"Inuyasha," Kouga greeted the next morning.
"Kouga. ...Sesshoumaru."
"...Inuyasha."
"Kagome!" the little cat chirped. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru snorted at her antics. "All right boys, we know why we're all here. Let's do this."
"You still haven't told me exactly how you plan to kill tha' bastard," Kouga muttered as Kagome began sniffing around, trying to pick up Naraku's scent around the oak tree.
"This one will snap his neck," Sesshoumaru growled, eyes glued to Kagome's petite figure.
"Right. And how are you going to get him to come out of his nest?"
"I'll dig 'im out like I did last time," Inuyasha smirked, lounging easily. "If I'd been a little quicker then, we wouldn't have this problem now."
"Or if someone else had been with us," Kagome said, casting the dog an amused glance.
"Feh, I guess that coulda helped too," he roughly agreed.
"So Kagome is going to find him, you're going to flush him out, and Sesshoumaru is going to snap his neck. Doesn't leave much for me to do," Kouga joked.
"You will protect Kagome," Sesshoumaru ordered, making the cat sputter indignantly. She opened her mouth to disagree, but a single look from Sesshoumaru quieted her. She pouted, sticking her nose in the air and resuming her search.
"Why?" Kouga asked, curious.
"Because you would risk your life for your mate and pups," the elder dog answered, his eyes once again drawn to Kagome.
Inuyasha and Kouga shared a confused look, but when Kagome looked back, her eyes were soft and thankful.
"I found his trail," she called out, "let's get going."
The three dogs loped towards her, eager to get this settled. Together they marched after her as she left the yard, moving down the street, closer and closer to the forest. As they neared it, Kouga's steps sped up, until he walked side by side with Kagome.
"Kagome," he whispered hoarsely.
"I know, Kouga," she replied, casting him an uneasy look. "Don't worry, Ayame is fine. Naraku doesn't operate during the day - that's why we're going now, to surprise him."
He struggled not to run off towards his den, helpless against the need to check on his pregnant mate.
"Stray."
"What?" he barked at Sesshoumaru, eyes narrowed.
"Calm yourself," the white dog cautioned firmly. "Our wits must be about us, or failure is assured."
Kouga grumbled but backed off, dropping back to walk with Inuyasha.
"We are awfully close to his den," Kagome murmured to her silent companion. "It probably doesn't mean anything, but could Ayame get hurt in the process of getting rid of Naraku?"
"It is doubtful," Sesshoumaru answered honestly. "Once the rat's nest is located, you will stand between it and the stray's den. Should the rat escape both this Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, it will be his responsibility to destroy the threat to his mate."
Kagome mumbled a soft okay, but otherwise kept quiet. This close to finally ending things, she didn't want to jinx it by saying the wrong thing. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Kouga needed to keep their focus - it wouldn't do for her to spread her anxieties and possibly cause that which she wanted to prevent. The cold promise in Sesshoumaru's voice helped to lessen her worries, though, so much so that when she stopped and silently indicated the entrance to Naraku's nest she willingly left with Kouga to find the back route - for surely there was one.
"Right, now it's my turn," Inuyasha grinned, stepping up to the small hole in the ground. It was located within the roots of a tree - no doubt Naraku had found this natural den and kicked out its previous residents. "Man, you're gonna get it, you bastard," the dog sneered.
Flexing his paws, Inuyasha began to furiously dig at the entrance, shoving dirt out between his hind legs. Behind him, Sesshoumaru worked to keep the dirt out from under their paws, and watched the entrance intently - once the opening was large enough, they would go as far in as possible and root him out. If Naraku tried to escape this way before then, Sesshoumaru was ready, drool pooling around his jowls as he imagined the feel of tearing Naraku to pieces in his jaws.
Around the other side of the large tree, Kagome suddenly stiffened and raced forward, ignoring Kouga's shout. There were more smells besides Naraku's at the exit to the nest - one smell in particular that she would recognize anywhere.
"This smells like Shippo," she said hoarsely when Kouga reached her side. "The scent of his fear is all over the exit, and what must be his mother's and father's scents as well. This was their home, and Naraku chased them out of it." Her head tilted forward, and her body began to shake.
"Kagome, it's going to be okay," the brown dog gently told her. "Your little runt is safe at the house."
"How...how DARE he," she yowled as her head jerked up, fur standing on end. "They were innocent! He destroyed their home from the convenience of being close to Inuyasha and me! He killed Shippo's parents for petty REVENGE!"
"Kagome-"
Before Kouga could stop her the little cat had raced down the tiny hole, leaving him barking and digging futilely behind her.
The darkness of being underground quickly closed in around Kagome, but she refused to be scared. Poor Shippo must have been scared, she thought, her anger becoming greater and greater. I'm going to make sure that rat can't terrorize anyone ever again.
As if thinking about him could make him appear, an oily voice suddenly spoke from the great blackness that surrounded her. "Ahhh, I wouldn't have expected you to be the first to appear, little kitten. No, I thought you would have hidden behind Inuyasha's paws like you did last time."
"I'm done hiding," she hissed, spinning towards the voice. "Why don't you come out as well? Unless you're scared of a 'little kitten'," she mocked. His answering hiss made her grin.
"Hardly," he snapped, and her ears flicked towards the noise. Eyes narrowing, she slowly made her way back towards the exit, placing herself between it and Naraku. "Only, it won't be any fun for you to die before Inuyasha. Especially after you spoiled all my plans by coming for me."
Kagome scoffed. "I sniffed you out last time - of course I'd do it again. But you can't lay a scratch on me, much less Inuyasha. You're a rat down to the bone, Naraku - and rats don't fight. They scurry and hide." She heard the angry sound of claws scratching dirt, and knew she was getting to him. In addition, she could hear Kouga now digging behind her, and Inuyasha's eager barks from in front. It wouldn't be long before they were beneath the tree as well.
"Can you hear them, Naraku?" she jeered. "That's the sound of your end. Once Kouga, Inuyasha, or Sesshoumaru are in here, you're finished. They'll tear you apart piece by piece."
"Then I'll at least take you with me!" he shouted, and Kagome was shocked when he suddenly leapt forward from where she'd assumed him to be, his long snout open in a snarl.
She screamed when Naraku's teeth pierced her skin, but reacted with lightning speed, raking her claws down his back and digging her own fangs into his neck. His answering squeaks pleased her, and with a mighty shove she got him off her. He landed on his back just in front of her, and Kagome was immediately upon him, biting his exposed belly.
Naraku wiggled and writhed so desperately beneath her, that when his movements began to slow Kagome thought he was done. She backed up slightly, keeping a firm grip of his neck. Her shifting allowed Naraku more room, however, and a paw came up faster than she could see and knocked her aside. She felt as Naraku's flesh ripped in her mouth, his blood dripping on the floor.
Opening her eyes, Kagome struggled to stand when she saw Naraku trying to crawl away into the darkness, no doubt hoping to hide and somehow sneak past one of the dogs. Behind her Kagome could hear Kouga still digging, but in front she saw a white head and shoulders pulling its way into the den.
"Sesshoumaru," she called, making sure to keep her eyes on Naraku. His red eyes stared back at her, and in them she could see him weakening, and the knowledge that he recognized the end. She allowed herself to quiet, knowing he wasn't going anywhere. It was only when a white face filled her vision that Kagome moved her gaze, staring up into glowing yellow eyes.
"Sesshoumaru," she said again, trying to rise.
"Kagome," he rumbled, the concern in his eyes evident. He leaned down, gently picking her up in his teeth. Behind them the sounds of Inuyasha struggling with Naraku faded away as Sesshoumaru took her from the den. The trip back to her backyard was taken slowly, and Kagome used that time to calm her heart and thoughts.
When they made it back Sesshoumaru set her down gently. Immediately he began licking her wounds, cleaning and soothing the injuries.
Kagome found herself giggling, touched by his obvious care and worry. "Sesshoumaru, I'm okay," she murmured.
"You are not," he denied, and Kagome huffed, secretly delighted.
"Will Inuyasha be okay?"
"The half-breed can care for himself. The same cannot be said for you," Sesshoumaru fairly snarled, but Kagome merely shifted closer to him, causing him to sigh and press his nose again her neck, his eyes closing. "You are foolish."
"I couldn't let him get away. Not after everything he'd done, and not after I realized he had killed Shippo's family."
Sesshoumaru paused in his grooming, mulling over her words. "Then when the kit was left in this one's yard..."
"They'd been forced from their home," she finished, hiding her face and her tears. "Naraku would slay a family to have his chance at hurting Inuyasha and I. Would trick, and lie, and kill for me."
"He can never hurt you again. And the kit is safe," Sesshoumaru comforted, laying his body around Kagome's as she curled up.
"I know, it's just...so much has been destroyed." She closed her eyes as Sesshoumaru licked her cheek, nuzzling her gently.
"It is over," he repeated softly, holding her close as if it would protect her battered soul. "And now, together, we will rebuild what he has broken."