(Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them. It's getting there! And yes another cliffhanger. I think I am the Naraku of cliffhangers! But don't worry, there's a glimmer of light (literally) at the end of this chapter! Oh and this is a borderline R/NC 17 because of violence, language and adult situations.)


Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Nine


Darkness As Black As Night/Chasing Naraku To The Boneater's Well


They watched the battle unfold, and Kagome's mother gasped as they all did when Kagome turned momentarily into a demon.

"What - what happened to Kagome!" Her mother looked horrified.

Sango looked shocked. Her friend a demon?

"Evidently she was bitten by a demon.." Miroku said. He heard Kagome's mother gasp. "Gomen!" He looked a bit upset. "She is all right, see?"

"Look!" Sota pointed as he shook his Grandfather who was busy searching through his pocket for a decent scroll.

"I'm busy!" His grandfather snapped. "I know I have something that will get us out of this ball!"

And then things went from bad to worse as they watched Sesshoumaru's defeat and Kagome's capture by Onigumo.

But it was Sota who saw the flames first.

"Aeeeeeiii!" He shrieked. "FIRE!!"

"What? Oh no!!" Mrs. Higurashi cried out as she pulled Sota out of the way. Miroku herded the family and Sango behind him.

"Get behind me, I'll try to suck the fire into the Rip!"

"Rip?" Sota's eyes were round with fear as he watched the fire grow, but his grandfather was oblivious as he started slapping scrolls - any scrolls upon the wall of their prison.

Miroku uncovered his hand and the Air Void opened up, sucking the fire up. But as the fire went into his hand, new flames arose with ferocity, soon nearly surrounding them.

"M -miroku.." Sango looked frightened for the first time. "I'm sorry for all the things I said about you."

"It's all right, Sango.." Miroku saw the futility of using the Air Void and covered it back up, backing the others away from the flames, giving them a little time, but not much, for smoke was starting to fill the sphere.

"This is the last time I buy from Ichiwatown!" Grandfather muttered as he slapped the last scroll upon the wall. He glanced over and saw -

"FIRE!" He yelled as he placed his hand on the scrolled wall to help himself up.

He did not notice that his hand went through the scroll and through the wall itself. The old man lost his balance and tumbled out. Sota screamed, "Grandfather! He - cough - fell out!"

"HURRY!" Miroku quickly shoved them out of the glowing opening, and one by one they jumped, landing on the grass below in front of Kagome's startled eyes.

"Kagome!" Sota looked up at his bound sister. Her mother looked both scared and relieved, but Kagome still feared for her family.

"Hide them!" Kagome hissed at Miroku as he quickly helped Sango and the others up. "Never mind me!"

"But - " Sota started to say.

"Now!" Kagome felt Onigumo's eyes upon them and she knew it was too late!

"You got out!" Onigumo frowned.

Kagome said, "Miroku, Sango..that's Onigumo - he's the one behind this! He's taken Sesshoumaru's soul and has taken over his body!"

"Air Void!" Miroku ripped open the covering on his hand. "Sango, run! Take them - take them into the castle!" It would at least offer a measure of protection. Not much but it would be better than having them here. As Sango and the others ran to the castle, Onigumo, in Sesshoumaru's body smirked. Never mind them. He had everything he wanted and he could dispose of the miko's family later.

The winds of the Air Void started to pull things out of the ground, but Onigumo did not move at all. He only just smirked at the priest as he held out the cursed hand. Kagome could see that the Shikon no Tama had found a resting place in Sesshoumaru's forehead and it glowed with it's dark, evil light.

"Fool. You forget I command Naraku and his curses.." Onigumo held his own hand out and Miroku's Air Void closed in on itself. Miroku's eyes widened.

"Speaking of.." Onigumo said quite smugly as he called another small black sphere in front of him. "Ah, there is the baboon now.."

Miroku and Kagome saw Naraku trapped within the dark sphere, his anger radiating outwardly to where Onigumo held the sphere poised above the clawed hand.

"Kukuku, Naraku..angry at me?" Onigumo's face lit up in a malicious smile. Kagome turned away from that horrific expression on Sesshoumaru's handsome face. It sickened her to think of that twisted monster in Sesshoumaru's body and she could not move!

Onigumo looked at where Miroku stood poised in front of Kagome, ready to fight.

"Naraku, I think a change of scenery would do you good.." The sphere started to spin as Onigumo focused his eyes on it. A glow came from the Shikon no Tama as it's light focused on the dark sphere itself. It was then that Miroku decided to attack Onigumo.

"No, Miroku!" Kagome cried out both for concern for Sesshomaru's body and Miroku's safety. But the priest would not be denied. He would take Onigumo and Naraku in one blow! But Onigumo had anticipated the action, raised his hand and suspended the priest in mid-air.

"You disturb me.." Onigumo said flatly as he regarded the dark sphere that Naraku glowered in once more.

"I, Onigumo, Lord of the Western Lands and soon to be Emperor of the World shall grant you my mercy, baboon robed fool."

Kagome's eyes widened. Was he crazy?

Naraku slammed against his prison, his dark eyes flashing with utter hate.

"But I won't have you here causing trouble for me.." Onigumo let the sphere travel on his fingertips - a trick he had learned long ago as a child. Even now his slight of hand had not disappeared.

"You will go through the passages of time - through the Bone Eater's well." He looked at Kagome pointedly.

"No!" Kagome's eyes flashed with anger and fear. Now she knew just what Kaedo had meant by the Chaos. Onigumo would send Naraku to her unsuspecting world!

"Oh yes.." Onigumo's golden eyes surveyed Kagome's face. "A one way trip with no way back for our Naraku..but he will create his own mischief for me - under my direction.":

Surely the Shikon was not that powerful to have Onigumo control Naraku through time itself? But then again it was the Shikon that had enabled her to travel through the well, so anything was possible now.

"Sow a path of destruction to the Bone Eater's Well, Naraku. Destroy every human and youkai that cross your path.." Onigumo's eyes began to glow once more and Kagome knew it was the Shikon that was giving him this unholy power.

"Flames of destruction..burn the black path of death to the Well..burn them in the name of the Lord of the Western Lands!" Onigumo crowed and Kagome could see Onigumo's burned face superimposed upon Sesshoumaru's handsome one.

"You'll never be Lord of anything, you asshole!" Kagome spat hatefully. Onigumo raised a brow and said, "Already it has begun, your corruption. But you will not use such language to describe your lover, Onigumo, my delicious little miko." He gazed up at Miroku and smiled as with a flick of his wrist he flung the monk to the edge of Sesshoumaru's palace.

Miroku cried out as slammed down to the ground and was dragged the last fifty feet or so. Sango came out of the castle and gasped at Miroku. He was definitely injured, his arm held at an odd angle as well as his leg. His face was bruised and blood ran down his forehead.

"Houshi-sama! Speak to me!" Sango bent over Miroku.

Miroku opened his eyes and Sango saw the pain in them as he grasped her collar.

"Sango..Onigumo - he's sending Naraku through the Bone Eater's Well! You - must take Kirara and stop Naraku before he - destroys Kag - o - me's w - orld."

All the color drained out of Sango's face as she heard that. If Onigumo was here and Naraku in the future, what hope did they have at all? She ran to the others and Sota helped her carefully take Miroku into the castle. As the Lady Higurashi help to tend to Miroku, Sango stripped off the kimono that covered her 'working clothes'. Quickly she ran back with the Hiraikotsu and said, "I must go quickly. Onigumo is sending Naraku to your time, Lady Higurashi."

Kagome's mother frowned. "What sort of being is he to do this sort of thing?"

"A bastard!" Shippo cried out as he held the sphere that still held Rin within it. She seemed okay and had not been hurt by Onigumo's manhandling, but Shippo had been trying to get the child out using what little magic he knew, and had failed miserably. The least he could do is keep her out of harm's way.

"Then go." Mrs. Higurashi said, not quite believing that she was telling a young woman no older than Kagome to go out and risk her life. Still, she knew it had to be done, even though her heart was with Kagome alone with that demon.

"Here! Here!" Kagome's grandfather took some of his scolls and started giving them to Sango. "You may need these."

"I want to go!" Sota said.

"No, Sota.." Mrs. Higurashi sternly said.

~He reminds me so much of Kohaku..~ Sango's heart turned over as she looked into the boy's eyes. ~And he was about the same age when he died..~

"Your mother is right, Sota. This will be dangerous - very much so - and I don't want Naraku to hurt you like he did my own brother." A haunted look filled Sango's eyes.

"Hurry, Sango-sama.." Mrs. Higurashi said. "We will pray for your success."

"Hai." Sango nodded. "Take care of Miroku.." Her eyes welled up with tears. "He - is special to me.."

Mrs. Higurashi nodded and turned back to trying to tend to Miroku. Sango called to Kirara and Kirara grew into her full size. Sango leaped onto Kirara's back and to her surprise, Shippo had snuck aboard.

"We're gonna need to hide so he won't see us.." Shippo said, clinging to Kirara's back.

Sango nodded. She did not want the little kitsume along but he had a point.

*****

"Good bye, Naraku.." Onigumo let the small sphere float into the air as he smirked. "Bone Eater's Well! Accept this token!" The Shikon no Tama glowed and then the small sphere containing Naraku flew off at an impossible rate of speed, already leaving a dark chared path in it's wake, flames leaping through the trees to the left and right of it. It would make it's way to the Bone Eater's Well, devouring everything in it's path.

Shippo's keen eyes saw the dark sphere take off before Sango could.

"Sango! It's leaving!"

"Then we need to go!" Sango's eyes were intense. "I might be able to bring it down with the Hiraikotsu!"

"Wait!" Shippo said. "Gotta give an illusion that won't make him suspect anything! The kitsume looked at the skies and got an idea. He turned into a dark cloud with sparkles that resembled stars. They floated by - or at least they gave the illusion of floating by, and Onigumo never noticed. When they were out of range - or at least they hoped so, Shippo dropped the illusion with relief. That was the longest he had ever held an illusion before!

Sango said, "Good, Shippo. I think we made it. Now pick out that sphere! We'll lose it in the dark."

"Kirara will help too.." Shippo added, pride in his voice. "We'll stop Naraku!"

Sango certainly hoped so.

*****

"And now, Kagome.." Onigumo's eyes focused on the bound miko. "It is just the two of us.." Onigumo's voice was a husky whisper and it gave Kagome the creeps to hear that coming out of Sesshoumaru's body. He came to her slowly as if savoring the moment. When he reached her, he placed his hand under her chin. Kagome snapped her teeth at him and Onigumo slapped her.

"You WILL learn to obey me!" Onigumo's eyes flashed with anger. "I do not desire to hurt you, my sweet miko.." He slipped a clawed hand against the now black and silver strands of Kagome's hair.

"But your family is in the castle.." Onigumo said nastily. "And yes I know the youkai exterminator and the fox-brat have gone after Naraku, but they won't make it. They'll never beat it to the Well."

Kagome looked horrifled as Onigumo stroked her cheek.

"I've won.." Onigumo said. "I have won. I, who was an outcast of his village. I, who was told he'd be nothing. I am now Lord of the Western Lands and soon I shall have the world at my feet...this world and yours." He stared at Kagome, licking his lips. Kagome hated the look of base lust in his eyes. Sesshoumaru had never looked at her that way and it made her stomach turn to see it now.

Onigumo untied the whip from around Kagome, and she slumped, still paralyzed. Onigumo caught her, his breath in her ear.

"I will have you now, Kagome.." Onigumo's tongue slipped against her cheek as he gently slipped her down to the grass.

"I - hate - you.." Kagome spat. "I hate you, Onigumo."

He smiled. "You will change your mind, miko. I know you desire this body, what it can give you. These youkai senses - they are quite telling.."

"I desire Sesshoumaru!" Kagome yelled as Onigumo's clawed hand grasped her face roughly.

"I will kill your mother, your brother and your grandfather in front of your very eyes, bitch! Do you HEAR me! I will not hesitate!"

Kagome was stunned into silence as Onigumo brutally kissed her, his tongue slipping into her mouth as his hands ran across Kagome's body. He ripped at her kimono, exposing her shoulder and the tops of her breasts. Onigumo could feel what little control he had left slipping.

But so occupied he was in the object of his eternal lust, Onigumo did not notice the squat figure behind him.

It took Jaken all the feeble strength that he had to swing the staff of heads at Onigumo. Unoticed during much of the battle after he was returned to himself, he had dragged himself back to the castle and retrieved the staff. It was virtually what held him up.

"Get - out - of - Sess- hou - maru - sa - ma.." Jaken's face was a mass of bruises where the youkai had beaten him earlier.

The blow did not hurt Onigumo but it did stop his mauling of Kagome. He lifted himself off of Kagome and with the staff of heads, lifted Jaken up.

"Toad..." Onigumo taunted. "You really thought you had power eh? You were just a little pawn that all, Jaken.."

"Get - out.." Jaken's eyes were hateful as he surveyed the thing that had taken over his master's body. Yes, he had been used and he had helped to bring this thing to his master's domain. Well, if he had to die for it, he'd see that this thing was gone and Sesshoumaru-sama was back as he should be. He had promised his father that long ago, and Jaken was if anything loyal.

Onigumo threw Jaken and his staff away from him and then finally noticed the Tetsusaiga lying on the ground.

"Ah, since I AM the Western Lord now, I suppose this is mine.." He grinned at Kagome as he bent to pick up the sword.

"It's - not - YOURS!" Jaken pointed the staff of heads at him as flames came pouring out. Onigumo however turned the flames back onto Jaken, but somehow Jaken did not erupt in flames as Onigumo expected.

"A protection spell?" Onigumo sneered. "I suppose your master did care for you toad, but you have a new master now!" Onigumo sneered as he grabbed the Tetsusaiga, advancing on the still prone Jaken.

The Tetsusaiga started to glow even as the Tensaiga resting against Onigumo's hip did.

"Wha - ?" Onigumo looked at the glowing blade. "Ah, it's turning into it's - AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Onigumo threw the Tetusaiga away from him as he held up his charred hand. The Tensaiga too, started to burn and Onigumo nearly panicked as he threw that away from him too. Angily he whirled on Kagome.

"What trickery is this! I am Lord of the Western Lands, ruler of the fabled demon swords!"

Kagome smirked. Onigumo turned away from her and looked over at Jaken. The little toad did something to them. Well he had the power without those damned swords. Holding up his blackened hand, he saw with satisfaction as it healed and then he advanced on Jaken.

"Little toad, you are dead." Onigumo lifted the youkai high in the air, and then Jaken rose as if he were a balloon, floating ever higher. Kagome knew that whatever protection spell he had upon him, it would not prevent his death when he was dropped from a great height.

"Now where were we before we were rudely interrupted?" Onigumo purred as he turned back to Kagome.

~Oh god..~ Kagome tried to move a little and it was next to impossible. It was like she could feel things on her skin, but she couldn't move. She cringed as she felt Onigumo kneel on top of her, staring at her.

"I have fantasized about this moment from the moment I saw you so long ago, miko-witch. You are mine now and forever more." With his clawed hand, he ripped her kimono even further, exposing her breasts to his gaze. Kagome felt sick. She had never felt so helpless before and it maddened her.

As if he knew her thoughts, Onigumo said lowly, "Try anything, Kagome, and I shall kill off your loved ones -starting with that boy.."

~Sota!~ Kagome thought with horror.

As Onigumo's mouth came down on hers, Kagome despaired - that is, until she saw something within the Shikon no Tama on his forehead - a white glimmer of light that glowed as if it came from a distance. She saw the crescent moon that had always been on Sesshoumaru's forehead glow with reddish light of it's own.

Suddenly Kagome felt a stirring deep within her soul and she knew what that white glowing light was.

~Sesshoumaru!~ Her eyes widened inperceptively. ~He's trying to come back!~