Chapter 17

The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the sky. Kagome and Sesshomaru have long been awake and traveling in the direction of the other half of the Shikon no Tama. They weren't far off now, maybe a few hours. As the sun rose and the animals with it, the day acted normal as if a great battle long awaited wasn't happening today.

Kagome walked with her head held high, going over different strategies on how to take down Naraku. She discussed her ideas with Sesshomaru as well. He seemed impressed by her knowledge of strategy and war planning. It was unfortunate the outcome of Naraku's fate was too insignificant to make it into her history book.

They stopped about an hour away from where Kagome sensed the tainted jewel. Sesshomaru suggested they rest and collect themselves before they go any further. Kagome gathered wood then boiled some water so she could make some tea.

While she sipped the hot liquid she thought to herself, 'I'm ready! I can do this.' Kagome felt the presence of the other half of the jewel approaching quickly. "I guess our break is over," said Kagome aloud. "Hn," Sesshomaru replied while standing and drawing his sword.

A large cloud of purple miasma flew quickly towards them. Everything below the poison cloud turned into brown death. A gust of wind blew Kagome's black terrasses back harshly. Kagura, the wind witch, landed in front of them. "I'm sure you know why we are here. I don't even see the point in asking for the jewel," Kagura said boringly, "I'm sorry about this." The wind witch attacked with half power. She sent blades of wind towards them which were easily reflected off Kagome's barrier.

The huge cloud of miasma crashed to the ground in front of them next to Kagura. It disappeared to reveal Naraku in a baboon skin and Kana with her mirror. Kagura took a step away from them with a disgusted and sad look on her face.

"Ku ku ku, it's been too long my dearest Kagome," the evil Naraku laughed. "Naraku!" Kagome seethed, "I've come to reclaim my jewel!" Naraku laughed menacingly, "Dear one, that's just what I've come to do. The jewel will be whole soon and I will have it. I will be a full demon and make the whole of Japan bow to me!"

With his threat spoken he sent a wave of hundreds of demons and Saimyōshō towards Kagome and Sesshomaru. They both began the tedious work of destroying each pest. Naraku, being the coward he was, stood behind the battle and watched. When it seems like the duo were making a dent Naraku sent Kagura into the mix.

Kagome took out demon after demon but did her best to not attack Kagura. It was obvious the woman did not want to fight them. The young miko watched Kagura fall to her knees gripping her chest in pain. Naraku punished her for not attacking more ferociously by squeezing her heart that he held captive. Kagome watched with sadness in her heart and then sent an attack towards the evil spider hanyou to distract him from the torture.

Kagome and her Lord had been fighting for a while now and seemed to have taken out most of the demons when the ground started to shake. Kagome was scooped up into the air by strong hands seconds before a tentacle tried to pierce her. She smiled at Sesshomaru when he placed her back on her feet out of reach of Naraku's appendages.

Kagome bent and placed her hand on the ground. She whispered an incantation that pushed her powers in the dirt. Naraku yanked his tentacle from below and growled in anger. He summoned half a dozen more tentacles and hurled them towards her. Kagome put up a barrier that seared each one of the slimy arms into ash. Naraku screamed again and severed the burning limbs before the purification could get to him.

Kagura was back on her feet now and hurling more wind attacks towards them, this time they were more powerful. Sesshomaru took care of Kagura and the few stray demons left while Kagome dealt with Naraku.

Kagome was breathing heavily, Naraku was throwing attack after attack at her. She held her own well. It seemed like Naraku was getting desperate. He was adding insults to his attacks to try to distract her. "You are pathetic! You cannot beat me, you are a mere slip of a girl. I am Naraku and I always win!" Naraku taunted.

"Enough!" Kagome yelled. She was tired of being thought of as weak. She was not weak! Kagome sent an arrow at Naraku that he easily stepped around. She missed on purpose. "You can't even aim properly girl!" teased the spider. Kagome smiled to herself. Her arrow was special, it gathered energy behind the hanyou without his knowledge.

Just when Naraku was about to strike at her again he whipped around at the sound of crackling energy. He was unable to dodge the attack before the arrow's power exploded and launched the cowardly demon into the air. He hit the ground with a thundering explosion of dust. Kagome smiled to herself, 'I did it!' She turned to help Sesshomaru when she felt an evil aura pulse behind her. Kagome jumped out of the way just in time though not quickly enough.

A small tentacle cut into her side as she leapt away. Kagome got to her feet quickly and summoned her bow. Naraku had Kana wrapped in his tentacles and shoved her infront of Kagome's attack at the last second. "I cannot be defeated so easily," laughed the coward. "You cur! How can you just use people like that. Kana was on your side!" Kagome yelled. Sesshomaru stood by her side now. Kagura laid on the grass not far away. Naraku just laughed as he tossed Kana's dead body away. It crumbled into a pile of broken glass.

Kagome's aura pulsed dangerously as she pointed her weapon at the revolting half demon. "This ends now Naraku," yelled Kagome. She sent a powerfully charged arrow at Naraku the same second she saw Sesshomaru send a swipe of purple power from his sword. The spider-hanyou could not dodge the massive ball of power headed straight for him.

"Ahhh!" screamed Naraku before he was reduced to nothing but ash. His half of the jewel fell dramatically slow to the ground. Kagome panted as she walked to the piece of jewel laying in the dust. When she bent to pick it up it rose to float in the air. The chunk around Kagome's neck rose to meet the other then merged into one. The jewel that was now whole flew at Kagome's chest and was swallowed by her heart.

Kagome fell to her knees at the disturbance and added power. Inside her she felt the jewel whisper, "It is done." A moment later a light blue soul emerged from Kagome and kissed her on the cheek. It was Midoriko. Her soul was now free from its confines. The blue orb lingered for a second then drifted into the sky and out of view. Kagome looked to her right when she felt Sesshomaru's hand on her shoulder. Kagome smiled weakly, then looked to the body moving near her.

Kagura was alive and Kagome readied herself in case the wind demoness attacked. "Calm down, I wont attack you, I never wanted to in the first place," Kagura said as she stood. She walked over to the pile of ash and bent to pick up a pulsing red organ. "My heart," Kagura whispered. "Lady Kagome, I would like to thank you for freeing me," Kagura said then bowed.

"Your welcome Kagura, I'm sorry I couldn't help you sooner," Kagome said from her place on the ground. Kagura held her heart and stared at it for some time. "If only I could have you back inside me where you belong," Kagura spoke to her heart. Kagome got to her feet and approached the free woman. "Kagura if you'll allow it I'd like to try and help you," Kagome said as she pointed to the heart in the woman's hand.

Kagura smiled and asked, "what have I got to lose?" Kagome smiled and very carefully took the heart and held it up to Kagura's chest. Kagome wasn't sure exactly what to do but she knew somehow that she could. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Her other hand pulled Kagura's kimono down a bit and drew a circle where her heart belonged. A bright pink light appeared over the drawn circle and began to consume the heart Kagome held. When her heart was fully inside, Kagura gasped. Kagome held her hand against the woman's chest a moment longer to be sure it worked. She felt a beat, then another, smiling she pulled her hand away to see almost perfect skin over her heart. A faint pink heart shape appeared like a scar to show what Kagome had done.

Kagura bent to her knees and bowed low in thanks. She wasted no time in plucking a feather from her hair then hoping on and flying away. Kagome swayed on her feet and thought she might fall but never did. Two strong hands grasped her shoulders and held her against a warm chest. "You did well koi," Sesshomaru said and scooped her up bridal style. Kagome smiled at her victory and drifted off into a relaxed sleep.

~End of Chapter 17~

I know it's kinda short but Naraku is a joke, on with the real stuff! Also I wanna say thank you for your patience. 3

Shikon no Tama-Jewel of four souls

Saimyōshō-Poison insects of hell

Hanyou-Half demon

Koi-Love

Ja ne, Peach