A/N: o_O; Oh lordy! I haven't updated in forever! X_X; Blame the summer homework! *cries* Well, here it is!

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Goaku: The Five Deadly Sins of Buddhism

By Aiko

Shichi – Hitting Close to Home

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"Naraku!!!!! You bastard!" Kagome yelled as she ran up the walkway to the front door, a dumbfounded Inu-Yasha following steadily behind. Her fingers fumbled shakily through her pockets, ever searching for her keys. She finally found them and unlocked the door. Or so she thought.

She grabbed the knob and twisted it desperately, but to no avail. Her heart thumped faster and faster at the realization that her efforts to open the door were futile. Enraged, she pummeled the door with all her might. "Damn you! Damn you!!" she screamed in anguish.

When she recognized the fact that the strength of her fists was not nearly enough, she backed up and threw herself against the door. The strong wooden door didn't give, and she flew back.

She fell backward, right into Inu-Yasha's open arms. He looked down at her, blushing slightly. "Kagome…?"

Her body was trembling slightly. She was…crying. Oh boy, did he hate it when girls cried. Without warning, without so much as a second thought, he pulled her into a warm embrace. It just…felt so right.

"Don't…don't cry, Kagome," he comforted, stroking her hair.

She looked into his eyes, slightly taken aback by his actions. "I-Inu-Yasha…"

"We'll get in. I'll make sure of it!" He looked somewhat heroic in the meager light.

Kagome smiled softly, wiping her tears on the back of her hand. "I…uh…Inu-Yasha…thank you."

The two stood there in silence for what seemed like an eternity, staring into each other's eyes. They leaned in, their lips drawing closer and closer…

"Psst…Give you any ideas, Sango?"

"Argh! Shut up, will you?!"

The two bickering colleagues shattered the magical moment from behind a bush. Kagome and Inu-Yasha looked to each other, blushed, and backed up.

"I…I…uh..." Inu-Yasha stammered.

"Ermm…Ahem…" Kagome stuttered. She looked around and remembered the severity of the problem at hand. Her eyes narrowed, and once more, she cried out in torment. She charged to the door and beat at it in futility.

Inu-Yasha strode quickly over to her and grabbed her flailing arms. "Kagome," he said, staying rational, "We'll find another way."

Kagome panted, sighed, and stopped struggling. Her mind raced. How would she get in?!  There had to be someway… some loophole…

And then, it struck her! She went back to the moment that had occurred barely five minutes before…

He looked somewhat heroic in the meager light.

Meager light…but where was it coming from? She looked around, and it glinted in her soft russet eyes.

The window! 

"Inu-Yasha!" she said, making her way to the window. "Here! We can get in here!"

Inu-Yasha, puzzled, went to the window. "Huh?" He was confused by the fact that a seemingly ingenious criminal mastermind, ever so meticulous about details, would make such a simple and blatant error. It just didn't make sense…

But that didn't matter right now. All they needed to do for the time being was break in, apprehend Naraku and Kohaku, and that was it. Right?

Kagome bit her lip in uneasiness. "Well?" she questioned, waiting. For what, she didn't know.

Inu-Yasha turned to Sango and Miroku, his eyes serious and set on his task. "Sango, Miroku," he said, catching the couple's attention, "you two stay out here with Kagome."

The two nodded, but Kagome would not be swayed so easily. "No! I'm going in there! That bastard killed my mother!"

Inu-Yasha put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "I…can't let you go in there Kagome. It'll be too dangerous. I could never forgive myself if I let you in there. I'd be leading you into the lion's den!"

"Inu-Yasha…" she said, grateful for his concern. She nodded. "All right. I'll stay."

He smiled, glad that she would be safe. "Okay, now stand back."

All three complied, and Inu-Yasha inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes and tried to muster all the power he could within himself. 'Mother, give me strength…'

And with all his might, he balled up his fist, pulled back, and crashed through the glass. Shards clattered against the concrete sidewalk and inside the house. Inu-Yasha hurriedly pulled away the remaining glass and jumped in.

Inu-Yasha brushed himself off and looked up. Before him lay a sickeningly familiar scene. "Oh no…" He stepped forward and saw the man responsible.

"Naraku…" he whispered to himself in confirmation.

The culprit was clad in an odd white fur suit that resembled a baboon. The mask hung lazily from his fingertips and a smirk was playing itself upon his face. Inu-Yasha couldn't put his finger on why, but something about this guy made him recoil.

Naraku stood amidst the bloodstained sight, shooting a cocky gaze at the detective. He finally spoke. "Ahh…so you remember me, do you?" He chuckled somewhat wickedly.

Inu-Yasha scowled. "Feh. Remember you? We've never met. I think I would've recalled a lowlife piece of shit like you."

The murderer frowned mockingly. "Ouch. Big words coming from a half-breed."

Inu-Yasha raised his eyebrow in confusion. 'Half-breed?!' Now what could he mean by that…

Naraku casually stepped over the buckets of blood and made his way toward Inu-Yasha, who instinctively walked backward.

The despicable man smirked and shook his head as he slowed to a stop before Inu-Yasha. "Tsk tsk… Don't tell me you don't remember me," he reprimanded, beginning to stalk back and forth. "Of course, I can't expect a halfwit to remember over five centuries, now can I?

Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed further. "Hmph. You're delusional." Yet he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity from this man.

Suddenly, Naraku was merely centimeters from Inu-Yasha's face. The detective could even feel his foul breath on his cheek as he turned away. "Oh, am I?" he said, in a threatening voice.

Before he could do anything to stop it, Naraku smacked a clawed hand across his face. Inu-Yasha flew to the wall. He was quite taken aback by the strength of this man, especially since Inu-Yasha himself was pretty strong. Once he recollected himself, he realized that his cheek stung. He raised his hand to it, pulled it away, and saw that it was bleeding. 'Damn,' he thought, 'this guy's strong.'

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Outside, Miroku looked up. "What was that crash?" he asked aloud. Without waiting for an answer, he walked over to the window, injured leg and all. He hoisted himself up.

"Miroku!"

He turned around. Sango stepped forward, a look of worry filling her dark brown eyes. She put her hands on her hips. "Where do you think you're going?"

Miroku grinned slightly, and winked at her. "Oh, don't worry, Sango, my love. I'll return." And with that, he disappeared into the house.

Sango shook her head. "You stupid, stupid man," she said aloud. Then under her breath she whispered, "Good luck."

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Miroku landed gently on the carpet. "Inu-Yasha!" he called to his partner (no, not like THAT!) on the floor.

Naraku's sneer grew cockier. "Well, if it isn't the monk." He strode over to Miroku, a glint of evil in his eyes.

Even Miroku had to admit that this was a pretty funny prospect. Him, a monk?! Right. And Inu-Yasha was a hanyou. Like that could happen.

Miroku shook that thought from his head.  Suddenly, he realized Inu-Yasha was beside him. His gun was held high, and pointed toward Naraku.

Inu-Yasha laughed wryly. "Hey, Miroku," he said, a sardonic smile tugging the corners of his lips, "He already made an advance on us, so fighting back would just be self-defense, right?"

Catching his drift, the investigator pulled his own gun from its holster by his hip. Clicking the safety off, he raised his weapon as well. "It would seem so, Inu-Yasha."

Naraku frowned in mock disappointment. "You don't truly believe that mere guns can take me down, do you?"

He backed up and snapped. Kohaku, covered in blood, rose immediately and appeared almost instantly at his master's side. He raised his chain sickle and released it.

It flew toward Inu-Yasha and Miroku at an alarming speed. They didn't even see it coming, in fact. Before they knew what had hit them, Kohaku held both of their guns in his hands. He idly tossed them aside, as if they were a burden.

The deranged slaughterer seemed to be scolding them. "Gentlemen…if you're going to kill me," he started, "at least have the decency to do it properly."

And with that, he swept his hand toward them in a swiping manner. When the two men looked down, they held in their hands old, rusted weapons (Okay…don't be gross!).

Inu-Yasha examined the ancient, chipped katana he grasped. In indignation, he stepped forward. "Don't give me this sword bullshit, Naraku! I'll kill you with my bare hands if I have to!"

Anger seized Naraku, and his eyes seemed to turn a menacing crimson. He stretched his arm forward and made a strangling motion with his hand. Strangely, Inu-Yasha found it harder to breathe, and he was lifted off his feet. Miroku's eyes widened.

Naraku growled harshly, "We'll do it my way or I'll kill you both right now." After finishing, he dropping Inu-Yasha ruthlessly to the ground.

Inu-Yasha got up and dusted himself off, a look of confusion clouding his eyes. "All right. But why?"

"Why? Why?" Naraku asked incredulously, as if it was a known fact. "I'll tell you why! Five hundred years ago, you and your forsaken group were engaged in a battle, but somehow, we were interrupted. I believe this was Buddha's doing. He told me that my wrongdoing must be atoned for five centuries in the future. He informed me that I would be his one crusader, the one to clean up the filthy mess you mortals set upon this earth. He said that my revolution would be the ultimate atonement! That this sacrifice would result in my definitive reward!"

Disgust and a bit of fear settled upon Inu-Yasha's face. 'This psycho really does think I know him from the past!'

Miroku turned to Inu-Yasha. "Something tells me we're not dealing with your average weirdo."

Inu-Yasha scoffed. "You're tellin' me." He then looked ahead, at their opponent. "You ready?" he questioned his ally.

Miroku nodded, a look of determination and confidence overcoming him. "Ready as I'll ever be."

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Meanwhile, outside, Kagome and Sango waited anxiously.  Sango paced up and down, her heels making nervously fast clicks against the pavement. Kagome leaned against the side of the house, biting her lip in apprehension.

Sango spoke, breaking the uneasy silence. "I feel like…I should be in there, helping. Fighting with them. It's a personal matter for me!"

Kagome nodded in agreement. "It's my problem too, but the guys told us to stay out here." She sighed, and looked to the window. "And…I have faith in them."

The profiler concurred. She glanced toward the window as well. "Me too," she said. "I just hope that pervert is all right."

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Inu-Yasha raised the katana over his head and brought it down on Naraku who leisurely lifted his arm to block the blow. He bounced back some. "Argh! This rusted old sword couldn't hurt a fly!"

In the meantime, Miroku seemed to have mastered his weapon: a shakujo. He expertly spun it around into a whirling circle, so much so that it resembled a disk. He fought off every oncoming attack from Kohaku's chain sickle.

Inu-Yasha growled in anger. "Damn it! You acted like you wanted a fair fight! So what's fair about this?" He waved the sword in the air. He then let it go, and it clattered against the ground. "Feh. I don't need this piece of crap." He cracked his knuckles. "I'll kill you with my bare hands, like I promised you before!" Smirking proudly, he charged up to Naraku, his fist clenched and readied.

Before his fist made contact with Naraku, a tentacle-looking thing abruptly seized his wrists. And it was coming from under Naraku's kimono.

"Don't PLAY with me, boy! I can kill you before you even have time enough to scream!" His voice was a low, menacing snarl. Once more, he dropped the investigator to the floor, and assumed his normal disposition.

"Hmm…well, as you can plainly see, the full power of Tetsusaiga has not yet been discovered by its owner." An evil smile took residence on his face. "Perhaps the presence of a certain raven-haired human filly would change that…"

Inu-Yasha's eyes widened as he got up, lunging forward. "You leave Kagome out of this!"

"Ahh…so it is true." Naraku laughed to himself. He then turned to his underling. "Kohaku," he ordered sharply, "get me the girl!"

"Yes, master…" came the droned reply. He immediately retrieved the sickle and released it out the window.

And evil smile turned up the corner of his mouth. "Your full power shall be unleashed once I kill that young wench."

"No!" he yelled. "Your fight is with me! Don't you DARE lay a finger on Kagome." His mind raced. What would he do? He didn't even know what this "Tetsusaiga" was!

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Clink. Kagome and Sango turned their heads to the window. "Did you hear that?" Kagome asked worriedly.

Sango nodded, and looked around warily. Suddenly, she saw it. There was a chain coming from the window. She followed it with her eyes and gasped when she found its end. "Kagome! Look out!"

But it was too late. The chain and the sickle were wrapped around her ankle, and it pulled her harshly to the ground. The metal bit into her flesh, and she cried out. "Sango!" she beckoned, as she was pulled into the window. Suddenly, she was pulled in quickly, and Sango could no longer see her.

"Shit!" Sango cursed under her breath, and she hoisted herself into the house.

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Kagome flew into the house faster than the eye could see, and landed at Kohaku's feet. "Inu-Yasha!" she cried.

"Kagome!" he said, and looked back up at Naraku. "Damn you…let her go!!"

Naraku ignored Inu-Yasha looked down at Kagome, his claws raised for the kill. "Are you ready to die, girl?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed, "Not until the day I see your bloody corpse!"

"You'll pay for that remark, bitch!" His hand plunged down at her with deadly precision.

Suddenly, Miroku leapt forward and whacked Naraku's hand off target. Instead of ripping through Kagome, he punched a hole through the ground. 

"That was a fatal error, monk."

Naraku smacked at Miroku and he flew into the wall, his staff landing beside him. His bangs were matted against his forehead, and he panted in exhaustion. Sango ran to his side.

"Miroku!" she said, concerned.

"Sango!" he said abruptly. "What are you doing here?"

"I…came to help," she explained.

"You need to leave here!" he instructed, sitting up.

"No!" she retorted. "I'm staying here with you!"

"Sango, I…" he started.

Meanwhile, Kagome's eyes were wide and her breath quickened. "I…I almost died." He turned to the side and her mouth drop open. There sat her grandfather in a bath of blood. "NOOOOOOOO!" she sobbed. "Grandpa!"

Naraku scoffed. "Oh yes. Him. Alcohol was both his salvation…and his downfall." He looked amused. "A bit ironic, wouldn't you agree?"

She scowled, tears running down her cheek. "Shut up! You bastard! You deserve to DIE!"

Quickly, she snatched the sickle by her ankle and stabbed Naraku in the calf. He winced slightly, and then he grabbed her by the neck, his nails penetrating her fair skin. "Your death will be slow and painful, I assure you," he hissed threateningly.

"Kagome!" Inu-Yasha's heart thumped soundly in his chest. What could he do?! Naraku had slapped him away like a fly earlier. Kagome was going to die! He felt helpless. But then, something caught his eye.

The Tetsusaiga pulsated on the ground by his feet. 'Huh?' he thought, confused. He bent down and picked it up. Power surged through him like nothing he had felt before. He felt somehow stronger. This feeling was incredible, but one thought never strayed from his mind. He had to save Kagome.

Suddenly, a light filled the room. And it was coming from the sword!

It transformed into a large fang. He swung it once and smirked. He ran up to his foe. "Prepare to die, Naraku!"

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A/N: YAY! YATTA! Finally, it's done. Er…this chapter, that is. It's not as long as my others, I agree, but there was so much stuff happening! Speaking of which, I hope I didn't confuse anybody! x_X; Hopefully, this story doesn't seem too stupid! Well, tell meh whatcha think!

Aishiteru!

Ko-ko