The Crucible of Time
By Fujifunmum
Chapter 3
The somber group approaching Naraku's castle did not know whether the vision of the building they were seeking was real or had been created by Naraku. Even Sango, who had been the first to see the castle when her family had been lured there to expel the spider demon, did not know whether it was the same castle, a different re-creation or an illusion. Nor was its location stable. They had seen it in other parts of the area during their long search for the shards, the Shikon no Kakera, and Naraku. Their experience taught them that to ask was futile; to wonder was a waste of time and to assume reality could be fatal.
Inuyasha led them, as he always did when there was serious trouble ahead. He longed to have Kagome by his side on this last day, but feared an early entry by Kikyo should she be loitering in the area. He persuaded Kagome to act as their rear guard, with young Shippou perched on her shoulder looking backwards to help her. Soon the youngster would be too big for Kagome to carry. Her bow was balanced on her other shoulder, with her brace of arrows alongside. She had become an excellent archer over the years. Her arrows had always been strong with her power, but Kaede's death had seemed to bring her Miko powers into full force and effect. She would be a formidable foe for Naraku today. All their lives would depend on her talent and accuracy in this last battle. It had been clear for quite some time that for all of Inuyasha's power and techniques, only Kagome's purifying power would be able to kill Naraku.
The death of Kagura had taught them much. Her arrow had not only struck home and killed her immediately, but the force of the purification had appropriately dispersed the molecules of the Wind mistress onto the passing breeze. There was nothing left for Naraku to recall, save for the several shards his powerful extension had carried within her.
Naraku had most of the shards already. The only reason they could be sure that he would meet them in battle today was their possession of the remaining shards. His demon scouts had been observing their movements, reporting back to their master as each precious shard was detected by Kagome and retrieved by Inuyasha and his fellow fighters. Naraku knew the end was near, just as they did.
It had taken nearly a week to arrange the logistics for today. First Inuyasha had to be convinced that Kagome must speak with Kouga. The mere thought of her meeting with the wolf youkai without him made him too incensed to speak. Finally, Miroku and Sango both agreed to go with her, guaranteeing Inuyasha of her safety. He understood that only Kagome would be able to convince Kouga to give them his last two shards. None of the others would get close enough to even speak with him. Even with the other fighters as protection, Inuyasha had followed the trio to their "secret" meeting place and observed from just out of smelling range. His keen eyesight had brought him the hated sight of Kouga holding both of Kagome's hands, standing near her as if he had a right to be that close to his Kagome. Only the closeness of Miroku and Sango prevented him from bursting onto the scene in rage. The shards must be collected, and if Kouga didn't give them to Kagome, Naraku would kill him for them.
The first appointment of their fateful day was with Kouga's wolf pack. Kagome had negotiated this meeting place and the wolves had willingly offered to help in the last battle against Naraku. He had killed many of their pack and Kouga wanted nothing more than to see Naraku dead. Unless it was to see Kagome as his mate.
Inuyasha had not been pleased with the plan, but he recognized the offered help as just the diversion their group might need to help with Naraku's ultimate defeat. It could sway the course of the battle, so Inuyasha reluctantly consented.
The friends traveled silently to the rendezvous point, reaching it earlier than expected. They set up watch surrounding the designated clearing, but had just barely settled in to wait when battered and bleeding members of Kouga's wolf clan started arriving. Their battle scent and blood announced their arrival to the demons well before they could be seen. Already their carefully crafted plans for Naraku's demise were going awry.
The first wolves to arrive gathered around Kagome, whom they regarded as Kouga's mate, to tell her the disturbing news. Their pack had been brutally attacked by a swarm of youkai at dawn. Kouga had been seized, many members had been killed, and the survivors were on their way to the clearing. Many of them were injured, but they were still determined to offer such help as they were able in the fight to retrieve their leader and defeat Naraku.
Kagome's gentle nature soothed their worries as she assured them that Kouga was far too tough to be defeated so easily by Naraku. She reminded them that the entire group was now going to do their best to save him. With Inuyasha and Tetsusaiga on their side, how could they lose? The wolves understood that their situation was desperate, but they also knew the Miko herself would be fighting by their side. The presence of her well used bow and purifying arrows was more comfort to them than the hated Inu youkai.
The larger group began the final stage of the trek to Naraku's castle. Inuyasha and Shippou had scouted the trail yesterday with Jaken, selecting what the best place for the final battle might be, presuming they had the ability to choose. It was now up to the fates, and the fates had never been kind to Inuyasha. He led the way with great trepidation.
The scent of dispersed miasma hung in the air, hazing the warm sunshine of the day. The closer they got to the castle, the more the scent seemed to linger. Inuyasha had chosen to come in through the side of the castle where Sango's father and the other Taijiya from her village were laid to rest. The others used as much stealth as possible to approach the castle. Sango and Kiara stayed behind to pay their respects to the dead. It was only a short pause; to stay longer would be to invite her own death. While Sango wished to visit her family's gravesite, she had no wish to join them. The fire of vengeance burned brightly within her this day, fueled by the passionate desire to somehow save Kohaku, the only other surviving member of her family or village.
As planned, Kiara transformed as they left the graves, Sango leaped astride her and touched down briefly to gather Miroku and Shippou to her side. Inuyasha and Kagome now led the surviving wolves in a direct frontal assault on the castle. Inuyasha begged Kagome to stay behind him, but on this day she would not be persuaded. It was their final day as soldiers fighting together. They would prevail or die side by side.