A/N – Hey! I'm not dead! And I can update. It must be like riding a bicycle, you never forget. Anyway…Okay, now this chapter is a little less fluffy. It centers on the last battle. If you like the fluff there will probably be more. In the next chapter. I'm pretty sure the next chapter will be the last. I don't know how well this POV turned out. Naraku was difficult, he is complex and so purely evil. Anyway, I hope you don't think he is too OOC. Enjoy please! Reviews would be nice too!
Witness: Naraku
Today. Today I will finally destroy that meddlesome hanyou. I will finally have his blood to paint the road to my destiny. I will overcome him. Onigumo, for your weakness you too will die today. Just wait. You hunted me down fools. But this time I did not retreat into hiding and send a weaker puppet. It would have been easy. No this was all part of my plan, my game. Do you see now Inu-Yasha, the coming of your end?
"Ku ku ku…" he looked down at the girl in his arms. She was so similar in appearance to the miko the pitiful human Onigumo had first desired. She was similar enough that Onigumo's blood heated at the sight and smell of her so near and vulnerable. But for the powerful hanyou Naraku, the weak human desire, corrupted into a wickedness of cold and fiery lust, was easy to suppress. Internally, Naraku smiled at how easily he had captured her. The foolish Inu-Yasha had grown comfortable, eased down his guard just a little bit without realizing it.
Did he really think I would ever let him live like that? Happy with his little reincarnation? He is stupider than I had guessed. He was loved by Kikyo. He holds the Shikon shard. For both, I will enjoy watching him die alone and helpless. Kikyo was mine to corrupt, she was no one's to love. The Shikon Jewel will free me from the tiresome human heart of Onigumo-then I will take her from him, just before he dies. Will it be slow or fast girl? Should I let Onigumo satisfy over half a century of lust with you before I destroy him?
Expressionless, Naraku placed cool lips on the girl's jaw, a cruel smile sliding into place as he watched her twist away from him, even in her unconsciousness. Her miko aura grew with her distress. It burned his flesh but he paid no mind. He laughed again at the vicious snarls coming from the hanyou. "Ku ku ku…Are you frightened Inu-Yasha? Are you ready for her to follow Kikyo to hell? Or... is Kikyo not in hell. They are just two versions of the same woman aren't they? Though I must say that this girl has a bit more…vitality." Naraku smiled at the new game as he stroked one finger up her face. He winced internally as the flesh of his finger burned, the skin burning. The burning was of no importance. It was much more enjoyable to see how far he could push the hanyou, who was flying at Naraku with more and more of a wild abandon, before the pathetic creature lost all control over his rage.
Naraku was doing an excellent job. Inu-Yasha was swinging Tetsusaiga wildly, effectively keeping Sango and Miroku out of the fight. They looked on instead, alternately calling to Inu-Yasha to control himself and trying to find a way to jump in and kill Naraku themselves. Kagome was still unconscious. He had put enough demonic poison in her to keep her down for a while. Her aura was also contained in this way, concentrated on cleansing her body of the evil. She was only able to stir a bit, moaning in pain every so often with a nice effect of spiking Inu-Yasha's rage. Naraku looked to his off spring. Kagura was passive in her observance, he knew she held no special loyalty to either side, but would side with him to save her own life. Kanna, too, was dispassionate in her observation. His army of lesser demon followers and offspring had kept the group busy for a while, but once Naraku had captured and poisoned the girl Inu-Yasha's enraged attacks had taken out the rest quickly.
"Damn You! Stay still and fight! Bastard! Get your fucking hands off her!" the hanyou's screams and demands were quite amusing, but Naraku wondered how he would scream if pushed a little farther. He leapt aside again; Inu-Yasha was getting sloppy in his rage luckily, because he also had become impossibly fast. Naraku suspected if he hadn't been holding back in fear of hurting the girl than he, Naraku might have already been dead.
"DIE! You fucking bastard!"
"Not before I kill her, hanyou weakling." He stroked her cheek again, letting out a calculated hiss when his skin burned at the touch, hearing her moan in the pain of her magic trying to fight to many sources of danger at once. "Painful. She is a strong miko, Kikyo's little reincarnation. I was going to let Onigumo have her as his last treat before I eliminate him with the Shikon Jewel. It seemed only fair after all. I suppose her body will have to suffice though, her spirit is to strong to be allowed to remain in it. No matter though, her body is all that will matter anyway, for what he will want from her."
That did it. This is your end Inu-Yasha. This is too easy. I had so hoped for a greater final confrontation. Ah well. Seeing you finally crushed will be enough.
Several things happened at once. Intertwined and independent. Naraku was only immediately aware of one.
First, Inu-Yasha tossed the Tetsusaiga to one side and leapt like an enraged animal at Naraku, succeeding in swiping off his right arm. Inu-Yasha landed to behind Naraku, snarling and covered in blood. Only half of it was Naraku's. Kagura looked grim and disgusted with taking Naraku's silent order. She raised her fan to strike again nevertheless. Inu-Yasha sprung again, not caring that he was bleeding from wounds both from Kagura's attack and Naraku's toxic youki, wounds that burned further in the poison air around Naraku. Tetsusaiga lay forgotten and untransformed several feet away.
Second, Sango was released from Miroku's restraining grip. The two, no longer caring about the danger of an out of control Inu-Yasha, leapt into battle. A Hiraikotsu and a monk's purifying spell sent Kanna and Kagura on defense. The next wind attack would not hit Inu-Yasha.
Third, and destined to never be known by any but her, Kagome, floating in a dark and dreamless obis of unconsciousness heard felt Naraku's blood burn her skin. She heard Inu-Yasha screaming, and only she recognized that he was close to tears, already destroying himself with grief and guilt. Her miko magic, recognizing the greater outside danger and almost finished purifying the poison, flared up. Her eyes snapped open to the horrors of the battle. An Inu-Yasha fluctuating on the brink of transformation. Sango and Miroku battling a laughing Kagura, alive in the heat of battle. A bleeding and laughing Naraku, just noticing the increased burning of his skin, looked calmly down at her.
She awakes? It should have been impossible. She can't wake up now. I know I used enough poison to keep her down. Troublesome bitch. I should have gotten rid of her in the beginning. Her death will seal the hanyou's insanity. He will follow her in seconds.
Naraku whipped a concentrated piece of miasma at Inu-Yasha, knocking him to the ground. The hanyou cursed as he felt consciousness leaving him. Naraku heard Inu-Yasha manage one more scream, a scream of loss and frustration, as he watched his enemy grasp the girls' neck, and move to break her fragile, mortal spine.
"KAGOMEEE!"
He was unconscious the next second. As luck would have it he had stumbled and fallen across the discarded Tetsusaiga, preventing a transformation from keeping his abused body moving.
He won't be able to witness it. Maybe I should leave her when Onigumo leaves me in peace at last. His silly human instincts and feelings. I was only lucky that he was such a thoroughly corrupt human. Otherwise his presence would have been completely intolerable. I would have liked to kill her a little more slowly, relish her death. But I can't have her making trouble.
He moved to snap her neck. At that second however, something unexpected happened again. A russet colored streak caught him off guard, transforming swiftly into a large pink blob and knocking Kagome out of Naraku's arms.
Who? What could have surprised me? I had them all accounted for! Who dares…?
He glanced over, but the priest was still occupied with the body of the demon hunter, crying and shaking like the weakling he always was. Naraku had a fleeting memory of watching the boy's father do the same thing, rocking the dead body of his wife with one arm and holding his infant son, crying as loudly as the father in his other arm. It was a good memory, the suffering of that old foe.
The kitsune landed snarling, almost humorously given his size. Kagome groaned then scooped him up, shushing and comforting him.
I shouldn't have forgotten the kit. He thinks of her as his mother, of course his instincts are kicking in. No matter, such a small thing he is. Innocent and foolish.
Kagome climbed to her feet and managed to stand before him and look regal, rather than like a small dirty girl, bruised and pale. She held out a glowing hand, not completely hiding her weakness and poor bearings but sparking some curiosity.
She accepts the roll of his mother, that is entertaining. Does she think she can save him? I'm surprised that she can even stand. The poison must still be there. She's barely hanging on. This will be entertaining…
He focused his energy. Shippou was growling again. Kagome pulled back her lips in something that could be considered her own snarl. Inu-Yasha was still unconscious, he looked almost dead. Miroku didn't look up from where he was clutching Sango's body to his chest looking wild and furious through his tears. Kagura smirked but stayed inactive. Kanna looked blankly at her broken mirror.
This is the end. Finally. I will have her death. He will take her body. I will have the jewel and become the even more powerful.
He smiled, never suspecting anything could stop his victory. Again, several events occurred at once.
Kagome felt her miko blood grow red hot. She screamed and clasped her hand over a single oddly comforting arrow.
The kitsune child pulled a leaf out of his vest and changed into an odd looking arrow, curved at the end like a snail, with reddish brown feathers and an identically colored tip. He smiled internally as her fingers wrapped around the arrow that was him, trying to send her all the courage and love in his little heart.
Miroku slammed his staff through Kanna, looking grimly satisfied as she silently dissolved. He held tight to Sango, reassuring himself that she was still there. He glared at Kagura, lunging at her before unleashing Kazaana.
Sango was warm and safe as she hadn't been in quite a while. She had forgotten what it was to be protected like this, like she had seen Kagome protected so often, like something precious. She wondered if someone really was protecting her or if she was feeling the warm embrace of death.
Kagura leapt nimbly out of the way of the sobbing priest as he attacked again, moving a safe distance as he opened the Kazaana, not minding the poison bees flying into the void in his hand. She was confused by the monk's grief. Naraku felt her fear. She didn't want to die.
Inu-Yasha groaned and opened his eyes but didn't see anything. He sensed only Naraku, Naraku who had killed Kagome. Grinning maliciously, Inu-Yasha saw swirling youki.
Naraku was aware of three things in the mist of all this. He saw the actions of the girl and the fox and wondered what they possibly thought they could do. He felt Kagura's fear and wondered when he had ever been capable of fear. He saw Kagome raise the arrow, smile calmly and stab in a burst of light.
What has she done! This pain! Has her power grown so much? Is it that the arrow is that kitsune son of hers? She cannot defeat me! It isn't possible. They can't win! I won't allow it!
Naraku fell back and staggered wildly, looking calm even in his shock. "What spell have you and the brat cast? You draw on his power as if it was nothing at all. No matter girl. I will see you die this day."
Her lips pulled back in a smile. "I don't think you will." He barely heard her.
"You will. And I will enjoy your death and each of your friends."
He smirked as she raised the arrow again, seeing it sweat. The brat wouldn't last much longer. However a roar caught him off guard. Kagome stabbed again. Naraku dissolved more, but stretched out a hand that had become a claw to deliver a killing blow. Kagome felt Shippou's magic waning even as she held him close to her chest protectively. She hoped she had enough magic to protect them both. It didn't matter in the long run. The sword swung down impossibly fast.
"BAKURYUUHA!" The swirls of youki tore through Naraku's already dissolving body quickly. Pieces of his body scattered some dissolving fully before they hit the ground. Inu-Yasha gave a weak imitation of his usual cocky smirk. His eyes darted to hers.
"You're alive." His voice lacked any emotion except disbelief.
"Inu-Yasha…" a single eye watched them as it attempted to pull some kind of body together for itself. The Shikon shard glowed beneath it and the flesh closest to the eye inched closer.
He will not win. I am more demon than he has ever been. I am more of a demon than he ever will be. He is the weakling, the halfling. I was meant to be a full demon. I was meant to have Kikyo!
Onigumo's life played by in what seemed like agonizing length across the screen of encroaching darkness, in the field of vision of Naraku's dissolving, disjointed body. His demon life appeared in flashes, always underscored by the original heart's hatred, that cursed thief's desires and amusement.
Was that human really so much a part of me? No, no it can't have been. I was a demon. The greatest. Inu-Yasha, such a fool to think he could ever beat me. With his human weaknesses, his human love…
Kagome fell to her knees near the eyeball and plucked the glowing, almost complete jewel from beneath it. Immediately its vision faded towards black.
Mine Mine…
Naraku saw no more after that, nor would he ever feel anything ever again. However, for chance interest, the events immediately following his death will be relayed nonetheless.
Kagura smiled in earnest for the first time before disappearing to enjoy her new freedom. She laughed faintly in relief of not being destroyed with her creator as she was carried away by the wind.
The remaining five looked around in dazed amazement. Tetsusaiga untransformed and Inu-Yasha secured it in its sheath before taking a step towards Kagome and the also untransformed Shippou. Kagome, hands clasped over the Shikon Jewel, fell forward into oblivion. She was prevented from slamming her face into the ground by Inu-Yasha, just in time. After reassuring himself that she really was alive, he solemnly scooped her up. In mindless kindness he gently squeezed Shippou with one clawed hand before moving him to cuddle into Kagome's lap. He made his way, still staggering a bit, over to Miroku and Sango. The priest was sweating from the poison and clutching Sango to his chest. Inu-Yasha kicked his head to get his attention.
"Oi. Bozou. Can you get up? Why'd you take in those bees? That was fucking stupid Miroku. How many times do I have to remind you not to die?" He glared at the uncharacteristically emotional monk, who was still not responding to his insults. Inu-Yasha frowned at the failure at his attempt at being nonchalant, like it had been like any other battle.
"Fuck Miroku, she's alive alright! Now let up a little before you suffocate her! Kirara!" the demon cat, who had come out of her demon transformation, but was still circling Miroku and Sango protectively, retransformed and scooped up the monk, who looked dazed still, and her master.
"OI! Miroku! Did you hear me? She isn't dead… yet. But we have to get to the fucking village and I don't want to have to worry about you falling to your damn miserable death on the way there. So hold on you fucking idiot lecher priest!" Inu-Yasha's voice was calm and commanding and lacking true anger. Only his language demonstrated what all his companions had learned a while ago; Inu-Yasha didn't like to be ignored.
"Right…" the priest was still dazed but tightened his grip on Kirara while loosening his hold on Sango just a bit. He kept his hand over the left side of her abdomen, where a piece of Kanna's mirror, blown by Kagura's wind had impaled her. Her face was deathly pale. He retightened his grip. "So…What happens now?" Miroku's voice shook slightly, for he was bleeding quite a lot as well, and with all the poison he had taken in, felt himself sliding into unconsciousness himself as the adrenaline and horror of believing Sango dead faded from him. Luckily he hung on to just a large enough thread of conciousness to keep from plummeting to his death, because Inu-Yasha, at that moment lost himself in thought before answering.
"Fuck if I know. I don't even want the damn jewel anymore." The monk wasn't the one who heard his confession.
"I never thought I'd hear you admit that Inu-Yasha." She smiled contentedly at him, holding out the complete jewel, freshly purified.
"Go back to sleep Kagome." He glanced at the monk and the demon exterminator every so often, making sure neither one slipped of the cat demon's back. He didn't look at her, afraid she was just a phantom.
"I will when you do Inu-Yasha."
"Feh. Stubborn bitch." He finally met her eyes. His own eyes were darkened by passion. She only smiled wider. She let the peaceful silence drag a few seconds longer before speaking again.
"I can't believe it's the end. After…so long…so much…" Kagome trailed off, her voice unsure and quiet.
"What happens to the jewel?" he asked, looking at it, finally complete. "I can't believe we wasted our time looking for those damn shards when Naraku had gathered the rest already."
"What happens to us?" she countered his comments with a peaceful smile.
How was it? Good? Bad? Tell me what you think of this chapter, because I just can't decide if I like it or not. Who should the last point of view be? I would honestly like some ideas. Should I give a main character a chance? Should Myouga show up now that danger has passed? Well, that's all. I hope to see that you've reviewed. Bye for now!
