Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.
A/N: Here is the 10th chapter. I would like to give special thanks to Sugar0o for helping me further the story. She had a wonderful idea for this chapter. Thank you!! Hope you enjoy, please R & R.
Italics: Thoughts
Bold: Emphasis
Underlined: Title
Chapter 10 – The Netherworld
"You can't be serious!" Sango exclaimed.
"Of course I am serious," a glimmer of his previous cold façade appeared on his face.
Ayame blanched, "If you go then let me go with you, it is my fault that this has happened…"
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha both shook their heads.
"No way, Ayame." Inuyasha stated.
"You are not to fault for this," Sesshomaru told her, "Kagome is naturally caring and protective. Nothing could have kept her from protecting someone she wanted too."
Ayame bowed her head, shame and guilt showing on her face. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her.
"However, big brother," Inuyasha grinned at him, "I will be joining you."
"No." Sesshomaru stated firmly.
"Yes," Inuyasha's grin faded, "She is my best friend, and she saved my mate and my child. I would never be able to forgive myself if I didn't at least try."
"This is not up for discussion…"Sesshomaru started.
Inuyasha interrupted him, "You're right, it's not, I'm going, and you cannot stop me."
Sesshomaru growled, "Fine! Just stay out of my way!"
Inuyasha grinned again, "Would I get in your way?"
Sesshomaru smiled a bit at this. Before, Inuyasha purposely would get in his way. They all went to Sesshomaru's castle to await Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and hopefully Kagome's return. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha went with them to make sure that they got there safely. Sesshomaru carried Kagome's body. He would put it somewhere safe until he could return with her soul. It would have to be quickly, or else her body would decay. Rin was upset that her adopted mother was dead. Kohaku wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. She sobbed into his shoulder.
"We must leave," Sesshomaru said, his son was in Sango's arms, "Take good care of my son, demon slayer, I am putting my trust in you."
"You saved my brother," Sango said, "and Kagome was like a sister to me. I will make sure Kazuhiko stays safe until his father and mother return."
Sesshomaru nodded and left, not waiting to see if Inuyasha followed. Inuyasha gave Ayame and their son one last kiss and took off after Sesshomaru.
"It will be quicker if we travel in my demon light," Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha nodded. Sesshomaru grabbed his wrist and they became a pure white ball of light and energy. Sesshomaru sent them streaking towards the gate of the underworld. Before long, they stood before giant stone doors. Odd symbols were etched into the stone.
"It has a barrier," Sesshomaru stated.
He pulled out Tokijin and took a swing at the barrier. When the blade connected, it blew Sesshomaru back several feet. Tokijin lay nearby, completely destroyed.
"Shit…" Sesshomaru growled.
"Hey, how are you going to get though the undead in the netherworld without a sword?" Inuyasha asked.
Sesshomaru looked at him, "Don't you remember Takemaru? The Tenseiga will not work on living beings, but it will work on those already dead."
"Oh…"
"First we have to get through this barrier," Sesshomaru growled frustrated.
Inuyasha grinned, "Leave that to me."
He pulled out Tetsaiga. It began to glow red. Inuyasha swung down with a yell, breaking through the barrier. He stepped back with a grin.
"How was that," he said, proudly.
Sesshomaru almost felt the urge to smile, "It seems you have come in handy after all."
Inuyasha snorted. "What are those," Inuyasha asked, pointing at the odd markings on the door.
Sesshomaru walked up to the door, "It is a warning. Living beings were not meant to cross over to the netherworld. It is stating that those who enter will not be allowed to leave."
"Well, that's creepy," Inuyasha said, uncomfortably, "How will we get back out?"
"I will not fail," Sesshomaru said, "Once we go through this door, there is no backing out, are you sure you are ready for this?"
Inuyasha nodded. Sesshomaru pulled out his Tenseiga, and together, the brothers opened the gate to hell. They both looked inside. It was dark, and evil permeated the air. As one, they stepped over the threshold. As soon as their feet crossed, the stone doors slammed shut behind them.
"Well, looks like we're locked in," Inuyasha looked around, "Depressing kind of place."
Sesshomaru nodded and made his way forward. The air smelled like death and fire. Soon, dead beings barred his and Inuyasha's way. In unison, they attacked, clearing a path for them to move forward. Suddenly, a person with long dark hair appeared before them. For a moment, Sesshomaru thought he was seeing Kagome, the resemblance was great. But before him stood, not Kagome, but…
"Kikyo," Inuyasha whispered, staring at the dead priestess.
"Inuyasha…" Kikyo stared at him with a look of hunger, "You have fulfilled your promise. You have come to spend eternity with me…"
Inuyasha snorted, "Not likely, I have a mate, and I love her and my son."
Kikyo grew angry, "You mated with my reincarnation, didn't you? That stupid girl could never give you what you need."
Sesshomaru growled and picked Kikyo up by the throat, "Do not ever speak about my mate that way!"
Kikyo's eyes widened, while Inuyasha laughed, "You're…? But…?"
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said, "This woman has insulted my mate, do you mind if I rid us of this filth?"
Kikyo turned pleading eyes onto Inuyasha, begging for his help. Inuyasha just shrugged.
"Go ahead, I care nothing for her anymore."
Sesshomaru let out a feral grin. He dropped Kikyo to the ground and sliced through her body with Tenseiga. Kikyo let out a slight scream as her body turned to dust.
"Let's go," Sesshomaru said, "We need to move quickly before we meet anyone else that wouldn't be pleased to see us."
"Too late," said a high, cold voice.
"Naraku!" Sesshomaru and Inuyasha growled together.
Naraku grinned at them. "Oh how sweet, two brothers working together."
Naraku seemed to be in his true form. His body was large and spider-like. But there was something odd. His body was made up of demons, and several demons were pulling away from his skin.
Sesshomaru suddenly realized what they were seeing, "Naraku, you are pathetic. You foolishly try to hold onto your demons, even after you have died. The more that leave you, the weaker you grow. Down here, you are nothing."
Naraku snarled, furious. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha attacked. Even though Naraku was weaker, he still had the power of many demons. Almost as fast as they cut him, he heeled. He laughed evilly, thinking he had them in his grasp. With a last effort, Sesshomaru stabbed his Tenseiga through Naraku's chest. As Sesshomaru leapt back, Inuyasha unleashed his Wind Scar, finishing him off.
"I did not need your help," Sesshomaru stated.
"Keh, you could just say thank you," Inuyasha said.
"I could have destroyed him without your interference…"
"Yeah right. You wouldn't have gotten through the barrier without me."
"I could have if you gave me the Tetsaiga."
"Oh, don't start that again…"
They both stopped as they heard a laugh. Looking up, they saw Kagome staring down at the, her eyes filled with happiness. A tall figure stood beside her. Sesshomaru didn't even notice the person standing beside her. He ran up and swept his mate into his arms. Kagome clung to him as he held onto her tightly. Sesshomaru heard a low laugh from beside them. He looked over. His eyes grew wide with surprise. There stood Inu Taisho, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father.
"Father…" Sesshomaru and Inuyasha said at the same time.
"I am proud of you, my sons, you have finally put aside your differences." Inu Taisho beamed at his sons.
"Why are you still here, I thought you would have moved on, after So'unga came back here to the netherworld," Sesshomaru said.
"Well, I was planning on it," Inu Taisho began, "But something held me here. Some feeling that I needed to stay. Then Kagome came, and when she told me that she was your mate, I knew that you would come for her, so I decided to stay and protect her from the evil here. I would have done the same thing for my Izayoi."
At the mention of his mother, Inuyasha asked, "Is…is she here? My mother?"
Inu Taisho shook his head sadly, "No she was so pure and good, she moved on quickly."
Sesshomaru's brows furrowed, "They why did Kagome not move on."
Kagome giggled, "So you really think I am pure and good?"
Sesshomaru kissed her hard, "Of course."
"Well," Kagome said, a bit breathless from the kiss, "Inu Taisho kept me here when I went to move on."
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha looked confused. Inu Taisho sighed and sat down. The others followed suit.
"You see," Inu Taisho began, "I knew that you would come for Kagome. When she died, she was at peace with death, knowing that she had saved the life of her son. Normally someone as good as her would immediately move on without coming to the netherworld. But, even good, pure people come to the netherworld if they left something unfinished in their life. Kagome didn't know it, but she ached knowing that Sesshomaru was in pain for her. That allowed her to come here. Her spirit was ready to pass on, but I managed to find her before she went. Once you move on, there is no way to come back. So I talked to her about you coming, giving her a reason to stay."
Sesshomaru shook his head. This was all confusing, "You keep say moving on, where does one's soul go from here."
Inuyasha perked up, interested.
Inu Taisho laughed, "That, my sons, I cannot tell you. For one thing I am not entirely sure. But also, the living are not meant to know what happens after their death."
They nodded, looking a bit frustrated.
"Now, back to business," Inu Taisho stood, the others standing also. He picked up a sword from the ground behind him.
"Is that…" Inuyasha started.
Inu Taisho nodded, "Yes, it is So'unga. I know that your demon sword has broken, Sesshomaru, so I am giving So'unga to you, if you can handle the demon within. The Tenseiga I gave you is a great sword, but not meant for protection. As you now know what it feels like to protect someone, I am granting you this sword."
Sesshomaru took the sword, looking down at it. For a moment, he felt the evil aura try to enter him, but he pushed it back with his own aura.
Sesshomaru looked at his father, "If I had told you I had someone to protect before, would you have given me the Tetsaiga?"
Inu Taisho pondered for a moment, "No, it would have been a lie. Even if you had received it, the Tetsaiga would not have transformed for you then. It will only transform for someone who feels the need to protect."
Suddenly, Sesshomaru grinned, "So I could wield it now, as I have learned to protect."
"Hey," Inuyasha protested, "you are not getting my Tetsaiga."
Sesshomaru just laughed, "Do not worry, little brother, I have So'unga now."
"So," Kagome said suddenly, she had been quiet, letting Inu Taisho explain to his sons, "how are we going to get out of here? I am ready to see my son."
Both sons looked at their father. He just shook his head.
"I have no clue how to escape the underworld. I have never tried, as I wouldn't have a healthy body to go back too."
Kagome looked a bit worried, she turned to Sesshomaru, "My body is okay isn't it?"
Sesshomaru smiled slightly, "Yes, my love, it is safe and waiting for your return."
"Well," Inuyasha interrupted, "let's get the hell out of here."
Inu Taisho began to glow, "I have done all I can for you, take good care of yourselves, and my grandchildren."
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both nodded, watching as Inu Taisho became a soft light, floating away from them. When he had disappeared, they turned and began heading back the way they had come. Without a word to each other, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood on both sides of Kagome, protection her from the undead. Kagome chatted about her talk with Inu Taisho, and about the others.
"I can't wait to see my son," she exclaimed happily, "And to see Ayame and Satoshi again. They are okay aren't they."
She looked at Inuyasha. He nodded. They finally reached the stone door. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru moved forward to try and open the door. They were both knocked back. Inuyasha readied his Tetsaiga. It began glowing red. He brought it down on the door. Again, he was repelled, and the door didn't budge.
"What the fuck!" he growled, picking himself up, "How are we going to get out?"
Sesshomaru drew So'unga and tried to cut through the door. The affect was the same. Sesshomaru snarled. He had to get Kagome out of the netherworld and to her body before it was too late.
"Wait a sec," Kagome ran a little ways away and picked up a bow and some arrows.
She tried shooting her sacred arrow at the door. Again nothing happened. She sighed in disappointment. Inuyasha was looking at her.
"If you're just a spirit, how come you can touch things?"
"Silly," she said, "in the netherworld I am solid. When we get back, I will no longer be able to touch things, I'll just be a spirit."
Inuyasha nodded, then again turned his attention back to the door. Try as he might, he couldn't think of a way to open the door.
"I've got it!" Kagome shouted.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha turned to her. She had an arrow notched back.
"I will shoot it with my arrow, at the same time, Inuyasha, use your wind scar, and Sesshomaru, use your Dragon Strike."
Both nodded and stood by Kagome. In unison, they fired. A great flash of white light had them covering their eyes. When they looked up, the door was open.
"Quickly," Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome and him and Inuyasha sped through the door. The door closed quickly, barely allowing them to escape.
"Whew," Inuyasha said, "That was close…hey where is Kagome."
Sesshomaru wasn't holding her anymore, and he couldn't see her. A tinkling laugh came from the air.
"I'm here, I just don't have a body." Kagome's voice came.
"Well, let us go to my castle and fix that."
Sesshomaru again took Inuyasha's hand and became a ball of pure light and energy. He felt Kagome's presence as she molded her spirit with his ball of energy. Sesshomaru sped to the castle, and straight to the room that held her body. They came to a stop beside the bed where the body was. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru watched as Kagome's body began to glow a soft pinkish. Her body raised a few inches of the bed, then settled back down. Kagome's eyes fluttered, and opened. She peered up at Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, "I'm alive again!"
Sesshomaru crushed her against him, tears leaking from his eyes as he held her tightly. Kagome squeezed him back. Inuyasha ran off to tell the others what had happened. Pretty soon, everyone was crowded in the room, hugging Kagome and asking her questions. Kagome finally was able to hold her son in his arms. After the excitement had faded somewhat, Koga and Kagura stood.
"I think we have accepted your hospitality long enough, we should get going…"
Koga was cut off my Sesshomaru, "Everyone here, including you two, are welcome to stay at this castle as long as they wish."
Everyone looked at each other and then started talking excitedly again. Kagome smiled and leaned against Sesshomaru. It seemed all her friends and family from this era would be close by."
Ahh, She thought, my friends, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kilala, Koga, Kagura, Ayame, Kohaku, and Rin. We won't be separated again.