Chapter 21

Tears of Sorrow

Hitomi knew his death was coming as the Tetsusaiga was only seconds away from striking him, and the half demon was unable to reassemble enough of his body to move away and his strength was nearly depleted after weathering Sailor Moon and Inuyasha's combine attack. He closed his eyes and brought up his remaining arm in a vain attempt to block the blade.

A second later he heard something intercept the blade as it stopped short of its target. Hitomi didn't feel the blade had struck him, but when he opened his eyes he was horrified at what he saw. Ami was standing in front of him with the untransformed Tetsusaiga going through her left lung. Blood dripped through her mouth and the wound as she muttered a few words only Hitomi heard before falling face first towards the ground.

Hitomi caught her with his remaining good arm he looked down at Sailor Mercury's lifeless form. He was unsure if she was still alive or dead, but none of it mattered at that moment. Sorrow swelled up in him as he began to weep, he stopped when he heard Inuyasha coming at him to finish Hitomi off with his bare hands. At that moment something stirred up in him. A crimson demonic aura surrounded Hitomi as his body began to regenerate faster than ever before. Fangs could be seen from his mouth while his eyes began to glow bright red.

"Murder!" Hitomi shouted in a deep inhuman voice followed by a blood-chilling howl as the outbreak of demonic power sent Inuyasha flying back. Within a few seconds his body had completely regenerated, but in his restored right arm laid a glowing ping-pong ball sized jewel in his hand, but it was missing a small shard on the surface. It was glowing bright with a dark power, but those who were seeking in the past recognized it almost immediately.

"That's the Shikon Jewel!" Mirkou declared as he remembered the jewel.

Kagome had always suspected the jewel was inside Hitomi's body just as it was inside hers when she was born as Kikyo's reincarnation. Although she made no attempt to extract it, but she suspected that during the battle it must have emerged from his body after all the damage that had been inflicted upon it. But the focus was now on Hitomi's eyes. They had changed, and it was when that Kagome realized what was happening.

"His demon blood has awakened!" Sesshomaru warned as he smelled the change in Hitomi's scent as his blood was no longer that of a half-demon, but one of a full-fledged demon. The half-demon's eyes were a sure sign of it as the sclera of his eyes had turned blood red while his iris had turned into a bright green with his pupils becoming slit-shaped.

Inuyasha tired again against Hitomi, but a surge of youkai energy from Hitomi generated a black dome-shaped barrier around him, upon when Inuyasha crashed into it he was electrocuted by dark energy before he was sent flying back. Meanwhile he inserted the Shikon Jewel into Ami's body before he used that same hand to withdraw the Tetsusaiga from Ami's body.

Expecting the sword to reject him, Inuyasha grinned, but when Tetsusaiga didn't…he was surprised. The blade transformed and Hitomi lifted the blade up and shouted.

"Kaze no Kizu!"

He blasted Inuyasha with a bust of the Tetsusaiga's original technique. Inuyasha never saw the attack coming since was expecting Hitomi to be too weakened to do anything else and the sword should had rejected him. He caught the attack head on before he could evade it, but Hitomi wasn't done with him yet.

He swung the sword again sending a wave of Kongosouha spears that impaled Inuyasha through the legs and arms and two in his chest and stomach. Kagome was horrified at what her son had done, but before the Sailor Senshi could react to the fast moving events a whirlwind of Miasma formed around her child and Ami right before the two disappeared and Miasma disappeared.

"Ami!" Usagi shouted as she rushed to the site where Hitomi was standing last.

Meanwhile Sango and Mirkou rushed over to Inuyasha's fallen form. Mirkou knelt down next to the bloody and cut up form of the half demon as he checked him for a pulse. He still has a pulse. Thought Mirkou before he jumped up to his feet and shouted to Setsuna.

"Setsuna call for a doctor. Inuyasha is still alive, barely, but he is alive."

Setsuna rushed to summon an ambulance, but when Miroku looked around for Kagome he noticed that she was gone. "Sango where is Kagome?"

The female demon hunter searched the area, but a car noise drew her attention. Sango saw a small vehicle driving off into the distance. Kagome was driving after her son by tracking his movements through the presence of the Shikon Jewel he was carrying. She was determined to reach her son and ensure that no one would hurt him again.

"I think I saw Kagome car driving away." Sango announced, as everyone knew what the woman was up to.

"Don't tell me…Kagome is going after Naraku." Usagi said pointing out the obvious.

"Looks that way…she must be using the presence of the Shikon jewel Naraku is carrying to follow him."

"Well she is probably long gone by now, so what do we do?" Shippo asked.

"I don't know if we can still follow her but maybe" Haruka began, but she looked she noticed that Sesshomaru had slipped away, most likely chasing after Kagome to lead him to Hitomi. "Great now Sesshomaru is gone."

"Any ideas how we can follow them?" Minako asked.

"I don't know?" Setsuna said while everything was debating what to do.

Down the road Kagome was driving down the street heading to the highway while she was trying to keep up with Hitomi by following the presence of the Shikon jewel he was carrying, but he was moving further and further away. Kagome had to keep up if she was going to follow her son. However, unknown to her Sesshomaru was hot in pursuit.

Later that afternoon as emergency vehicles arrived at the destroyed Mugan Academy to tend to anyone trapped under the rubble or injured in the devastation. Inuyasha was rushed to the near hospital in critical condition along with Hotaru, but thankfully the young woman was in better shape than Inuyasha was. Usagi and the others stayed behind to assist with the emergency crews to help those injured in the destruction of the academy.

Makoto was helping an injured student to her feet while Usagi and Mamoru were helping rescue workers shuffle through the rubble. A short distance away, Rei and Minako were talking as they were assisting rescue workers with searching the rubble for anyone trapped underneath.

"You think Ami, Inuyasha and Hotaru will be alright?"

"Hotaru should be fine, I don't know about Inuyasha or Ami. I hope that they'll be alright."

"I am a little more about Kagome…what if she does manage to catch up with Naraku?"

"Then maybe Sesshomaru will bail her out."

"I hope so."

A few hours later out in the countryside, more than ten miles outside the city, Kagome had parked her car at a small lookout that some tourists would travel to so they could enjoy an excellent view of the forest below them from the small mountain from which Kagome was standing upon. She felt the Shikon jewel straight head at the heart of the forest. Although she saw nothing but trees, the young woman was one hundred percent certain that the jewel was there. Kagome searched for a trail that would lead her down into the forest.

Meanwhile at the same time at Tokyo Local Library, which was roughly seven blocks away from the Mugan Academy: Setsuna, Michiru and Haruka were gathered around a computer with Setsuna typing on the keyboard. Not long after emergency vehicles had arrived the trio left to do a little research.

"Setsuna exactly what are we looking for?" Haruka asked.

"Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both possess an incredible sense of smell correct?" Setsuna asked.

"Yes." Michiru answered.

"I spoke Sesshomaru and asked him if he had detected any signs of Naraku hiding in the city, and he told me that he was unable to find a trace of smell to follow let alone any signs of an invisible barrier hiding his place of refuge anywhere in the city."

"I see…then you think wherever his hideout is must be outside the city." Haruka commented as Setsuna nodded.

"Right, and if Naraku is really anything like his predecessor then he must be hiding in a remote location outside the city. Most likely the forests would be a good place."

"Then what information a library computer could do to help us?"

"If he is hiding in a forest or anywhere that may seem like the possibility of people stumbling across it is low…then maybe there might be a news report of any strange occurrences or any missing hikers who have disappeared lately in the same area." Setsuna answered as she was shuffling through news reports with any mention of disappearing hikers while she was writing down on a notepad next to her the locations of where they were last seen.

Deep within the forest, Kagome was moving forward in the direction where the Shikon jewel was located. The presence of the jewel grew stronger with each passing moment as she drew nearer to the jewel. Suddenly she bumped into an invisible wall of some short. Kagome was knocked down onto her rear end, but she got up taking a stick into her hand to tap against the barrier.

Kagome had found where her son had been hiding, inside an invisible barrier. Tossing the stick aside she placed the palms of her hands against the barrier and began using her miko powers to weaken the barrier enough for her to pass through. It took several minutes of struggling and applying enough spiritual power to weaken the barrier enough for her to pass through. Once inside she saw nothing but dead trees and vegetation ahead of her. The smell of miasma filled the air and it was clear what had killed the plant life within the barrier, but thankfully Kagome's powers shielded her against the poison mist.

Kagome moved forward as she walked through the barren environment, but along the way she passed by the bones of forest critters and animals that must have been unfortunate enough to end up trapped in the barrier at the time of its creation, but Kagome soon discovered some remains that belonged to a group of hikers who must have also been trapped within the barrier at the time of its creation and were eventually killed by the miasma.

Five minutes passed before Kagome reached a large clearing where she saw something that stirred up memories of the past. A large warring states era castle of a familiar design. The young woman moved on as she approached the castle gates. Standing in front of them for a moment, Kagome drew an arrow from her quiver and took aim with her bow. She let the arrow fly as the explosion of holy energy destroyed the gates in an instant.

The remains of the large gate fell to the ground kicking up a cloud of dust, but the dust had a chance to settle the priestess walked straight into the castle courtyard heading for the castle keep. The smaller class demons that acted, as guards didn't dare approach or stay anywhere near the woman.

It didn't take Kagome long to walk into the castle's interior through the main entrance. The air inside the main keep was surprisingly miasma-free, which meant that Ami was also here. Kagome searched the castle and eventually entered a room to find Hitomi sitting down with his back against the wall wearing a blue and white kimono with Ami lying down on a floor mat with a blanket over her a few feet away from Hitomi.

"Hello mother…I see you have found me. Have you come to kill me for murdering Inuyasha?" Hitomi asked with venom in his voice.

"No…I never wanted your father to hurt you or Ami." Kagome answered sadly.

"Then what brings you to my humble home."

"Hitomi I know you have the Shikon Jewel in your possession, which was how I tracked you here. You can use to become human and then maybe your father will stop hurting you. Maybe you can do it without the final shard." Kagome allowed a few tears to fall from her eyes.

"No…I like being this way mother. I refuse to give up this power, and besides how can you guarantee that Inuyasha won't kill me thinking I am trying to trick him. Even if he doesn't, people like those teens who burned me alive won't attempt to murder me again. Humans are cruel and foolish creatures…why would I want to become one."

"You can't be serious."

"But I am…my real father told me the potential I possess and I intend to go the limit. Then I'll free Ami from her slavery at the hands of Sailor Moon and prove that such a thing called destiny is merely a word made up by fools."

"Your real father?" Kagome asked, as she was confused. Suddenly a very familiar laugh was heard throughout the room as all eyes turned to an ancient looking mirror hanging on a wall near by. Kagome looked at the mirror as her heart sank when she saw the face of a man whom she loathed and hated. "Naraku!"

"Kagome it's been awhile." Naraku spoke with a sinister smile as a ghostly image of his face appeared inside the mirror.

"But how?"

"Although I made it that the Shikon jewel would reappear in my reincarnation namely your son…I attempted to also arrange that when he reached a certain age I would take over his body and use it as my own, but something happened that I never would have expected. The lingering influence of Kikyo and Midoriko still remained in the jewel and they prevented me from taking possession of your son's body, but that didn't stop me from being there for him when he was cruelly mistreated by those teens and Inuyasha."

A horrified and shocked Kagome was left speechless as Hitomi added to the story.

"After Inuyasha tried to kill me...I fled the city out of fear for my life I heard the voice speak to me again. He told me how to use my newly gained gifts, the demonic spells I used, the creation of barriers, everything Naraku knew he passed on to me so I could survive in this cruel reality. From there I spent the pass two years collecting strong demons to assimilate into my body and artifacts and spells I could utilize. That was until I discovered Sailor Moon and the Death Busters while one of my attachments was stealing a scroll from the home of a wealthy man."

"Your son Hitomi knew that with the power of the grail he could become invincible and not to mention the power he could gain if he absorbed Hotaru and Mistress Nine into his body." Naraku added.

"How could you do this to my son…you twisted you monster!" Kagome spat.

"ME a monster." Naraku began laughing humorously. "Let's examine that accusation shall we. True I made the lives of your friends including Inuyasha's a living hell, but the parental abuse your husband inflicted upon and the fact that if you loved your son so much then why didn't you look for him? Then allowed a…monster…like me to raise him?"

Kagome was crushed by Naraku's words, as each word he spoke was another blow to her heart and soul.

"You and father weren't there for me when I needed you two the most and you stood by while Inuyasha tried to kill me. Naraku on the other hand didn't abandon or try to kill me he saved me and taught me how to use these gifts." A slightly angered Hitomi announced. "His original plan may have been to gain possession of my body, but due to the way Kikyo's lingering will combined with Midoriko's will keep him from ever possessing me I have decided to award him for his help."

"What?" A tearful Kagome asked.

"I am making him a new body for which he can inhabit." Hitomi answered as he pointed over a near by blue vase with bubbling white oily-liquid and pulsing flesh inside sitting in the far corner opposite of where Hitomi was sitting.

"You can't be serious?"

"He has earned it…right father?"

"Right" Naraku replied with a venomous smile. "Being a good parent does pay off."

"Maybe it does, but I'll be damned before I allow you to return to the world of the living Naraku." A new voice declared as Sesshomaru emerged from the shadows right behind Kagome. He drew his sword Toukijin from his belt and aimed the blade at the jar containing Naraku's new body.

"Sesshomaru, but" Kagome was shocked to find that her brother-in-law had followed her.

"I followed your scent when you chased after Hitomi." Sesshomaru answered as he sent a blast of Youkai energy at the jar determined to destroy it before the creature inside could be born, but both Hitomi and Naraku smiled. Just before the surge of energy could hit a small barrier appeared around the Hitomi, Ami and the jar to shield them from the blast.

When the smoke from the strike cleared the jar itself began cracking while it was shaking. A moment later at the same time the ghostly face of Naraku vanished the jar burst open as a newly born detachment was trying to drag itself to its feet. The creature was an identical twin to Hitomi except the creature's hair was white.

"Not bad…good work Hitomi." Naraku commented.

"Thank you" Hitomi pulled from his sleeve the Shikon jewel as he examined it "I have the Shikon jewel, and with its power I'll finish Inuyasha and Sailor Moon off."

"No" A new voice said weakly as all eyes turned to Ami who was at that moment regaining consciousness. "Hitomi don't kill my friend."

"Your friend has enslaved you Ami don't think that I don't know anything about this destiny of yours to forever protect the princess of the moon. I already know you also died once as a result of that so called destiny at the North Pole when you fought against the Dark Kingdom."

A surprised Ami looked at Hitomi "How did you know?"

"I know everything including about the future of this Crystal Tokyo thanks to the memories I looked at through Usagi and Chibi-usa thanks to Arael who probed their minds for me. I know your future Ami and frankly I don't like it…so either I'll force Usagi to free you or…if I am left with no other choice then I'll have to kill her."

"Please don't Hitomi!"

"She has already brainwashed you Ami…I won't allow you to become that fool's puppet. Come with me and together we can have everything. Take my hand and come with me and I will free you." Hitomi said as he offered his hand. But much to his disappointment Ami rejected and Hitomi was disheartened by this act. "Fine…I deal with them myself, but rest there is the matter of recovering the final shard of the jewel."

"The final shard?" Kagome asked.

"Yes we both know who has it, and I have already sent Arael ahead to find it. I'll be joining him to capture the shard. Tentai has been instructed to meet me there. Naraku I'll leave these two to you. Your new body should have more than enough power to deal with them." Hitomi said as he disappeared in a cloud of miasma. Naraku grinned at them as he created a Chinese jian in his hand out of miasma.

"You know I have been looking forward to facing you two again. I'll kill you both and then present Kagome's head to Inuyasha before I finish him off if he isn't already dead by now."

"Naraku…I'll send you to hell one way this time." Sesshomaru declared as he put Toukijin away.

"Not using the re-forged Toukijin are we?" Naraku pointed out.

"No, but" Sesshomaru drew the Tentseiga while Kagome armed herself with another arrow.

"I am going to make you pay for corrupting my son Naraku."

"Now don't try blaming your failure as a parent on me again. After all…you were NEVER there for him when he needed you and Inuyasha the most. I was a better role-model and parent than you were." Naraku mused as he mocked Kagome, which only angered the woman more.

"SHUT UP!" Kagome shouted as let an arrow fly. Naraku raised his sword up and blocked the incoming arrow. Although the sword exploded, Naraku was unharmed, but the blast sent him flying out the window behind him. Naraku landed in the middle of the courtyard with Kagome and Sesshomaru rushing out to engage him.

The newest detachment created by implanting the part of Hitomi's soul that bore the manifested mind of Naraku smiled at the two as the hurried towards him. He created a new court sword, but this time it was made out of Kongosouha. The battle between the demon lord and the priestess began. Meanwhile roughly at the same time: Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru drove to the outskirts of town to investigate some of the three areas at the top of their list where the most disappearances of hikers and strange occurrences happened.

But on the way they discovered Kagome's car parked at one of the lookouts. The trio parked the car they were driving right next to it before getting out to take a look around. "This is Kagome's car, but where is Kagome?" Michiru asked as she looked down at the forest for any sign of the woman.

"She can't have gone too far, but" Suddenly the trio saw something emerge from the middle of the forest, the top of the dome shaped invisible barrier that kept Hitomi's castle hidden became visible for a few moments as a swirling cloud of miasma emerged before rising up into the sky.

"That must be Naraku?" Setsuna pointed out.

"Then that must be his castle down there hidden behind an invisible barrier." Haruka added before Setsuna said.

"What are we waiting for…let's go down there. Kagome might be in danger."

"What about Naraku?" Michiru asked.

"I'll follow Naraku if I can and see where he is going, while you two get down to his castle and see what is going on." Setsuna answered before getting back into the car. "I'll contact the others if I require assistance." Haruka nodded before Setsuna turned the key to start the engine up before driving off.

"Let's getting moving!" Haruka told her companion as the two searched for the nearest trail to lead them to the forest below.

Meanwhile the battle between Naraku and Kagome with the aid of Sesshomaru waged on as Naraku produced a powerful barrier over himself and Sesshomaru to shield himself from Kagome's arrows while he faced Sesshomaru in melee combat with their swords. Naraku assaulted Sesshomaru with blinding speed and thrust assaults from his new sword, as the demon lord was moving to evade Naraku's attacks.

"What's wrong Sesshomaru I am too fast for you to keep up with?" Naraku mocked as one of his thrusts with his court sword left a cut above Sesshomaru's shoulder, but Naraku had brought himself close enough for the dog demon to head butt Naraku in the face sending him straggling back.

"Our fight has just begun Naraku!"

While Naraku was stunned for a moment causing the barrier protecting him to drop, Kagome released another arrow as it struck Naraku in the chest. The holy energies caused his body to explode, but Kagome prepared another arrow just in case. Sesshomaru was about to use the Tentseiga to open a portal to send what remained of Naraku's body straight to hell, but the demon suddenly collected his remains and attacked Sesshomaru with a kick to the face.

"You should remember Sesshomaru…even back in the feudal era I was very hard to kill."

"True…but you will not leave this castle alive." Sesshomaru declared, as he was ready for more.