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It took me quite a while for this chapter and so without further ado, onto the story….

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CHAPTER 11: Battles Hard Won

            Sango's legs moved quickly, her speed unhindered by the enormous boomerang she carried. On her two sides, Miroku and Kirara kept apace, while Shippou rode on the large cat's back. They were giving chase to Sango's younger brother, Kohaku, as he had suddenly retreated. They noticed in alarm where they were headed. Even from the distance they stood, they saw the unmistakable form of Naraku. Their eyes widened further at the figure that stood before the evil hanyou. Sesshoumaru. Why the youkai would be facing Naraku was unknown. They had not seen the youkai prince since the incident with Kagome. Sango clenched her teeth together in frustration. If she let Kohaku reach Naraku then he would once again be subject to the hanyou's power. Naraku would be able to use him to threaten them all once again. There was no way that Sango was going to let that happen again. She threw hiraikotsu at the boy and quickened her pace. As she had predicted, Kohaku jumped to dodge the huge boomerang and she also leaped towards him at the same instant. The blow she planned managed to connect with the back of his neck, knocking him out upon impact.

            "Kirara!"

            The large cat swooped under the two falling humans and deftly caught them on her back. With her usual feline grace, Kirara landed softly and Sango lifted the unconscious boy off her back. Miroku checked Kohaku over and confirmed that the boy was uninjured to a relieved Sango. They were still at a loss of what to do with Sango's little brother though. Once he regained consciousness, Kohaku would once again be under Naraku's control. The only way to save the boy was to kill Naraku, freeing him from the hanyou's control. The fact that there was a Shikon shard in his body was a problem they would have to solve later. Having so decided, they tied Kohaku to a nearby tree so he could not interfere with the inevitable battle. And so, with Kohaku's peacefully sleeping face in her mind, Sango and the others prepared to confront Naraku.

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            Sango's small group arrived on the scene as Sesshoumaru and Naraku watched on. The youkai watched their approach without expression while the other smiled and bid them welcome. The sight of the evil hanyou smiling sent a chill along Sango's spine even as she glared at the being that had destroyed her way of life. Beside her, she sensed the tension in Miroku's stance and if Sango had seen his eyes, she would have seen the hard look the houshi directed at Naraku. Shippou looked on with fear at the evil being before him, clutching the transformed Kirara's mane tightly.

            "My, my, if it isn't Sango and Miroku with their little friends. How nice of you to show up. And here comes Inuyasha, right on time."

            Naraku finished his taunt just as Inuyasha leapt into battle, taking a mighty swing with Tetsusaiga. The demon sword was repelled by the powerful barrier erected by Naraku. The force of Inuyasha's blow caused the raging hanyou to be blown back a distance. Dragging one clawed hand in the ground, Inuyasha slowed the momentum until he came to a crouched stop. Raising furious eyes to Naraku, he prepared to attack but was brought to a halt by the evil being's words. Naraku fairly chuckled as all those around him gave him their attention.

            "Now, almost everyone that should be here has arrived." Glancing around at the enemies, Naraku smirked. "Don't you think it's high time to show yourself? Kikyo."

            Sesshoumaru watched dispassionately as the woman walked out of the house. The hurt shock on Inuyasha's face disgusted him. As the undead miko stoically descended the steps Sesshoumaru wondered how the hanyou could be food enough to trust one who hated him and wanted him life. But in the end, it mattered not what his brother thought of this woman. For daring to threaten the life of his lifemate, she will be destroyed. If I hadn't been there that time… Sesshoumaru was nothing, if not protective of those under his care. From what Kagome had told him of this Kikyo, there was no doubt that Sesshoumaru would have to destroy the miko even if Kikyo had not made an attempt his mate's life. The doll of dirt and bones was animated because it possessed a part of Kagome's soul. The affect of missing a part of one's soul was, to his knowledge, unpredictable. He would not risk any danger to Kagome that missing part of soul could do to his lifemate.

            Kikyo came to a stop beside Naraku who was still lounging on the stairs to the building. Although the undead miko had appeared to be fine, upon reaching Naraku's side, she collapsed. Naraku chuckled at the sight of Kikyo sprawled before him, straining to get into a sitting position. She glared at the evil hanyou with hateful rage as the evil hanyou tsked at the look in her eyes. Naraku grasped her chin firmly and almost gently, tilted her face up. A moment of panicked fear flashed in Kikyo's eyes, as Naraku's face loomed closer to her own.

            Sesshoumaru thought Inuyasha looked as if he would like nothing better than to be able to reach over and cut off Naraku's offending hand. Luckily for the miko, rash though he may be, even Inuyasha realized that in their predicament Naraku could easily kill her before Inuyasha could even come close to them. Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru felt a flash of sympathy for Inuyasha as the hanyou whipped his face away from the scene before them. The Lord of the Western Lands could almost imagine his own mate in such a situation. As it would turn out, just as Kikyo's and Naraku's faces were about to touch, the evil hanyou turned slightly to the side. Instead of the expected kiss, they saw Kikyo's lips purse in rage as Naraku whispered in her ear, his face buried in the miko's hair.

            "Expecting something else? Ah, my dear Kikyo you will watch as I destroy Inuyasha. I wonder what will become of you when the one whom your hate for was so great that you returned to this world, no longer exists."

            Then, with a chilling laugh, Naraku suddenly went a wave of energy at the miko. The force of the impact sent Kikyo hurtling into a well, dried out a long time ago. Despite the hard blow, the long dead miko, managed to retain consciousness. Inuyasha shouted Kikyo's name and fairly roared with rage as he swung the transformed Tetsusaiga at Naraku. The fury seemed to give Inuyasha more strength as Tetsusaiga swung more ferociously than before. The evil hanyou smirked as Inuyasha's blow was held by his barrier. Instead of being hurtled backward, Inuyasha stubbornly pressed the demon blade more intensely causing the fang to glow blood red. Shocked disbelief lit Naraku's features as his barrier weakened, then completely dissipated under Tetsusaiga's assault.

            In the explosion of earth that followed, breaths were held abated as they awaited the verdict. The settling of dust and dirt revealed that Naraku remained in this world. He was crouched on a knee with one hand pressed to a bleeding shoulder and the other on the ground, steadying himself. Inuyasha smirked at the angry look that replaced Naraku's façade of leering superiority. Naraku slowly rose to his feet and his lips twisted in a slow dangerous smile. Suddenly, the ground before Inuyasha exploded with spiked tentacles. The sword wielding hanyou jumped to safety, putting some distance between Naraku and himself. Naraku's evil laughter seemed to surround the group from all sides as the evil hanyou's body levitated about the ground. Naraku's hair floated and flowed with a life of it's own in the air, ironically beautiful for such an evil being.

            Whenever the group below tried to attack, a large tentacle would block the blow making it impossible to get close to Naraku's body, suspended in the air before them. Tendrils of miasma seemed to rise from Naraku's back only to creep down towards the wary heroes. The foul miasma caused the humans difficulty in breathing while the ones with youkai senses reeled from the offensive smell. Though unaffected by the poisonous properties of Naraku's miasma being a user of poison also, Sesshoumaru's lips twisted in disgust at the odor. As the group attempted to collect themselves, Naraku's miasma thickened from a fog to become a more tangible substance. As the now solid miasma crept towards them, they noticed that it killed the land covered it. Miroku, Sango, and Shippou took to the air on Kirara's back while Inuyasha gathered Kikyo in his arms before leaping away from the approaching miasma. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the approaching miasma but made no move to remove himself from its path.

            Inuyasha-tachi watched, alarmed as the miasma crept ever closer to Sesshoumaru until it was a mere arm's length away. Naraku leered at Sesshoumaru's arrogance, that the youkai lord thought himself immune to his miasma. A mere inch from Sesshoumaru's person, the miasma was completely destroyed in a blast of blue light. A corner of his mouth quirked upwards in satisfaction at the annoyed surprise displayed on Naraku's face. Kagome walked away from the cover of the trees lining the edge of the clearing, her bow gripped firmly in her hand. Her eyes burned with determination as she strode to Sesshoumaru's side. Meanwhile, Inuyasha-tachi found themselves mute with astonishment at the appearance of their missing companion and her display of power. Even more astounding still was that she stood at Sesshoumaru's side as though she belonged there. His friends watched Inuyasha stunned expression as the hanyou completely forgot the miko beside him. Inuyasha was surprised that Kagome had chosen to stand beside Sesshoumaru but it was the look in her eyes that froze him. He remembered that look. The warmth, the worry, and the one thing he had never fully realized or admitted to himself was held in her gaze. Kagome had used to look at him that way. Ironically, he realized what that third emotion was now that it was no longer directed towards him. It was love, the gift he had rejected.

            While Inuyasha suffered this internal conflict Naraku continued his attack, forcing the troubled hanyou back to the present danger. Sango readied her hiraikotsu and Miroku held his staff, both preparing themselves to attack. Kikyo had managed to pull herself to her feet when she had caught the stunned look on Inuyasha's face at her reincarnation's appearance. Her lips pressed together to form a grim line. That he had forgotten about her because of her reincarnation was intolerable. Summoning her soul catchers, Kikyo prepared herself for battle, growing stronger with each soul she absorbed. Naraku's destruction came before anything else at the moment. Kikyo would not allow him to obtain the complete Shikon no Tama nor would she allow him to rob her of her revenge on Inuyasha.

            Naraku laughed evilly and transformed yet again. This time though, his body became a blend of different youkai parts. It was a gruesome sight to behold as his head what only attached to the rest by a human looking spinal cord. Despite the gangly appearance, Sesshoumaru sensed that in this form Naraku had greater power at his disposal. Following closely to his thought, the ground began to vibrate causing those around him to scramble to find their footing. Sesshoumaru pulled Kagome closer to him and steadied her with his body. From the corner of his eye, he could see Inuyasha doing the same to Kikyo even as the hanyou eyed Kagome's position. But Sesshoumaru did not have the time to deal with that problem at the moment. He sensed that Naraku was after Kagome as she was carrying the Shikon no kakera. Those shards were the only things preventing him from possessing the complete Shikon no Tama as it was very likely Naraku already had in his custody Kikyo's shards.

            As he had predicted, Naraku sent a number of his youkai appendages towards Kagome. Sesshoumaru was standing in front of Kagome in a flash and destroyed the limbs. Sesshoumaru wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist, intent on removing her from harm's way. Kagome gasped at the sudden move and held Sesshoumaru tightly. He would let Inuyasha and his friends deal with Naraku for now. And attack they did, with a ferociousness Sesshoumaru himself had not thought they would possess. But although they attacked with all their strength, the youkai lord saw that they were doing little damage to Naraku. Shortly, Naraku released a blast of energy that caused the youkai hunter and the houshi to

Her anxious eyes watched as her friends were pummeled by Naraku. The little kitsune held her attention as she noticed a tentacle streaking towards the unsuspecting Shippou. With a sound of distress, she broke away from Sesshoumaru's grasp and quickly notched an arrow. She readied herself to release the shot while she despaired as to whether it would make it on time. Even as her arrow streaked through the air she was aware of a sudden movement behind her. The dangerous tentacle was destroyed before it could injure the small kitsune and Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. Turning she found Sesshoumaru holding Toukijin and she smiled. Meanwhile, the surprised Shippou shrieked in alarm at the close call and scampered over to where Kagome stood.

Kagome, Sesshoumaru and Shippou stood there surveying the damage. Sango held an arm in pain as she struggled to her feet, calling out to Kirara. Miroku was fighting off the many tentacles that tried to either drag him in or pierce him. At the same time, Kikyo was aiming her enchanting arrows at the ugly beast that was Naraku. Missing a shot, the undead miko was left vulnerable and almost beheaded by a sharp knife-like arm. Luckily for her, Inuyasha quickly destroyed the offending attachment and removed her from harm. Inuyasha himself looked worse for wear, many cuts covering his body. Kagome nibbled her bottom lip in worry. It wasn't going well. Their little group looked wounded and weary while Naraku showed no signs of injury. She turned desperate eyes to her lifemate, seeking for his help. Sesshoumaru was not looking at her but at the battle before her with an expression Kagome had never seen before. Her lord's eyes showed an odd combination of disdain and grudging respect.

Sesshoumaru thought that to say the Inuyasha-tachi were not doing well would be an understatement. From his observations, he was certain that Naraku was merely toying with the group. Sesshoumaru sensed that most of Naraku's attention was focused on Inuyasha while another portion was focused on Sesshoumaru himself. Despite his disliking of Naraku, the evil hanyou was no fool. It was most likely that Naraku was trying to come up with a new plan even as he toyed with the small group. Naraku surely
realized that to get to Kagome he would have to destroy Sesshoumaru. The evil being recognized his lack of information in regards to Sesshoumaru's strength. There was not much known about Sesshoumaru's true abilities, as it was rare that it would be necessary for him to expend his true power. But, at this moment, observing Naraku's power, there was a possibility that they were about equal in standing in regards to their strength. With that thought, Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome by the shoulders and pulled her into his arms. The force and suddenness of his kiss startled her. Before she even had a chance to respond to the kiss Sesshoumaru's lips had already left hers. Without words, Sesshoumaru placed her behind him and entered into the battle.

"Feh, it took you long enough to attack."

Inuyasha sneered at Sesshoumaru even as he continued with his attack on Naraku. Together the two brothers attacked Naraku with a renewed ferocity. The rest of them pulled themselves to the side, nursing their injuries, leaving their trust in the hanyou and youkai to kill Naraku. Kagome lost count of the number of Kaze no Kizu performed by Inuyasha or the number of times Naraku managed to block Sesshoumaru's blows. The battle was long, hard and bloody. But in the end, even their combined powers were not enough and both hanyou and youkai stood gasping for breath. Inuyasha clutched his stomach tightly trying to slow the flow of blood from his wound, even more injured than before. Sesshoumaru also stood although not as injured, he was holding his shoulder carefully. A blow from Naraku that had disintegrated his armor had also dislocated his shoulder. Naraku was physically impregnable and they were at a loss as to how the monster could be destroyed. Naraku cackled at the pitiful sight before him. It was time to obtain what was his. Ignoring the injured brothers standing before him he turned his full attention towards Kagome.

Kagome stiffened in shock at Naraku suddenly veering towards her, intent on killing her. As the tentacles whipped viciously across the space between her and Naraku she found herself unable to move a muscle. Every instinct she held urged her to run but her mind told her that there was no chance that she could escape the coming blow. Almost as though time had slowed, Kagome saw everything happen in slow motion. She saw that Kikyo was not going to make any move to help her. Indeed, the undead miko had a satisfied twist to her mouth. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru faces registered a look of horror and she thought at that moment how alike the two brothers were. With that she came to a sudden realization of how each felt for her. Kagome knew without a doubt that Sesshoumaru loved her. It was true that he had never said the words, had only claimed her as his lifemate. She did not need him to say the words aloud to know what Sesshoumaru felt for her as his actions showed what he felt. Sesshoumaru had also said that he belonged to her, indubitably that also included his heart.

Inuyasha's face mirrored Sesshoumaru's and Kagome knew that despite all her doubts about Inuyasha and Kikyo, Inuyasha loved her. It was funny how she would discover his feelings now, when it no longer mattered. Kagome remembered clearly what she had felt when she had seen Inuyasha and Kikyo holding each other in the forest that day. She remembered every word uttered by Inuyasha and every action. Inuyasha loved Kikyo. Kagome didn't understand how one person could love two different people in the same way because she couldn't. Maybe Inuyasha didn't know it himself, but deep down he probably viewed her and Kikyo as one person. Different parts of one person, perhaps he was hoping that there was some way to combine them again, but Inuyasha saw them as one entity. Maybe, before she had met Sesshoumaru she would have felt a suffocating loss of self at that realization. But the person she was today, Kagome knew that she was her own person and not just a reincarnation of Kikyo. I am me and no one else.

Kagome stared unblinking at the hideous entity that was before her the physical appearance of it seeming to fade away before her eyes. As the physical was stripped away by from eyes she saw the essence that was Naraku. Naraku, a powerful foul presence that controlled the weak soul and the evil youkai that made up the being before her. Onigumo! Kagome did not recognize the face but somehow she knew, without a doubt that that weak soul was Onigumo. The thief's soul seemed to alternately cower and beat upon his prison inside the beast that was Naraku. Kagome pitied the poor soul and somehow knew that the only thing that had been sustaining Onigumo all these years was Kikyo. First it had been angrily pulsing hatred for Naraku, for destroying the only thing the thief had loved in this world. Then, when Kikyo had been resurrected Onigumo's lust to possess the undead miko had kept him in existence. At that moment, Onigumo's spirit raised his eyes to stare into Kagome's. Shock rippled through her body as she somehow received a sense of his feelings. There was great pain and weariness from his struggle with Naraku but there was also great love, for Kikyo. His eyes pleaded desperately to Kagome to destroy him and the despairing hope in that look filled her with determination. She wanted to free the soul that had been entrapped for so many years because of his foolish greed that had him give his soul to the entity known as Naraku. No more. She would let Naraku destroy no more.

Sesshoumaru felt fear, the kind of pure undiluted fear that he had never before in his life felt. His lifemate was in mortal danger and there was nothing that he could do. Never had he felt so vulnerable and so lacking. He closed his eyes briefly, gathering his remaining strength to make a last desperate bid to save Kagome's life. He opened his eyes to a blue angel. Black tresses flowed gently in the air and pink lips moved soundlessly. Never in his many years of existence had Sesshoumaru ever seen the like. His lifemate was suspended in the air with her arms before her and hands cupped. A blue aura surrounded her completely and the tentacles Naraku had unleashed upon her were destroyed upon meeting that barrier. With a roar of rage, Naraku continued to attack by charging with his transformed body. In a flare of blue the beast was repelled, unable to even approach the floating girl. Unable to hold his transformation, Naraku returned to his human form. Sensing, with some kind of survival instinct that he was about to be destroyed Naraku turned to Kikyo.

Kikyo screamed in terror and rage as Naraku's tentacles soon tightly entwined her. In the time it took for a breath, she was dragged towards Naraku and caught in his hold. Naraku held Kikyo close even as a great orb of blue light formed in Kagome's cupped hands. Inuyasha poised ready to run to Kikyo side but was stopped by Sesshoumaru's arm held before him. Sesshoumaru didn't bother to look at the hanyou, keeping watchful eyes on his lifemate's glowing form. Kagome wasn't completely herself and he didn't doubt that if Inuyasha were to rush forward when the blast came, the hanyou would also be killed. He refused to admit it was due to any care for the hanyou but for Kagome's grief if she had killed someone she cared for. As if to give substance to Sesshoumaru's thoughts Kagome's eyes snapped open. Her eyes showed neither pupil nor whites, instead they glowed luminous blue. The blue orb left Kagome's hands and streaked towards the two before her with inescapable speed. In a brilliant flare of blue light that seemed to take an eternity to fade there was none who could say what exactly happened to Naraku and Kikyo. Only Kagome saw Onigumo's gently smiling soul giving her a low bow of thanks eyes lingering sadly on her. At that moment, Kagome felt a sudden sense of completion as though a part of her had returned at last. Of the evil that was Naraku there was no more, completely purified by the cleansing power of the light. To the others, quite simply, the two had seized to exist.

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There it is, my first time doing a battle scene. Hehe. Don't worry though, story's not over yet! ^_~

Feedback much appreciated so please review.