A/N: Another chapter to this story, and I hope it's good!! A certain
someone gets involved a lot more, and he even helps. *hint hint* I don't
really have much to say as of right now. I hope that you are enjoying this
story, and hopefully the ending will be good. Just sit back and enjoy, and
don't forget the review!!! ^_^
Chapter 10: The Spirit of a Brother
The final battle began. The battle that would tell all; the battle that would leave either the good side or the bad side dead. This deadly brawl would never be forgotten by anyone, not even Mother Nature herself.
"Naraku! Take this!"
Sango raced forward, raising her boomerang in the air. With a mighty throw, she sent her weapon gliding through the air, heading right for his body.
"Hiriakotsu!"
The boomerang hit him head on; however, there was no affect. Even though it had hit him, the miasma around his body had caused the attack to have absolutely no affect on him. Instead, it was repelled and sent back towards her at a far greater speed.
"Oh no..."
She watched in horror as the weapon aimed for her, ready to take her life. Within seconds of the hit, a large beast had taken her away.
"Kirara! Thank you!"
She climbed onto the back of her dear friend and gazed down upon the battle, seeing a displeased look in both Inuyasha's and Naraku's eyes. Kirara glided through the air and landed gracefully beside their friends.
"Sango, you need to pay better attention then that! We can't afford to make any mistakes. We have to work together as a team, that's the only way to take him down."
Inuyasha knelt to the ground and reclaimed his sword.
"In the meantime, I'll be wearing him out so we can plan our attack. Do you guys got me?"
His amber eyes blazed with sheer anger as he prepared to go after him. He came to a halt when a gentle touch was felt on his shoulder.
"Kagome?"
"Listen, you be careful out there. You're putting yourself in more danger than any of us, so please..."
She leaned forward and laid a sweet kiss on his cheek.
"... be careful?"
She stood back when a nod was given to her. She moved away from him as he continued his assault.
"While Inuyasha is keeping Naraku busy, we have to come up with a method of annihilating him, but how?"
"Lady Kagome, your arrows are probably much stronger now, so maybe that's what we need to destroy him. If you and Inuyasha perform an attack together, maybe that will end his life. Using his newer sword, and your new priestess powers, that should be enough. I can help by using a scroll to hold him, and Lady Sango can use her Hiriakotsu as more power. Shippou can even use fox fire. We need all of the strength we can get."
"A-hem, what about me?"
Miroku glanced down when he heard the high-pitched voice.
"And yes, Jaken can use his staff. With all of this power, we'll be indestructible."
Kagome looked back towards the battle, watching each move, a seeing each hit.
"You think I'll give up that easy? Guess again Naraku!"
Swing after swing, blow after blow, strike after strike was exchanged between the two. It was truly a battle to the death, and only one would come out alive. You could see sparks flying from the speed and many hits Inuyasha was getting with his sword; however, you could also see the large amounts of miasma coming from Naraku as his weapon. Blood was being spilled from both sides as his sword struck Naraku, and as his poison ate at his skin, drawing blood.
Both battlers moved back, both sweating and breathing heavily. Their strength was gradually dropping as they fought harder and harder with each hit. Naraku smirked with a pleasured grin.
"I must say, I am somewhat impressed, for I never expected you to get this far. However, I ensure you that you will not excel any further. You will perish Inuyasha, along with you friends. I may spare that girls life though, for she may prove to be useful to me."
Kagome had heard his words in the background and wasn't too pleased about it.
"What am I, some type of consolation prize? Hmph, as if! I wouldn't do a thing for you! I'd rather die a thousand deaths than work in the hands of vaporous demon like you."
She turned her head and rolled her eyes, a look of anger covering her face.
"Who does that jerk think he is? I'll teach him a thing or two about ridiculing me like that!"
She took an arrow from her back and placed it in her bow, aiming it for the demon.
"She's got a lot of kick in her. She will be very useful to me."
"You say one more word about her and I swear that I will slit your throat right here and now."
Inuyasha's amber eyes narrowed as flames of anger raged within them. His was getting ready to attack when a silver flash caught his eye. It raced past him as hit its target.
"Never comment on me like that again."
Kagome smirked as the arrow pierced the youkai's body. Because Kikyo had given her life for her, she now had the accuracy she did. She was now capable of shooting arrows longer distances and hitting her target a lot easier.
"How dare you defy me. You will pay greatly for that."
Naraku growled as his arm was blown to bits.
"That's the second time I have been deprived of my arm. I will no longer hold back on my power. You have lost your chances of survival now."
A red glow was emanating from the jewel that rested within his body. His arm was replaced with a deadly weapon, and the wounds covering his body were healed entirely.
"Wh-what the hell? He's h-healing again. However, there's more power now, more then before."
His eyes widened as Naraku attacked. He was a lot faster as well, and Inuyasha had no time to even respond. His body was sent gliding through the air, with Naraku's at his side.
"Tell me Inuyasha, do you enjoy being thrown around like a puppet? Your brother did when Soiro tore him apart. It was far too easy to take down that aristocrat. It'll be much easier to take you out."
Naraku smirked as his used his weapon and struck Inuyasha on the chest. A loud yell escaped his mouth as the spikes pierced his skin. When he hit the ground, Naraku used his fist and pushed him further into the dirt, creating a crater around the hanyou's body. His mouth slowly opened as a few drops of blood came out. Naraku's hit felt like it had crushed his ribs.
"D-damn y-you!"
He took his sword and swung, trying to remove the demon from his position.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome ran up to him, with Sango and Miroku quickly following.
"Lady Kagome, we need to attack now. If we do not, I fear that it will soon be too late."
Miroku removed a scroll from his coat, preparing to use it. They both stopped when Kagome came to a halt. She knew how Inuyasha felt about interrupting his battle, so she didn't want to get too close. She took another arrow and placed it in her bow, ready to fire.
"Naraku! I've had enough of you! Get away from Inuyasha!"
The arrow left her bow at an amazing speed. A trail of silver glistened behind it as it aimed for the demon. He quickly moved from the arrows path, also freeing Inuyasha.
"Heh, I knew it would work! Inuyasha, you need to get up! You have to win this battle. We have a plan, and you must stay up in order to be part of it."
"A plan? What kind of plan?! Right now I'm a little busy to be worrying about some ridiculous plan."
"It's not ridiculous, so shut up! Just get in there and fight, we'll do the rest!"
"Keh, whatever."
He somewhat growled as he tried raising to his feet, a little shaky from Naraku's previous attack.
"I have to keep going. I will not give up now."
He focused ahead of him, preparing for his ultimate attack.
"I must end this now."
His eyes narrowed as he caught the sight of what he was looking for.
'The two visors of wind are clashing there. If I hit it just right, it should be enough power to weaken Naraku greatly, and then they can carry out their attack.'
He weakly smiled as his sword raised. It was only seconds before his attack, and just enough time for Naraku to get him again.
'No...'
Naraku's legs rested on Inuyasha's chest and gave a push. His body flew through the air, crashing a few feet away. Dirt and rubble filled the air around him as his lifted to a sitting position, using his sword for balance.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome was by his side in a second. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as her fingers brushed against his face.
"Inuyasha, are you ok?"
"Damn it, I can't find his weakness! Even with your new abilites, it's still hopeless. The Shikkon jewel has given him too much power."
'A demon would never give up, whether he be a half breed or full blooded.'
Inuyasha's eyes widened as that voice filled his ears. It was familiar, very familiar. He had heard it earlier that day in battle. Was it him again, was it Sesshomaru speaking to him?
"Whoever you are, come out and show yourself!"
Kagome listened in shock as he spoke those words.
"Inuyasha, who are you talking to?"
'I see that my own brother has yet to recognize my voice? Or is it that he doesn't want to?'
Gradually, a small light began to appear before the two. However, the image was only visible to Inuyasha's eyes.
It slowly began to take form. Long silver hair could be seen, along with a pair of golden eyes. It was him, standing right before was Sesshomaru, or his spirit. His body was a little transparent, so he knew it was only his soul. But seeing him there seemed to give him more strength, along with joy that filled his eyes.
"What are you... I thought..."
'I have come to help you Inuyasha. With my added strength, Naraku will easily be taken down.'
"Inuyasha, what's that light?"
Kagome raised to her feet, along with Inuyasha. He seemed not as tired, and is if he had a little more strength. He was ready, ready to end Naraku's godforsaken life.
'Something feels different, like there's another presence here. Is that light someone... someone's soul?'
Kagome's eyes widened as the presence grew stronger. She was now able to detect an aura, one very similar.
'How can I sense all of this? Is it from Kikyo?'
"Kagome?"
She instantly snapped from her thoughts when Inuyasha's voice filled her ears.
"Y-yes?"
"Let's do this. I feel stronger, and more than ready to end his life. I have help."
"Help? Of course you have help! What do you think we're here for, to cheer you on from the sidelines? I'm sorry to break it to ya pal but this ain't no football game."
"Football?"
"Ye- Just forget it. We're here to help you, so lets do it."
"You can sense that, can't you?"
'He must be able to as well.'
"I feel something, and it feels so familiar."
"Same here... come on."
He reached out his hand and grasped hers, bringing her forward.
"I'm ready for this to finally end. Let's go with that plan of yours. If you think it will really work, then let's do it."
"M-hum. Right now, keep Naraku busy, and we'll set it up."
"Right..."
"Inuyasha... be careful."
He nodded his head, and raced forward, trying once more to attack Naraku. The same sequence played over and over. They exchanged blows, and Inuyasha would be the one to hit the ground. It continued like that for awhile.
"Miroku, we need your scroll now. Can you prepare it?"
He instantly removed a sheet of paper from his coat, one with several words.
"I'll do it right away."
He began to prepare the scroll immediately.
"Sango, we need you to help us with the first blow. After Miroku places the scroll in position, you hit him with your boomerang. That will weaken him greatly, allowing me a better chance to get the jewel."
"What do you mean get the jewel? Wouldn't it just vanish with his body when he dies?"
"That's the thing. The jewel supposedly disappeared when Kikyo died, but it was reborn within my soul. If the jewel is within him, my guess is that he will have a reincarnation, and then this could happen all over again. I don't want anyone else to go through what we had to. This will end here and now."
Sango nodded in response, understanding every word she had just heard.
"Shippou, Jaken, you guys have a part in this too. We need your fox fire Shippou, and your staff's fire Jaken. Right before I get the jewel, fry him. Give it everything you have. I'll get the jewel afterwards, and then Inuyasha and I will finish him off together. He'll still be very tough, for the jewel gives him great power, but if we work together, we can do it."
'Plus, I know that whoever this newer presence is, they will help as well.'
"Take this!"
Inuyasha used his claws and hit his target. His sharp nails ate at Naraku's face, creating three scars on his right cheek. Blood began to pour from the wound, causing anger to rage within him.
"Inuyasha, I can see through your strategy now. You are only creating a diversion so the others can prepare a plan. Although, you forgot one little problem, you're not strong enough to take me on."
Inuyasha crashed to the ground once more, not realizing Naraku's true intentions. When he had slowly risen, Naraku was no where in sight. He quickly turned around, fearing for the worst.
'Oh no...'
Naraku's new target was the others.
"Miroku, are you done?" "Yes Lady Kagome, the scroll has been... c- complete..."
He gasped as a sharp pain filled his body. Naraku had used one of the spikes on his weapon, and struck Miroku in the back.
"Miroku!"
Sango growled in anger as he fell to his knees.
"Miroku, oh no!"
Kagome raced to his side, but was stopped by Naraku. He sent his vine like arm hurdling towards her, ready to strike. All eyes, including Naraku's, widened when the arm was quickly removed with a gust of wind. The violently moving limb fell to the ground, blood slowly pouring from the wound. His eyes lifted as a sight caught them, angering him greatly.
"Bastard!"
"Inuyasha!"
Sango and Kagome watched as the hanyou landed on his feet, his sword erect in his hands. Blood was trickling down the blade of his sword, slowly falling to the earth.
"It ends here Naraku. You've hurt too many people, ended too many innocent lives. I will not stand for this any longer."
A look of sheer anger was raging in his eyes. His grip tightened drastically on the hilt of his sword as he tried to control the growing anger deep within his soul.
"I see that your strength has risen, although it is still not enough to save your life or the ones of your pathetic friends."
"Who's calling who pathetic Naraku when you're the one about to lose. We've had just the right amount of time to exact our plan. Now you're going down."
Kagome smirked as Sango helped Miroku place the scroll into place.
"Heh w-with this scroll, y-you won't be able to m-move."
Naraku growled angrily as he tried to move his body, but to no avail.
"You think that this mere paper will hold me? Guess again."
Kagome and the others knew what was coming, and that he could break it, so they had no time to spare. They quickly prepared to began their assault. However, instead of Sango going first, it was Shippou and Jaken.
"Fox fire! Come on Sango, we need you! Sango?"
Shippou slightly turned his head, watching the maiden as she tended to the monk.
"Miroku, are you ok?"
She carefully rested him upon the ground, taking heed of his injuries.
"Lady Sango, please leave me and help the others. They're in more need of your assistance then I am."
"You're just like Inuyasha in some ways, so stubborn. I'm not leaving your side, and nothing you can do or say will change my mind."
"Sango... thank you."
He smiled weakly as his attention was directed back towards the battle, watching as Shippou and Jaken began.
"Kagome, you need to get the jewel soon! We can't keep this up much longer!"
Shippou did his best to hold on, but using so much energy with his fox fire was exhausting him. Jaken was also getting somewhat tired of controlling his staff. If the jewel wasn't removed soon, they would collapse from exhaustion.
"Right."
She nodded her head and glanced towards Inuyasha, checking to see if he was ready. When she saw that look of anger in his eyes, it sent a chill of fear down her spine.
'Don't let it overcome you Inuyasha, please.'
She ran towards him, preparing her bow as she did.
"Inuyasha, we need to finish this now."
"It won't work. Naraku is still too strong. We need a stronger arrow Kagome. Within seconds, he will break the scroll, and will attack us all. In that time frame, you must prepare your strongest arrow. I will hold him, and you will shoot."
"No way! I will not shoot, no matter what you say! I will not shoot... do you understand me?!"
She placed her hands on his arms, gently shaking his body. Tears slowly filled her eyes as she begged him to change his mind.
"I am not going to do it... do you got that?"
In this whole moment, Naraku had broken through the scroll. The anger inside of him grew larger, creating a devastating wall of miasma to surround him. Both Jaken and Shippou were sent through the air, crashing to the ground several feet from him.
"Eahh!! K-Kagome!"
Dirt and rubble scattered around their bodies as they tried to get up, miasma still floating around them..
"Uh, Shippou!"
She instantly turned when Shippou's voice rang through her ears.
"Inuyasha, we have no time to argue! We need to save them now!"
She took off towards Naraku, readying her bow.
"Eat this!"
The arrow left the string, heading straight for him. Right before he reached Shippou and Jaken, a piercing pain hit his side. He turned his head and noticed Kirara, sinking her claws into his flesh. Followed by that, Kagome's arrow knocked off a chunk of his other arm, leaving a large wound.
"Heh, got him. Just one more, and he'll be down. Then Inuyasha can finish him off!"
She took one more arrow and placed it on the bow, prepared to strike once more.
"Remove yourself from me at once!"
More miasma escaped Naraku's body as he moved from Kirara, sending her away with the vapors. His next target was Kagome. He didn't want to take her life, for she could be useful to him, so he made a plan.
"Die Naraku! Ta- Uh!"
Her eyes widened when Naraku appeared right before her, taking a tight grip on her arm.
"Let me go!"
"Kagome!"
"L-lady Kagome!"
"Naraku, let her go!"
Inuyasha growled angrily as a string of miasma formed around her body, holding her tightly in place.
"This girl now belongs to me. She will suit me quite well, and I have many plans for her."
"I am not some type of prize that can be used by anyone! So let me go! I sa- "
Her voice was cut off when his hand covered her mouth, instantly silencing her.
"You will learn to hold your tongue girl."
He smirked with pleasure as he turned his head, gazing ahead at the hanyou. He could see that his actions were angering Inuyasha, telling by the look of hell that was burning in his eyes.
"You bastard... if you touch her again, you would rather burn in hell then deal with my wrath. I'm warning you, let her go."
'Inuyasha, this is our chance to take him down. He is only using this girl to make you angry, so that rage is filling your eyes and you will no longer be able to focus correctly. He will not harm her, so have no worry. Focus all of your strength and anger into your sword, and attack. I will be by your side, aiding you in this attack.'
"How could something so easily be said, and yet it is far more difficult to pursue?"
Inuyasha growled angrily, taking a thundering step forward.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot follow that. I have to save Kagome!"
'Inuyasha, your love for this girl has blinded your sight. If you continue this, you will be certain to fail in this battle.'
"Naraku!"
Inuyasha sprinted at top speed, holding his sword before him. The shimmering blade glistened with the heat of battle, ready to fight to the death. However, his pace gradually slowed down when he noticed a pained look in Naraku's eyes. It was then that a small orb of light in the demon's stomach began to grow a bright red, a red so bright that the intensity exceeded the color of the fires in hell. He came to a complete halt when he saw the result of these actions.
"Heh, you may have been holding me back Naraku, but you forgot one small thing; I still had access to my arrows."
Kagome smirked as her bow slipped through her fingers, dropping to the ground. Her new goal was to remove the jewel from his body. Her sacred arrow had loosened the orb within him, and now all she needed to do was to reach for it. His body was only about a foot and a half from her reach, making it easier to grab the jewel.
"Almost there... I must grab it."
Kagome's hand reached a few more inches, now brushing the jewel that was slowly emerging from his back. Strong waves of winds were pulsating from his body as his power gradually began to diminish.
"Come on..."
She strained even further. The instant her fingers embraced the jewel, the tinted jewel grew redder, and then returned to it's once purified color. Naraku gasped in more pain as his power decreased with the removal of the jewel. His head slightly turned, glancing as the miasma around Kagome vanished, freeing her from his grasp.
"You were the cause of your own undoing Naraku. Your selfish desires resulted in your own demise. And now, you will be sent to hell. Kikyo is waiting there, waiting to keep you."
"Kagome... you... did it."
'The battle is not yet over. You must finish the final attack Inuyasha. Use your Tetsusaiga, and end his life. I will be by your side, giving you my strength. Take this chance to send his pitiful soul to hell.'
His eyes narrowed, holding the sword to his side as he prepared an attack.
"What about Kagome, she may get hurt..."
'Her life is not in danger. The sacred jewel is in her possession, giving her the strength to stay safe. End this now, and show him that the power of a half breed should never be underestimated.'
"Miroku, are you seeing this?"
Sango gazed in sheer shock as the jewel was removed from Naraku's body, now back in Kagome's possession.
"The jewel, is safe now. It's over. With Inuyasha's final attack, Naraku will die."
Miroku watched the demon, relishing the look of fear in his eyes.
"He knows that this is the end, and he fears it."
His gaze slowly moved to his hand, and the curse placed in it because of Naraku.
"I will finally be rid of this wretched curse, and no longer will my life be in danger. You got your revenge for your kin's death, and Inuyasha and Kagome are getting theirs. This battle has finally been drawn to a close, and this is his last moments."
Staring in the background, Shippou and Jaken watched as each action was made. Their eyes were wide as saucers when the jewel was returned.
"Jaken, this is it. The time we have been waiting for has finally come. No more Naraku, and peace at last."
"That's right Shippou!"
Rin came bounding up to him, dropping to the ground right beside him.
"We longer have to hide in fear from that monster."
"Lord Sesshomaru's death will be avenged by the demise of Naraku. Hehe, that demon has no chance."
'Let's end this now brother. We have no need in letting him live another second of his vile life.'
A pleasured grin filled the hanyou's face as he saw the truth. The end was finally here. After everything they went through to get here, it was finally over. With one more hit, Naraku would die, and they could relax in peace. They could live the lives they had always wanted, they could live in peace.
"You're right."
His eyes glanced towards Kagome, sending her a warm smile. He then looked at his sword, watching in somewhat shock as a pair of hands wrapped around the hilt underneath his own. His brother's face gave him that cold grin of his, showing that he was ready to fight.
"Let's go."
'It's time for him to die.'
"Eahh!"
Both demon's raced forward, holding the sword for their attack.
"Good job Inuyasha. Finish it off."
Kagome took a step back, holding the sacred jewel within her hands. Before Inuyasha hit Naraku, the jewel's light began to grow, slowly engulfing her body.
"Hm?"
"How could this be? How could I have been defeated by a mere half breed?"
Naraku's eyes widened in horror as the sword was about to hit.
"It wasn't just me, we all defeated you. Time to go to hell Naraku. Now DIE!"
The shimmering blade sliced through the youkai's body, creating a violent wind to break lose. His amber eyes widened when he saw that Kagome was in the middle of it, and engulfed by a pure light.
"Kagome! Kagome!" He reached his hand forward, trying to find hers.
"Inuyasha, where are you?"
Her eyes strained to see through the light that seemed to grow. It began to swallow them up, filling the wind with the pure color.
"Kagome, hang on!"
When his hand finally reached hers, he pulled her body close to his and held on tight.
"What the hell is going on?"
"I don't know... but I feel real... weak for... some reason..."
Her vision slowly began to get blurry as the wind continued to rip wildly around them. "Inu...yasha?" Her fingers gripped the sides of his kimono as she passed out.
"Kagome, Kagome! Kagome... Ka... go... me..."
The same affects happened to him. He felt his body get weak, and his vision blur.
"D-damn it... what's... h-happening..."
He fell unconscious as well, but still held tight to her body. The wind around them whipped violently as the scenery seemed to change.
The couple's bodies slowly fell, soon landing on a shimmering floor. The remaining winds died off as a gentle voice filled the area. A pair of angelic, greyish blue eyes were gazing upon the intertwined bodies.
"They did it."
_________________________________________________________________________
A/N: Ok, please don't slap me for leaving it as a cliffhanger! I have a great idea for the next chapter, and something that the summary said for this story is about to happen in this next chapter! I just know that you're going to enjoy the next chapter... a lot! I know that this one wasn't all that great, and I hope that Naraku's death wasn't too boring. I'm not too good when it comes to battles in a story. I'm better with the fluffy stuff. *hehe*
Anyway, I haven't thought of a title for the next chapter, but I'm telling you that it's going to be neat, and I bet that what's going to happen, no one is going be expecting it!!! I'll leave at this, giving you some ideas for what may happen. I hope that you like this story so far, for the end is very near. I know that I liked writing it, and I hope that you liked reading it. Until next time, Ja ne! (don't forget the review!!! ^_____^ Arigato!)
~Tip: "Some things to keep in mind:"
1.) Don't try so hard
2.) Don't worry so much
3.) Get more sleep.
4.) Relax!
Because everything tastes like chicken in the end.
And chicken... tastes good." - (adultswim)
*hehe* Sorry, I just felt like putting that down. ^_^;; ~KittyBell~
Chapter 10: The Spirit of a Brother
The final battle began. The battle that would tell all; the battle that would leave either the good side or the bad side dead. This deadly brawl would never be forgotten by anyone, not even Mother Nature herself.
"Naraku! Take this!"
Sango raced forward, raising her boomerang in the air. With a mighty throw, she sent her weapon gliding through the air, heading right for his body.
"Hiriakotsu!"
The boomerang hit him head on; however, there was no affect. Even though it had hit him, the miasma around his body had caused the attack to have absolutely no affect on him. Instead, it was repelled and sent back towards her at a far greater speed.
"Oh no..."
She watched in horror as the weapon aimed for her, ready to take her life. Within seconds of the hit, a large beast had taken her away.
"Kirara! Thank you!"
She climbed onto the back of her dear friend and gazed down upon the battle, seeing a displeased look in both Inuyasha's and Naraku's eyes. Kirara glided through the air and landed gracefully beside their friends.
"Sango, you need to pay better attention then that! We can't afford to make any mistakes. We have to work together as a team, that's the only way to take him down."
Inuyasha knelt to the ground and reclaimed his sword.
"In the meantime, I'll be wearing him out so we can plan our attack. Do you guys got me?"
His amber eyes blazed with sheer anger as he prepared to go after him. He came to a halt when a gentle touch was felt on his shoulder.
"Kagome?"
"Listen, you be careful out there. You're putting yourself in more danger than any of us, so please..."
She leaned forward and laid a sweet kiss on his cheek.
"... be careful?"
She stood back when a nod was given to her. She moved away from him as he continued his assault.
"While Inuyasha is keeping Naraku busy, we have to come up with a method of annihilating him, but how?"
"Lady Kagome, your arrows are probably much stronger now, so maybe that's what we need to destroy him. If you and Inuyasha perform an attack together, maybe that will end his life. Using his newer sword, and your new priestess powers, that should be enough. I can help by using a scroll to hold him, and Lady Sango can use her Hiriakotsu as more power. Shippou can even use fox fire. We need all of the strength we can get."
"A-hem, what about me?"
Miroku glanced down when he heard the high-pitched voice.
"And yes, Jaken can use his staff. With all of this power, we'll be indestructible."
Kagome looked back towards the battle, watching each move, a seeing each hit.
"You think I'll give up that easy? Guess again Naraku!"
Swing after swing, blow after blow, strike after strike was exchanged between the two. It was truly a battle to the death, and only one would come out alive. You could see sparks flying from the speed and many hits Inuyasha was getting with his sword; however, you could also see the large amounts of miasma coming from Naraku as his weapon. Blood was being spilled from both sides as his sword struck Naraku, and as his poison ate at his skin, drawing blood.
Both battlers moved back, both sweating and breathing heavily. Their strength was gradually dropping as they fought harder and harder with each hit. Naraku smirked with a pleasured grin.
"I must say, I am somewhat impressed, for I never expected you to get this far. However, I ensure you that you will not excel any further. You will perish Inuyasha, along with you friends. I may spare that girls life though, for she may prove to be useful to me."
Kagome had heard his words in the background and wasn't too pleased about it.
"What am I, some type of consolation prize? Hmph, as if! I wouldn't do a thing for you! I'd rather die a thousand deaths than work in the hands of vaporous demon like you."
She turned her head and rolled her eyes, a look of anger covering her face.
"Who does that jerk think he is? I'll teach him a thing or two about ridiculing me like that!"
She took an arrow from her back and placed it in her bow, aiming it for the demon.
"She's got a lot of kick in her. She will be very useful to me."
"You say one more word about her and I swear that I will slit your throat right here and now."
Inuyasha's amber eyes narrowed as flames of anger raged within them. His was getting ready to attack when a silver flash caught his eye. It raced past him as hit its target.
"Never comment on me like that again."
Kagome smirked as the arrow pierced the youkai's body. Because Kikyo had given her life for her, she now had the accuracy she did. She was now capable of shooting arrows longer distances and hitting her target a lot easier.
"How dare you defy me. You will pay greatly for that."
Naraku growled as his arm was blown to bits.
"That's the second time I have been deprived of my arm. I will no longer hold back on my power. You have lost your chances of survival now."
A red glow was emanating from the jewel that rested within his body. His arm was replaced with a deadly weapon, and the wounds covering his body were healed entirely.
"Wh-what the hell? He's h-healing again. However, there's more power now, more then before."
His eyes widened as Naraku attacked. He was a lot faster as well, and Inuyasha had no time to even respond. His body was sent gliding through the air, with Naraku's at his side.
"Tell me Inuyasha, do you enjoy being thrown around like a puppet? Your brother did when Soiro tore him apart. It was far too easy to take down that aristocrat. It'll be much easier to take you out."
Naraku smirked as his used his weapon and struck Inuyasha on the chest. A loud yell escaped his mouth as the spikes pierced his skin. When he hit the ground, Naraku used his fist and pushed him further into the dirt, creating a crater around the hanyou's body. His mouth slowly opened as a few drops of blood came out. Naraku's hit felt like it had crushed his ribs.
"D-damn y-you!"
He took his sword and swung, trying to remove the demon from his position.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome ran up to him, with Sango and Miroku quickly following.
"Lady Kagome, we need to attack now. If we do not, I fear that it will soon be too late."
Miroku removed a scroll from his coat, preparing to use it. They both stopped when Kagome came to a halt. She knew how Inuyasha felt about interrupting his battle, so she didn't want to get too close. She took another arrow and placed it in her bow, ready to fire.
"Naraku! I've had enough of you! Get away from Inuyasha!"
The arrow left her bow at an amazing speed. A trail of silver glistened behind it as it aimed for the demon. He quickly moved from the arrows path, also freeing Inuyasha.
"Heh, I knew it would work! Inuyasha, you need to get up! You have to win this battle. We have a plan, and you must stay up in order to be part of it."
"A plan? What kind of plan?! Right now I'm a little busy to be worrying about some ridiculous plan."
"It's not ridiculous, so shut up! Just get in there and fight, we'll do the rest!"
"Keh, whatever."
He somewhat growled as he tried raising to his feet, a little shaky from Naraku's previous attack.
"I have to keep going. I will not give up now."
He focused ahead of him, preparing for his ultimate attack.
"I must end this now."
His eyes narrowed as he caught the sight of what he was looking for.
'The two visors of wind are clashing there. If I hit it just right, it should be enough power to weaken Naraku greatly, and then they can carry out their attack.'
He weakly smiled as his sword raised. It was only seconds before his attack, and just enough time for Naraku to get him again.
'No...'
Naraku's legs rested on Inuyasha's chest and gave a push. His body flew through the air, crashing a few feet away. Dirt and rubble filled the air around him as his lifted to a sitting position, using his sword for balance.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome was by his side in a second. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as her fingers brushed against his face.
"Inuyasha, are you ok?"
"Damn it, I can't find his weakness! Even with your new abilites, it's still hopeless. The Shikkon jewel has given him too much power."
'A demon would never give up, whether he be a half breed or full blooded.'
Inuyasha's eyes widened as that voice filled his ears. It was familiar, very familiar. He had heard it earlier that day in battle. Was it him again, was it Sesshomaru speaking to him?
"Whoever you are, come out and show yourself!"
Kagome listened in shock as he spoke those words.
"Inuyasha, who are you talking to?"
'I see that my own brother has yet to recognize my voice? Or is it that he doesn't want to?'
Gradually, a small light began to appear before the two. However, the image was only visible to Inuyasha's eyes.
It slowly began to take form. Long silver hair could be seen, along with a pair of golden eyes. It was him, standing right before was Sesshomaru, or his spirit. His body was a little transparent, so he knew it was only his soul. But seeing him there seemed to give him more strength, along with joy that filled his eyes.
"What are you... I thought..."
'I have come to help you Inuyasha. With my added strength, Naraku will easily be taken down.'
"Inuyasha, what's that light?"
Kagome raised to her feet, along with Inuyasha. He seemed not as tired, and is if he had a little more strength. He was ready, ready to end Naraku's godforsaken life.
'Something feels different, like there's another presence here. Is that light someone... someone's soul?'
Kagome's eyes widened as the presence grew stronger. She was now able to detect an aura, one very similar.
'How can I sense all of this? Is it from Kikyo?'
"Kagome?"
She instantly snapped from her thoughts when Inuyasha's voice filled her ears.
"Y-yes?"
"Let's do this. I feel stronger, and more than ready to end his life. I have help."
"Help? Of course you have help! What do you think we're here for, to cheer you on from the sidelines? I'm sorry to break it to ya pal but this ain't no football game."
"Football?"
"Ye- Just forget it. We're here to help you, so lets do it."
"You can sense that, can't you?"
'He must be able to as well.'
"I feel something, and it feels so familiar."
"Same here... come on."
He reached out his hand and grasped hers, bringing her forward.
"I'm ready for this to finally end. Let's go with that plan of yours. If you think it will really work, then let's do it."
"M-hum. Right now, keep Naraku busy, and we'll set it up."
"Right..."
"Inuyasha... be careful."
He nodded his head, and raced forward, trying once more to attack Naraku. The same sequence played over and over. They exchanged blows, and Inuyasha would be the one to hit the ground. It continued like that for awhile.
"Miroku, we need your scroll now. Can you prepare it?"
He instantly removed a sheet of paper from his coat, one with several words.
"I'll do it right away."
He began to prepare the scroll immediately.
"Sango, we need you to help us with the first blow. After Miroku places the scroll in position, you hit him with your boomerang. That will weaken him greatly, allowing me a better chance to get the jewel."
"What do you mean get the jewel? Wouldn't it just vanish with his body when he dies?"
"That's the thing. The jewel supposedly disappeared when Kikyo died, but it was reborn within my soul. If the jewel is within him, my guess is that he will have a reincarnation, and then this could happen all over again. I don't want anyone else to go through what we had to. This will end here and now."
Sango nodded in response, understanding every word she had just heard.
"Shippou, Jaken, you guys have a part in this too. We need your fox fire Shippou, and your staff's fire Jaken. Right before I get the jewel, fry him. Give it everything you have. I'll get the jewel afterwards, and then Inuyasha and I will finish him off together. He'll still be very tough, for the jewel gives him great power, but if we work together, we can do it."
'Plus, I know that whoever this newer presence is, they will help as well.'
"Take this!"
Inuyasha used his claws and hit his target. His sharp nails ate at Naraku's face, creating three scars on his right cheek. Blood began to pour from the wound, causing anger to rage within him.
"Inuyasha, I can see through your strategy now. You are only creating a diversion so the others can prepare a plan. Although, you forgot one little problem, you're not strong enough to take me on."
Inuyasha crashed to the ground once more, not realizing Naraku's true intentions. When he had slowly risen, Naraku was no where in sight. He quickly turned around, fearing for the worst.
'Oh no...'
Naraku's new target was the others.
"Miroku, are you done?" "Yes Lady Kagome, the scroll has been... c- complete..."
He gasped as a sharp pain filled his body. Naraku had used one of the spikes on his weapon, and struck Miroku in the back.
"Miroku!"
Sango growled in anger as he fell to his knees.
"Miroku, oh no!"
Kagome raced to his side, but was stopped by Naraku. He sent his vine like arm hurdling towards her, ready to strike. All eyes, including Naraku's, widened when the arm was quickly removed with a gust of wind. The violently moving limb fell to the ground, blood slowly pouring from the wound. His eyes lifted as a sight caught them, angering him greatly.
"Bastard!"
"Inuyasha!"
Sango and Kagome watched as the hanyou landed on his feet, his sword erect in his hands. Blood was trickling down the blade of his sword, slowly falling to the earth.
"It ends here Naraku. You've hurt too many people, ended too many innocent lives. I will not stand for this any longer."
A look of sheer anger was raging in his eyes. His grip tightened drastically on the hilt of his sword as he tried to control the growing anger deep within his soul.
"I see that your strength has risen, although it is still not enough to save your life or the ones of your pathetic friends."
"Who's calling who pathetic Naraku when you're the one about to lose. We've had just the right amount of time to exact our plan. Now you're going down."
Kagome smirked as Sango helped Miroku place the scroll into place.
"Heh w-with this scroll, y-you won't be able to m-move."
Naraku growled angrily as he tried to move his body, but to no avail.
"You think that this mere paper will hold me? Guess again."
Kagome and the others knew what was coming, and that he could break it, so they had no time to spare. They quickly prepared to began their assault. However, instead of Sango going first, it was Shippou and Jaken.
"Fox fire! Come on Sango, we need you! Sango?"
Shippou slightly turned his head, watching the maiden as she tended to the monk.
"Miroku, are you ok?"
She carefully rested him upon the ground, taking heed of his injuries.
"Lady Sango, please leave me and help the others. They're in more need of your assistance then I am."
"You're just like Inuyasha in some ways, so stubborn. I'm not leaving your side, and nothing you can do or say will change my mind."
"Sango... thank you."
He smiled weakly as his attention was directed back towards the battle, watching as Shippou and Jaken began.
"Kagome, you need to get the jewel soon! We can't keep this up much longer!"
Shippou did his best to hold on, but using so much energy with his fox fire was exhausting him. Jaken was also getting somewhat tired of controlling his staff. If the jewel wasn't removed soon, they would collapse from exhaustion.
"Right."
She nodded her head and glanced towards Inuyasha, checking to see if he was ready. When she saw that look of anger in his eyes, it sent a chill of fear down her spine.
'Don't let it overcome you Inuyasha, please.'
She ran towards him, preparing her bow as she did.
"Inuyasha, we need to finish this now."
"It won't work. Naraku is still too strong. We need a stronger arrow Kagome. Within seconds, he will break the scroll, and will attack us all. In that time frame, you must prepare your strongest arrow. I will hold him, and you will shoot."
"No way! I will not shoot, no matter what you say! I will not shoot... do you understand me?!"
She placed her hands on his arms, gently shaking his body. Tears slowly filled her eyes as she begged him to change his mind.
"I am not going to do it... do you got that?"
In this whole moment, Naraku had broken through the scroll. The anger inside of him grew larger, creating a devastating wall of miasma to surround him. Both Jaken and Shippou were sent through the air, crashing to the ground several feet from him.
"Eahh!! K-Kagome!"
Dirt and rubble scattered around their bodies as they tried to get up, miasma still floating around them..
"Uh, Shippou!"
She instantly turned when Shippou's voice rang through her ears.
"Inuyasha, we have no time to argue! We need to save them now!"
She took off towards Naraku, readying her bow.
"Eat this!"
The arrow left the string, heading straight for him. Right before he reached Shippou and Jaken, a piercing pain hit his side. He turned his head and noticed Kirara, sinking her claws into his flesh. Followed by that, Kagome's arrow knocked off a chunk of his other arm, leaving a large wound.
"Heh, got him. Just one more, and he'll be down. Then Inuyasha can finish him off!"
She took one more arrow and placed it on the bow, prepared to strike once more.
"Remove yourself from me at once!"
More miasma escaped Naraku's body as he moved from Kirara, sending her away with the vapors. His next target was Kagome. He didn't want to take her life, for she could be useful to him, so he made a plan.
"Die Naraku! Ta- Uh!"
Her eyes widened when Naraku appeared right before her, taking a tight grip on her arm.
"Let me go!"
"Kagome!"
"L-lady Kagome!"
"Naraku, let her go!"
Inuyasha growled angrily as a string of miasma formed around her body, holding her tightly in place.
"This girl now belongs to me. She will suit me quite well, and I have many plans for her."
"I am not some type of prize that can be used by anyone! So let me go! I sa- "
Her voice was cut off when his hand covered her mouth, instantly silencing her.
"You will learn to hold your tongue girl."
He smirked with pleasure as he turned his head, gazing ahead at the hanyou. He could see that his actions were angering Inuyasha, telling by the look of hell that was burning in his eyes.
"You bastard... if you touch her again, you would rather burn in hell then deal with my wrath. I'm warning you, let her go."
'Inuyasha, this is our chance to take him down. He is only using this girl to make you angry, so that rage is filling your eyes and you will no longer be able to focus correctly. He will not harm her, so have no worry. Focus all of your strength and anger into your sword, and attack. I will be by your side, aiding you in this attack.'
"How could something so easily be said, and yet it is far more difficult to pursue?"
Inuyasha growled angrily, taking a thundering step forward.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot follow that. I have to save Kagome!"
'Inuyasha, your love for this girl has blinded your sight. If you continue this, you will be certain to fail in this battle.'
"Naraku!"
Inuyasha sprinted at top speed, holding his sword before him. The shimmering blade glistened with the heat of battle, ready to fight to the death. However, his pace gradually slowed down when he noticed a pained look in Naraku's eyes. It was then that a small orb of light in the demon's stomach began to grow a bright red, a red so bright that the intensity exceeded the color of the fires in hell. He came to a complete halt when he saw the result of these actions.
"Heh, you may have been holding me back Naraku, but you forgot one small thing; I still had access to my arrows."
Kagome smirked as her bow slipped through her fingers, dropping to the ground. Her new goal was to remove the jewel from his body. Her sacred arrow had loosened the orb within him, and now all she needed to do was to reach for it. His body was only about a foot and a half from her reach, making it easier to grab the jewel.
"Almost there... I must grab it."
Kagome's hand reached a few more inches, now brushing the jewel that was slowly emerging from his back. Strong waves of winds were pulsating from his body as his power gradually began to diminish.
"Come on..."
She strained even further. The instant her fingers embraced the jewel, the tinted jewel grew redder, and then returned to it's once purified color. Naraku gasped in more pain as his power decreased with the removal of the jewel. His head slightly turned, glancing as the miasma around Kagome vanished, freeing her from his grasp.
"You were the cause of your own undoing Naraku. Your selfish desires resulted in your own demise. And now, you will be sent to hell. Kikyo is waiting there, waiting to keep you."
"Kagome... you... did it."
'The battle is not yet over. You must finish the final attack Inuyasha. Use your Tetsusaiga, and end his life. I will be by your side, giving you my strength. Take this chance to send his pitiful soul to hell.'
His eyes narrowed, holding the sword to his side as he prepared an attack.
"What about Kagome, she may get hurt..."
'Her life is not in danger. The sacred jewel is in her possession, giving her the strength to stay safe. End this now, and show him that the power of a half breed should never be underestimated.'
"Miroku, are you seeing this?"
Sango gazed in sheer shock as the jewel was removed from Naraku's body, now back in Kagome's possession.
"The jewel, is safe now. It's over. With Inuyasha's final attack, Naraku will die."
Miroku watched the demon, relishing the look of fear in his eyes.
"He knows that this is the end, and he fears it."
His gaze slowly moved to his hand, and the curse placed in it because of Naraku.
"I will finally be rid of this wretched curse, and no longer will my life be in danger. You got your revenge for your kin's death, and Inuyasha and Kagome are getting theirs. This battle has finally been drawn to a close, and this is his last moments."
Staring in the background, Shippou and Jaken watched as each action was made. Their eyes were wide as saucers when the jewel was returned.
"Jaken, this is it. The time we have been waiting for has finally come. No more Naraku, and peace at last."
"That's right Shippou!"
Rin came bounding up to him, dropping to the ground right beside him.
"We longer have to hide in fear from that monster."
"Lord Sesshomaru's death will be avenged by the demise of Naraku. Hehe, that demon has no chance."
'Let's end this now brother. We have no need in letting him live another second of his vile life.'
A pleasured grin filled the hanyou's face as he saw the truth. The end was finally here. After everything they went through to get here, it was finally over. With one more hit, Naraku would die, and they could relax in peace. They could live the lives they had always wanted, they could live in peace.
"You're right."
His eyes glanced towards Kagome, sending her a warm smile. He then looked at his sword, watching in somewhat shock as a pair of hands wrapped around the hilt underneath his own. His brother's face gave him that cold grin of his, showing that he was ready to fight.
"Let's go."
'It's time for him to die.'
"Eahh!"
Both demon's raced forward, holding the sword for their attack.
"Good job Inuyasha. Finish it off."
Kagome took a step back, holding the sacred jewel within her hands. Before Inuyasha hit Naraku, the jewel's light began to grow, slowly engulfing her body.
"Hm?"
"How could this be? How could I have been defeated by a mere half breed?"
Naraku's eyes widened in horror as the sword was about to hit.
"It wasn't just me, we all defeated you. Time to go to hell Naraku. Now DIE!"
The shimmering blade sliced through the youkai's body, creating a violent wind to break lose. His amber eyes widened when he saw that Kagome was in the middle of it, and engulfed by a pure light.
"Kagome! Kagome!" He reached his hand forward, trying to find hers.
"Inuyasha, where are you?"
Her eyes strained to see through the light that seemed to grow. It began to swallow them up, filling the wind with the pure color.
"Kagome, hang on!"
When his hand finally reached hers, he pulled her body close to his and held on tight.
"What the hell is going on?"
"I don't know... but I feel real... weak for... some reason..."
Her vision slowly began to get blurry as the wind continued to rip wildly around them. "Inu...yasha?" Her fingers gripped the sides of his kimono as she passed out.
"Kagome, Kagome! Kagome... Ka... go... me..."
The same affects happened to him. He felt his body get weak, and his vision blur.
"D-damn it... what's... h-happening..."
He fell unconscious as well, but still held tight to her body. The wind around them whipped violently as the scenery seemed to change.
The couple's bodies slowly fell, soon landing on a shimmering floor. The remaining winds died off as a gentle voice filled the area. A pair of angelic, greyish blue eyes were gazing upon the intertwined bodies.
"They did it."
_________________________________________________________________________
A/N: Ok, please don't slap me for leaving it as a cliffhanger! I have a great idea for the next chapter, and something that the summary said for this story is about to happen in this next chapter! I just know that you're going to enjoy the next chapter... a lot! I know that this one wasn't all that great, and I hope that Naraku's death wasn't too boring. I'm not too good when it comes to battles in a story. I'm better with the fluffy stuff. *hehe*
Anyway, I haven't thought of a title for the next chapter, but I'm telling you that it's going to be neat, and I bet that what's going to happen, no one is going be expecting it!!! I'll leave at this, giving you some ideas for what may happen. I hope that you like this story so far, for the end is very near. I know that I liked writing it, and I hope that you liked reading it. Until next time, Ja ne! (don't forget the review!!! ^_____^ Arigato!)
~Tip: "Some things to keep in mind:"
1.) Don't try so hard
2.) Don't worry so much
3.) Get more sleep.
4.) Relax!
Because everything tastes like chicken in the end.
And chicken... tastes good." - (adultswim)
*hehe* Sorry, I just felt like putting that down. ^_^;; ~KittyBell~