JennyTheWhiteWolf: I know it may seem to most that I have abandoned this story though that is not true at all. I had a huge case of writers block and so much going on that this had taken a major side line. I would not be surprised if all had given up on this story, but no matter how long I will finish this and I don't mind questions on pairings or future plans I have for this because I have had a lot of time to think them over. From this point please enjoy.
Traveling to Shiori's village seemed a simple enough task on the surface, however when you are constantly stopped by pleas of help from the passersby along the way; it slowed the journey considerably. It was by pure chance that Inuyasha caught a scent on the wind. It was that of Kagura and Kohaku? Why the two of them were together he did not know, but he was sure as hell about to find out.
"Guys I've picked up the scent of Kagura and Kohaku. I've no idea what's going on, but I say we go find out." Sango gasped and a concerned look crossed Isamu's face. He was studying her in hopes that he could figure out the best way to help her after knowing all the she has been through with her brother so far. Isamu got on Kirara first with Miroku sitting behind him. The arrangement was a bit awkward, however it was necessary and Miroku would rather sit behind Isamu than to be carried by Inuyasha. He would rather run himself if that were the case. As for Sango she went with Inuyasha though not liking the arrangement nearly as much as Miroku disliked his. Still this was the fastest way to get everyone where they needed to go.
When the group arrived on the scene it was to see Kohaku being spirited away upon a feather with Kagura about to face a redirected dance of the dragon attack. Inuyasha quickly made the decision to negate the attack that Kagura was about to take head on with that of the wind scar.
"What the hell is going on? I thought you and Hakudoshi was on the same side?" Kagura glared at Inuyasha more out of reminding her of her own predicament than anything else. She could see Sango and Miroku beside Kirara ready to attack. Then she saw a new face she did not recognize holding what appeared to be a pair of hooked swords with spearheads at the hilt. He also had a bow with only a few arrows in the quiver, however those arrows were soaked in a very familiar holy energy. Her focus remained only a moment longer before once again drifting to look at Inuyasha.
"Like that is any of your business." Saying that Kagura returned her focus to the fight at hand with Hakudoshi.
"Sango you should go after Kohaku while you still can?" Sango looked to Isamu and quickly nodded, trusting that her friends could handle Hakudoshi without her.
"Right, be safe." Sango took off quickly going off after Kohaku. While Isamu and Sango had their quick discussion, Inuyasha launched an adamant barrage at Hakudoshi who vanished leaving the attack hitting nothing while flying off in the distance.
"I still feel his presence Inuyasha so stay on guard." Inuyasha in response jumped in front of Kagura in a defensive stance figuring that if Hakudoshi were to attack it would be against his last opponent.
"Aren't you being a bit naïve Inuyasha?" Inuyasha scoffed at her.
"I will split you in half if you try anything funny." Kagura huffed and rolled her eyes at him.
"Listen up I want you to tell us everything you know. Hakudoshi isn't going to back off until he's finished you off." Kagura nodded at this.
"True, he doesn't want me to reveal the location of Naraku's heart. Here he comes." A beam of light attacked Inuyasha who deflected it with the blade of Tessaiga. When the light died down it revealed a familiar face of Goryomaru. Miroku stared incredulously at the man who had help with the orphaned boys teaching them to fight and care for one another. The thing that had engulfed his right arm and shoulder was open revealing orbs of light within.
"It's Goryomaru? He's still alive?" Hakudoshi was looking Goryomaru over noticing the new injuries on him.
"Who is responsible for your Injuries?"
"None of that matters right now." A bright light encased Goryomaru and he began to quickly transform and grow to reveal himself as none other than Moryomaru.
"I have come for the shikon jewel shard." Miroku tried not to draw attention to himself because he was the one that Kagome entrusted their piece of the jewel to. She said that it made her feel better knowing that everyone had a way back to her through that piece. So that if anything happened, they had a way back to her. He didn't want to let her down by being the one that let the shard fall into the wrong hands. However, before he could do anything at all Hakudoshi was inches in front of him reaching his small hands into his robe and taking the small vial with their jewel shard inside it. On reflex he outstretched his hand in hopes of holding on to it, but it slipped past his fingers like trying to capture smoke with his bare hands.
"Here use this." Moryomaru gladly accepted the shard placing it up against his injured side. Upon contact the jewel shard merged with his body and healing him at the same time.
"I'll take care of these guys. You go and find that other shard." Suddenly Moryomaru sprouted what looked to be a pair of very large bat like wings and flew away. Inuyasha had tried to stop him from leaving though a burst of miasma blocked his path and he had to retreat a few paces. It left Hakudoshi floating in front of him within his purple iridescent barrier and everyone else on the defensive against him. Inuyasha didn't take long before firing an adamant barrage at Hakudoshi but unlike the other times Hakudoshi's image seemed to waver and fade like mist.
"An illusion?" Kagura gasped as she felt a pair of hand come from behind and lift her into the air.
"Traitor, did you really think that I would let you escape?" Inuyasha had turned quickly at the sound of his voice.
"Get back here." Inuyasha stared angrily not sure what to do.
"Go on Inuyasha what are you waiting for? Is it Kagura?" No one was more surprised than Kagura herself.
'He won't do it? How pathetic?.. but why?' The question rang through Kagura's head as she was held at the mercy of Hakudoshi.
"I'm surprised, I didn't think I could use you as a shield." Kagura in retaliation brought up her fan and delivered a wind attack that cut Hakudoshi in two within his barrier.
"Listen up we don't have much time. Naraku's heart, the infant, is inside Moryomaru. Hakudoshi and the infant plan to empower Moryomaru so that they can overthrow Naraku." Inuyasha and the others gasped at the knowledge.
"An impressive deduction, Kagura. It was a grave mistake for Naraku to release his heart that day. He entrusted the Fuyoheki to the infant to keep his heart safe, knowing it would conceal its demonic aura. That gave the infant an idea. To create a durable armor to protect himself. That armor is Moryomaru, who swallowed the dead Goryomaru. It was at that point that we realized; Naraku without his heart is but an empty shell. The infant and I are the real thing and one day soon, we'll overthrow him." Kagura scoffed at the notion.
"Naraku has been aware of your plot from the very beginning fool." Hakudoshi merely smiled having fully recovered during his little speech.
"No doubt, but if I were you, I'd be more concerned about my own fate right now. After all, we may both be traitors, but it is your heart Naraku holds. It's hopeless for you. No matter what, you'll never be free." Kagura being riled by his words shouted at him before she brought her fan back up to slash at him.
"You can rip my body to pieces, I still won't die."
'Nobody can kill me, not even Naraku himself.' A sinister laugh could be heard somewhere far off and the barrier that was protecting Hakudoshi vanished like a bubble being popped. Kagura began to fall back down to earth leaving a stunned Hakudoshi to float in the air without protection from his barrier. Inuyasha seeing his opportunity launched a quick wind scar at him. The golden winds the slashed like claws tore away at his already damaged body leaving only pieces of him floating. Miroku too did not waste time. He desperately wanted to go and retrieve the piece of the jewel that was stolen from him. He took of the beads to his wind tunnel off ready to unleash it. He hesitated seeing the poisonous insects flying beside Hakudoshi, but just as suddenly the insects flew away startling Hakudoshi the most.
"What? Why aren't they protecting me?" Kagura smirked as she realized what was happening.
"Well, well, isn't this interesting? It looks like Naraku's given up on you." Hakudoshi glared angrily at Kagura.
"Silence, I cannot be killed." A large burst of miasma burst forth from Hakudoshi. Isamu came up next replacing his hook swords to his either side of his hips to grab the bow and one of the precious few arrows Kagome provided for just such an emergency. It drained her considerably to make the arrows this way, but she said it didn't matter since she didn't plan to be fighting anytime soon. Isamu readied the arrow and although not as strong as it would be should Kagome have fired it, it still did the job and cleansed enough of the miasma revealing that bits of Hakudoshi regenerated enough to launch an attack upon Kagura.
"I'm not like you Kagura. I cannot be used up and thrown away like that!" I am-" Just before he was about to slice at Kagura, Miroku had opened the wind tunnel and began to suck Hakudoshi in.
"I am his essence.." Hakudoshi's words were cut off just as the last of him was sucked into the wind tunnel. Quickly Miroku closed up his wind tunnel feeling just a little better knowing at least some evil had been wiped from the world. Isamu came up beside Miroku with an unsettled look on his face.
"It's as if he planned for all of this to happen; Naraku I mean." Inuyasha scoffed.
"Knowing him he probably did. It makes sense. Naraku decided to let us take care of Hakudoshi for him. Though now we may never really know for sure why it was that Hakudoshi attacked Shiori's village. We can only guess it was to try and find worthy demons to make Moryomaru stronger. Still its one less problem that we have to take care of." Kagura had fallen to her knees from either relief or shock of it all when the fighting ended. She watched the small group talk before it was Miroku who looked her way. Miroku seeing the look on her face could not help but try to comfort her in a small way knowing her circumstance as he does now. Plus, she helped them with a knowledge of how to defeat Naraku and he felt that he owed her in some small way.
"What will you do now? You could come with us if you wanted." Kagura sat up with a resigned look upon her face.
"No thanks. I can't go with you, or with anyone. Anyway, you don't have time to waste. It won't be long before Moryomaru finds Kohaku." Miroku knew what she said was true, so he simply nodded accepting her choice.
"Listen Kagura, I'm going to make sure that we get your heart back from Naraku, so just hang in there, alright?" Kagura laughed at Inuyasha with a sad and sarcastic undertone.
"Who do you think you're kidding?" Kagura took a feather from her hair and began to ride the wind upon it with Inuyasha's last words to her following behind.
"Just promise me you won't die before it happens! You got that!"
'I don't need you to tell me to run for my life. I'll go as far as I have to.'
Kohaku hid behind the side of a ravine as he heard Sango's voice drift on the wind calling his name in search of him. He desperately wanted to hide from her for several reasons, but mostly to keep her safe.
'Sister, please just keep going.' As he thought that he felt a presence beside him and was startled to see the large form of Moryomaru directly beside him. He was so startled he did not have time to jump away before he was entangled by flesh like tentacles coming out of Moryomaru's body. As the flesh gripped his arms and legs still, an infant's arm appeared and reached for him to rest just above his knee glowing a dark purple and it was then Moryomaru spoke.
"I can see what's in your heart. Haunted by the memories of killing your own family. You seek atonement by giving your own life. How very noble." Kohaku glared while trying to figure out a way to escape.
"Then you shall die for the sake of your sister. For that woman will never forget how her brother killed her father in cold blood."
"Kohaku!" Sango's voice could be heard echoing off the rocks and still Moryomaru and the infant held him still.
"As long as you live, both of you will continue to suffer this torment." Kohaku worried for Sango and just as Moryomaru was reaching for the shard within Kohaku did a shout of Hiraikotsu sound. A giant boomerang came slicing the flesh away and allowing him to jump to relative safety. Sango easily came in and caught the boomerang on its return.
"Stay away sister!" Sango being startled stared at her brother.
"So, you do remember." Moryomaru was growing more and more frustrated.
"Your resistance is pointless." As Moryomaru again reached for Kohaku it was an adamant barrage that sliced away the flesh that reached out for him.
"You're the one who's fighting a losing battle, Moryomaru. Or should I say Naraku's heart?" Moryomaru being startled by Inuyasha knowing of the infant gave him his full attention.
"Now that we know your identity, we'll never allow you to escape." Inuyasha charged forward and unleashed another adamant barrage. Moryomaru however had time to recover and spread his wings and took to the air.
"Inuyasha its only a matter of time before I absorb the demonic power that's in your blade." With that a bright purple light enveloped him before vanishing from site. Inuyasha scoffed after Miroku confirmed that he got away.
"Kohaku you recognize me don't you?" Sango's desperate plea brought the attention away from Moryomaru and onto the siblings.
"Tell me that you do, tell me." Sango held both of Kohaku's arms in her grasp to both make sure he wouldn't run and to confirm that it was really him.
"I remember… everything… from that day." Sango gasped releasing the grip she had on his arms.
"And for that reason, I can't stay with you sister." Sango refused to accept that.
"What will that accomplish, huh? You're just going to go off and die?" Kohaku flinched.
"Maybe." Isamu took that time to com up to the pair.
"But it hurts too much to be together." Kohaku startled looked to the voice with surprise.
"Isamu?" Kohaku could hardly believe what he was seeing right now. He thought Isamu dead.
"Being with Sango reminds you of what you did, huh? She still loves you. For her, no one else in the world could take your place." Kohaku could only stare sadly at Sango.
"I'm so sorry."
"Kohaku-." Sango embraced Kohaku simply enjoying for a small amount of time that her brother was returned to her. However, she could practically feel the guilt he carried over all that had happened. How hesitant his hold was and the slight shake of his hands. It tore at her heart to see him suffer so. She wanted to so desperately to ease that pain somehow.
"Kohaku there is something I want you to see. Will you come with me?" Kohaku seemed torn, not wanting to cause pain with his presence, but not having the heart to deny his sisters wish.
"We are going to go back to the demon slayer village. We need to do this." Inuyasha seeing the two as they were could understand her reasoning. He knew their love for each other and after all they had been through together, he couldn't tell her no. After all, Hakudoshi was dead and there was no longer any reason to try for the shore to the west. There were no complaints from either Miroku or Isamu so the group didn't hesitate to leave.
Sango was showing the graves that she made to both Kohaku and Isamu. The two siblings were kneeling by the graves while Isamu stood watching over the two. Sango was explaining to Kohaku how they were at peace, but she saw that he still blamed himself with how his hands shook violently upon his grasped knees. She turned as she heard the soft jingle of Miroku's staff. Inuyasha and him decided to investigate Midoriko's cave while the demon slayers paid their respects. He told the three how there was a chrysalis within the hole of Midoriko's chest and how Inuyasha stayed behind to keep watch for a while as a pure barrier repelled them from getting closer.
Isamu had simply been watching over everyone not really sure what he should be doing. He was new to both being around people again and the fact that this was the place of his greatest failing. After Miroku returned and explained about Midoriko's cave he excused himself to go to the grouping of felled trees that he had left the last time he was there. Collecting tools along the way as he began to work them into replacement boards and other such things to begin repairing the damage the buildings. He could not heal Kohaku's or Sango's heart in such a way, but he could do this. He was a man of action. He didn't know what to say in such times, but he knew what he could.
"What are you doing?" Isamu lifted his head from his work to see Kohaku staring at him with a sad sort of confusion. Sango was behind him not wanting to be too far from him. He could see Miroku go towards the main hut and pulling at the broken boards that would need to be replaced, having understood what Isamu was doing.
"I find that when I keep my hands busy, I can drown out the thoughts in my head somewhat and more so the ache in my heart. I failed this place and its people. I figure the least I can do is repair it. After all it is still our home. I don't know the right words to help either of you. All I know is I can do this much." Kohaku contemplated Isamu's words before nodding and then proceeded to take some boards over to Miroku so that they can place them. Sango smiled happily at him and grabbed a bucket of nails next to him.
"For someone who doesn't know what to say, its seems you said exactly what we needed to hear." Isamu heart felt lighter seeing the smile return to Sango's face and a sense of pride that he was the one to place it there.
Inuyasha sat staring at the chrysalis sure that any moment something was about to happen. Sure enough after a while something began to emerge after a slight pulse. He was surprised to see that it was in fact a soul collector. It emerged in a circular motion and when it flew away it held a glowing white ball with its legs. Surprised Inuyasha jumped up and began to follow it out the cave through the forest outside and to a pool that fed to a waterfall. It was there that he saw the very familiar form of Kikyou. He had the suspicion that it could be her from seeing a soul collector, but it still surprised him to see her there soaked beneath the waterfall. She turned her head at his approach and hearing the call of her name.
"Inuyasha, I take it that you followed the soul collector?" Inuyasha took a moment to examine said soul collector.
"What do you intend to do with Midoriko's soul?" Kikyou moved her white inner robe to the side slightly revealing a would on her shoulder that traveled down disappearing under the fabric.
"This is what Naraku inflicted upon me at Mount Hakurei." Inuyasha was surprised to see the wound.
"But weren't you healed?" Inuyasha thought Kagome's purification rid her of the miasma.
"For a short time, yes. But as you can see, the wound has now reopened. This is the reason I have taken Midoriko's soul. Using it is the only option that I have. Otherwise, I'll be consumed by the miasma. This body will return to the earth before I defeat Naraku. Even though Midoriko's soul is dead, I know that it will help me stay alive long enough to complete my task. Midoriko was a priestess who died slaying demons. In many ways, you could say that we share the same soul. I am sure she'd understand my reasons for doing this." As Kikyou spoke the soul collector that had been circling Kikyou before, held the small white ball that expanded into what looked like many before shooting towards Kikyou and melding with her. Her entire body glowed a blue white and the wound that was visible shrank to reveal healthy new skin.
Sango watched her brother holding Kirara after her return from hunting in the woods. Miroku and Isamu were talking about what they had planned for the restoration of the village when all of a sudden Kohaku jumped to his feet and the jewel shard on the back of his neck glowed brightly for a moment. He then proceeded to run outside, and all were surprised to see three soul collectors greet Kohaku before circling round and leading him into the forest. Sango ran the hardest and was the first to hit a pure barrier that repelled her backwards.
"Kohaku!" Kohaku looked over his shoulder at Sango as he ran.
"Don't worry sister." Kohaku watched a moment longer before fully facing forward and following the soul collectors.
'The shard is telling me to go. It's telling me to defeat Naraku. I don't care what it takes. I'll do anything to accomplish that.'
Kouga traveling with Ginta and Hakkaku looked around warily at the fog that was gathered all around the mountainous terrain. He was listening as their footfalls ground the dirt and rock beneath their feet. He was not overly concerned though it did not hurt to be cautious. The same could not be said of the other two as they practically jumped and the falling of some random stone that would tumble down by the bit of wind that would occasionally travel through the ravine they were walking through.
"What is it Kouga?" The two stopped when they noticed Kouga do the same.
"It's nothing." Kouga stared at his legs a moment in confusion.
'My legs.. the shikon jewel shards feel so heavy all of a sudden.'
Kikyou stumbled a bit; the process of absorbing such a soul draining her considerably.
"Are you going to be ok Kikyou? That wound isn't going to reopen is it?" Inuyasha watched as she gathered her things and put back the outer robes of her Miko attire.
"I cannot be sure. That is why I must make haste." Kikyou after adjusting her clothing picked up her bow and arrows.
"Can't you just wait until I defeat Naraku?" Inuyasha wanted to right the wrong that's been done to the both of them and didn't want to see her get hurt any further. The love that was once shared between the two may not be what it was, but that did not mean he didn't care for her despite all the history since her resurrection.
"You cannot defeat Naraku with a sword. Please listen to me. Defeating Naraku requires the obliteration of his entire being, including his soul. It doesn't make a difference how many times you destroy his body. Naraku was created when demons were merged into the vile soul of the thief Onigumo. From the beginning, he's had no true body, so the shikon jewel is perhaps the one and only power great enough to eradicate Naraku's soul. The shikon jewel must be restored at once. There is no other way. There will only be one chance. When Naraku obtains the restored shikon jewel, the jewel will be defiled within Naraku's hands as it fuses with him. In that instant, we must purify Naraku, along with the jewel. And only I am capable of this." Inuyasha listening to Kikyou and coming to a conclusion could not help, but to object. He could not voice this though as Kikyou began to ascend into the air by many white glowing lights lifting her.
"Inuyasha now is not the time for hesitation and it is too late now to turn back." Inuyasha simply watched as she drew further away from him.
'Restoring the jewel would mean taking Kohaku's shard and to do that, you'd have to take his life. Kikyou you're not the kind of person who's capable of that, are you?' Inuyasha was startled when Kohaku's voice arose from what seemed out of no where.
"I understand now. I know what I have to do. So I'm going." Inuyasha stared at Kohaku in confusion.
'I don't get it. Why didn't I notice Kohaku's scent when he was so close?'
"Please explain to the others." Kohaku began to race of after Kikyou. Inuyasha snapping out of it called his name and began to pursue only to run into the same pure barrier as in the cave. Kohaku momentarily turned back to him. He had a soft smile on his face filled with determination.
"I'm not going there to die. I'm going there to defeat Naraku. Please take care of my sister and Isamu." Inuyasha could do nothing but stare at Kohaku's retreating figure and dreading what he would have to tell Sango.
Kouga looked around after finally arriving at their destination. There were wolf demon skeletons on both sides of the ravine on high outcropping of rocks. The all had full sets of armor on and holding an assortment of weapons. Their position was uniform, and they all looked straight ahead to look at the center of the ravine. There were three separate levels and their numbers were many. Ginta and Hakkaku watched them hesitantly, feeling as if their every move was being watched. Kouga however, paid no mind of them and continued unhindered.
"It feels like we're grave robbers or something." Ginta shivered at the thought of the skeletons.
"Kouga! Over there. That's it." Hakkaku pointed further ahead and directly in the center on a raised point, rested a mirror that looked to be surrounded by gold that was curved and shaped in the image of flames. What was being reflected on its surface was a weapon with a set of five silver claws that are connected to a wristband through the use of small chains. Each claw has a sharp point on top of them that runs to the opposite end.
"The Goraishi of the wolf demon tribe." Kouga put in an extra burst of speed seeing his prize but stopped short as the rocks in front of the mirror grew forth rapidly forming what appeared to be a three headed wolf. Blue white flames were gathered at its feet and it was complete with red markings on each cheek and three sets of glowing golden eyes with black sclera.
"None shall pass beyond this point." Ginta and Hakkaku jumped back in surprise with Ginta exclaiming how it can talk. Kouga saw nothing, but a pile of rocks standing in the way of his prize and he wasn't about to stand down when the instrument to help with Naraku's downfall was so close.
"Let's get this over with, 'Kay?" All three heads stared down at Kouga with a growl focusing all their attention on him and what appeared to be his overconfidence. Kouga internally sighed hearing his two companions still directly behind him when they should have been looking for cover to protect themselves. Still he had to give them credit for their loyalty if not for their inability to get the hint when he was telling them to hide. Instead Hakkaku spreads his hands out to show them empty.
"Look we aren't thieves or anything." Ginta being of the same mind of Hakkaku finished for him.
"We've just come to borrow the Goraishi." The three headed wolf growled in earnest as a response.
"Never! It belongs to the wolf demon tribe and contains centuries of our brethren's souls. If you desire it-" Kouga knowing what would have to be done from the moment the beast emerged launched a frontal attack using his speed to get in close.
"I have to defeat you, right?" The wolf heads all breathed a torrent of fire at Kouga while standing their ground. Kouga dodged to the right and the moment that he did something happened with the jewel shards in his legs. They glowed brightly and as they did so his legs felt so heavy that it was difficult to move them. Still he landed on the side of the ravine where he was able to ricochet off the wall to come in from the side delivering a devastating kick to the side breaking the creature up to the fragment of rock that it was made. Ginta and Hakkaku had taken refuge behind a rock on the other side of the ravine getting away from both the fire and the fight.
"That's Kouga for you." Ginta realized he may have spoken too soon for the fragments were reforming seeming to be more irritated than before. Fragments tried to grab onto Kouga during the process by gathering the rock beneath his feet and rising up, but Kouga was able to jump away and with a bit of flexibility add a half turn to land gracefully and fully prepared to counter.
"Cursed rat! You're using shikon jewel shards?" Kouga stood his ground facing the now fully formed wolf.
"So what if I am? What did you think, I was gonna take 'em out? They're part of me."
"Those shards you possess are controlled by the will of the which is no longer a part of this world and the Goraishi you desire is controlled by souls which have rested here since ancient times. Souls that are also no longer a part of this world. Like those jewel shards, the Goraishi is not for you to wield."
"Enough of this nonsense." The wolf heads proceeded to spout out flames at Kouga who in turn would create enough speed to create whirlwinds in his wake and he used them in such a way as to isolate the flames and let them burn out do to the lack of oxygen. As he did this he was making his way to the main body where he once again smashed the creature to splinters of rock.
"You cannot win." The creature once more regenerated not once showing that it felt any pain from Kouga's attacks.
"We'll see about that." Before all of the parts of the wolf could be assembled Kouga threw the lower half away with the sheer strength he had in his arms. Still the heads were still intact and flames burst from their mouths even as the lower half broke apart in small pieces. Running faster and faster Kouga was creating more whirlwinds about himself and even spun to create one around himself as he repelled more flames. Kouga saw an opening and was able to land in front of the mirror with the Goraishi.
"Finally." It was then he heard the screams of his men and turned to see the rock wall reach out from where they were hiding to try and make a grab for them. From his point by the mirror Kouga could see how the heads were herding the two toward them and when they got close enough spit out large amounts of fire at them. Not hesitating a moment Kouga jumped towards the flames and grabbed his men before jumping to safety on one of the first landings of rock facing off a full formed three headed wolf standing guard over the mirror.
"Kouga the Goraishi; its gone?" Kouga turned to see that Ginta was right. The image of the Goraishi had vanished from the mirror.
"You should have abandoned your friends and obtained the Goraishi when you had the chance." Kouga glared down at the wolves.
"If you think I regret my choice, then you don't know me at all. Listen up, the only reason I came for your precious Goraishi is because I plan to use it to avenge my tribe, but if it means sacrificing my comrades then I don't need the Goraishi. Got it moron." Ginta and Hakkaku practically had stars in their eyes as they held Kouga who stood protectively in front of them as if daring anyone or anything to attack his friends and face his wrath.
"Enough of your preaching." The wolves lashed out at the bit of rock they were on destroying it and sending Ginta and Hakkaku stumbling to the ground. Kouga jumped off with a twist before landing on his feet.
"You shall pay for desecrating this burial ground and disturbing the ancient ones." Kouga ran at the creature fully intending on punching it in the face when light appeared around his hand and the Goraishi appeared upon his right hand as if it had always been there. Reacting on instinct Kouga threw himself into the flames repelling them by spinning forward and once they broke apart he brought the Goraishi back and struck downward sending what looked to be massive bolts of lightning that struck the earth and continued on utterly destroying the three headed wolf. Kouga stared in astonishment a moment. The Goraishi still on his hand glowing with a golden light while static discharge sparked around it.
'How did I-' Kouga's inner thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the wolf that drifted on the wind.
"The Goraishi will be your claws. From this day forth, you shall have the protection of our souls." The Goraishi seemingly vanished from Kouga's hand.
'It disappeared?' Kouga flexed his hand in surprise.
'No, it merged with my body; its part of me now.' Ginta and Hakkaku sensing the danger had passed approached Kouga. Hakkaku was staring out at all the skeletons that bore witness to the whole event.
"What was that all about?" Ginta was the one turned to Kouga.
"Does this mean our ancestors will watch over him?" The two jumped as the voice sounded once more.
"However, know that we can only protect you once from the power which controls the shikon jewel shards in your legs. The power which is not a part of this world." Kouga listened to the voice and nodded.
'I'll be sure to remember that.'
Kagura was drifting in the wind when she let out a startled gasp. Directly in her path, Naraku floated encased in his barrier without a care in the world.
"Naraku." Kagura's voice was barely a whisper as she stopped before him knowing it was pointless to try and flee from him.
"Kagura, apparently Hakudoshi has died." Kagura grimaced at just how nonchalant he said it as if discussing the weather.
'You know it couldn't have happened if you didn't want it to.'
"He was nothing but a fool, that Hakudoshi. It seems that he thought he could destroy me. Kagura, I shall grant you your freedom." Kagura sat unmoving upon her feather staring at Naraku waiting for the punchline; the catch to such a tempting prize.
"So you'll grant me my freedom?" Kagura asked in such a way it was made clear that she was more than just skeptical.
"You wish to be liberated from me, do you not? Isn't that why you disobeyed my orders, allowed Goryomaru to escape and allied yourself with Hakudoshi?" Kagura could only stare back at Naraku.
"If you were aware of it, then why-" Kagura gasped seeing Naraku lift his hand and a beating heart encased in iridescent purple, much like his barrier, lay upon his outstretched hand.
"My h-heart!" Naraku chuckled at the shock that showed on Kagura's face.
"That's right, if I were to return this to your body, you would no longer be under anyone's control. Not even mine. You'd be free at last." The heart vanished from Naraku's hand and Kagura's eyes grew ever wide and her hand clasped over the beating heart that now finally returned to where it belonged. The feeling could not be truly processed for just as quickly as its returned, Naraku struck at her with tentacles piercing her body.
"Not to worry, I was careful to avoid hitting your precious heart." Kagura glared hatefully at Naraku.
"Naraku- you bastard!" Kagura threw a blade of wind at him, but it bounced harmlessly off his barrier. With a laugh Naraku retracted the tentacles and watched as Kagura drifted down and away upon her feather.
"Now you may go wherever you wish."
'Damn, that bastard. He's cursed my body with miasma.' Purple smoke poured out from the wounds that Naraku inflicted. Kagura ground her teeth holding any sound of pain as Naraku's voice drifted to her.
"Enjoy what little time you have left to live. Of course, it will be filled with only pain and despair. You didn't honestly think you deserved a better fate than this, did you, Kagura? You longed for freedom, well now you have it."
"Lord Sesshomaru, the demonic aura from the crystal is weakening. That can only mean that Naraku's heart is nearby." The small and squeaky voice of Jaken was ignored for the most part as Rin on top of the dragon A-Un.
"Look there's a cave up ahead." Sesshomaru stopped causing the others to do so as well.
"Stay back." Sesshomaru with quick reflexes drew forth his sword Tokijin and hurled a ball of light green energy that left streaks of blue lightning in its wake. It crashed into the side of the rocky mountain shattering its surface and revealing the changed form of Moryomaru. Since battling with Sango his armor has changed to appear darker and more that of a tortoise with spikes sticking out upon a shell-like exterior around the shoulders. His entire body looked to be encased in the same dark brown material.
"Hm, you're Inuyasha's brother, aren't you?" Sesshomaru stared coldly back at Moryomaru.
"I have never considered that lowly half demon to be my brother, but the fact that you know even that much tells me that you are Naraku's heart, are you not." Sesshomaru's silver white hair swayed lightly in the breeze as the dust settled though the rest of him stood still ready to strike.
"Hm, Sesshomaru, you'll regret that. Wielding your sword before greeting me?" Sesshomaru's face betrayed nothing, retaining the perfect emotionless façade that he is famous for.
"I doubt that, but you will regret uttering Inuyasha's name in my presence. That much I promise you.
Kagura continued to drift ever down out of the sky, not having the energy to hold herself aloft. The feather shrank and returned to her hair. Her hand remained clenched over her chest only able to stem some of the blood loss. She shuffled her way through a field to get to a place of safety.
'Ah- only need a day to recover from these wounds..' Kagura continues one step at a time. Her chest, although in such agony from the three wounds around her heart, beat steadily.
'My heart, I can feel it beating. I can go wherever I want. I'm.. free…' Kagura's vision began to become hazy coming in and out of focus.
Sesshomaru and Moryomaru continued to clash sword against armor. Neither seemed to give though not deterring either two from continuing.
"That armor, the Tokijin didn't even scratch it." Sesshomaru paid no heed to Jaken's voice as he jumped back and threw another energy ball from Tokijin to aim now at Moryomaru. It left a trail of destruction on its way to Moryomaru, but upon impact it seemed to halt.
"Keep swinging that sword of yours. In time, I will absorb all of your demonic energy." The energy ball that was stalemated in front of Moryomaru shrank before disappearing altogether. His body pulsed a moment and was utterly still. Sesshomaru in response jumped forward and attacked again with the same attack to watch the same process of absorption. Moryomaru chuckled and white balls of light formed in a circle around him connected by red lightning seemingly tinged with a dark pink when it was close enough to the whit lights. All around there was crackling mixed in with the deep chuckle of Moryomaru.
"I suppose I can't let you have all the fun." The now pink orbs began to hurl themselves at Sesshomaru jumping back looking like a skipping stone upon a lake as every time he jumped an orb crashed into the ground spouting dirt and leaving a crater in its wake. Rin and Jaken watched from relative safety with A-Un keeping watch behind them. Keeping his dodges away from them Sesshomaru charged another energy ball when Moryomaru was charging another set of blasts. The two attacks met head on. The small pink orbs connected by red lightning connected with the massive light green orb with light blue lightning. The result was explosive blowing rubble and dirt outward and so the two jumped over the attack to meet midair. Sesshomaru struck with his sword and the blade caught between two spikes on the right shoulder. Sadly it did not even scratch the armor and the sword itself began to crack.
"It won't work Sesshomaru. I shall absorb your demonic energy." Having Sesshomaru so close Moryomaru quickly brought forth flesh like tentacles that encased him to prevent him from escaping.
"No sense prolonging this any further."
Kagura continued to stumble her way through the grass before it gave way to a field of flowers. Everywhere you turned there were countless white daisies staring back at her. She walked further until she was surrounded on all sides by the flowers. It was there she collapsed to her knees.
'No- why is my body failing me?" As Kagura sat there head tilted down and staring at nothing in particular did the flowers that surrounding her began to turn red.
'The wound has reopened and I don't have enough energy left in me to heal it.' Red petals were swept up in a breeze passing through and Kagura could do nothing but watch them drift away.
Sesshomaru being held aloft saw red petals of a flower drift past and with it a scent that he recognized.
"This scent." Sesshomaru eyed the petals as they continued to travel along the breeze.
"Hm? So that useless woman died, did she?" Sesshomaru's eyes turned and narrowed slightly as he gazed at Moryomaru.
"First, she betrayed Naraku, and then me. All because she wanted her freedom. Then when she finally gets it, what does she do? She dies; and dies in vain at that." Sesshomaru's eyes grew wide at the same time Tensaiga at his side pulsed at feeling the righteous rage that ran through Sesshomaru.
"Silence." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he pulled Tokijin back and cut the flesh that bound him and then swung it down upon the armor once more. Bright green light encased the area where the sword met the armor.
"That's impossible. My shell is impenetrable." The light seemed to penetrate his body and in random sections burst forth like water from a geyser.
"The demonic energy I absorbed!" His eyes always so emotionless were now narrowed at Moryomaru in anger.
"The demonic energy you absorbed could never be contained in that pitiful vessel you call a body. Take this." Blue lighting arced along the blade forming the face of a dragon and then speeding toward the opening left by the sword.
"Azure dragon wind!" Moryomaru howled in pain with pieces of his armor breaking.
'This isn't good the shikon jewel shard.' Tokijin was less than an inch away from the shard now. The energy continued to flow damaging him. Before any true damage could be done, Tokijin snapped clean in two. Sesshomaru jumped back to land and watched as Moryomaru encased himself in a dark purple miasma.
"This isn't over. I will be back for you." With Moryomaru gone Sesshomaru tossed the handle of Tokijin aside. Both Rin and Jaken ran out from cover to his side. Rin eyed the sword hilt before turning to Sesshomaru who was already beginning to ascend into the sky.
"You're not going to leave your sword, are you?" Sesshomaru turned his head to address her.
"I have no attachment to a broken sword. I will find a replacement." Jaken stared at Sesshomaru's retreating form in confusion.
"I don't understand. Where is Lord Sesshomaru going?" Rin had bent down to examine the broken hilt more closely only to see a single red petal resting upon it.
"A flower?"
Kagura stared at the flowers simply waiting for the end. The purple smoke continued to rise off of her and the once white flowers around her immediate area were now bright red. Her eyes simply stared off into the horizon.
'Its so quiet. No one is in sight. Is this how it ends? All by myself? Is this the freedom that I longed for?' Not knowing when her gaze drifted down, she lifted it shocked to behold Sesshomaru. He stood in his usual white clothing with red trimming, the black armor plating, and silver spiked armor. The fur on his right shoulder and the yellow obi with purple markings; it was all the same. Stepping forth pristine as if she willed him from her memory of him. She stared at him astonished.
"You.. You came?"
"I followed this scent of blood and miasma." Kagura sighed in disappointment, her eyes softening though and a small smile could be seen.
"I see. You thought I was Naraku. Disappointed that its not him?" Kagura brought her head down to stare at the red flowers at her knees.
"No. I knew it was you." Kagura not believing what she was hearing gasped her eyes once more widening in shock.
"I see." Still looking down the petals danced about her as the wind picked up dancing about her.
'You came to here to see me.' Kagura with her head down could not see Sesshomaru rest his hand on Tenseiga. He watched as Kagura hunched forward as more miasma broke apart her body and the smoke that rose increase.
'Even Tenseiga cannot save her.'
"Are you leaving?" Kagura's reply was soft and floated to him on the ever increasing wind.
"Yes. I've had enough." Kagura lifted her face and drank in his visage; wanting that to be the last thing she saw as she left this world.
'Now that I've seen you one last time.'
"I'm sure of it. That's the scent of Kagura's blood." Sango on top of Kirara with Isamu behind her looked over at Inuyasha.
"Perhaps Naraku found out that she betrayed him." Miroku nodded as he ran alongside the others.
"We should hurry. Don't mind me; I'll catch up." Despite the extra burst of speed they put forth they along with Miroku were only in time to see the last of the miasma drift off with the wind and Sesshomaru standing there silently. It was when he put a step forward did Inuyasha call out to him, asking him to wait.
"Sesshomaru.. Kagura? Did she suffer?" With his back still turned to the group Sesshomaru looked up into the sky.
"She was smiling." With that Sesshomaru walked away and out of site of the others with flower petals dancing on the breeze.
JennyTheWhiteWolf: This chapter is a bit longer than normal though I felt it should be due to the fact that I left it for so long. I also debated whether to give full descriptions of known characters and figured minor descriptions would serve for the purpose of the scenes. I know as the story progresses and how everyone grows and I add the details in, that a clearer picture would be seen. I do have most of next chapter done and I am on a roll. Please tell me what you think by reviewing.
