They walked through the strangely silent little village, barely glancing around- hardly seeming to notice even the world around them. The snow blew colder, it seemed, around this broken trio.
"Has Naraku been here?" the woman asked quietly. There was nothing in her voice, only cold- like so long ago.
"No." was the quiet, withdrawn reply. He had never been gruff or disagreeable or selfish- not since her.
The third was silent. Before he had been cheerful; easygoing. Now the death his curse promised him indeed sounded welcoming rather than foreboding.
She had been the one that held them all in place. They each had had their squabbles; they each had had a close relationship with another. Without her, the tiring fairytale was only a burden- there was no true meaning. Perhaps she had shown light on their plight- the thing which all had been fighting desperately for. Now, in the end, Inuyasha would get his demon, Sango her revenge- her brother? And Miroku free of his curse. No goal seemed worthwhile anymore though. In actuality- each knew the importance of the end result… but the journey was almost too harsh.
They continued to walk through the village soullessly. The snow continued to blow.
*
His feet pounded the ground easily- he made no further noise.
He ran sightlessly, remembering a few things every once in a while.
'I think I have misjudged you…'
'I might love you…'
'Sesshoumaru-sama!'
Why had he allowed her to nest so closely to his heart?
He blinked quickly- running away from the Western border, running away from a home that may never welcome him again.
*
She rose as the chains tightened. She followed rather than be yanked forward. She looked outside at the brewing blizzard.
Dyhattar and Naraku studied the girl- not broken, a fire burned hopefully in her shadowed eyes.
They stood upon the wooden patio- a mocking clone of Sesshoumaru's beautiful home.
Kagome's hair lifted with the winter breeze, but Kagome did not blink.
The clothes were tattered and hung shamefully on her body- she did not notice. She felt his comforting presence drawing closer, and closer, until she could almost feel the cold aura about him with her bound fingertips.
And then in the distance she saw, one from each direction.
From the West; a large looming figure- the foggy snow clouded her vision even as she recognized the light shadow against the white sky; Sesshoumaru's true form. How beautiful, she mused.
From the East, a sagging group, looking like a small shadow that could easily be shattered forever by the mere gusts of wind. As they came closer, Kagome sorrowfully recognized the trio. Her friends- long lost and soon to be found.
Naraku and Dyhattar's hands tightened around the chains, but Kagome was past whimpering at the pressure.
From the North, another figure approached, Kagome realized. An animal it looked like, a demon she was sure. Smaller than Sesshoumaru, still with a startling presence. Blue fire burned about his slight figure. Shippo. Kagome almost sobbed into the nothingness around her.
Kagome gritted her teeth to restrain from crying out to them all, her friends.
'I love you all. I love you all.' Her heart cried out, bursting with happiness even as the chains tightened- again.
*
They had all stopped for an instant; they had all stared.
It was her.
Had they thought her dead? Her presence had been forgotten except for the comfort and joy it had brought with it.
She was decked in chains, standing on a wooden patio, her gaze flickered over them for an instant and she looked as if she could have cried.
A name came to their frozen minds then, and they jumped back into reality, finally.
"Kagome- sama." Miroku murmured, his staff clanging in agreement.
"Kagome- chan." Sango cried out then, Kirara bounced off her shoulder and transformed with a burst of red fire into her larger form. Sango and Miroku mounted and promptly sped toward her. What was their Kagome doing in chains? Who was holding her?
Inuyasha lifted his head and emotions flew and danced across his eyes.
"Kagome." The familiar name tasted sweet on his lips, and he ran his tongue through the cracked seam before a weight was magically lifted from his worn shoulders.
Bounding forward with an old fire he used to possess, he quickly surpassed Kirara and his other team mates.
'Kagome. Who dares chain her?' The silent question was deadly in his mind.
Perhaps he loved her. He felt a clench in his heart that told him that he should not try to convince himself; something told him he was too late.
'Kagome.'
*
Sesshoumaru saw her- his demonic senses soared with her distant presence, and yet his speed seemed to fail him though, and it felt like lifetimes before he came within distance to see the color of her clothing.
The pads on his feet absorbed all the cold wetness of the ground, and his teeth were bared in anticipation.
A wildness overtook him as he realized in full his love for this chained little creature, and he tossed his head as he ran full on out towards her solute against the day's skies.
*
He did not run, did not lope, and did not go faster then a walk towards his "mother".
The blue fire glowed about him, warming him and creating a path for him.
His reddish fur bristled when he noted the chains, but still he kept his calm.
This was when the powers would join to save the spirit of their Earth and world.
She was not always strongest, Shippo mused, she was never the first to learn and sometimes she would make a horrible mistake, but she somehow spun us all about her finger, and that was when we all realized she was the center of the known universe- for us.
Because you see, were it not for her, the search for the shards might not have been so good, and there might not be so many friendships, and there might not be as many fights resolved.
He blinked his emerald green eyes; he looked to the crystalline sky- feeling the snowflakes melt upon his nose, feeling her eyes survey and recognize him.
When he had run away- he was only a child. One and a half years later- he felt a bit more grown even if he was still considered only an orphaned pup.
He had gone back to the place where they had fought the Thunder Brothers, had sat on the memorable battleground. He thought he had spoken to his father- but maybe he was just dreaming about that particular part.
He hadn't eaten for many nights and days, had only stared at the sky and the ground and the marks that remained of their time there.
One day, it seemed like a spirit had possessed him- he rose from the ground and began to glow. Then he took upon a new form- a rebirth of the sort, and became the form passed from his family, a fox. He had spent days then, learning about himself, speaking to many on his 'journey', and finally stumbling upon Kagome.
She had changed- definitely. She wore a beautiful silk kimono to make you assume she was royalty, and Sesshoumaru was with her, and Jaken and Rin in front of her. She had found a family. He took it upon himself then to be a back-up protector, though he knew Sesshoumaru would suit her well. He had never shown himself, had only presented himself as a common forest fox, but sometimes he thought she knew. Now he would finally speak with her again, embrace her even. After he and the others saved her.
Then he would see how well his new, good friend had handled the village. They would have such a celebration. Shippo smiled a bit as he finally picked up his pace a bit, the blue lights swirling like fireflies around and in front of him.
*
Kagome stared almost happily as the familiar figures raced closer and closer. She took a hopeful step forward but was almost tossed back when both demons on each side of her reacted instantaneously to her supposed attempt at escape.
She bit her lip and considered crying out to them, yelling out cheerful greetings as if it were the olden days again, calling encouragement as if the praise would not get her killed and she was in fact not bound by two of the world's strongest demons who wanted to kill each other.
Finally, they were here.
*
Sesshoumaru pulled up as soon as he came within two bounds of Kagome, looking spitefully at her two captors.
His body again began glowing and he took upon his other form, cold, strong, swift, and silent Sesshoumaru.
A cruel grin threatened his lips as gory visions of their deaths filled his mind with red, but he, as always, kept his strict control.
Beside him, a fox like creature trotted up, began to glow with a molten red light, and returned to what Sesshoumaru assumed to be his humanoid form. How was this pup related to Kagome, though, he wondered?
The bluish lights he had spotted from the corner of his eye glowed and swirled about the kitsune cub who had a solemn face and an expert stance.
The boy had long orange-red hair that was pulled into a high ponytail, dropping to his waist. He had narrow green eyes and fine white claws. He wore brown clothing and was not shod. The boy looked to be nine or eleven. Yet… It was not true. This boy had somehow altered his age and physical looks- he could feel the magic crackling in the air as he was accustomed to Kagome's strong magic even still. This boy was hiding behind this older more experienced body, but it did not matter after all. Across from him almost directly stood Kagome's old friends. The youkai exterminator seemed in a way broken- or previously broken, a protective fire burned in her eye all of a sudden for her brutally bound friend. The monk also had the air of a lost soul just found- he had his hands on his staff and his brows were furrowed with fury. The fire cat was crouched low and snarling, it's flames licking its body were glowing with a persistent fire he had never seen on it before. Then as for the half breed himself, a lost and sorrowful yet vengeful light was within his wild golden eyes. He was looking forward to the physical exhaustion, but his emotional interior had been somehow chipped down to a mere stone where the column of pure ego used to stand tall. Probably lost because of the many decisions he could have made himself that had been ripped away as a result of his foolishness- now he was out of control of the situation and thoroughly confused. As for the sorrow… Sesshoumaru almost smirked… Was prideful Inuyasha regretting his betrayal and rejection of Kagome? And then the vengeance… He would always feel the need to protect Kagome, even if he somehow knew she was no longer in the need of his attention or protection.
Sesshoumaru turned his eyes from the present towards the two demons holding his Kagome.
Dyhattar had changed little from appearance, probably had the same wretched mind and personality also. Naraku, if anything, looked only a bit deranged, frenzied? Jealous? The almost playfulness had been yanked from his aura signature and replaced with a nasty black snake with poisonous, horrible coils, strangling the mind of some other that he hated beyond play. Perhaps Dyhattar had shown him a taste of his own medicine… Possibly? For once Sesshoumaru could not read the grossly familiar man- demon.
"This girl will only be a distraction." Dyhattar's cool voice cut evenly through the gusty air.
Naraku through the thing an evil and hateful glance.
"The girl will stay and watch her loved ones fall." Naraku said stiffly, his voice again seemed to constrict an otherwise invisible specter with pure hatred like none Sesshoumaru had ever felt or witnessed before.
Dyhattar sent him a challenging but quieting glare, the words displayed in his eyes said seething, 'Fool, she'll escape or be rescued while I'm fighting.'
Sesshoumaru suddenly understood. A small and cruel smile curved his lips. Now he understood.
Both were used to total and complete control, both thought themselves unbeatable, and both hated the other for thinking so.
Sesshoumaru drew his sword and got into a battle stance, slightly pleased when all the others in the 'party' followed his example.
"Do not dally, I haven't all day to stare at such revolting figures as the day wanes and other issues go un looked upon." Sesshoumaru spoke coldly towards the two evils and the electricity flowing between them.
That seemed to start it. Naraku and Dyhattar took all the hatred for each other out upon the ones they had allied to fight.
'Amusing they do not break and take it out upon each other.' Sesshoumaru thought, emotionless expression still is place as he jumped clear of the dark beam of black magic…
*
The raw, immortal sound of blade meeting blade pierced through the heavy air. Nothing could be seen through the curtain of white that veiled the earth, and yet they still fought. The thick leaves of pink cherry blossoms floated from the heavens and swirled about the vacant atmosphere. The trees softly sighed in agony as their roots creaked and searched for water inside the dry and cracked earth. There had not been rain for many moons it seemed, and the sky would only taunt and tease them with it's pure whiteness- promising the lightest sheet of snow only when every living thing was on the brink of death. The wind blew lazily, as if even it was running out of will to live on. The strict words of a wise youkai merged with the air and passed onto the apprentice, who looked silently at his master. Life is cruel and harsh, vengeful and childishly unpredictable, yet in the end it was but a test. If you become one with life, fight with instead of against, yet always endure, you will live to see many tests of strength and courage, yet if you yield or fall, then you are just as well born for hell, because you would not be fit to rise to the long and tiring journey after death. Remember this as you see the weak dieing around you, no matter what, live.
*
Inuyasha charged toward the dark demon, sword raised with his reckless pace. The thoughtless downward swing of the blade though, was useless, as Dyhattar disappeared from under it like a black spirit descending from life. It seemed Inuyasha had kept his consistency to lack a plan or strategy, and only lunged forward with the intent to kill at whatever cost… Save his friends perhaps.
Inuyasha spun around as Dyhattar materialized behind him, and again took a thoughtless swipe at the magic- user. The said demon vanished again from his direct sight and Inuyasha caught his sword mid swing, looking about frantically for the quick eastern lord.
Sesshoumaru appeared beside him, but just as soon disappeared again as he leapt towards an empty corner of the sky, monotonously putting his weight behind his movements as he used Toukijin to slice through the said area.
The previously invisible Dyhattar turned again into a mist of black threads and shot down to the earth, taking shape into a slightly wounded Dyhattar.
He looked at the wound curiously, but as he touched it the cut immediately restored itself and he was whole once again.
Sesshoumaru showed no sign of surprise, disgust, or discouragement as he silently blurred toward Dyhattar again.
"The issue with using black magic to disguise your figure with air is that your own senses are lowered considerably from effort and nature, for to take invisibility onto yourself is to see half as well as your opponents see you. Every curse has it's draw-back, Dyhattar, and some demonstrate more risk then gain. With every spell you cast, there will always be a weakness in the magic itself, as was written by the gods." Sesshoumaru spoke softly, Dyhattar becoming annoyed by Sesshoumaru's understanding of the dark arts unlike he had known.
"And for further explanation's sake, this spell you have just cast to protect yourself from a blade… It will sustain only a blade." Sesshoumaru swooped backwards as the boomerang shot unexpectedly by his form and struck Dyhattar squarely in the chest.
They both dropped to the earth, Dyhattar regaining his composure as Sesshoumaru lowered his sword slightly in honor for his opponents defenseless state.
Sango caught her boomerang again and turned it again toward the new arrival of Kagura, Kanna, and Kikyou. Miroku stood against her back, absorbing every incoming arrow as Sango matched every wind blade with her boomerang. Shippo nor Kirara were anywhere to be seen, but Sesshoumaru had a good idea where they were heading. Inuyasha, in the mean time, had turned his wrath upon Naraku, throwing aimless swings at the other hanyou as he dodged and fought back equally.
Sesshoumaru turned lazy eyes toward the now standing Dyhattar, sheathing his blade as he prepared to fight in a different manner now that this restriction had been placed.
Dyhattar lunged for him and he quite naturally let his poisonous whip fly at an equal pace right back at him.
Dyhattar jumped from his path to avoid the snake-ish blade, but was surprised as Sesshoumaru, with his usual dignity and speed, raced in front of him and swiped him vertically with his claws.
Dyhattar hit the ground hard but immediately pounced again to his feet. His black top was slit down the center and the darker maroon blood oozed from the cuts over the growing bruise Sango had inflicted. He looked up at Sesshoumaru's looming figure through his bangs as he fought to regain his breath.
Sesshoumaru said nothing as he approached slowly, no more mercy evident in his eyes. If Dyhattar wanted to live, he would have to fight up front despite injuries.
"You are becoming sloppy. Perhaps you overestimated your own abilities, Dyhattar? For each [spell] a consequence you did not realize." Sesshoumaru spoke softly, coldly, even from his distance of several feet.
Dyhattar heard him though, with his enhanced demonic senses, and growled as he struggled to right himself.
Sesshoumaru took his time approaching the weakened demon, bringing a claw to face level as it began to glow emerald with poison.
With a sudden burst of speed, Sesshoumaru streaked toward the demon, bringing his armored claw down upon the space Dyhattar had been crouching.
The demon was no longer there, though, when Sesshoumaru appeared before it, but he had not jumped high, due to the deep gashes on his breast that had slightly chipped the bone of his rib and had dug almost into his black tinted heart. The bruise was turning a deep blood red, making it indistinguishable upon the splashes of crimson liquid riveting about his chest.
He crumbled on the ground with self disgust, how had he assumed to great the extent of his powers? Why had they finally failed him after so long a strong rule? If only he had not bothered himself with the half breed, not gone half blind trying to bring his nerves to the surface. He would die without one scratch upon his enemy because of his own foolishness.
He tiredly allowed the spell repelling the blade upon his skin to disperse and felt his vision become hazy as the small demons of death began to lead him to a new place below him.
His last coherent thought was only a feeling, yet it seemed to speak many words as the strong demon blade of Master Sesshoumaru-sama of the West's… Slid through his back, and he felt he was being pulled into a painful oblivion and screams of pain sliced his ear drums… And his body became numb, and he was suddenly surrounded by unbearable heat… And red, and purple, and he lost all his senses and sanity and logical thought, and he was nothing more then a crazed, stupid demon in a torture chamber full, strangely, of red.
*
Sesshoumaru steadily pulled the blade from the corpse of Dyhattar, only a flicker of regret for killing passing through his eyes before it was behind him. His master had taught him to be that way. On that day that was so like this… With raining cherry blossoms… The world thought it would wither and die yet a newer, stronger generation was produced from it.
Turning his eyes back to his group of… Temporary acquaintances, he observed as they took vengeance upon the demon that had probably destroyed what could have been their normal life.
He shook his head only slightly, he would not participate in this battle. He looked down on the fallen black thing at his feet and closed his eyes for but an instant. Naraku had not damaged him as much as he had the others, so he would not take this away from them. Only they should see his dieing face to be at ease.
He turned his eyes to the exotic-looking house- little less then a palace, to the wooden porch where Kagome had been standing helplessly in chains.
She had not watched the battle, was instead backed against the wooden frame and holding her ears to keep out the painful battle sounds, tears streaking her face as she could not help but hear it.
He approached silently as he could almost hear her thoughts, it seemed.
He soured flawlessly over the perfect wood of the border, landing softly and observing Shippo's and Kirara's desperate attempts to save their friend.
Kirara looked anxious to return to the battle so, catching the large cat demon's eye, he bid it leave of its mission.
It forgot it's blight to protect Shippo and was immediately gone, standing where she belonged next to the determined Sango and her houshi, and the half breed, and whomever else was within that mass of fog…
Shippo was trying as best he could to break the strong metal links, using mostly blue tinted fire to melt the unyielding material.
Kagome had not heard his approach- he was silent as the grave and she did not care to hear anything anyway, but Shippo had- strangely, and his head snapped up to meet the emotionless gaze of the stony yet gentle demon lord.
The bluish lights withdrew from Kagome as soon as Shippo moved back, and Sesshoumaru took his place beside Kagome.
He touched her arm and she jumped to life, staring at him shocked as he cut through the chains with razor sharp "talons". Her eyes again brimmed with tears as she fell into him, the raw red skin around her body where the chains had been burned as she sobbed softly into his silk clothing.
"I'm such a… coward… my friends have been… striving… for this battle since… forever… it… seems… And when the time finally… comes… I am not… strong… enough to… watch… it." Kagome hiccoughed and sobbed in between her broken words as she leaned sorrowfully into Sesshoumaru's comforting embrace.
"You are not. You are a strong person, Kagome. Do not doubt yourself." His words were so firm, so filled with sincerity, Kagome thought that should she not abide he would forever be disappointed by her decision. So she stopped and looked up at him. He took her up in his arms and a flicker of discreet and disguised love ticked across his eyes… Kagome smiled. Shippo looked on.
*
'Thank the heavens above… the witch is finally out of her arrows…' Miroku thought, distressed.
The undead miko glared at the offending monk, slowly approaching.
'What will she do now?' He thought despairingly.
Sango cast the houshi a concerned look but it lasted only an instant as her attention was called back to the reckless Kagura. Kohaku had appeared next to her, but the vacant eyes of his did not spark at all so Sango assumed he was being used only for a cautionary figure in the game.
True, it did persuade her to look twice at how she was aiming her boomerang, but her hate for all of Naraku AND his offspring had inspired her not to be daunted too greatly by what had used to be her brother. She had to have faith that she could not kill what was already in between death and life, and she could not kill a person so close to her if there was not magic involved, so with a lift of heart and spirit, she fought staring only straight at Kagura, not her brother, not the others. She had decided, that even if she lost her brother, she would have at least freed him from somebody that was even worse then his own death.
She released her boomerang again and it sliced perfectly through the air, beaming each blade of wind off its course and in the mean time edging closer to her target.
*
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha yelled, the golden streaks shooting towards Naraku at a breakneck speed. Naraku barely dodged, taking a shallow cut to the ankle before landing again, grinning as before. He had sensed Dyhattar's death, and it somehow made him feel if anything more powerful.
Kagome was erased from his mind and he thought only of playing with his new enemies. Would they tire first or die?
Inuyasha rushed Naraku and threw his blade into him… Or so he thought. Naraku again jumped around the blade, missing death by a hair.
*
She came up to him and he tensed automatically.
"Kikyou." He acknowledged her cautiously.
"Tell me, honored priest, was I meant to be in this world?" Kikyou said firmly, her eyes glinting hatred yet her voice was only calm and cool.
Sango glanced over her shoulder quickly when she heard vaguely the question asked the monk- priest.
"Eh… Kikyou-san…" Miroku was still anticipating her surprise attack and so he was taken aback when she asked him this question.
"Tell me, why doesn't Inuyasha love me anymore?" Kikyou spoke with her usual cold voice, yet there was something in her eye…
"Your time is up… miko… Inuyasha's utter love for you died when… he made a new friend… And she taught him how to let impossible things go… And more, I admit… And she helped him back into the world, Kikyou… san. Your time is… up." Miroku murmured, looking quizzically at the miko standing in front of him, wondering how she would react to his answer.
She stared into his eyes for a while, and then nodded almost regretfully.
"I will give up this folly reason I am still alive then, for I daresay I can no longer look into an old woman's face that used to be my dedicated younger sister." Kikyou spoke, then turned on her heel and walked away silently.
"A fox once was passing by the base of a tall fruit tree, and he looked up longingly at the delicious fruits to be found there. The fox wanted nothing more then to have a single fruit from this single tree, but no matter how high he jumped or could climb, he could not even reach the first branch. After starving for days for this incredible prize, the fox finally gave up, but because he was so proud he only laughed as he walked away. 'They're probably all rotten anyway.' He said arrogantly, 'I shall only eat meat from here-on, all fruit is cursed and bad. That is the reason I jumped, I only wanted to destroy it after all.'"
"Houshi…" Sango spoke softly as she caught her boomerang once again.
"I suppose anyone would want to do something before they die…" Miroku said.
"Hai…" Sango agreed.
It was then Sango realized the electricity in the air had ceased, and her mild stupor had not gotten herself killed by bright blades of air…
She looked curiously back to where Kagura was standing.
Kagura was looking coldly past her, staring after Kikyou, then turning her eyes to the suddenly popular Miroku.
Her deadly fan was held tightly in her hand as she glanced over at Naraku, who spared her a passing glance. It threatened her, commanded her. She looked back at the slightly dazed houshi and blinked.
"And tell me, monk, what of me? What of me, fortune teller?!" Kagura demanded shrilly.
Naraku paused at her outburst and Inuyasha followed suit.
"What.. Of me?"
*
Kagome watched dumb founded as Kagura asked the heart shattering question, "What of me?" Wasn't that the same question she had been asking herself since she first fell through the well? Had her friends and defeated enemies thought of the same? Doesn't everyone?
She watched Miroku, waiting for his answer to their foe's plea.
"I…" Miroku looked up at Kagura, knowing not what to say.
"Death will soon be upon you." The answer was offered by a different party as Naraku swiftly appeared behind Kagura, and, jerking her back into him, she was gone. He had reabsorbed her, he had stolen her from the world… Just like that.
Kagome put her hand despairingly over her mouth, for even though not seconds ago they had been enemies at war, the punishment was too brutal…
The look in her eye when she had 'died', a question that would likely taunt the trembling houshi- "This… Is what is to become of me…" A declaration, she had known it would happen. Kagome buried her face in her hands, why do things have to be like this?
*
It was then the insane chuckle escaped Naraku's lips.
He reached forward and tore Kohaku's flesh, taking forth the shard of the sacred jewel.
Kagome's eyes widened considerably, Sango's eyes momentarily filled with tears, Miroku gasped and hatred quickly replaced the pity for Kagura's death, and Inuyasha's eyes narrowed to slits as he stared down Naraku.
Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow, feeling Kagome's distress and sorrow but not understanding. He then smelt the faint and brief smell of salty tears- so distinct on any wind. He turned his eyes to its source and saw the demon exterminator, tears filling her eyes then leaving instantaneously. She closed her eyes and took a shaking breath, he could also feel the waves of sorrow rolling off her as well… How very strange… How was this boy related to any of them?
Naraku stepped back, surprised greatly by the immense surge of pure magic consuming the air.
Kagome climbed over the wooden railing and approached her friends sorrowfully. Then, without any warning, she suddenly stumbled and let out a strangled gasp, throwing her hand out and catching herself on Sango's shoulder.
To a random onlooker, it might have appeared as thought she was only rushing forward to comfort her friend, but the ones standing there saw the strong streak of white light join her soul and make her whole again; there was no question about what had happened in some other part of Japan as the white and black interlaced birds burst into the sky from a distant piece of forest.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed with sorrow and Miroku closed his eyes. Naraku's own eyes widened a little then reverted back to their previous size, and when Kagome recovered, she looked up tearfully toward a particular white bird that slowly approached the fighting band.
Inuyasha's eyes seemed to drown into an unemotional pool of safety as he realized that his first love had died and his second was taken.
Sesshoumaru stepped up behind Kagome and placed comforting hands on her shoulders, slightly firm to remind her of their predicament they were in.
The white snow drifted silently around them, matching the coldly quiet world that always seemed to encase them in sadness.
Inuyasha seemed to have to draw the strength of the world into his hands for the motivation to draw at the same time his sword, but he did so, staring at Naraku with no look in his eye.
Around them Kagome could even feel the death, the still air screamed of it, as it always would.
Far off, Dyhattar's body lay unmoving in its decline from life, Kagura was perished and without a soul to proceed her, Kikyou was dead and had rejoined Kagome's body, and Kohaku's hot blood still dripped from Naraku's stilled fingers, melting the snow and riveting through it aimlessly.
So much death.
Inuyasha walked toward Naraku, he no longer had any aura. It was different the first time she died. He for one wasn't there to actually see her fall, and even if he had, he would have been joyful for it was in his mindset that she had betrayed him. This time, he again had not seen her death, but he could have heard the shriek of her soul even if he had no hearing and she had made no sound.
Kagome watched the numb Inuyasha approach Naraku, who looked at him with the same soulless look… Only with an emotion over it. Kagome's eyes became half closed as tears welled up within them. Their fight had begun. The white bird strove to reach the battle site from its far away location in the air.
Clang.
"It's a boy… Is he sleeping?"
Clang.
"Kikyou?"
Clang.
"My name is Kagome, Ka-Go-Me!"
Clang.
"Feh."
Clang.
"It wasn't my fault!"
Clang.
"Go back to your own time Kagome."
Thud.
"Don't cry."
…
"Don't cry."
"Don't cry."
The tear slipped from her eye even as she heard his words in her mind.
In front of them Inuyasha lay, dead, before Naraku.
On top of him, through his sword, was Naraku.