Chapter 9
His Final Moments
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Many days passed. The group back at the camp grew more and more worried for Sango as they waited for her return.
"How long is it gonna take for Naraku to 'fade away' anyway?" InuYasha asked impatiently one afternoon.
"It could take months," Miroku replied.
The hanyou sighed and kicked at the dirt. "Ne, Kagome?"
Kagome was sitting on the ground, bored, drawing random designs in the dirt with a stick. "Hai?" she sighed.
"Think of something for us to do." "Eh?!" Kagome looked up. "Why should I have to think of something?!"
"Because you always do."
"If I could, I would have already!"
"Okay, I'm sorry, geez. . . "
Kagome sighed. She got up and sat next to InuYasha. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just edgy."
The hanyou smiled sadly at Kagome and put an arm around her.
Sesshoumaru watched the couple quietly. Then suddenly, he and InuYasha's ears perked. They both glanced at each other. "You hear that?" the hanyou asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded and listened more intently. It was a swishing noise, usually the sound of someone or something flying. Sesshoumaru stood, alert, his eyebrows drawn together. The rest stood as well, worried now.
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru looked to the sky and growled. "Kagura."
"What?!" asked Kagome, frightened. She was clinging to InuYasha as if she wasn't used to fighting demons.
InuYasha made an impatient expression. "Don't be ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "Stop clinging to me and get your arrows!"
Kagome did as she was told. Just as she put her arrows on her back, Kagura's large feather landed on the ground, and the demon herself stepped off of it and to the ground. She gazed at Sesshoumaru. "Lord. . . Sesshoumaru. . . "she said, with a slow, low laugh deep in her throat. "We have some business to discuss."
Sesshoumaru glared back at her angrily, claw already glowing an acrid green. "What do you want, Kagura?"
She began to walk toward him slowly, rhythmically. When her nose was an inch from his, she whispered, "We made a bargain. You did not hold up your end. Naraku still lives."
Sesshoumaru gazed back at her with sardonic eyes. "I had my reasons for not destroying him."
"I don't want to hear your excuses," she purred, her eyelids lowered seductively. She reached out and ran hands and ran them up his chest firmly. Sesshoumaru looked confused, curious, and infuriated. Kagura slowly grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head to her, so her lips were at his ear. "So appealing. . ." she whispered. "It's too bad. . ." She waited a moment, then pulled away from him. As she turned her back and walked away, Sesshoumaru asked, "What is too bad?"
Kagura reached the middle of the clearing once more, and turned back around to face him. "It is too bad that I will have to kill you."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed, and he smirked. "Do not make me laugh, woman."
"It's Kagura. And I told you. . . I have my ways of making you pay for not holding up your end of the bargain. Why. . . my somnambulists are on their way to Naraku and his woman. . . right now. . . "
"*What?*" Miroku whispered.
Kagura smirked and hid her mouth behind her fan, so her eyes peeked out at the youkai lord.
"What game are you playing, woman?" Sesshoumaru growled.
"Come and see," she said flirtatiously, then disappeared.
"Eh?" Kagome asked, confused. "What was *that* about?"
"She is playing with us," Sesshoumaru growled. "And I believe her when she says that her minions are on their way to the castle."
InuYasha placed a hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt. "Then we should go. I believe Sango has been with Naraku long enough. It's time for her to come back. . . for good."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Naraku rolled over on top of Sango, both of them giggling happily.
"Be careful!" Sango warned him. "You're not completely well!"
"I am being careful," he purred, nibbling at her ear.
Sango giggled and closed her eyes. *This* was how she wanted things to be. She sighed, content. Naraku had been healing wonderfully over the past few days, and he was already up and around, though that didn't stop Sango from worrying over him. She rubbed a hand over his sore shoulder gently, and he grunted.
"Gomen," she whispered.
"It's alright," he whispered back, kissing her cheek, and down to her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned a little, begging him to continue.
He shifted in between her legs, and his mouth focused on the hollow of her neck. "I love you. . ." he whispered.
She smiled. She reached down between them and untied the drawstring of his pants, as she had done twice before. This was the second time they would be making love, and Sango was anxious to know if the second time was any better than the first. She wanted him inside her terribly by now, and she was shamelessly trying to jerk his pants from his waist.
"Wait!" Naraku chuckled. He made sure to remove her garments slowly, making her growl with frustration. He just laughed at her, but knew she would pay him back, somehow.
That time came very soon, when he still would not join them. Sango tilted her head up and bit him hard on his ear. She then pushed his sore shoulder, making him roll over and hit the ground hard on his back. His wounds screamed with pain, making his arousal grow even more needy. Sango straddled his waist, and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Do not play with me, koi. See what you made me do?"
Naraku smirked promiscuously. "Hai, Sango-sama."
Sango blinked for a moment, then threw her head back and laughed out loud. "Sama!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air.
Naraku watched the way her torso stretched before him, and placed his hands on her hips. She looked down at him and smirked, then rocked against him. He closed his eyes, and she leaned back over to whisper in his ear once more. "Roll over."
He opened his eyes, and, chuckling, they rolled together, so he hovered above her once more. Sango reached down to jerk his pants off of his hips, and this time he did not stop her.
When he entered her, it felt wonderful. It did not hurt at all, and Sango wasn't sure if she had ever felt so good in her life. No wonder Miroku liked lovemaking so much. Miroku. . . Blindly, she pushed Miroku back out of her mind, knowing that if she thought about him it would interrupt the moment. She continued to concentrate on Naraku, feeling slightly guilty for thinking of another man during something so intimate.
They way he moved in and out of her drove her crazy, until finally, she peaked, and gave a small cry. This made Naraku come right behind her, and he leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, a tiny smile grazing his lips. He moved his head down and kissed her neck sensually, and she ran her hands through his hair, loving him for who he was, no matter what he had done or who he had been in the past.
They laid together for a while, drifting in and out of sleep, sweetly ignoring the world outside of them, concentrating only on their own.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later that night, Sango awoke to loud voices, and much noise outside of the castle. "Naraku!" she whispered, shaking him.
He awoke and smiled at her, but his smile faded when he saw her expression. "What is wrong?"
"Shh! Listen!"
The banging continued. Someone was trying to get into the castle, and by the sounds of it, they were succeeding.
"Get up!" Naraku ordered her. They were on their feet in a flash, Naraku dressing in his pants in a robe, and Sango back in her kimono. They ran together to the main room, where they made for the back door. It burst open before they were even a few feet in front it. Sango clung to Naraku, terrified of what she saw.
Humans - all with blank eyes, moaning and dragging their feet slightly, with only one goal: to capture her, it seemed. Sango did some quick thinking and looked around, scanning the room for anything she cold defend herself with, but there was nothing. Why in the world hadn't she taken her weapons back with her? Naraku wrapped his arms around her protectively, and they backed away from the somnambulists and into a wall. They reached the couple in no time, and Naraku was only strong enough to fight off a few, but finally, they were too overpowering, and they took Sango by her arms, kicking and screaming for her lover all the way out the back door.
"SANGO!" Naraku screamed, running after her. The zombies followed him, out the door, finally catching him by his arms and holding him down to the ground.
Sango kicked and screamed still, when she saw her lover captured and shoved to the ground. He gave a cry of pain, and her heart seemed to rip into shreds at seeing him being shoved around in his weak condition. Who was doing this?! Who had sent these zombies?!
Sango racked her brain trying to remember when she had seen humans in such a state as this. And finally, she remembered the battle in which InuYasha and Miroku had fought. . . Kagura.
Kagura? What did she want from them?
Sango continued to thrash around blindly, until one of the zombies backhanded her. She was knocked out cold, oblivious to anything else that happened afterward.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It took the group of four until nightfall to reach the castle, and by the time they arrived, the grounds were in chaos. They could hear Sango screaming, Naraku yelling, and zombies moaning.
Miroku ran quickest of them all, knocking Kagura's minions out of his way carelessly, remembering that he couldn't kill them, which only frustrated him. He finally ran around to the back of the castle where the shouts were coming from, completely forgetting his companions. He stopped to see Naraku being shoved to the ground by three of the larger somnambulists, and looked over to the edge of the back yard, where a thick forest of trees grew. Sango was there, being held by three zombies. The way she thrashed about wildly only made Miroku's anger stronger. And when one of the minions backhanded her, and Miroku saw her go limp in it's arms, he snapped.
He gave a great cry, and ran to them. He remembered his dagger that was sheathed at his waist, and he pulled it out. He did not care any more that these were human beings. Kagura probably would not give them their souls back, anyway. The curved blade of the dagger slid into their backs easily, all three of them, and when they were on the ground and bleeding to death, Miroku picked his Sango up and moved her away from the fray of the now raging battle. Coming down out of his paroxysm, Miroku looked around to see his companions battling the fifty or so minions. Sesshoumaru and InuYasha were merely throwing punches, and Kagome was wounding the soulless beings by stabbing them in their shoulders and legs, disabling them from walking or grabbing her up, as well.
Sesshoumaru was taking on seven or eight at a time. He was having no trouble defending himself, and Miroku saw him looking over constantly at Kagome, working his way to her.
InuYasha was occupied further over by the back of the castle. He seemed to have been backed up against the wall, which was actually a smarter move, so no one could attack him from behind.
Miroku worried none over InuYasha, but cried out Kagome's name when a minion moved to attack her from behind. Sesshoumaru leapt into the air and landed by her side quickly. He backhanded the zombie hard, the blow so strong it may have killed the human body. The youkai lord glanced at Kagome, and stood against her, back-to-back, resuming his fighting.
Relieved at Sesshoumaru's save, Miroku was able to continue to protect himself, and the unconscious Sango. He threw punches at the zombies that tried to approach him, and knocked many out with blows from his scepter.
Finally, when nearly all of the zombies were either dead or unconscious, Kagura appeared. She flew down on her giant feather and settled lightly to the ground, right in front of Naraku and the minions that were holding him to the ground.
She stood and stared at him blankly, her emotion toward the once-powerful demon completely unreadable. She held her fan up in front of her face, then out to her side. She flashed one side of the fan at Naraku, and just as she was about to send dangerous, slicing wind his way, Sesshoumaru spoke up. "Kagura!"
She stopped, and stood still for a moment, her eyes blank and evil. She turned her head slowly to look at the youkai lord, and when her eyes found him, she gaze into his face almost sadly. She glanced quickly at Kagome who clung to Sesshoumaru's side, then back up at the youkai himself. "Hai?"
"Your battle - is it not with me?"
Her eyebrow quirked, and the corner of her red lips lifted. "Yes. . . but first, I must destroy this Naraku. You'll wait your turn."
She turned away from him and lifted her fan once again. No one stopped her this time, because no one who was conscious had any qualms with Naraku's destruction. Miroku almost hated that it was not he who was destroying Naraku.
Kagura flashed her fan at Naraku once more, and this time, delivered her attack. Slicing wind came barreling its way at Naraku and the two minions, and it cut through them mercilessly. The three minions were knocked to the ground, and became unconscious. Naraku appeared to be unconscious, as well. Without taking her eyes off of Naraku's form, Kagura said clearly, "Come, Sesshoumaru. Finish him off."
"I will not!"
"This is your last chance!" she exclaimed. "We made a bargain, and I'm going to make an exception. You agreed that you would kill him," she said, turning her head once again to gaze at the youkai lord. "Do it. . . please. I. . . I don't want to destroy you," she finished weakly.
Sesshoumaru was quiet, and he gazed at her, something unknown to the others passing between them. Her eyes were pleading him to kill Naraku. . . "I will not kill him. He is weak and unarmed. I will only destroy him in a fair fight."
Kagura turned her head, and closed her eyes. "It's just too bad, then. . . And my mind. . . is made up."
She lifted her fan hand suddenly, and all of the thirty or so unconscious minions groaned and rose to their feet. She flipped the fan, and they all ran to the four companions, in attack mode once again.
Over the moaning, Kagura yelled, "Come, Sesshoumaru! Now your fight is with me!"
She disappeared, then materialized in a secluded corner by the edge of the forest. Sesshoumaru, already fighting off zombies, yelled to Kagome, "Go to InuYasha! Do what you can to protect yourself, Kagome!"
She stared up at him and nodded, watching him go. She then turned quickly on her heel and ran blindly to InuYasha, to fight with him, back-to-back.
Against his will, Miroku was pulled away from the still very unconscious Sango. The minions seemed to have forgotten about her, but he was still worried. He fought the best he could, the zombies seeming to come back even stronger than before.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Naraku awoke to see a battle raging once again. His eyes scanned the ground for his lover, and he saw the light pink of her kimono on the ground at the edge of the yard. If only he could make it over there. . .
He managed to get to his feet, no one noticing his movements, for everyone was too occupied with either attacking or counter-attacking.
He looked around, noticing faintly that the demon in white that had attacked him before was battling Kagura off in one corner. The others seemed to be doing well.
His whole body was screaming in pain. Had he really put others through this pain once upon a time? Had he really been that cruel?
Squeezing his eye shut against the pain, he blinked them a few times, and continued to crawl over to Sango.
Before he knew it, he had crossed the yard, completely unnoticed by the monk.
He was nearly there. . . Sango. . . he reached out his arm, nearly going blind from the pain that shot through his body when he did so.
And then, his body gave out completely. He lay slumped by a tree, completely conscious, but unable to move.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sango came to, and saw before her a large battle. She could make out Miroku nearby, and InuYasha and Kagome far away by the castle. If she looked down her body and to the west, she could see Sesshoumaru fighting none other than Kagura.
But where was Naraku?
She rolled over on her stomach, her head swimming painfully, and scanned the grounds for any sign of Naraku. She found him surprisingly close by. He lay on the ground, so still, his eyes open and blank, and for a moment, she thought him dead. He blinked then, and relief washed over her.
She made her way to him slowly, her head preventing her from making any quick movements. She had a feeling that if she moved too fast, she would swoon again.
When she reached Naraku, he looked up at her, and smiled. The moon was glowing on his face, and she stared, transfixed. She lay herself down in front of him, and touched his face.
"Sango. . ." he whispered painfully. "P - put my arms around you. . . I cannot move. . ."
She did as she was asked, and draped his arm over her waist. She snuggled into him, and looked up at him in alarm when she heard his breath falter.
He smiled sadly. "Sango. . . I have. . . mere minutes left."
"No. . ."
"I'm sorry I could not protect you better."
"It's all right!" she whispered, crying. "You are my hero, no matter what."
"I love you, Sango."
"Don't go, not yet."
"I can't help it," he laughed weakly. His smile faltered. "We both knew this would happen."
"But I did not expect it so soon! It's not fair!"
"I know. . . I'm sorry I was not stronger for you."
"Stop apologizing! I love you no matter what!"
"I need to-to thank you, Sango. For teaching me about love. For being tender and. . . loving. . . For being there for me in the end, when no one else would. I love you. I love you, but I have to go, now."
Knowing full well that protesting would not prevent Naraku from dying, Sango just cried quietly, listening to his last words.
"I'm glad we got to make love one last time today," he continued. "It was amazing. I will keep my love for you with me into the next world. Do not forget me, Sango."
"How could I?"
"And, also - "he grunted painfully, "- do not stay lonely, ever. I want you to find someone else, the monk, perhaps. I don't want to you to be lonely. But don't stop loving me, it's all I ask."
"Hai. . . hai, I will. I love you." She caressed his face, and whispered to him. "The pain, everything. . . It will all be over, soon. . . I love you. . ."
She put a hand over his heart, and felt it beat again, for the last time.
"Goodbye, Sango."
"Goodbye. I love you."
"I love you. . ."
Sango watched as Naraku's eyes finally went blank and his breathing stopped completely. His heart stopped last, slowing, and staying, as if fighting for a moment. Then, it finally gave up, and Naraku actually died.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Give it up, Kagura!" Sesshoumaru growled. "You will not win this!"
"You promised me!" she yelled, sending slicing blades of wind his way once again. "We had a deal!"
Sesshoumaru held his white fur up in front of him, the blades bouncing off of it and disappearing into the night. "Why are you so bent on this?!"
He stepped forward, unafraid, and grabbed her wrists. She struggled, making a mean face, and yelled, "Let go of me!"
"You cannot destroy me, Kagura. You are not strong enough."
She stopped struggling, and looked up into his face. The transformation that overcame her features momentarily baffled Sesshoumaru. Suddenly, Kagura looked like a lost, scared little girl. He looked into her wide eyes, and she gazed back at him nervously, almost afraid of him. He saw something else important in her eyes, but before he could read it, she turned her head away. "Let me go!" She gave another strangled yell, trying to jerk her wrists free.
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru knew what that other emotion in her eyes had been. "Wait. . . Kagura. . ." he said, amused. "Are you. . . ?"
"No! Let me go!"
"Are you in lo -"
"Let go!" she finally gave a great jerk, and freed herself from his grip. She turned away, and disappeared. Behind him, all of Kagura's minions dropped dead to the ground, and Sesshoumaru's companions just stood there, confused as to why their attackers had just slumped to the ground. They all looked at him, and he turned around.
"Did you kill her?" InuYasha asked his half-brother, still confused.
"No," Sesshoumaru replied. "She fled."
"Wimp," InuYasha muttered.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Shut up and carry me, InuYasha. I'm so tired. . ." As if on cue, her legs gave out beneath her, but InuYasha's quick reflexes prevented Kagome from ever hitting the ground. She climbed onto his back, and they walked over to Miroku. "Well, monk. This battle is over," the hanyou said to him.
Miroku nodded, then turned quickly in the direction he had left Sango. "Sango!" His eyes scanned the ground, until they finally found a sleeping Sango in a very dead Naraku's arms. She had closed his eyes before she had gone to sleep, and she now lay there peacefully as if nothing were wrong.
Miroku hurried over to her, and woke her up. "Sango. . . wake up. Please, wake up."
She stirred, then opened her eyes. "Miroku?" she said, turning to gaze up at him. She then turned and saw Naraku's pale face before her, and whimpered. "Naraku. . ." she hugged his body close to her, and began to cry. Miroku gave her a few moments, then pried her from Naraku's body. "Come on, koi. We need to go home." he said softly.
"Naraku. . ."
"I am sorry," Miroku said to her. "I am sorry you had to lose your Naraku."
"Mi - Miroku. . . I didn't want him to go. . ."
"I - I know, koi. Come on, now. . ."
"Are we going to bury him?"
"Of course. Come on, Sango. Sit up."
She sat up slowly into Miroku's arms, and she cried into his chest for a few moments. He smoothed her hair. "Don't you want to go home? Back to Kaede's village?"
Sango nodded, overwhelmed by her tears. Miroku picked her up and carried her, giving one last glance at Naraku's dead body. The glance would have been cold, if he had not felt sorry for Sango; but despite that, Miroku just felt relieved that Naraku was finally gone.
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Yeah, just thought I'd let you guys now, Sesshoumaru's "white fur" thing is what some like to refer to as his "tail." I don't think it's his tail, I just think it's there for decoration, to make him look all high and mighty. It's not even attatched to his cute little butt, anyway. ^_^
Hope you enjoyed! Now on to Chappie 10, and then it's The End!
Honey Bee
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Many days passed. The group back at the camp grew more and more worried for Sango as they waited for her return.
"How long is it gonna take for Naraku to 'fade away' anyway?" InuYasha asked impatiently one afternoon.
"It could take months," Miroku replied.
The hanyou sighed and kicked at the dirt. "Ne, Kagome?"
Kagome was sitting on the ground, bored, drawing random designs in the dirt with a stick. "Hai?" she sighed.
"Think of something for us to do." "Eh?!" Kagome looked up. "Why should I have to think of something?!"
"Because you always do."
"If I could, I would have already!"
"Okay, I'm sorry, geez. . . "
Kagome sighed. She got up and sat next to InuYasha. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just edgy."
The hanyou smiled sadly at Kagome and put an arm around her.
Sesshoumaru watched the couple quietly. Then suddenly, he and InuYasha's ears perked. They both glanced at each other. "You hear that?" the hanyou asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded and listened more intently. It was a swishing noise, usually the sound of someone or something flying. Sesshoumaru stood, alert, his eyebrows drawn together. The rest stood as well, worried now.
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru looked to the sky and growled. "Kagura."
"What?!" asked Kagome, frightened. She was clinging to InuYasha as if she wasn't used to fighting demons.
InuYasha made an impatient expression. "Don't be ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "Stop clinging to me and get your arrows!"
Kagome did as she was told. Just as she put her arrows on her back, Kagura's large feather landed on the ground, and the demon herself stepped off of it and to the ground. She gazed at Sesshoumaru. "Lord. . . Sesshoumaru. . . "she said, with a slow, low laugh deep in her throat. "We have some business to discuss."
Sesshoumaru glared back at her angrily, claw already glowing an acrid green. "What do you want, Kagura?"
She began to walk toward him slowly, rhythmically. When her nose was an inch from his, she whispered, "We made a bargain. You did not hold up your end. Naraku still lives."
Sesshoumaru gazed back at her with sardonic eyes. "I had my reasons for not destroying him."
"I don't want to hear your excuses," she purred, her eyelids lowered seductively. She reached out and ran hands and ran them up his chest firmly. Sesshoumaru looked confused, curious, and infuriated. Kagura slowly grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head to her, so her lips were at his ear. "So appealing. . ." she whispered. "It's too bad. . ." She waited a moment, then pulled away from him. As she turned her back and walked away, Sesshoumaru asked, "What is too bad?"
Kagura reached the middle of the clearing once more, and turned back around to face him. "It is too bad that I will have to kill you."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed, and he smirked. "Do not make me laugh, woman."
"It's Kagura. And I told you. . . I have my ways of making you pay for not holding up your end of the bargain. Why. . . my somnambulists are on their way to Naraku and his woman. . . right now. . . "
"*What?*" Miroku whispered.
Kagura smirked and hid her mouth behind her fan, so her eyes peeked out at the youkai lord.
"What game are you playing, woman?" Sesshoumaru growled.
"Come and see," she said flirtatiously, then disappeared.
"Eh?" Kagome asked, confused. "What was *that* about?"
"She is playing with us," Sesshoumaru growled. "And I believe her when she says that her minions are on their way to the castle."
InuYasha placed a hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt. "Then we should go. I believe Sango has been with Naraku long enough. It's time for her to come back. . . for good."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Naraku rolled over on top of Sango, both of them giggling happily.
"Be careful!" Sango warned him. "You're not completely well!"
"I am being careful," he purred, nibbling at her ear.
Sango giggled and closed her eyes. *This* was how she wanted things to be. She sighed, content. Naraku had been healing wonderfully over the past few days, and he was already up and around, though that didn't stop Sango from worrying over him. She rubbed a hand over his sore shoulder gently, and he grunted.
"Gomen," she whispered.
"It's alright," he whispered back, kissing her cheek, and down to her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned a little, begging him to continue.
He shifted in between her legs, and his mouth focused on the hollow of her neck. "I love you. . ." he whispered.
She smiled. She reached down between them and untied the drawstring of his pants, as she had done twice before. This was the second time they would be making love, and Sango was anxious to know if the second time was any better than the first. She wanted him inside her terribly by now, and she was shamelessly trying to jerk his pants from his waist.
"Wait!" Naraku chuckled. He made sure to remove her garments slowly, making her growl with frustration. He just laughed at her, but knew she would pay him back, somehow.
That time came very soon, when he still would not join them. Sango tilted her head up and bit him hard on his ear. She then pushed his sore shoulder, making him roll over and hit the ground hard on his back. His wounds screamed with pain, making his arousal grow even more needy. Sango straddled his waist, and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Do not play with me, koi. See what you made me do?"
Naraku smirked promiscuously. "Hai, Sango-sama."
Sango blinked for a moment, then threw her head back and laughed out loud. "Sama!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air.
Naraku watched the way her torso stretched before him, and placed his hands on her hips. She looked down at him and smirked, then rocked against him. He closed his eyes, and she leaned back over to whisper in his ear once more. "Roll over."
He opened his eyes, and, chuckling, they rolled together, so he hovered above her once more. Sango reached down to jerk his pants off of his hips, and this time he did not stop her.
When he entered her, it felt wonderful. It did not hurt at all, and Sango wasn't sure if she had ever felt so good in her life. No wonder Miroku liked lovemaking so much. Miroku. . . Blindly, she pushed Miroku back out of her mind, knowing that if she thought about him it would interrupt the moment. She continued to concentrate on Naraku, feeling slightly guilty for thinking of another man during something so intimate.
They way he moved in and out of her drove her crazy, until finally, she peaked, and gave a small cry. This made Naraku come right behind her, and he leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, a tiny smile grazing his lips. He moved his head down and kissed her neck sensually, and she ran her hands through his hair, loving him for who he was, no matter what he had done or who he had been in the past.
They laid together for a while, drifting in and out of sleep, sweetly ignoring the world outside of them, concentrating only on their own.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later that night, Sango awoke to loud voices, and much noise outside of the castle. "Naraku!" she whispered, shaking him.
He awoke and smiled at her, but his smile faded when he saw her expression. "What is wrong?"
"Shh! Listen!"
The banging continued. Someone was trying to get into the castle, and by the sounds of it, they were succeeding.
"Get up!" Naraku ordered her. They were on their feet in a flash, Naraku dressing in his pants in a robe, and Sango back in her kimono. They ran together to the main room, where they made for the back door. It burst open before they were even a few feet in front it. Sango clung to Naraku, terrified of what she saw.
Humans - all with blank eyes, moaning and dragging their feet slightly, with only one goal: to capture her, it seemed. Sango did some quick thinking and looked around, scanning the room for anything she cold defend herself with, but there was nothing. Why in the world hadn't she taken her weapons back with her? Naraku wrapped his arms around her protectively, and they backed away from the somnambulists and into a wall. They reached the couple in no time, and Naraku was only strong enough to fight off a few, but finally, they were too overpowering, and they took Sango by her arms, kicking and screaming for her lover all the way out the back door.
"SANGO!" Naraku screamed, running after her. The zombies followed him, out the door, finally catching him by his arms and holding him down to the ground.
Sango kicked and screamed still, when she saw her lover captured and shoved to the ground. He gave a cry of pain, and her heart seemed to rip into shreds at seeing him being shoved around in his weak condition. Who was doing this?! Who had sent these zombies?!
Sango racked her brain trying to remember when she had seen humans in such a state as this. And finally, she remembered the battle in which InuYasha and Miroku had fought. . . Kagura.
Kagura? What did she want from them?
Sango continued to thrash around blindly, until one of the zombies backhanded her. She was knocked out cold, oblivious to anything else that happened afterward.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It took the group of four until nightfall to reach the castle, and by the time they arrived, the grounds were in chaos. They could hear Sango screaming, Naraku yelling, and zombies moaning.
Miroku ran quickest of them all, knocking Kagura's minions out of his way carelessly, remembering that he couldn't kill them, which only frustrated him. He finally ran around to the back of the castle where the shouts were coming from, completely forgetting his companions. He stopped to see Naraku being shoved to the ground by three of the larger somnambulists, and looked over to the edge of the back yard, where a thick forest of trees grew. Sango was there, being held by three zombies. The way she thrashed about wildly only made Miroku's anger stronger. And when one of the minions backhanded her, and Miroku saw her go limp in it's arms, he snapped.
He gave a great cry, and ran to them. He remembered his dagger that was sheathed at his waist, and he pulled it out. He did not care any more that these were human beings. Kagura probably would not give them their souls back, anyway. The curved blade of the dagger slid into their backs easily, all three of them, and when they were on the ground and bleeding to death, Miroku picked his Sango up and moved her away from the fray of the now raging battle. Coming down out of his paroxysm, Miroku looked around to see his companions battling the fifty or so minions. Sesshoumaru and InuYasha were merely throwing punches, and Kagome was wounding the soulless beings by stabbing them in their shoulders and legs, disabling them from walking or grabbing her up, as well.
Sesshoumaru was taking on seven or eight at a time. He was having no trouble defending himself, and Miroku saw him looking over constantly at Kagome, working his way to her.
InuYasha was occupied further over by the back of the castle. He seemed to have been backed up against the wall, which was actually a smarter move, so no one could attack him from behind.
Miroku worried none over InuYasha, but cried out Kagome's name when a minion moved to attack her from behind. Sesshoumaru leapt into the air and landed by her side quickly. He backhanded the zombie hard, the blow so strong it may have killed the human body. The youkai lord glanced at Kagome, and stood against her, back-to-back, resuming his fighting.
Relieved at Sesshoumaru's save, Miroku was able to continue to protect himself, and the unconscious Sango. He threw punches at the zombies that tried to approach him, and knocked many out with blows from his scepter.
Finally, when nearly all of the zombies were either dead or unconscious, Kagura appeared. She flew down on her giant feather and settled lightly to the ground, right in front of Naraku and the minions that were holding him to the ground.
She stood and stared at him blankly, her emotion toward the once-powerful demon completely unreadable. She held her fan up in front of her face, then out to her side. She flashed one side of the fan at Naraku, and just as she was about to send dangerous, slicing wind his way, Sesshoumaru spoke up. "Kagura!"
She stopped, and stood still for a moment, her eyes blank and evil. She turned her head slowly to look at the youkai lord, and when her eyes found him, she gaze into his face almost sadly. She glanced quickly at Kagome who clung to Sesshoumaru's side, then back up at the youkai himself. "Hai?"
"Your battle - is it not with me?"
Her eyebrow quirked, and the corner of her red lips lifted. "Yes. . . but first, I must destroy this Naraku. You'll wait your turn."
She turned away from him and lifted her fan once again. No one stopped her this time, because no one who was conscious had any qualms with Naraku's destruction. Miroku almost hated that it was not he who was destroying Naraku.
Kagura flashed her fan at Naraku once more, and this time, delivered her attack. Slicing wind came barreling its way at Naraku and the two minions, and it cut through them mercilessly. The three minions were knocked to the ground, and became unconscious. Naraku appeared to be unconscious, as well. Without taking her eyes off of Naraku's form, Kagura said clearly, "Come, Sesshoumaru. Finish him off."
"I will not!"
"This is your last chance!" she exclaimed. "We made a bargain, and I'm going to make an exception. You agreed that you would kill him," she said, turning her head once again to gaze at the youkai lord. "Do it. . . please. I. . . I don't want to destroy you," she finished weakly.
Sesshoumaru was quiet, and he gazed at her, something unknown to the others passing between them. Her eyes were pleading him to kill Naraku. . . "I will not kill him. He is weak and unarmed. I will only destroy him in a fair fight."
Kagura turned her head, and closed her eyes. "It's just too bad, then. . . And my mind. . . is made up."
She lifted her fan hand suddenly, and all of the thirty or so unconscious minions groaned and rose to their feet. She flipped the fan, and they all ran to the four companions, in attack mode once again.
Over the moaning, Kagura yelled, "Come, Sesshoumaru! Now your fight is with me!"
She disappeared, then materialized in a secluded corner by the edge of the forest. Sesshoumaru, already fighting off zombies, yelled to Kagome, "Go to InuYasha! Do what you can to protect yourself, Kagome!"
She stared up at him and nodded, watching him go. She then turned quickly on her heel and ran blindly to InuYasha, to fight with him, back-to-back.
Against his will, Miroku was pulled away from the still very unconscious Sango. The minions seemed to have forgotten about her, but he was still worried. He fought the best he could, the zombies seeming to come back even stronger than before.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Naraku awoke to see a battle raging once again. His eyes scanned the ground for his lover, and he saw the light pink of her kimono on the ground at the edge of the yard. If only he could make it over there. . .
He managed to get to his feet, no one noticing his movements, for everyone was too occupied with either attacking or counter-attacking.
He looked around, noticing faintly that the demon in white that had attacked him before was battling Kagura off in one corner. The others seemed to be doing well.
His whole body was screaming in pain. Had he really put others through this pain once upon a time? Had he really been that cruel?
Squeezing his eye shut against the pain, he blinked them a few times, and continued to crawl over to Sango.
Before he knew it, he had crossed the yard, completely unnoticed by the monk.
He was nearly there. . . Sango. . . he reached out his arm, nearly going blind from the pain that shot through his body when he did so.
And then, his body gave out completely. He lay slumped by a tree, completely conscious, but unable to move.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sango came to, and saw before her a large battle. She could make out Miroku nearby, and InuYasha and Kagome far away by the castle. If she looked down her body and to the west, she could see Sesshoumaru fighting none other than Kagura.
But where was Naraku?
She rolled over on her stomach, her head swimming painfully, and scanned the grounds for any sign of Naraku. She found him surprisingly close by. He lay on the ground, so still, his eyes open and blank, and for a moment, she thought him dead. He blinked then, and relief washed over her.
She made her way to him slowly, her head preventing her from making any quick movements. She had a feeling that if she moved too fast, she would swoon again.
When she reached Naraku, he looked up at her, and smiled. The moon was glowing on his face, and she stared, transfixed. She lay herself down in front of him, and touched his face.
"Sango. . ." he whispered painfully. "P - put my arms around you. . . I cannot move. . ."
She did as she was asked, and draped his arm over her waist. She snuggled into him, and looked up at him in alarm when she heard his breath falter.
He smiled sadly. "Sango. . . I have. . . mere minutes left."
"No. . ."
"I'm sorry I could not protect you better."
"It's all right!" she whispered, crying. "You are my hero, no matter what."
"I love you, Sango."
"Don't go, not yet."
"I can't help it," he laughed weakly. His smile faltered. "We both knew this would happen."
"But I did not expect it so soon! It's not fair!"
"I know. . . I'm sorry I was not stronger for you."
"Stop apologizing! I love you no matter what!"
"I need to-to thank you, Sango. For teaching me about love. For being tender and. . . loving. . . For being there for me in the end, when no one else would. I love you. I love you, but I have to go, now."
Knowing full well that protesting would not prevent Naraku from dying, Sango just cried quietly, listening to his last words.
"I'm glad we got to make love one last time today," he continued. "It was amazing. I will keep my love for you with me into the next world. Do not forget me, Sango."
"How could I?"
"And, also - "he grunted painfully, "- do not stay lonely, ever. I want you to find someone else, the monk, perhaps. I don't want to you to be lonely. But don't stop loving me, it's all I ask."
"Hai. . . hai, I will. I love you." She caressed his face, and whispered to him. "The pain, everything. . . It will all be over, soon. . . I love you. . ."
She put a hand over his heart, and felt it beat again, for the last time.
"Goodbye, Sango."
"Goodbye. I love you."
"I love you. . ."
Sango watched as Naraku's eyes finally went blank and his breathing stopped completely. His heart stopped last, slowing, and staying, as if fighting for a moment. Then, it finally gave up, and Naraku actually died.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Give it up, Kagura!" Sesshoumaru growled. "You will not win this!"
"You promised me!" she yelled, sending slicing blades of wind his way once again. "We had a deal!"
Sesshoumaru held his white fur up in front of him, the blades bouncing off of it and disappearing into the night. "Why are you so bent on this?!"
He stepped forward, unafraid, and grabbed her wrists. She struggled, making a mean face, and yelled, "Let go of me!"
"You cannot destroy me, Kagura. You are not strong enough."
She stopped struggling, and looked up into his face. The transformation that overcame her features momentarily baffled Sesshoumaru. Suddenly, Kagura looked like a lost, scared little girl. He looked into her wide eyes, and she gazed back at him nervously, almost afraid of him. He saw something else important in her eyes, but before he could read it, she turned her head away. "Let me go!" She gave another strangled yell, trying to jerk her wrists free.
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru knew what that other emotion in her eyes had been. "Wait. . . Kagura. . ." he said, amused. "Are you. . . ?"
"No! Let me go!"
"Are you in lo -"
"Let go!" she finally gave a great jerk, and freed herself from his grip. She turned away, and disappeared. Behind him, all of Kagura's minions dropped dead to the ground, and Sesshoumaru's companions just stood there, confused as to why their attackers had just slumped to the ground. They all looked at him, and he turned around.
"Did you kill her?" InuYasha asked his half-brother, still confused.
"No," Sesshoumaru replied. "She fled."
"Wimp," InuYasha muttered.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Shut up and carry me, InuYasha. I'm so tired. . ." As if on cue, her legs gave out beneath her, but InuYasha's quick reflexes prevented Kagome from ever hitting the ground. She climbed onto his back, and they walked over to Miroku. "Well, monk. This battle is over," the hanyou said to him.
Miroku nodded, then turned quickly in the direction he had left Sango. "Sango!" His eyes scanned the ground, until they finally found a sleeping Sango in a very dead Naraku's arms. She had closed his eyes before she had gone to sleep, and she now lay there peacefully as if nothing were wrong.
Miroku hurried over to her, and woke her up. "Sango. . . wake up. Please, wake up."
She stirred, then opened her eyes. "Miroku?" she said, turning to gaze up at him. She then turned and saw Naraku's pale face before her, and whimpered. "Naraku. . ." she hugged his body close to her, and began to cry. Miroku gave her a few moments, then pried her from Naraku's body. "Come on, koi. We need to go home." he said softly.
"Naraku. . ."
"I am sorry," Miroku said to her. "I am sorry you had to lose your Naraku."
"Mi - Miroku. . . I didn't want him to go. . ."
"I - I know, koi. Come on, now. . ."
"Are we going to bury him?"
"Of course. Come on, Sango. Sit up."
She sat up slowly into Miroku's arms, and she cried into his chest for a few moments. He smoothed her hair. "Don't you want to go home? Back to Kaede's village?"
Sango nodded, overwhelmed by her tears. Miroku picked her up and carried her, giving one last glance at Naraku's dead body. The glance would have been cold, if he had not felt sorry for Sango; but despite that, Miroku just felt relieved that Naraku was finally gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah, just thought I'd let you guys now, Sesshoumaru's "white fur" thing is what some like to refer to as his "tail." I don't think it's his tail, I just think it's there for decoration, to make him look all high and mighty. It's not even attatched to his cute little butt, anyway. ^_^
Hope you enjoyed! Now on to Chappie 10, and then it's The End!
Honey Bee