Porcelain
by Juul

Chapter 25: Tear Meat From the Bone

Kohaku and Miroku ran at full speed towards Naraku's castle. Kohaku was slowly regaining his memories of it's location. The moon was high in the sky, and the forest they were running through was deep and dark. Silence was in the air. Silence other than the monk and the slayer running. This was it. The day of Naraku's atonement was here.

"THIS WAY!" Kohaku screamed to Miroku, leading the way.

They were getting awfully close to the castle now. Oh yes, thought Kohaku, Naraku, you are THROUGH!

Miroku followed Kohaku, trying to contain his anger. He was saving it for Naraku.

After maybe five minutes, they came to a large hill. On top of said hill was an enormous, morbid structure: Naraku's castle.

Kohaku looked up, stopping for a moment to catch his breath. "We're... here..." he panted, putting his hands on his knees. "He's through..."

Miroku also stopped for a moment. He slowly looked up to the castle. "Kohaku," said the monk, "I know it's hard to contain yourself, but try to be careful when fighting him. Naraku is not an opponent one usually takes on alone. He's dangerous and unpredictable."

The boy whipped around and gave Miroku a nasty look. "Contain my anger?" He asked in a sarcastic voice. "I've BEEN containing my anger! That filthy monster USED ME! He made me KILL my FAMILY! And worst of all, he RAPED MY SISTER! My sister, Sango, the only person who doesn't think I'm a total untrustworthy waste..."

Miroku stood, staring at the boy in disbelief.

"You thinking of backing out?" yelled Kohaku. Miroku shook his head. "Good." Kohaku started hiking up the hill. "Let's go!"

They started the climb up the hill, straight to the battle of a lifetime.

00000000000000000000000

The dead of night. All was still. The monk and the boy had made it to the courtyard of Naraku's castle. The place looked like a desolate wasteland; the ruins from a horrible epidemic that seemed to have eliminated all forms of life. There was an epidemic all right, and it was just learning of the intruders from Kanna and her scrying mirror.

"NARA--!!" Kohaku went to scream for Naraku, but Miroku clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Shh!" warned Miroku. "Think for a minute... Do we really want Naraku to learn of our presence? He could have armed guards or something!"

Kohaku shook his head, then gave Miroku a threatening look. Miroku took the hint and took his hand off Kohaku's mouth. "Miroku," said Kohaku in a low voice, "There are no guards. All he has left is Kanna, and all she's good for is spying on people."

Miroku nodded. "NARAKU!" he called. "SHOW YOURSELF!"

All was still.

"I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!"

Silence.

"COME OUT! YOU COWARD!"

There was a slight rustle of leaves. Miroku and Kohaku looked around. Kohaku slightly raised his chain sickle, and Miroku held up his staff in defense... just in case.

Evil laughter was heard from somewhere in the shadows.

"Naraku!"

"Of course," said Naraku, stepping into view from within the shadows. "Who else could it possibly be?"

"You must have a death wish!" said Miroku.

Naraku smiled cruelly. Then he turned to Kohaku. "So, I see you've brought the brat with you..." Kohaku tightened his grip on the chain sickle. "Kohaku, do you like your memories that I have so carefully shielded from you for so long? Does it hurt?"

"SHUT UP!" screamed Kohaku, throwing the chain sickle at Naraku. It hit, slicing his right shoulder about halfway down. The weapon fell to the ground and Naraku's wound regenerated as if nothing had happened.

"You think you could get away with that?" asked Naraku in a taunting voice.

Miroku threw some scrolls at Naraku; they dissipated as soon as they touched him, not leaving a single mark.

Naraku smiled. "I'm not that easy to get rid of."

Kohaku could no longer contain himself. "Come on! Let's get this over with!" Naraku and Miroku turned to look at him. "You can't be killed? Prove it! Just tell me how to start this off! Don't keep me waiting!" He ran towards Naraku, slicing him up numerous times with the chainsickle.

The demon fell in four pieces to the ground. Kohaku crouched in front of him, breathing heavily. "Is he dead?" asked Kohaku.

"I don't think so," said Miroku. "Be careful..."

And just as before, Naraku formed back together again. He stood in front of Kohaku, who just stared in horror.

"What?" asked the demon. "Surprised? Here's my surprise!" He reached out and grabbed Kohaku by his neck.

"M... Miroku..."

"Kohaku!"

Naraku turned to Miroku. "Make one wrong move and I'll rip the jewel shard out of this precious whelp's back. He'll be dead before he hits the ground."

"Do it, Miroku!" said Kohaku. "Who cares about me? Just KILL HIM!"

Miroku looked at Kohaku, his mouth open. "Kohaku... I can't let him kill you..."

"DO IT!"

"No," said the monk.

Naraku placed a hand on Kohaku's back, fingering the spot where the jewel shard was located. "Make up your mind, monk..." Miroku shook his head. "No?" asked Naraku. "Well, your time's almost up..."

"KILL HIM, MIROKU!" screamed Kohaku.

"I CAN'T!" Miroku screamed back. "I CAN'T LET HIM KILL YOU!" He looked Kohaku straight in the eyes. "We're in this TOGETHER! I will NOT let you go down so easily!"

"Time's up..." said Naraku.

"KOHAKU!" Miroku lunged at Naraku. "NO!"