My sincerest apologies for the extremely long wait, but I've been going through a lot these past few months. I decided that it was not fair to leave this story unfinished, so here is another chapter of The Final Straw.
This chapter is also dedicated to kagomexkazen, for helping me get my head in the game!
Enjoy!
Song Lyrics: "Brand New Me", by Alicia Keys.
And I do not own Inuyasha; all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi.
The time had arrived.
After almost four months of training and meditation, Kagome had finally reached her goal. She was a full-fledged miko demon-slayer.
"Well Kagome," Sango breathed. "There's nothing left for me to teach you. You're training is complete, and you are now a demon slayer. Congratulations."
"Thank you, Sango." Kagome sighed. Phase one of her plan was complete.
"Have you given any thought as to what weapon you want to use Kagome?" Sango asked.
"I commissioned Totosai to make me a weapon three weeks ago. I'm going to retrieve it tomorrow."
"Do you wish for us to go together?"
"No, I'm leaving at daybreak. You don't have to wake up early, Sango. It shouldn't take me long." Kagome smiled at her friend.
Sango returned her smile. She had to talk to Kagome about something, but she knew Kagome wouldn't like it.
"Kagome," she said softly.
Kagome turned to look at her best friend. Her aura was conflicted, and she knew something was wrong.
"Is everything okay Sango?" she inquired.
"I want to talk to you Kagome." Sango got straight to the point. "About Inuyasha."
"What about Inuyasha?" Kagome played coy.
"Kagome, I know he hurt you, but do you still intend kill him?"
You look surprised, your words don't burn me anymore
Been meaning to tell you, but I guess it's clear to see
Don't be mad, it's just the brand new kind of me
Can't be bad, I found a brand new kind of free
"No, Sango. No matter what he puts me through, I can never stop loving Inuyasha. I am more angry with myself for thinking that he could love me, and only me. I can never break the hold Kikyo has on his heart. But, even though I love Inuyasha, I won't stand for his foolishness." Kagome's hardened face became solemn." I won't let him hurt me anymore."
Sango felt for her friend. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her. A slight smile graced her face when she felt Kagome embrace her in return. "Kagome, you are so strong. And I'm so proud of you. I'm happy that you're not holding a grudge against him. It would become a weakness, the Jewel would surely take advantage of it, and you would share the same fate of Kikyo."
"I know, Sango. I know."
Sango rose, her dainty hands smoothing out the wrinkles in her kimono. She looked down at Kagome with a bright smile.
"Let's hurry and get to bed Kagome, tomorrow we go back to Edo!"
Kagome laughed, the sound like the chiming of bells.
"That eager to see Miroku?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Sango couldn't meet Kagome's eyes.
"I can see right through you Sango, you miss that hentai houshi."
Sango sighed. "Am I that obvious?"
Kagome smiled at her friend, she was hopeless. "I bet you're eager for him grope you too!"
Sango laughed. Her face soon became sullen. "It has been a while."
"Eww, Sango!"
Sango laughed. "Come on, you crazy miko. My hentai houshi awaits me in my dreams."
Careful with your ego, he's the one that we should blame
Had to grab my heart back
God knows something had to change
I thought that you'd be happy
I found the one thing I need, why you mad
It's just the brand new kind of me
It took a long long time to get here
It took a brave, brave girl to try
It took one too many excuses, one too many lies
Don't be surprised, don't be surprised
Bankotsu admired his new clothes. The old hag was a better seamstress than he thought. His clothes allowed him to move freely, yet they felt snug and soft against his skin.
"You look good Ban." came a slightly feminine voice from behind him. Bankotsu froze. There's no mistaking who that voice belonged to, but it was impossible.
Bankostu turned, his usual mask broken by shock. "J-Jakostu?"
"In the flesh!" The bluish figure giggled. "Well technically not flesh, but I can't think of a way to describe it. In the spirit maybe?"
Bankotsu blanched. "So, you're not alive?"
"No, I was sent to deliver a message." Jakotsu swung his legs from the branch that bared his weight.
"A message? From who?"
"I'm not allowed to tell you that aniki, but I have to tell you-"
"No!" Bankotsu yelled. "I don't have time for any stupid riddles, I have a mutt and a kumo to hunt down!"
"That's what I have to talk to you about! I was sent to tell you that you must not kill Inuyasha!"
"Why? Just 'cause he's your little bot toy-"
"Bankotsu! Listen to me! You have to team up with the miko and Inuyasha to defeat Naraku. But focus mostly on the miko, the miko must survive!" Jakotsu pleaded.
"I don't have time to play run around, I have to avenge the deaths of my brothers!" Bankotsu raged.
"You don't understand Bankostu, by doing this you will avenge us!"
"But-"
"I have to go now aniki. But remember what I told you, the miko must survive!" And as quickly as he came, Jakotsu disappeared.
"What the fuck?" Bankotsu whispered.
If I talk a little louder
If I speak up when you're wrong
If I walk a little taller
I've been under you too long
If you noticed that I'm different
Don't take it personally
Don't be mad, it's just the brand new kind of me
It ain't bad, I found a brand new kind of free
Oh, it took a long long road to get here
It took a brave, brave girl to try
I've taken one too many excuses, one too many lies
Don't be surprised, oh see you look surprised
Kagome sighed in relief s she and Kirara entered the mouth of Totosai's cave.
"Totosai!" she called.
"Ah, Kagome!" an age-withered voice responded. "Why are you here?"
Kagome smiled at the old man. "You told me to pick up my naginata today Totosai."
"Did I? Well, it's a good thing I finished it last week."
Kagome growled inwardly while the old mad shuffled into the dark recesses of his home. He reappeared moments later, carrying a long object tightly wrapped in purple silk.
"I, Totosai, present this Naginata of Tenjou, to you Kagome, the Shikon Miko.
Kagome gasped as the silk fell away, revealing her chosen weapon.
She reached forward and grasped the handle of the blade, her eyes widening in wonder as she felt her powers infuse with the power of the blade, and become one.
She picked up the surprisingly light blade, still marveling at its beauty.
"Kagome," Totosai called. "I also took it upon myself to make you a sheath for Tenjou. I believe everything is to your liking?"
Overwhelmed with joy, Kagome embraced the old man in front of her.
"Oh Totosai, they're beautiful! Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you?"
Totosai chuckled. "It is of no expense to you. Just take care of Tenjou."
Kagome fell to her knees and bowed. "I promise I will take very good care Tenjou. It is an honor to use a weapon created by you, Master Totosai."
Totosai laughed. "No need to bow Kagome, after all it is you that is the Shikon Miko. I should be bowing to you."
Kagome rose to her feet, dusting off her slayer uniform. It was exactly like Sango's, except hers was trimmed with lavender, whereas Sango's was trimmed with pink.
She sheathed her Tenjou, her smile bright. "Thanks again, Totosai. But Kirara and I must be on our way, Sango's waiting on us back at her village."
"Alright, be safe. And when you unlock Tenjou's ultimate power, come and see me immediately!"
"I will!"
Totosai watched as Kagome hopped on the back of the transformed neko demon. He felt the presence of Myoga, soon noticing the tiny flea sitting upon his shoulder.
"Do you think she can handle such responsibility Totosai?" Myoga asked.
"She doesn't have a choice," Totosai replied. "It is her destiny. And Kagome is strong, she is not the little girl she was when she first came to this world."
Hey, if you were a friend, you want to get know me again
If you were worth a while
You'd be happy to see me smile
I'm not expecting sorry
I'm too busy finding myself
I got this
I found me, I found me, yeah
I don't need your opinion
I'm not waiting for your ok
I'll never be perfect, but at least now I'm brave
Now, my heart is open
And I can finally breathe
Don't be mad, it's just the brand new kind of free
That ain't bad, I found a brand new kind of me
Don't be mad, it's just a brand new time for me
Sango sighed in relief as she dismounted Kirara. She was finally back in Edo. A broad smile lit up her face as she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"Sango!"
She turned around just in time to be tackled to the ground by an overjoyed houshi.
"Sango! You have finally returned to me!"
Mocha orbs met violet ones, the sounds of laughter dispersing the silence of the clearing as they tackled one another, rolling in the grass.
"Sango my dearest, life has been so dull without you." Miroku grinned.
Sango blushed. "I-I missed you too Miroku." she stammered.
Kagome watched the two with a solemn smile on her face. "Those two were made for each other."
"Ah, Kagome!" Miroku greeted as he rose, also helping his fiancé get to her feet. "It's good to see you- what the hell are you wearing?!"
"What?" Kagome asked. "It's just my slayer's uniform- Miroku are you okay?"
She watched as Miroku fell to the ground, blood flowing from his nose.
"Is he okay?" she asked Sango.
Sango's face contorted with anger. "He'll be just fine." she said through grounded teeth. She watched as Sango delivered a swift kick to the houshi's midsection and stomped towards Kaede's hut.
Kirara and Kagome exchanged confused looks, and followed Sango towards the village.
Kagome's face fell into an unreadable mask as she sense the familiar- though unwelcome- auras inside Kaede's hut.
"Well, well," a monotone voice spoke as she entered the hut. Kagome felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as that voice washed over her.
"Kikyo." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The runaway miko has finally come home. Have you forgotten your duty to the Jewel?" Kikyo spat venomously. "Do you forget that it was you who shattered the Jewel, and then failed to banish it from this world?"
Kagome's eyes narrowed in frustration, her brown eyes flashing in anger. "Well, Ms. Perfect, if you had done your duty and purified the Jewel then none of this would happen! Instead, you let yourself fall in love with Inuyasha! And then you were too weak to notice that Naraku had set you up! Don't you dare condescend me!"
"Shut up! It was never my duty to purify the Jewel!"
"Yes it was! But because you were inadequate the kami had to create me, and now I'm stuck with the burden of your failure!"
"You are the failure, you poor excuse of a priestess!"
"I am a far better priestess than you could ever imagine to be!" Kagome screamed. "And if you ever insult me again, you will wake up in hell before you even realized I killed you!"
"I would love to see you try!" Kikyo spat.
The two auras clashed, the pink of Kikyo's trying to overpower Kagome's lavender.
"Submit!" Kikyo growled.
"Never!"
Kagome released the spiritual binds on her aura, the sudden release of power blinding the observers who sat in the hut in shock.
Kagome's aura dominated Kikyo's, forcing it back into her body so quickly Kikyo was knocked unconscious.
"Kagome!" Sango yelled, she had finally had enough. "Kagome stop! The pressure could kill her!"
"She must learn to submit to her superiors!" Kagome's now lavender eyes fell on Sango. "She must learn!"
"She knows now Kagome! Stop it!"
Kagome froze as she felt another aura approach the hut.
In a flash, Inuyasha burst into the hut, kneeling at Kikyo's side.
"The hell are you doing, K'gome? Cut it out, you're gonna hurt her!" he said frantically.
Kagome growled, her aura pressed harder, causing Kikyo's body to contort painfully.
"Kagome please! I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry! But please don't take it out on her!" Inuyasha pleaded. He rose from Kikyo's limp form, his steps tentative as he walked towards Kagome.
"Don't come near me!" Kagome's voice resonated with her power.
"Kagome," Inuyasha whispered. "Please-"
"No!" Kagome screamed.
Ignoring the pain coursing through his veins as Kagome's purity fought against his demon, Inuyasha grabbed the young priestess, crushing her tiny form against his.
"Kagome," he said. "This isn't you. Please, come back to us Kagome. Come back to me."
Tears fell from her face as Kagome's aura calmed. "In-Inuyasha." she whispered.
"Kagome," he whispered. Chocolate eyes met with amber, and Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat.
Slowly, his head leaned towards Kagome's, his eyelids lowering.
"Is he about to kiss me?" Kagome thought. "H-he can't! He already made his choice!"
Kagome suddenly jumped back, shoving Inuyasha away just in time as an arrown embedded itself in the wall behind them.
An irate Kikyo stood at the other end of the hut, bow still clutched tightly in her fist.
"Don't forget Inuyasha," she said. "You have already made your choice. It would be dishonorable to go back on your word."
Inuyasha's eyes widened with realization. "What the hell came over me just a second ago? I almost kissed Kagome!"
Inuyasha's eyes couldn't meet Kagome's. Or Kikyo's. "But I love Kikyo." he told himself.
Inuyasha watched Kagome's feet as she rose and headed out the hut. He heard Sango and Shippo call her name, they also followed her out the hut.
"Don't I?"