned him over on his back, but it was Kagome that kneeled down to him, looking as if she were attempting to heal him.

His uncle, ever one for bluntness, waved her hands aside "There's no use, priestess."

"What?" Kagome chocked out, Youko felt a drop of water hit his cheek and realized that the priestess, that Kagome, was shedding tears for him. Who knew?

"Poison," muttered Youko with his dry mouth.

"Just," Kagome strained in the sunlight, as if she were looking for words "Just hold on, I'm sure Jinenji can do something, or-or."

Youko mustered the strength to grab her clutching hands in one of his own. "Too late," he said in as much a nonchalant tone as he could manage when nearly dead.

"Why?" Kagome demanded, more to herself than to either of the fox demons.

"I think I have…a plan for the next life," said Youko, and it was all his pleasure that his accompanying smirk managed to put a watery smile on the priestess' face as well.

"Do you?" asked Kagome with a hysterical giggle. "That's surprising."

Youko smiled a true smile reminiscent of peace. Then all emotion faded for a moment, shadows beginning to well up behind his bright eyes, great clouds beginning to take his sight.

He raised a shaking hand to Kagome's face, daring to touch the priestess' cheek without asking, as he was wont to do. "Kagome," he said, using her name without a teasing lilt. "I think I could have spent a lifetime with you," he said "I think, dare I say, I could have even loved like a human with you."

Kagome felt her heart break, how could he admit that now? Of all times? She grabbed his hand, and Youko spared a glance at his uncle. The man would continue on without him, his death would be no great lose, but he hoped that his uncle would remember the lifetime they had spent together, lifetimes ago.

"War brings out the best in a person," Kagome sobbed out.

Then Youko Kurama's spirit fled his body, in a great scheme that the world wasn't ready yet to see hatched.

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A winged bat demon watched from the recesses of the forest edge as his long time comrade, and friend, was taken from this world. The priestess woman that he had seemingly hated so much was leaning over him and shedding tears for him.

"Damn it, Kurama," said Kuronue "You've tricked me once again, stolen what I never thought you'd steal."

Kuronue turned, his wings unfurling and his mind locking down again. He disappeared into the forest, heading back to a life of thieving and plundering, a life that he had learned and reveled in with a youkai that would no longer walk this Earth with him.

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It was hours later when the warriors and demon lords dragged their weary triumph back to the great halls of Sesshomaru, Lord of the West. They were all happy, all walking on air, even Kagome, when she could shuck the face of Youko Kurama from her mind.

Kagome turned, to answer Sango's question, when a bright orange ball of fur launched itself into her arms. "Shippo!" she shouted happily. Every one turned at her shout, smiling at her happy exclaim.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, spinning him.

"I thought it prudent he be brought here," said the fox Southern Lord shortly. He turned to his captains who trailed behind him. "Fix wounds, tally loses, but prepare after, we will head out at nightfall, we must return home where we clean up our own messes."

Kagome didn't blame the man for his curt attitude, nor his newfound stoicism. She knew he felt the loss of his nephew. As his captains left, she noticed Sesshomaru turn a corner further into his estate home, and join a small black haired girl, headed deeper into the estate.

"I'm so happy to see you Shippo," Kagome said into the boy's ears, hugging him tighter.

"Hey, runt," said Inu-Yasha, messing up Shippo's hair with a surprising smile alighting his face.

"Inu-Yasha," moaned Shippo, swatting at the half demons hand. Inu-Yasha only laughed, turning to Miroku and smacking the man on the back. He joined the throng of men that were cavorting and making plans to hold great festivals.

Kagome smiled at his retreating back. Inu-Yasha was being treated as a hero by these men, as he should have been all along. Kagome was happy for him. She noticed Sango slip a hand into Miroku's tired palm. An unblemished palm.

Kagome had so much to be happy for, but Shippo's next question made her remember all the things she had to mourn as well. "Where's Youko-san?" he asked, looking around and flicking his tail anxiously.

"Oh, Shippo," said Kagome, her voice tender. She new how much Shippo had wanted to know Youko, and learn about his kind from him. "Youko didn't…make it."

"What?" demanded Shippo, tears welling up behind his clear, innocent eyes "Why?"

"Shh," Kagome comforted, tucking Shippo deeper into her arms. "We can mourn that later, Shippo, now we have to celebrate, and help recover the losses that the world has suffered."

Shippo nodded, but kept his head tucked in securely against Kagome's bosom. He wasn't ready to face what was necessary, and Kagome didn't quite think she was either. The things that knowing Youko for that short amount of time had done to her was irreversible. He had surprised her, and it made her surprise herself in some ways as well.

However Kagome knew that she'd be strong for Shippo and strong for herself as well. If there was one thing that being in the warring states era had taught her it was one vitally important, undeniable lesson:

Reality was something one could never avoid; it came with the future, as all things did.

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One chapter left. Please review and let me know what you think of this tale, it would mean so much to me.

Thank you for reading so far!