A Single Strand

Chapter 14

The Full Force of Youkaibo

Sometime during the course of the night, Naraku had arrived with a final fleet of demon warriors. According to several of the demons, the new arrivals really didn't know how to fight before, but Naraku might have added to their program to make them battle worthy. It was then decided he was desperate.

Kagome had only caught a glimpse of Naraku during her time at Youkaibo. She had thought he had no distinguishing features, but when she saw him the next day, she knew she had been wrong. His eyes were violet and his features were so twisted they were almost inhuman. He seemed to enjoy the fact that he had been called down.

The second day of fighting was worse than the first.

Kagome had very few opportunities to try and shoot, she was confident that most of her shots could easily hit one of the demons on her side, so she held back, watching the fight.

Miroku, torn by grief at the loss of his wife, tore through the enemy demons like a wildfire in dry brush. He seemed to have lost his will to live and plowed through with little concern.

Kouga fought with the same determination that had driven him the day before, Inu Yasha next to him. Kagome thought they might be making a bet as to who could kill more enemies.

Shiori fought well for an hour. Kagome could tell the hanyou had almost forgotten the loss of Jinenji. There were several instances Shiori let her guard down and got hit for it.

Sesshomaru was a force on his own, single handedly taking on waves of demons.

From Kagome's position on the rise, she could almost believe they would win.

"How are we doing?" a voice asked from Kagome's side. Kagome looked down to see Rin, half hiding behind her.

"I think we might actually be winning."

Rin smiled slightly. She stepped forward to watch. Kagome pointed out Sesshomaru, and Rin nodded, watching.

"He's quite good," Kagome complimented.

"Yes. Thank you."

"I think he's fighting for you."

"Maybe. I don't think I have much to do with it. He's fighting because he's free now. I know that's what he wanted all along. Thank you for giving us an opening to gain it."

"It wasn't me."

"Sesshomaru-kun says it was, so I believe him. I shouldn't be here right now. He said I should stay back, away from the fighting."

"Inu Yasha said that to me too. But, I think they're right."

"You're in charge. If you hide while you're warriors are dying, you'll just be like Naraku."

"Yeah, I don't see him out there."

"He's not down there. He's hiding, issuing orders from the sidelines. What a coward."

Kagome fumed at that. If they could just kill Naraku, everything should be fine. With the head of the company gone, there would be no war.

"I'm going to leave now, Kagome. Bye!" Rin ran down the hill. Kagome turned back to the fight and saw a decent opening and shot an arrow. It hit the demon she was aiming for and it fell to the ground.

Everything seemed to be going fine. Kagome lost sight of Kouga, but Inu Yasha was still going strong. Miroku was annihilating anything that came his way. Shiori seemed to have picked up the pace. Sesshomaru was doing fine.

Then, the Inu Yasha's full-blooded counterpart froze and turned, earning him a hit from one of the several he was engaging. The one that hit him was instantly killed.

Sesshomaru seemed to be shouting, and he gave a gesture that meant go away. Kagome looked hard to see what he was yelling at.

Several more opposing demons leapt at him, and they were all cut down. Kagome watched, impressed at his speed and skill. Then, he froze once again. He walked slowly away and knelt on the ground, standing with something in his arm.

Kagome's brow furrowed. Sesshomaru was leaving himself defenseless? What could he be thinking? He looked around and walked quickly toward her. As he approached, she slowly understood what had happened. What he was carrying was Rin. The expression on his face –Kagome was shocked he had an expression – was stunned confusion, pain, and anger.

Sesshomaru arrived shortly and set Rin down beside Kagome. He gently brushed some stray strands of hair away from her face.

Kagome had seen death enough that she could tell Rin was dead. She watched quietly.

Sesshomaru stood and turned quickly. "Watch after her for me," he ordered. Then, he was gone. Raw furry swept in waves about him. Several of the demons around him fell back, terrified. Sesshomaru attacked, forgetting grace and skill to cut down as many as he could. It wasn't long before a vast number of demons surrounded him, and slowly took him down.

Kagome watched sadly. This war was terrible. It was taking so many innocent lives, like Rin and Shippou. Who else would it claim? Where was Naraku? He was the enemy. Kill him and win. End the senseless killing.

While scanning the crowd, looking for Naraku, Kagome finally spotted Kouga. He was crouching, fending off a couple attackers. Kagome knew they were out of range, so she abandoned her position and joined the fray.

She ignored the rest of the fighting as she made her way to Kouga's side. Once she caught sight of him, she fired arrows at the demons attacking him. "Kouga, are you all right? What happened?"

"Kagome, what are you doing here?" Kouga tried to stand, but failed.

Kagome knelt beside him. His left leg had been cut badly above the knee and the rest was mangled. Kagome flinched sympathetically.

Kouga smirked slightly. "I kinda messed up."

"Yeah, no kidding."

Kouga turned serious. "You shouldn't stay here, Kagome. It's too dangerous."

"I have to help you."

"Forget me. Save yourself."

"I can't do that. What kind of awakener would I be if I left the demon I awakened to die? I already left you once, so let me make up for it."

"Kagome, that's behind me."

Before Kagome could respond, Kouga shouted, "Look out!" and jumped at her. Kagome fell. Kouga was hit in the side by a large spear and slid on the ground when he landed. Kagome pulled an arrow out and shot the demon who had thrown the weapon before turning to Kouga.

The wolf demon was sitting, spitting out blood. He grimaced at Kagome, trying to play it lightly. "Told ya it was dangerous."

"Kouga!"

"I'm done now, Kagome. Nothing left for you to save."

"Don't talk like that. If I get you out of here…"

"I won't make it."

"Kagome!"

Kagome looked up to see Inu Yasha hurrying towards her. "Inu Yasha, help me."

"Hey, mutt. Get Kagome out of here for me," Kouga half asked.

"I guess that means I win," Inu Yasha snapped. He caught Kagome's shoulders and pulled her up.

"Wait, Inu Yasha, what are you doing?"

"What he asked me to, and what I know I have to." Inu Yasha started ushering Kagome away.

Spitting out a little more blood, Kouga muttered, "I love you Kagome. It might just be because you awakened me, but I was glad to know you. Thanks."

Kagome heard. "No, Kouga!" She broke from Inu Yasha. The hanyou slashed out at a few demons that were trying to take advantage of their distraction, and snatched Kagome again. "He's a goner, Kagome. Let's go."

Reluctantly, Kagome let Inu Yasha take her back up to the hill. She sat next to Rin's body.

"Inu Yasha, don't leave me," Kagome whispered.

"I'm not going to leave you like that. No way in hell. Don't worry about me. I'll be back in a bit, got it?"

Without waiting for her reply, Inu Yasha rejoined the fight.

Kagome sat, no longer even interested in the battle. The empty feeling hole that had formed when Shippou had sacrificed himself for her had grown. She felt helpless and alone. She rubbed her neck, feeling the tiny marks Inu Yasha had made.

She found him in the crowd and watched him carefully until nightfall, when both sides retreated once more.

……………

That night was quieter than the last. The demons and hanyou remaining talked quietly amongst themselves, discussing strategy or how many opponents they killed.

Kagome opted out of her walk around the camp. She had had enough of the war. If she could, she wanted to pull out of it, but she knew that if she chose that, all of her company would die. At least this way, they had a fighting chance for survival.

Miroku had passed out near where Kagome sat with Inu Yasha. He had a few cuts, a ton of bruises, but nothing life threatening. It was a wonder he lived through the day with the way he had fought.

Kagome broke down and was crying quietly into Inu Yasha's chest. Inu Yasha sat with his arms around her, petting her hair.

After her sobs had subsided, she started drifting off to sleep. Inu Yasha shook her gently. "Someone's coming."

Kagome dried her eyes and turned to wait. A short span of time later, a young demon walked up. "Commander?"

"Kagome please," Kagome replied quietly.

"Kagome-sama. We think the best course of action to be taken is an assassination. I have rounded up a group of twenty to sneak into Naraku's camp and take his life."

Do we still have enough that twenty is a small number? Kagome thought. If they were willing to risk their lives for the end, they could go. Kagome nodded. "Do what you will."

"Thank you, Kagome-sama."

"Good luck."

The young demon smiled, showing pointed teeth. "Who needs luck when you have skill. Assassination is my specialty. Thank you all the same. With your blessings we triumph."

The young assassin turned and disappeared in the shadows.

"He could have been a cute kid in a different life," Kagome mused.

"If kids come cute," Inu Yasha objected.

Later that night, the enemy camp was disturbed. None of the twenty assassins that set out came back.

……………

Kagome woke up the next morning, feeling half-rested and barely ready for the day ahead. Judging by the grumbles of complain from the rest of the crowd, she figured a lot of them felt the same. They set out and met up with the opposing force.

The fighting resumed with renewed intensity. With the first spilled blood, the demons awoke to their fierce nature. Kagome was more on the edge of the fight, picking out demons she didn't know and killing them, all the while looking for Naraku, who remained elusive as ever.

Until midday, there was no sign of Youkaibo's president. Kagome had worked her way inward when cries came from behind her. Turning, she realized they were sandwiched between Naraku's forces.

"Attack coming from both sides!" she shouted as loud as she could. The demons under her command snapped to stem the flow, but it seemed as if half of the opposing army had gone around to attack at their rear.

It was then that Kagome spotted Naraku. He stood away from the fight, watching the bloodshed with a joyous smirk.

"Naraku," Kagome whispered the name like a poison. She notched an arrow and sent it in his direction. The arrow seemed to decide it didn't want to hit such a powerful man and slipped away, landing in the ground behind him. Kagome continued to fight in the fray, keeping a close eye on Naraku.

Miroku broke out of the crowd to her left and ran forward, shouting, "Naraku!"

The dark haired man turned to him, and extended his hand. Small, chord-like bands formed out of his skin and shot at the fallen monk. They pierced skin at every spot they hit. Miroku was impaled and lifted off the ground.

With much effort, Miroku pulled out a paper talisman and stuck it to one of the cords that was stuck through his chest. The paper sparked to life, letting out a bright white light.

Naraku pulled back, letting the monk fall. There was a small burn on his hand. The head of Youkaibo smirked as he examined the wound. "That was pathetic."

Kagome gasped. "Naraku's a demon. We can't win."

Inu Yasha had been fighting next to Kagome. "Kagome, it's ok. He's not a demon. He's a hanyou," he said, putting his arm around his mate's shoulder.

"That doesn't make it any better. Did you see what he just did?"

"Yeah. But…he'll be easier to beat, seeing as he's a hanyou."

"You're a hanyou too, though."

"Yeah, but that's not the point."

"You're easier to beat, too, using your logic."

"Not the point."

"We can't win."

"Yeah we can. I'm going in. Are you with me Kagome?"

"We can't…"

"We can. Kagome…"

Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head slightly.

Inu Yasha gave her a pitying gaze. He gave her a quick kiss. "I love you." He turned and started walking away.

"Wait for me. I'm going to fight. Everyone else is. Miroku died to finish him, but it didn't work. But, we need a plan."

"Plan, shmlan. We'll wing it."

"But…"

"It's what I do."

"Ok…"

Still unconvinced, Kagome followed after Inu Yasha. The silver haired hanyou picked up his pace, closing the distance between himself and Naraku. Inu Yasha managed to move quietly enough that he avoided detection until he tried to strike. With a well-aimed swing, Inu Yasha tried to sever Naraku's head with the Tetsusaiga.

Inu Yasha met with an invisible force and was pushed back. Kagome stopped short, realizing it wasn't her arrow that refused to hit, Naraku was being protected by an invisible shield. She continued forward.

Naraku took notice of Inu Yasha and shot some of the bands at Inu Yasha. They hit the hanyou in the gut, pushing him back. Inu Yasha rolled to his feet. Already wounded in that area, Inu Yasha took a minute to recover. Blocking out the pain, he attempted the Kaze no Kizu. That, too, worthlessly bounced off the shield.

Naraku returned the attack, grabbing a hold of Inu Yasha's right arm and tightening. Inu Yasha dropped the Tetsusaiga. Kagome knelt and knocked an arrow. Taking careful aim, she let it go. It hit Naraku's cords causing him to let go of Inu Yasha. A second arrow followed. This one had a small bit of something silver around it, similar to Kikyou's.

The air in front of Naraku cracked, as if a car windshield was shattering. Inu Yasha charged forward, snatching up his sword. This time when the Tetsusaiga hit the barrier, the cover shattered. Before Inu Yasha's swing could make contact, Naraku picked Inu Yasha up and threw him away.

Inu Yasha bounded back. Naraku tried brushing him away, but Inu Yasha deflected him with the Tetsusaiga. With a furious look, Naraku switched targets to the more helpless Kagome. Inu Yasha dove into the pathway before the cords hit. Though he was hit, Inu Yasha sliced the bonds away.

"Inu Yasha?" Kagome wondered if her hanyou could continue fighting in this condition.

Inu Yasha coughed, a trickle of blood running down his chin. "I have a plan, Kagome. You need to shoot me."

"What?"

"You need to shoot at me. I want to make sure he's dead, so I want to use that attack I used against Kikyou."

"So you want me to shoot you?"

"Yep."

"Finally, a plan."

"You can do it?"

"Yes."

"Great. I want to get closer to him. Let's go."

Inu Yasha bolted forward. Kagome went in an arc, following Inu Yasha's destination, pulling out an arrow and snapping it onto the bowstring. Naraku attacked. Kagome was moving a little faster than he had thought, but he grazed her left side, arm and side of her face. Kagome was startled by the sudden pain, but focused on continuing on her way. Inu Yasha cut through the attack Naraku made at him.

"Now Kagome!" Inu Yasha shouted as he slid to a stop.

Kagome stopped as well, pulling her weapon up. She took careful aim and let it loose. Naraku's second barrage pierced through her chest and abdomen.

Kagome watched as Inu Yasha swung his blade. The start of the Kaze no Kizu connected with her special arrow and explode to the whirlwind of energy. That whirlwind connected full force with Naraku. Kagome fell to the ground and found that she had no ability to rise.

"Kagome," Inu Yasha reached her side and pulled her into his arms.

"Inu Yasha, did we do it?"

"Yes. Kagome, we did it! We won."

Kagome saw that Inu Yasha's golden orbs were filling up with tears.

"Fools!" the word echoed through the valley, stopping the fighting. Inu Yasha looked up, moving so that he could defend Kagome best. Naraku walked forward, disconfigured by the Bakaryu ha. "You think you have won? That you have defeated me? This is a lie. You all die here!"

And, saying so, Naraku burst into a purple smoke.

"It's poison. Don't breath it," Inu Yasha gasped, covering his face with a sleeve.

Kagome tried to listen, but the smoke seemed to enter her body from the gaping wounds and cuts. She cried out against the pain. Inu Yasha's grip around her tightened as he fell to the ground.

"Inu Yasha," Kagome whimpered.

"I'm here," Inu Yasha replied quietly.

"Before we die, I want you to know I love you."

"I love you too, Kagome."

"I'm kind of scared."

"Don't worry. I'm right here. Whatever comes next, I'll be right here beside you. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm glad."

"They'll have a party ready for us. Sango, Miroku, Shippou, my Brother and his mate, even that mangy wolf."

Kagome smiled. "That'll be nice."

Inu Yasha smiled back. "Yeah. It will be."

Kagome went limp in Inu Yasha's arms. Tears slid down his face. Around him, any of the demons that had survived up to that point were falling to the ground, the poison working through their systems. He ignored their final words as they passed on, thinking only of Kagome. Then, it was his turn as well. He fell forward, the last of his strength going to falling sideways so he wouldn't crush Kagome.

……………

And as they had once been completely eliminated in the histories of the races, so were they expelled again. No trace left of either side was found, and nothing will ever be known. Youkaibo, leaderless, will crumble and fall with age. It is not yet known if another industry will rise to take that place. All that is known, however is that once again, demons do not exist.

……………

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