I recall a day, many years ago, where I was working on a new chapter... And that new chapter has been finished today. Only 5 years, 8 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day later. Or 2093 days, if you like.
I'll chat more after. ;) Enjoy the update!
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Guilty Hero
Chapter 56: No Turning Back, Part 2
"Yipe!" Koga ducked quickly as a blade of demonic energy whizzed past his head. "Jeez… I guess he can't take a joke, huh?"
Inu-Yasha merely snorted. "Y-you asked for it, idiot. I'd have done the same if you said that t' me."
Rolling his eyes, Koga leapt into the quarry and ran up to the pair of demons. He chose to ignore the positively piercing glare that Sessho-maru fixed on him. "So… what happened here? And who are you?" With the scent of Naraku hitting his nose, he couldn't help but be cautious in Kagura's presence.
Kagura snapped her fan open and sneered down her nose at him. "I owe you no answers, mongrel. And you, Inu-Yasha…. When did you hire a pack mule?"
Koga bristled immediately at the comment, but Inu-Yasha's raspy, quiet voice cut him off before he could respond. "He's h-helping me, witch. Th-there's no other way I can g-get to Kagome."
"Ah, yes. The girl." Casting a sidelong glance at Sessho-maru, she strode past him to the cave entrance. "I have been asked to guide you to her. Not that it will be worth the time…"
Inu-Yasha's grip on Koga's shirt tightened slightly, and his arms spasmed again. "Wh-what….d'you mean by that?"
Continuing into the cavern, Kagura's voice drifted back to him. "You will have to see for yourself."
Seemingly undisturbed by that statement, Sessho-maru followed after the witch without a second glance at the remaining two demons. It was with a modicum of hesitation that Koga trailed after them. They still didn't know who this witch was, or why she smelt of Naraku. And while he still believed Kagome was alive, that didn't necessarily mean she was all right. There was all manner of things a demon could do to a person to harm them and still allow them to live. Poison, disfigurement, curses… He shuddered at the thought.
The group traveled in silence for several minutes. Every footstep and crunch of gravel echoed in the labyrinthine tunnels—devoid of its demonic occupants, the place was as still as a tomb. So when Inu-Yasha suddenly exploded into a coughing fit, all but Sessho-maru jumped in surprise.
"Damn, half-breed…" Kagura stared in thinly veiled disgust as Koga let Inu-Yasha slide off his back to the stone floor. "How are you even still alive? You've pretty much destroyed your body."
His hands balled into fists against the cold rocks, it took several minutes for Inu-Yasha to stop choking. A vile mix of blood, vomit, and spittle was spat onto the floor before he was able to lift his head. Giving Kagura the most piercing stare he could manage, he rasped, "I-I'm just doing what I h-have to."
Kagura held his gaze for a moment before looking away. Though his body was falling apart at the seams, it appeared this was a different Inu-Yasha than the one she'd had prior encounters with. The look of determination in his eyes was new, to say the least. "Well… Try not to die before we reach the girl. Nothing would please Naraku more than to return to your dead body in the hall."
Passing Inu-Yasha the water bottle, Koga focused on her with a hint of suspicion. "Sounds like you're not that fond of Naraku? It would explain why you're helping us…"
Bright red eyes narrowed in anger. "I would kill my creator with my bare hands if I could, wolf. I owe him nothing."
"But he made you, witch." If she was going to continue with the name-calling, so would Koga. "Don't you owe him your life?" He was finding it hard to believe that they had an ally from the opposing side of the war. "And your powers? I mean, while I could still easily take you on in a fight, you aren't exactly a pushover."
"Kagura." Sessho-maru's deep voice was just barely enough to keep her from sending a blade of wind straight toward Koga's neck. Lowering her fan, she sneered back at the wolf instead.
"He has been more cruel to me than you know. Yes, he may have created me, and given me the power to fly on the winds… But with my heart chained in his body, I don't have the freedom to fly. And THAT, you disgusting creature, is the cruelest existence he could chose for me. He allows me to taste freedom… and yet he always ensures it is tainted with a cold chain. I cannot truly be free until he is dead."
Shocked to get an honest answer, Koga simply stared at Kagura for a few moments. Finally, he opted to grunt and turn his attention back to Inu-Yasha. "Well… I guess we do have the same goal, then. Rescue Kagome, unlock her power, and have her kill Naraku. Simple."
Snorting, Kagura turned away to gaze down the tunnel. "You won't be saying that when we reach the girl."
"Why? What is going on with Kagome?"
She gestured with her fan. "You'll see soon enough. We're almost there. Scrape the mutt off the floor and let's get moving."
Heaving a sigh at the lack of information, Koga faced Inu-Yasha. "You ready to move again?" The half-demon still held a waxy complexion, but he nodded in determination. So, very slowly, Koga lifted him onto his back and stood up. Inu-Yasha let out a small gurgle in protest at the change of altitude, but managed to keep the bile down. It wasn't until he got a grunt of affirmation before the wolf set off after Kagura once again.
The party continued in silence for a few more moments. It was obvious they were in the deepest section of caverns. Moisture dripped down the walls, and were it not for the torches lining the tunnels, the darkness would have been overwhelming. All noise seemed to be muffled and hushed, as though sound were not welcome.
But the further the went, the more they picked up on changes in the atmosphere. A soft crackling, like static electricity, shimmered through the air, and a cool lavender glow broke through the shadows. The light grew brighter and the noise louder as they walked, until they eventually emerged into the largest cavern of the entire network.
"What the hell…" Inu-Yasha's hoarse voice broke the quiet as the rescue party came to a halt. Before them was a jail cell that had been carved out of the cave wall. Bolts attached thick metal bars to the ceiling and floor. There was a door to the cell, but no handle or lock—clearly the door was kept shut by other means. "Wh-what the hell is that thing?!"
Inu-Yasha's query was not in reference to the cell, but rather to the monstrous purple orb that encompassed it. Its surface swirled and pulsated at even intervals like a heartbeat. With each surge of energy, the orb adopted a faint red hue before melting back to transparent amethyst. It was clear that the orb, and not the iron bars, was going to be their biggest challenge to get through.
"This…" Kagura began bitterly as she approached, "…is perhaps Naraku's finest creation. It is a barrier designed to protect against any and all attacks. It absorbs all energies, including both demonic and holy. And it will also…" Poking the razor-sharp tip of her fan to the orb's surface, a shower of sparks and an earsplitting pop resounded around the chamber. "…fry to a crisp any physical objects that attempt to pass through."
"Then how does one gain entry?" Sessho-maru's baritone rolled through the air. "With barriers such as these, one must usually destroy the power source."
Koga snorted incredulously. "Destroy the power source? That means we would have to kill Naraku! And we need Kagome to do that, dammit!"
"Hmph." With a scoff, Kagura snapped her singed fan shut. "If only it where that easy."
"That easy…?" the wolf slowly repeated. Although his tone was fairly light, Inu-Yasha could feel his muscles tense up.
"Indeed. No, we have a much bigger problem. The source of the barrier's energy isn't Naraku. It's her." Her steely-eyed gaze focused on the orb. "Kagome herself."
Stepping forward, Sessho-maru stared hard at the prison cell. Eyes narrowing in concentration, he took an experimental sniff. "…How is that possible? Why would Higurashi keep herself under guard?"
"It wasn't her choice," she dryly replied. "In fact, she was fighting against Naraku as hard as she could before she was overcome. For a human, she certainly has spark." From the tone of Kagura's voice, it was impossible to determine if she was impressed or merely amused.
"Overcome…?" Once again Inu-Yasha piped up, his voice weak and cracking. "What's happened to her?" His claws gripped the front of Koga's shirt hard enough to make the wolf flinch.
Kagura glanced over at Sessho-maru as though asking for his permission to continue. With Inu-Yasha so frail, speaking of the tortures the girl had endured wasn't the wisest idea. To her surprise, Sessho-maru nodded slightly in return. Studying the half-demon carefully, she snapped her fan open. "He tortured her from the mind outwards. Broke her down, day by day. But though her body weakened, she continued to rail against his attempts to take her. So eventually he had to use other, more drastic measures." She looked away so she didn't have to see Inu-Yasha's face. "Even now, he is feeding her nightmares that are keeping her mind trapped. And he's doing it with… those." She gestured at the dark form inside the orb as everyone crept closer for a better look.
On the floor of the cavern was Kagome's limp body. Deathly thin and shockingly pale, she was a terrible sight. But what drew their attention were the two pulsating masses attached to her forehead.
"Are those… spiders?" Koga's confusion was understandable. The insects were so bloated and engorged that any recognizable features, such as their numerous legs, were barely visible. "What… what are they doing to her?"
"It would appear they are the source of this shield." Sessho-maru almost sounded impressed. "They are feeding off Higurashi's holy powers, then funneling that energy to power this." He waved a hand at the barrier. "The more Higurashi struggles against them, the more power they absorb, and the stronger their energy output becomes. Ingenious."
"And there is no escape," Kagura added unhelpfully. "This slip of a girl has been fighting for days, but she is weakening. By the time her holy energy runs dry and the orb collapses, she will be too weak to flee… possibly even too weak to live."
The group fell silent. Collectively, they were trying to think of something, anything, to break through the barrier, but even Sessho-maru was at a loss. They carried no weapons that could pierce the aura field, and any power would simply be absorbed. It was as though Naraku had won the battle without even making an entrance.
After a few moments of silence, Inu-Yasha suddenly moved. Shaking his legs from Koga's grip, he slid off the wolf's back and settled unsteadily on his feet. Koga started to protest, but quickly quieted when he saw Inu-Yasha's expression.
Wobbling a few steps closer to the orb, Inu-Yasha fixed his gaze on Kagome. He shuffled around to a spot that was closest to her limp form, then sank to the ground. Shaking and sweating as his body raged at him, he proceeded to speak to Kagome as though no one else was in the room.
"K…K-Kagome? …Are you there? It… it's me. The idiot." He hung his head, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "Inu-Yasha." After a brief cough, he pushed his frail body closer. Koga took a step forward thinking that the half-demon was going to fall into the swirling energy, but Sessho-maru raised his hand to stop him. He knew it was important not to break the moment for them.
"I… I know you may n-not believe me…" A gasp rattled in his chest as he tried to control his body. "…B-but I have missed you. I-I've tried so hard to f-forget you… and it didn't work. You've a-always…been with me. E-everywhere." He rested his clammy forehead in his hand. His limbs were trembling with effort as he struggled to keep himself upright.
"I'm a fool, Kagome. I-I left you. Under the guise o-of protecting you, I left you. B-but that w-was… just a lie." He seemed to shrink in on himself, as though if he made himself smaller the truth wouldn't be so painful. "I was afraid. Afraid of… l-losing you."
A terrible tremor wracked his body, making him grunt in discomfort. But despite how rapidly he was losing the battle against withdrawal, he continued on.
"I should h-have known from the start, Kagome." He was speaking faster and louder, hoping his words reached her. "Any time with you, w-whether it's a month or a minute, i-is worth any cost. Y-you're worth it, Kagome. I know that now. Wh-whatever happens today, j-just seeing you again… m-makes it… worth it."
It appeared his speech sapped what little energy the half-demon had left. He slumped off to the side, coated in a cold sweat. Seeing this, Koga stepped forward to get him, but was yet again stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder. Snarling, he rounded on Sessho-maru. "Quit it! Can't you see that moron needs help?"
Not bothering to give Koga the withering glare he felt the wolf deserved, Sessho-maru instead nodded at the orb. As Koga switched his attention to the prone figure there, Kagura let out a small gasp behind her fan.
"How in the world…?"
Kagome was moving. Her frail arms were slowly moving under her body, lifting her just enough to tilt her head in Inu-Yasha's direction. It was clear every movement was excruciating. With how large and heavy the spiders were, one could only imagine the searing agony happening in Kagome's head. But still she shifted, millimeter by millimeter, until her face was in front of the half-demon.
His own debilitating ailments were momentarily forgotten as Inu-Yasha watched her every move. He could hardly believe the sight. "K…. K-Kagome? Are you… C-can you hear me?"
A soft moan was his answer. And yet, despite how pathetic it sounded, it was all the encouragement Inu-Yasha needed to keep trying.
"C'mon, Kagome… C'mon! Fight those d-damn things! You're stronger than anyone! J-just fight! Come back to us!" He was on his knees now, desperate to see her wake.
As Inu-Yasha's cries and shouts grew stronger, so too did Kagome's spirit. Her limbs were twitching, and her inflamed brow was furrowed in deep concentration. The bloated arachnids locked onto her temples pulsated faster and faster as their energy consumption steadily increased. Their sickly bodies glowed and swelled to accommodate the extra input, while their legs writhed uselessly in the air. In return the orb surrounding Kagome swirled violently and shone brighter.
"Dammit, Kagome! Fight it!" Trembling with emotion and exertion, Inu-Yasha pounded the rock with his fists. "Don't let Naraku win! We need you! I… I-I need you!"
Crying out in pain as the increasing girth of the spiders pulled at the tender skin of her temples, Kagome at last opened her eyes. Hazy blue met with bloodshot amber. For an instant, their gaze was locked. But in that moment, all confusion and fear were chased from Kagome's eyes.
With another shout, this time of determination, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated her energy. The glow emanating from her captors increased a hundredfold. Inu-Yasha, so used to living in darkness, flinched and was forced to shield himself from the light.
Suddenly, the spiders swelled up like water balloons. Their legs twisted and writhed in pain, but the grip which had trapped Kagome now held them captive. They could not release her to save themselves. Again Kagome shouted, and again their size tripled. With cries of pain and desperation, she poured forth every last vestige of strength she had left. And as she did, the spiders shuddered violently. With a blinding flash and a deafening crack!, the spider and the orb burst out of existence. Blown to pieces from the force of the explosion, bits of rock and iron bars rained upon the group.
And then, silence fell.
As their vision slowly returned, each found themselves focused on different areas. Koga merely gaped open-mouthed at the tremendous display of power he had just witnessed. Kagura, though her expression was hidden by her fan, was awed into silence that the person capable of defeating Naraku lay in front of her. And Sessho-maru, hardly one to be impressed by displays of power, was concentrating on Kagome and his half-brother.
Blown back by the force of the explosion, Inu-Yasha struggled to right himself. As he grunted and heft himself onto his elbows, the smallest sound snatched his attention.
"I…nu…. Yash…a…?"
At his name, the half-demon froze. Wide-eyed, he glanced at the wolf demon for confirmation that the sound he just heard was real. Koga gave him the barest of nods in return, still in shock. That was all Inu-Yasha needed.
"Kagome! I'm here, K-Kagome!" He finally scrabbled to his knees and groped for her hand. "It's me! Inu-Yasha!"
"Inu… Yasha…" Her voice, while hoarse and weak, was full of relief. "It's you… It really… is you."
"Yeah…" He gripped Kagome's icy hand with both of his. "I'm here. Th-the idiot is here. You're okay now. Those damn things are gone… You got rid of them."
Her thin fingers wrapped around his in a gentle grasp. She took a deep, shuddering breath, then instantly began to cough. Inu-Yasha, finding a strength he didn't know he had, pulled her upright and enveloped her in his arms.
"It's okay. Just relax now. D-don't try to speak." Her body was chilled to the touch, so he did his best to hold her close. His body was hardly faring any better, but he had to try.
She pressed herself against his chest, reassuring herself that it was him. "It's really… it's really you, Inu-Yasha. You've actually come… You're not a nightmare, you're real."
"Nightmare?" He brushed her tangled hair away from her face. "What do you m-mean?"
She shuddered violently, and a few tears trailed down her cheeks. "N-Naraku…. He put nightmares in my head… I never knew what was real and what was a dream. And you…. You were in every one. But now you're here. You're real."
"Yeah… Yeah, I am." He cradled her in his arms, trying to lend whatever strength he had left to her. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply. For the first time in weeks, her scent washed over his senses and soothed his being. He had missed this dearly.
It was several more moments before either broke the silence. They needed to revel in the feel of one another, and that was more important than any spoken word. Even the rest of the rescue party could feel it, and kept their distance.
But at last, Inu-Yasha knew he had to speak up. There was something Kagome needed to know. Bowing his head, he whispered in her ear, "Kagome… I'm so sorry. For what I-I said… How bad I h-hurt you… I'm sorry."
She shook her head. With tears in her eyes, she gave him a watery smile and squeezed his hand. "You're here now. That's all that matters to me."
With that simple statement, a great weight lifted from Inu-Yasha. Even though his body was still falling apart at the seams, a strength blossomed inside his chest. Kagome had forgiven him. That was all he needed.
Koga grudgingly understood the importance of their reunion, but he also knew they did not have the luxury of time. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward to provide some minor first aid to Kagome.
She was given water and protein bars to help recover her energy. And while the wolf cleaned and bandaged the wounds on her temples, Sessho-maru and Kagura filled her in on the events that had occurred during her imprisonment. The food and drink did help revive her, but being around Inu-Yasha seemed to bolster her spirits the most. While the plight of the city was discussed, she never once let go of his hand.
"So… Naraku decided he was going to destroy the city. And the Order. And he was going to do it with or without me. Damn." She cursed and hit the stone floor with her fist. "I had hoped the longer I resisted, the more time I would buy you guys. I'm sorry…"
"Bah!" Koga waved her apology away. "He was too impatient anyway. The arrogant bastard wanted to show off his power, and he didn't have to have you there to do that. You did the best you could."
Kagura sniffed and looked down her nose at Kagome. "With the completed Shikon Jewel in his clutches, he grew so drunk on power that his concern over you lifted. He knows he is powerful enough to, at the very least, take down this city on his own. And with revenge so close, he could hardly pass up the opportunity. He thinks he didn't need to wait on you to have his day."
"Well then…" Shushing Inu-Yasha's slight protests, Kagome shakily climbed to her feet. "Now is the time to strike. If he's that focused on revenge, then he's bound to make a mistake. And we will be there to exploit it."
"N-no, Kagome." Inu-Yasha squeezed her hand. "You've just been freed from b-being trapped in a cave for weeks. You aren't fit t-to take on Naraku."
"That is not for you to decide, Inu-Yasha," she said with a warning tone. "Besides. You aren't fit to go traipsing around a demon's lair." Her voice softened, and she smiled at him. "And yet here you are."
Since the half-demon had no valid argument to that, Kagome turned toward the rest of the group. "I think it's time to pay Naraku a visit. Can you take me to him?"
Koga, while pleased to see the spark back in her eye, was still a bit apprehensive. "Before you dive straight in, maybe we should check in with Kaede first. We need a battle plan."
"A surprisingly astute observation, coming from you." Sessho-maru ignored Koga's glare and turned to Kagura. "I believe you have the fastest mode of transportation to get us downtown."
The wind witch didn't care for demands to be made of her, but she knew Sessho-maru was right. She grudgingly nodded. "Yes, but we need to get outside first. My powers are weaker down here."
As quickly as they could, the group trekked back through the tunnels to the surface. There was a slight argument when Koga insisted on carrying Kagome to the entrance, but it was quickly resolved. Inu-Yasha still couldn't walk more than a few steps, and Kagome needed to move. Lying on a stone floor for days meant she needed to get her muscles working again.
It took several minutes, before they made it outside at last. Kagura produced a massive feather from her hairpiece and held it steady as Koga settled Inu-Yasha and helped Kagome clamber on. Once the wolf hopped on, she turned expectantly to Sessho-maru.
He shook his head. "I shall travel ahead and keep the skies clear. Higurashi must arrive in one piece. We need no errant demons disrupting the flight." His piercing gaze turned to Koga. "Contact Kaede. Inform her of our arrival. They must be prepared."
Normally, he would have protested at being bossed around. However, now that Kagome had been recovered alive, his thoughts returned to battle. It was time for cooperation, not petty bickering. So, with a curt nod, Koga tapped his earpiece to get in touch with his superiors.
Satisfied, Sessho-maru took off into the skies. Kagura waved her fan and a monstrous wind whipped around them, lifting the feather into the air. She took off after Sessho-maru, but with four people astride she could only move at half his speed. Soon he was merely a pinprick in the distance. Heaving a sigh, Kagura settled at the front with her back to her passengers. She was in no mood to converse.
This was no issue to Inu-Yasha and Kagome. They were in their own world. Kagome kept a firm grip on Inu-Yasha's hand as he reclined as low as he could. His hold on her hand was weak, and she easily noticed how cold and clammy he was. But still, she gave him a smile when he cracked his red-rimmed eyes open to look at her.
"What is it?" he murmured, gently rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand.
Chuckling, she replied, "You look terrible, Inu-Yasha."
He grunted, a wry half-smile tugging at his lips. "I s-sure feel rotten… I-I always knew how to mess myself up."
Her grin melted away as she studied his gaunt face. He truly did appear to be knocking on death's door. Even with her own ailments, she had still caught all the signs of major withdrawal in their short time together. He had the shakes so bad he could hardly walk, he clearly had a difficult time focusing, and malnutrition and illness were gnawing at his body. She knew he really needed to be in the hospital, which prompted her to pose a question.
"Inu-Yasha, what made you… you know… suddenly decide to come looking for me?" Her tone wasn't accusatory—she genuinely wanted to know.
Inu-Yasha let out a shuddering sigh and shut his eyes again. This flight, while gentler than the ride on Koga's back, was wreaking havoc on his sensitive stomach. He had to swallow a mouthful of bile before he could respond.
"W-well… I just remember wakin' up in the hospital, feelin' rotten. I was gonna try and go home, but…" He gripped her hand a little harder. "S-someone told me you'd been taken by Naraku. I had made m-my peace with s-sendin' you away…" Guilt seized his throat at that admission, and he had to cough before continuing. "But the th-thought of you dying… I couldn't live with that." His palled cheeks were suddenly stained a splotchy red in a blush. "I never th-thought it through… I-I was too much of a c-cowardly fool to look at the consequences…"
"Inu-Yasha." Kagome placed a cool finger against his lips. "It's time for you… for US… to stop focusing on the past. Can you do that?"
Though it was a simple question, Inu-Yasha found he had no immediate answer. He lived in the past. His life revolved around his greatest mistake eight years ago. Kikyo's murder was a constant companion. His thoughts constantly drifted to his harsh words to Kagome before she was taken away, or his terrible treatment of Sango and Miroku over the years. He dwelled in those brutal memories, unwilling to budge from their shadow.
Her piercing blue eyes remained unflinching on him She wanted his answer, and he didn't have one. Doubt flooded him, his mouth going dry and his throat seizing as he tried to dredge up a response. Could he finally drag himself to the present? Could he cast off the bonds that had held him down for so long?
The silence stretched for an uncomfortable length of time. But at last, he was spared by Sessho-maru's abrupt return.
"You had best make haste," he told Kagura, easily falling into pace beside her. "The hour grows dire."
"H-how bad is it?" Inu-Yasha croaked, trying to sit up.
Koga shook his head and pulled out his earpiece. "It's bad. Kaede says most of the shopping district had been overrun by Naraku's army. And while the residential areas were evacuated, they are being demolished. She has never seen so many demons given free reign before. She says the damages are… horrific."
"Indeed. Fire seems to be their preferred method of destruction." Sessho-maru gestured off toward great columns of smoke in the distance. "it would appear our forces have retreated into the business district."
Inu-Yasha frowned as he leaned heavily against Kagome. "Wh-what about… N-Naraku?" He choked on the name.
"He will reach the business district soon. It would appear he has been…toying with his opponents. Taking his time. Savoring the rush of power." The look on Sessho-maru's face implied that such behavior was beneath him.
Nodding, Koga confirmed the demon's report. "Kaede has said something similar. He's in no rush to defeat us. He's that confident in his powers."
At that, Inu-Yasha fell silent. Kagome attempted to reassure him with a hand on his back, but he didn't seem to notice her touch.
The wolf continued on, not noticing the change in Inu-Yasha's demeanor. "She wants us all to meet in the lobby of City Hall right away. Sango and Miroku are making their way there now. Now that we have Kagome back, Kaede hopes we may be able to turn the tide." He flashed Kagome a toothy grin, one that she tried to return. Clearly, he had great faith in her abilities.
"I-I'll do my best," she promised, gripping Inu-Yasha's hand for strength.
"I have been unimpressed by your 'best' thus far, Higurashi," Sessho-maru commented dryly. "Kaede needn't get too excited." Both Kagome and Inu-Yasha bristled at the jab, but the demon turned his attention away from them. Kagura was beginning to dive lower, and he needed to focus on keeping battle-drunk imps and ogres out of her way.
Talking was at a minimum during their descent. Kagura, recognizing the signs of battle, was struggling to get more speed from the winds. Reaching City Hall unnoticed was ideal—if Naraku never learned of her presence here, she might just survive the night. But if he did discover her, well… She touched the hollow of her chest, where her heart should have been pounding.
I'm a fool, she thought, shaking her head. I won't survive this. When Naraku dies, so will I. I was, and will remain, his prisoner until the end.
Her riders, though oblivious to her thoughts, noticed the change in speed. Lower to the ground now, she was able shoot between buildings and rocket over skirmishes at an incredible pace. While the wind howled around them, Koga gripped the shaft of the feather and Kagome clung to Inu-Yasha for dear life. Sessho-maru kept up with minimal effort, even leaping ahead on occasion to remove an obstacle.
What minimal glances Kagome could get of the city painted a horrible story of the battle so far. Smoke poured from cars and shattered windows. Sidewalks were cracked and crushed, and more than one building had fallen to the might Naraku's demon army. Corpses were strewn about—mostly oni, some human, but none recognizable as they rushed past. Kagome swallowed and pulled her gaze away. She could look no longer.
After a hair-raising flight, they at last reached City Hall. With impeccable precision, Kagura spun the feather around right on the top step of the main entrance. She said nothing, but stared at them all with her intense red eyes. "We're here. Now get off."
"Sheesh, we're moving." Koga lightly jumped off the feather before helping Kagome out and lifting the half-demon.
Moving around so his back was to the others, Sessho-maru asked her in a soft tone, "What will you do now? He surely knows of your betrayal. Returning to him will be your end."
"What will I do now?" She chuckled hollowly. "I will die, no matter the outcome of the day. But I will die in the winds, not trapped in rock. Naraku will not take that from me." With her passengers gone, she raised the feather from the ground once more. "Goodbye, Sessho-maru. And…. Thank you."
A gust of wind billowed around them all as she flew off into the skies. Koga's splutters of protest were drowned out as their hair and clothing whipped around in the draft, until she was a speck in the distance.
"She's leaving?! Why isn't she staying to fight?! I thought she hated Naraku!"
A withering glare was the only answer he received from Sessho-maru. However, a sharp voice responded to his query from behind them. "It isn't up to you to decides who should fight and who should flee, wolf. She had her reasons, of that I am certain. Let her go."
"Kaede!" Pulling away from Inu-Yasha for the first time since their reunion, Kagome rushed to greet the elderly woman with a hug.
The head of the Order was quite ragged in appearance—her clothes were tattered and filthy, while blood dripped sluggishly down from a wound on her forehead. Her salt and pepper hair had come loose from its customary ponytail, and she was walking with a slight limp. But even with these ailments, she still held an air authority and a sense of calm.
"Hello, child." Kaede embraced Kagome warmly. "You are a sight for sore eyes. It's wonderful to see you alive, if not entirely well." She studied Kagome carefully, her gaze piercing from her one working eye. "How badly have you been wounded?"
"Naraku has done no permanent damage, much as he tried." Kagome's tone was dry.
"You are a brave soul, my girl." She turned then to face Inu-Yasha, holding out a hand to help him to his feet. "And you… You did what you set out to do. You have brought her back alive."
Trembling like a leaf, Inu-Yasha slowly grasped Kaede's hand and struggled to his feet. "D-damn right, I did."
Her withered hand, wrinkled with age, squeezed his hand firmly. It was the only display of gratitude he would receive, but it was enough.
"Come inside. We'll get you situated as best we can for now. There is a makeshift medical ward set up in the main hall. We can at least give you fluids and some medicine to help you sleep." She made no comment on what would happen after that. She didn't know.
Inu-Yasha was aided inside by Koga. Once he was settled on a cot on the ground between two other injured fighters, everyone else from their traveling party melted into the hordes of people seeking shelter in the hall. The wolf rushed off once spotting a group of police officers he had trained. Kagome was surrounded by nurses and other fighters, immediately receiving medical attention while being updated on battle strategy. And Sessho-maru hovered close by to the throng, absorbing information while remaining stoically silent. A nurse stopped by to set up Inu-Yasha's IV with some fluid, but he waved her away when she tried to give him sleeping pills. As she didn't have time to argue with stubborn patients, she let him be.
Shutting his eyes, he willed himself to remain conscious. His maladies were all there, of course. He would find no relief from them while the battle waged on. But now, he had other things to focus on. More importantly... what was he going to do now?
Kagome had been retrieved. He had apologized to her. But things still felt... unfinished. He didn't quite feel that measure of relief he'd hoped for upon finding her. In fact, he still felt the same nagging in his breast that had prompted him to search for her in the first place. He couldn't quite put a name to the sensation, but it was unsettling.
So deep in thought, and surrounded by the din of wounded fighters, doctors, and refugees, he hardly noticed when a voice spoke up from right beside him.
"Don't wanna be involved in the fighting, do you? I don't blame you. I don't either."
Inu-Yasha dragged his eyes back open. He knew that voice. Turning his head, he blinked a few times. "Shippo..."
The fox was crouched beside him, smiling tiredly. Stained with filth and demon guts, his bottle-green eyes shone out in his face. He was still grinning as usual, but this time it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm glad to see you were successful in your search," he continued, nodding towards the crowd of people around Kagome. "At least someone has had some luck today."
"Wh-what d'you mean?" Inu-Yasha tried to sit up a little. While he didn't know the fox as well as he should, it was clear enough to see that he was faltering. Inu-Yasha knew all to well the feeling of hopelessness that could sweep over you in a battle that wasn't going your way. "Things n-not goin' well out there?"
Shaking his head, Shippo rested his forehead on his arms. "Not at all. We're being overwhelmed. They're coming in droves. Everything is being overrun. I don't know what we can do against it anymore. Even with Kagome. I don't really know what Sessho-maru keeps going on about, her 'untapped power'. She's strong, sure. But it would take something massive to overcome Naraku." He fell silent for a moment, but then looked at Inu-Yasha and tried to smirk. "Sorry. I meant to come over here to cheer you up. Guess I'm not doing such a good job."
"Cheer me up? Feh. Nobody's been able to do that in years." He tried to sound light-hearted, but being unused to comforting people, he didn't do it well.
Surprisingly, Shippo still laughed. "She has." He flicked a thumb toward Kagome.
Inu-Yasha shrugged a bit. "Can't see her from this angle."
"Oh, no? Well, how about now?" Drawing himself up, there was a puff of smoke, and soon Kagome was standing next to Inu-Yasha. She smiled brightly at him, and Inu-Yasha had to keep his heart from skipping a beat. He missed that smile.
"Ah. I see I should have done this from the start to cheer you up." Kagome settled cross-legged on the floor, and the half-demon had to turn his head away to avoid seeing too far up her thighs.
"I-I-I'm fine... Y-you can turn back, i-it's all right..." His cheeks were bright red.
"Huh. Well, suit yourself."
Inu-Yasha waited until the smoke cleared again before he felt it was safe to look back at the fox. "You're pretty good at that, y'know. Much better than you used to be."
Shippo blinked in surprise. "You mean... you remember?"
Snorting, Inu-Yasha shut his eyes. "I vaguely remember seeing a giant hamster waddling into the bar..."
This time, it was Shippo's cheeks that turned red. "That was supposed to be a cat, thank you very much!"
"Well, if you c-couldn't even fool me, you sure as hell didn't fool I-Iro." He cracked open one eye to peer at the fox. "But I mean it. You have improved."
Though he didn't get a response, he could see the fox practically swell with pride. Obviously, his words had the effect he had hoped for. However, before Shippo could say another word, he was interrupted by the arrival of his mentor.
"Why are you here, Shippo?" Sessho-maru's deep voice rolled over the pair, displeasure lacing his tone. "You were instructed to hold the subway. We do not want them taking us over from below."
While a lesser demon would have quailed under Sessho-maru's glare, Shippo met it steadily. "My team was all killed, Master," he stated matter-of-factly. "Every police officer, every Order member... we were ambushed by a swarm of spiders and sewer rats. We had no hope. Their numbers were overwhelming. I only escaped by transforming into one of them."
There was only a moment of silence as Sessho-maru processed the information. "Very well. Then go join with Kaede and the others. We are formulating a new battle plan now that Higurashi has returned."
Shippo nodded and trotted slowly off. It was clear that he was struggling, but doing his best to remain stalwart. Inu-Yasha couldn't help but be impressed with the young fox—Shippo was far more mature than he was at that age.
Watching after the fox, it took Inu-Yasha a moment to realize that Sessho-maru had not accompanied him. This did not bode well.
"What the hell d'you want?" he grunted weakly, glaring up at his sibling. "You may walk all over that boy, but you sure as hell aren't gonna do the same to me. Leave me alone."
Sessho-maru stared down at him, not at all bothered by Inu-Yasha's ire. "You would do well to join us as well, fool. Your assistance will be needed in our final push against Naraku."
That statement was enough for Inu-Yasha to push himself up on his elbows. "You know I won't do that," he growled furiously. "I paid my dues in the last war. I owe this city nothing."
"I don't care." Sessho-maru seemed to gloss right over that fact. "Higurashi needs you to unleash her full power against Naraku. You are the key, for some foolish reason. So, for once in your pathetic existence, get up and be a part of this. Your presence is required."
"I will not be told what to do by you, you bastard!" Inu-Yasha snarled right back. "You weren't there for any of it last time! You didn't give a shit about what happened! Why the hell should I be concerned with your orders now?! News flash, asshole—I'M NOT." He was trembling badly, but was angry enough that he hardly noticed. "Now, for the last time... get out of here. Get out of my sight, get out of my war, get out of my damn life!"
Sessho-maru was silent throughout his tirade, accepting every harsh growl without flinching. Deep down, he knew this was far more than rage. It was fear. Inu-Yasha had never coped with the fear from the last war, and it was manifesting itself as fury now. But he was willing to accept the role as the scapegoat. If this was what it took to awaken the half-demon to reality, then he would do it.
Keeping quiet for a beat longer after Inu-Yasha finished shouting, he finally responded. " Just don't forget what I said. You are the key for Higurashi unlocking her power." Then he turned on his heel and strode away, not waiting for any reply. He knew he had absolutely infuriated his half-brother by disregarding everything that had been bellowed at him, but it was important. Inu-Yasha needed to understand how vital he was in this battle. Even though he and Higurashi had reconciled, Sessho-maru wasn't certain that was enough to tap into her potential. There needed to be more. And that was only something that Inu-Yasha could do.
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"...currently en route to the business district. He'll arrive in minutes."
Sessho-maru joined with the main group of fighters as Kaede was in the process of describing their next plan of attack.
"We won't have a good window of time to set things up. Our key element will be of surprise. We will have to throw our remaining team at Naraku directly—a diversion is our only hope of distracting him long enough for Kagome to prepare."
Sessho-maru flicked his gaze around at the circle of fighters. Every one was haggard and worn down. All had the scars of battle. Some were coated in blood and guts, others were suffering from painful wounds, while others still had a haunted look in their eye. This could not continue much longer.
"Sessho-maru." Kaede's sharp gaze focused on him, commanding his attention. "We will need you at the forefront of this attack. Out of us all, you are the one most capable of occupying Naraku for the most time."
He nodded. Unfortunately, even he had to acknowledge that while he was no pushover, Naraku was stronger still.
Satisfied that the demon wasn't going to argue, Kaede continued. "Sango and Miroku, I will want you at the lead as well. You were present in the last war, and we all know how Naraku loves to gloat. You will certainly be a focus of his attention as well."
The pair, battle-worn and leaning heavily against each other, gave their affirmative.
"Koga, I will need you to accompany Kagome. Take her as far away as possible. We don't want Naraku to locate her until it is too late. It will be up to you to protect her until the last possible moment. Do you understand? This task is vital."
Koga gulped, but stood up straighter and nodded. "I won't fail, don't worry." He grinned at Kagome, flashing his white fangs in the hopes of bolstering her confidence. She gave him a small smile in return, but her nervousness was evident.
"As for you..." Kaede turned to Shippo, and her gaze softened. "I heard what happened in the subway, child. And for that, I am sorry. No one so young should have to endure that. No one so young should have to endure war, and yet here we are. I wish for you to remain behind. While your tricks are excellent when fighting in a large group, against Naraku they would be of little use. I want you to survive this, one way or another."
"But I can help!" Shippo insisted valiantly, but Kaede shook her head.
"No. You are needed more here. Rest. If you do regain some strength and energy, turn your attention to the outskirts of battle. Take out as many small fry as you can. But keep away from Naraku. You will only come to harm if you don't."
Additional orders were dealt to the police force and other groups of demons that had managed to survive until now. Once everyone was clear on their role, Kaede clapped her hands. "Very well. Everyone, we leave in five minutes. Bandage your wounds, get some water, and prepare your weapons. Then gather at the front. Thank you all... and good luck."
As the large group dispersed, Kagome quickly broke away to get back to Inu-Yasha. Sango and Miroku followed, having rushed right past him on their arrival to city hall.
"Inu-Yasha..." Sango sank down next to the half-demon, rousing him from the light doze he had accidentally slipped into.
He blinked awake, then glanced around in surprise to see all three of his friends surrounding him. "H-hey... You guys look terrible."
"Speak for yourself," Miroku retorted, grinning and punching Inu-Yasha lightly on the arm. "You should have been in a hospital bed, but noooo... you had to go spelunking."
Rolling his eyes, Inu-Yasha couldn't help but allow a small smile to creep back on his face. "I never said I was smart..."
"But seriously, Inu-Yasha." Sango shot Miroku a look of reproach before taking the half-demon's trembling hand. "Thank you. You were amazing, rescuing Kagome. We haven't gotten the full story yet, but it sounds like she would still be there if it wasn't for you. So... thank you. We mean it."
Kagome pressed her cool hand again his forehead. It felt very good, considering he was flushing bright red from the praise. "W-well... uh... th-thanks, guys..." He hardly knew what to say. Praise was such a foreign sound to him.
Miroku patted his shoulder. "We're going to have to head out soon. You have to make certain that you get yourself in a proper hospital bed shortly, all right? I don't want to come back and find that you're in even worse shape."
"Me?" Inu-Yasha incredulously retorted. "It's you who's goin' out to face N... N-Naraku." He swallowed hard, and the small grin slowly dropped off his face. He looked both Sango and Miroku in the eye, and gripped their hands as hard as he could. "Seriously, you two... be careful out there. I want to see you back here... Both of you. We've..." he started to speak, but flushed a brighter red and choked on the words. It took a couple coughs to enable him to speak again. "We've been through too much now. You aren't allowed to get yourselves killed out there. Y-you hear me?"
Sango, on the verge of tears, sniffed and nodded vigorously. Miroku gave Inu-Yasha's hand a firm squeeze in return. "You won't get rid of us that easily, I'm afraid. We'll be back." Then, he helped Sango to her feet and looked down at their friend and the unusually quiet Kagome. "We'll give you two some alone time. You look like you might need it."
As the pair moved off, Inu-Yasha shifted his attention to Kagome. She was staring down at her lap, where her hands were twisting nervously. A closer look told him that she was trembling, and was very pale.
"Hey." He reached out and covered her hands with his own. It was shaking just as badly as hers, but the effect was still soothing. "Talk to me."
Kagome immediately grabbed at his hand and clutched it tightly. She took a shuddering breath, and finally met his gaze. His heart nearly broke to see her expression—she was terrified.
"I-Inu-Yasha... How did you do this? H-how did you f-f-face him last time?" Almost in tears, it was difficult to get the words out. "E-everyone is depending on me... But... wh-what if I can't do it? Wh-what if I can't take him down? Everything is resting on me, but... I d-don't know if I can do it..." Her voice was practically a whisper.
Unfortunately, Inu-Yasha knew her fears well. Far too well, in fact. He had endured all the uncertainty, all of the questioning of his abilities, but he had endured it alone. This time, he was determined to prevent Kagome from going through the same.
"Kagome..." A fit was overcoming him. A fine sheen of sweat was coating his skin, and he started to shudder uncontrollably, but he was not going to stop. "Y-you'll never know what you can or can't do. Y-you just have t-to go out there a-and try." His grip on her hand started to slip, but he quickly adjusted his grasp. He willed any remaining strength in his body to transfer to hers. "D-don't worry about what anyone e-else expects. J-just worry about those you care f-for. They're the only ones that m-m-matter. Th-they're the reason for you g-going out there in the first place."
Kagome sniffed and took a deep breath. "I-Is that what you told yourself when you had to go into battle last time?"
A weak grin broke his features. "Th-that's what I thought going to get you, Kagome."
Kagome blinked, then smiled weakly when she realized what he said. He cared for her. It was such a pleasant thought after so long of angst between them. Smoothing his bangs from his clammy forehead, she planted a gentle kiss on his temples. "You're sweet, Inu-Yasha."
"Hmph." He scowled at the compliment. "Don't let anyone else know that."
At that moment, a shout was heard from the front of the room—it was time for their group to face Naraku. Kagome quickly looked up at the sound, and paled.
"I-I guess this is it. The final battle."
Inu-Yasha stared worriedly at her face, as though drinking in every feature. Though he was trying to remain calm and relaxed for her, in reality his heart was nearly pounding out of his chest. Terror was closing in on him. That who was most precious to him was going to face his greatest enemy. His greatest fear. He hated the thought of her going alone... but how could he help? He could hardly walk, let alone fight. He would only be a hindrance on the battlefield, and possibly endanger her with his presence. What could he do?
"Inu-Yasha." Kagome's voice cut in through the anxiety building inside, and he focused on her to keep in reality. "We can do this. I can do this. Right?"
He nodded vigorously. He didn't trust his voice right now, but he wanted to convey his confidence in her.
"Then I don't have anything to fear." She took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. Inu-Yasha could see the tension leaving her slim frame. "I can do this."
When she opened her eyes, there was a determined look in her gaze. She was still afraid, but this time she had confidence sneaking its way in. Fixing Inu-Yasha with an odd look, she leaned over him and gave him a wavering smile. "I-I want to give you something before I leave. My... my way of saying thank you."
Before the half-demon could respond, she moved in and kissed him full on the lips. It was deep, it was passionate, and it was desperate. Everything she felt for him went into that kiss, and it electrified him. He was warmed from his ears to his toes, and soon all his ailments were forgotten, lost in the moment.
Just as suddenly, it was over. She broke the kiss and dashed away without another word. Inu-Yasha was left in a daze, not even noticing as the main group of fighters filed out of the hall.
Shippo wandered over to him, still sore that he was not allowed to join the fighters. Plopping down on Kagome's recently vacated seat, he nudged the dazed half-demon. "Hey. Earth to Inu-Yasha."
It took several moments for him to return to reality. Blinking several times, he finally focused on the fox. "Sh... Shippo?" He shook his head and sat up a little. "What are you doin' here? I thought you'd be sent with the group..."
A pout, reminding Inu-Yasha of Shippo's tender age, appeared on the fox's face. "Kaede wouldn't let me," he mumbled, crossing his arms. "She said I was too young to go on a suicide mission, basically."
A snarl tugged at Inu-Yasha's lip. He did not like that term at all.
Frankly, there was a lot that he didn't like. He didn't like Sango and Miroku going to their deaths. He didn't like the Order being destroyed and overwhelmed. He didn't like being stuck on a hospital bed from withdrawal during all this. But most importantly, he didn't like the love of his life dealing with a demon that he should be facing. It wasn't fair to Kagome to face the fear that had paralyzed him for so many years.
The fear in her eyes haunted him. He couldn't shake the sight from his memory. But something was niggling in his mind, shaking him out of complacency. Sessho-maru had told him he was the key to unlocking Kagome's potential. Something about him supposedly would help Kagome in battle. He hadn't known what his stupid half-brother had meant at first, but the kiss Kagome had bestowed upon him cleared his confusion. He had the power to take away that fear she felt...or at least, die trying.
"Inu-Yasha...?" Shippo was watching him curiously. "You all right? Do I need to go get a nurse?"
The half-demon's gaze snapped over to the fox, and Shippo was startled by his expression. "Shippo, I need your help."
"O-Okay? What is it?"
Slowly, painfully, Inu-Yasha sat up on his cot. With a grimace, he yanked out his IV, then fixed Shippo with a glare. "I need to get out there."
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Well, well, well... SHE LIVES! Yes, Eggry is back from the void of the internet. Firstly, I want to thank you all for sticking with me after all these years. Your continued reviews and PMs have been so pleasing to get, and have helped to push me back into writing. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Life has been... life, I guess. I have bought a house. My sister moved to the other side of the country. My grandmother has received a cancer diagnosis. I have gotten my very first pets EVER (three bunnies, the cutest things in the world!). A crazy pandemic is traveling the world. And life has gone on. It's so weird, looking back at how much has changed since I last wrote a chapter of Inu-Yasha fanfiction. It's like welcoming an old friend back into my life. :)
So, dear readers, thank you for sticking with me. I do pray that I get the next chapter out in less time than 2093 days. I did make a promise that I would not leave this story unfinished. Fortunately for me, I never stipulated a time frame. :D
Until next time, take care!
