Author's note: First off, THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed. I got a lot of new people, which made me feel great, and it's always great to hear from everyone who's backed me up throughout this whole adventure. THANK YOU! * Hug. *
I was going to have this out a week ago, but I couldn't get up the will. Everything I wrote seemed wrong…until I settled on who to start with. Once I pick that, I'm good to go. (Also, I was thinking of doing an April Fool's chap…but I decided that I didn't feel like having a horrible and bloody death.)
I went on a major rewriting spree, so take another look at the first few chaps. 1 and 2 are changed the most (added scenes).
Happy Easter/spring/Passover/break to whom it applies! Thanks to Jace and Jess, I love you both! *Hug. *
If anyone wants to do fanart for my story, PLEASE email me!!
* * *
Sango's eyes narrowed as she watched a familiar feather float into vision.
"What on earth is Kagura doing here?" Lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the sun, she took note of the figures atop the feather…
…And let her hand drop limply to her side.
"Kohaku?? Kohaku!" Hefting her boomerang, Sango ran forward. Bracing her feet apart, she lifted Hiraikotsu over her head. "Let him go! Release him, now!!"
Kagura ignored her as she hovered over the clearing, turning the feather towards the woods. Lifting his head, Kohaku looked down at the woman standing beneath him. A vague look of recognition crossed his face.
"Kohaku, jump down!" He blinked at her. "Kohaku, please!"
He turned away.
Sango scowled, bitter tears stinging her eyes. "Damn that Naraku…I'll destroy him if it's the last thing I do!"
"Speaking of whom…" Miroku lifted his staff and approached the hovering feather. "Why aren't you rushing off to your Master, Kagura?"
The woman looked coldly at him from over her shoulder. Why should I have to deliver the shards like some mindless drone? He can come GET them. Thoughtfully, Kagura tapped her fan on her shoulder. But if he completes the jewel, what will he do with me? I'll be useless to him.
With a small smile, Kagura let the feather settle to the ground and gracefully rose to her feet. When Sango rushed towards her, Kagura calmly held out her partially unfurled fan, blocking the girl's path.
"Get out of my way!!" Sango poised Hiraikotsu. "I won't let you keep me from my—"
"Do you honestly think you can save him?" Kagura smiled as Sango stiffened. "Naraku will get the shard in his back, make no mistake of that. Your little brother is doomed."
"Why you…" Sango gritted her teeth. "I'll save my brother from him, and I'll go through you if I have to!" With a grunt, she hurled her weapon. "Hiraikotsu!"
Perfect. Kagura gave her fan a soft flick, sending enough blades of air to stop the boomerang in its tracks. The giant bone weapon fell to the ground.
"Kagura." The soft voice whispered through the air as Kanna rose to her feet. She clutched the mirror to her heart. "What are you planning? Naraku made no mention of this."
Kagura turned and gazed at the girl, resting her fan against her chin. Naraku can watch me through that blasted mirror. He knows every move I make. She frowned. But how do I counter it?
"Kagome!! KAGOME!"
Turning, she watched the hanyou jump out of the well. She arched an eyebrow. Where did he just come from? No matter. His timing is impeccable. She stepped forward. If he is here, they may actually have a shot at defeating Naraku before he makes his wish, she smirked, and perhaps he can solve my little problem.
With a sharp nod, she waved her fan. "Dance of Blades!"
Inuyasha glanced in her direction and threw himself to the side just before the wind blades struck him.
"Dammit, Kagura, I don't have time for this!!" He ripped Tetsusaiga out of its sheath and aimed it at her. "I have to save Kagome!" He started to run towards the forest, but a second wave of blades hit the ground before him.
"You'll have to deal with me first."
Gritting his teeth, he faced the wind sorceress and lifted his sword. "Damn you, Kagura!"
She smiled as Kanna stepped before her. One little push, and I'll be rid of her forever. "How can you expect to save your little miko if you can't even defeat me? Pathetic." She faded back, unfurling her fan completely.
"Why you little witch!!" Inuyasha raced forward, locking eyes with Kagura even as Kanna raised her mirror. "I'll cut through both of you! Wind Scar!!!"
"That won't be necessary." Kagura let out a trilling laugh and leapt out of the way. "Dance of Dragons!!"
Kanna glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening slightly. "Why did you—"
Her soft scream split through the air as the tornados ripped through her. She started to turn, the shiny face of her mirror turning away from Inuyasha…
FWOOM!
CRACK!
The blast from Inuyasha's sword cut through the tiny demon and hit the back of Kanna's mirror. A tremendous crack ran down the length of its face, the swirling white erupting within. With a horrible screech, souls broke forth from the mirror, completely shattering the glass.
Kanna sighed as her body disintegrated, her kimono softly drifting to the ground.
"Perfect." Kagura snapped her fan together and waved Inuyasha off. "Go have your fun. Don't get killed too quickly."
"What did you say??" Inuyasha growled furiously, but his face clouded with worry when a yell sounded from the forest. Kagome, hang on!! He sent a parting glare to Kagura as he sped into the forest. I'll deal with YOU later!!
Kagura smiled. "Now then, to return to business." She rolled her eyes as Sango picked her weapon out of the ground and aimed it. "Relax. I'm going to offer you a deal, now that Naraku isn't listening." She walked forward, deliberately stepping on the shards of the mirror before speaking.
"I'm the only one who knows how to save your brother." Kagura smiled. "Are you really willing to destroy the only hope for his future?"
Sango glanced down at Kohaku, who had watched the entire event with a dull expression. He glanced up at her, a tiny flicker in his eyes.
Reluctantly, Sango lowered her weapon.
"What do you want?"
"You get my heart back from Naraku, and I'll tell you how to save your brother."
Sango glanced at Miroku for a moment before turning back to Kagura. I doubt I can trust her, but given the choices…
"Deal."
* * *
Kagome gasped for air as several black tentacles squeezed and tugged at her. The white world around her howled in fury as she was dragged through it. With a shock, she was ripped out of the tree, cold air rasping across her skin. She hit the ground painfully, the tentacles squirming about her.
"Wh-what?" Her eyes widened as the air about the white-tinged tree screamed, every bough shaking in fury. Her eyes snapped to the dark figure behind her as the tentacles flew away from her body.
Naraku gazed down at Kagome, his red eyes glinting in the afternoon light. Instinctively, Kagome's hand tightened over the jewel, and she pressed it to her heart. A frown settling upon her face, she rose to her feet.
"You're a fool, Naraku. Just because the last shard is available, it doesn't mean that you'll get your wish."
He smirked. "Oh, but it does." His grin turned feral, and his eyes widened dangerously. I can already taste that power. It's almost complete! His eyes darted to the sky in time to glimpse a feather drifting through the air.
It took her long enough! He turned impatiently to Kagome. "Time to leave, miko."
Naraku grabbed Kagome roughly by the arm and started dragging her towards the clearing, ignoring her protests. The last few shards are so close!! Once I bond them together, I'll finally be whole! FINALLY!!
Kagome stumbled behind him, her temper working its way to the surface. Dammit, he doesn't have to be so rough! Her frown deepening, she concentrated her aura into her trapped wrist and let her power grow…
"Ow! Dammit!" Spinning around to face her, Naraku cradled his singed hand. Fury and impatience written on his face, he lifted his unharmed hand and backhanded her across the face. He scowled as she hit the ground.
"Idiot. I would have preferred to test my new strength on you, but if you insist…" Naraku grasped Kagome by the hair and hefted her off the ground, ignoring her yelp of pain. He thrust his face inches from hers.
"I could destroy you now."
Kagome scowled, her aura growing and crackling angrily about her. "Just try it, half demon!"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You'll regret saying that." He lifted a hand before her face, watching her eyes grow as a red ball of energy grew in his palm. A dark wave of pleasure ran through him at the thought of how much damage he could cause that pretty face of hers.
With a sick smile, he pressed his hand to her face.
"So long, Kikyo."
He released the ball of energy.
Kagome's scream was partly muffled by Naraku's hand as she clawed at the air. Naraku's red aura warped about her head, a small cloud of miasma mixing into the swirling mass. He grinned as her struggles diminished, then stopped, her arms dropping to her sides.
"Don't worry, my dear miko. You won't be the last to arrive in Hell."
You truly are a fool, Naraku.
He frowned as her voice whispered in his head, soon carried on the wind.
"A fool, a fool, a fool…"
A scowl creased his face. "What the hell…?"
Two small hands reached up and grasped his neck.
"H-Huh?" Startled, Naraku released Kagome's face. The miko's violet eyes blinked back at him.
She wasn't hurt at all.
Kagome's aura nullified the rest of the evil aura around her, her expression solemn. Her hands tightened on his neck.
"You, Naraku…"
With a resounding crack, Kagome's aura exploded into a violent ball of energy. The tree next to them exploded, shards of bark whipping through the air. Kagome's expression melted into a mask of hatred.
"…Are…a…"
Her hands tightened once again.
"FOOL!!!"
* * *
Inuyasha shoved branches and shrubs out of his way, hacking at anything that didn't immediately give to his hands. Please, Kagome, don't get hurt!! I'm coming. I'll save you, just hang—
"FOOL!!!"
His feet grinding to a stop, Inuyasha stared as a tremendous flash of purple light erupted in the forest. Soon after the flash, a black shape came hurling through the trees.
"Woah!!"
Throwing himself to the ground, Inuyasha barely missed getting clocked with…
…Naraku?
He watched in awe as the demon crashed through the trees towards the clearing, his torn face painted with rage, pain, and a healthy dollop of fear. The instant Naraku was out of sight, Inuyasha warily rose to his knees.
"W-what the hell?"
Crackle.
Looking up, Inuyasha saw Kagome stride angrily towards him, her aura singing the trees about her. His jaw dropped. She…she looks incredible!! He had noticed the change in her in that white world, but seeing it up close was a completely different experience.
Kagome's miko light shimmered about her, picking at her hair and clothes in its violent wind. Strength fairly oozed from the muscles jumping in her arms and legs, but the biggest change rested in her face. He'd never seen such anger, such fierce determination on her face before.
It scared the shit out of him.
Inuyasha was so caught up in her new appearance that he forgot to speak until she had already passed him. Coming to his senses, he leapt to his feet.
"K-Kagome!! Wait!"
She paused, hands fisted at her sides. Slowly, she glanced over her shoulder.
Inuyasha felt his stomach tighten as those violet eyes pierced him. It was almost as if she was gazing straight into his soul. Hand shaking, he involuntarily rubbed his palm over his heart.
"Kagome, what's going on? What's happened to you?"
She said nothing, but her face softened.
"Trust me."
His ears perked, but he could swear her lips hadn't moved. What the hell?!? "Kagome…"
She strode towards the clearing. After a moment, Inuyasha tightened his grip on Tetsusaiga and followed.
"Kagome!"
* * *
Bullet holes cracked the once smooth white pavement of the shrine.
Ishiyana grunted as he narrowly dodged a new appendage sprung from the cat demon. The creature laughed shrilly, pulling the new arm back into its body.
"Foolish boy. How long can you fight before your pitiful body collapses?"
He scowled, pointing the gun squarely at the creature's chest. His finger hesitated on the trigger, memories of fights with Kiori coming to light.
"Because of you, I lost all of my children! All my Kitlings, gone!"
"Damn it, why am I always the nice guy??" Gritting his teeth, Ishiyana aimed for the demon's shoulder. If I could just immobilize the stupid thing, I could try to bring it back through the well. At least then Kiori wouldn't have a grudge to hold anymore.
He fired into the Kitling's shoulder, but it simply laughed and regenerated. Releasing a high shriek, the Kitling reached out and tried to strike him with a clawed arm. The moment Ishiyana dodged, however, a spike tore out of its chest and raced towards him.
"Yah!" Clutching his side in pain, Ishiyana hit the ground and rolled. He peeled open his eyes and found himself scooting backward as the Kitling loomed over him, fangs parted in a grin. It slowly lifted a hand, claws extending from its fingertips.
"Looks like I have no choice." Lifting his gun, Ishiyana prepared to fire into its heart…
Click.
"Oh come on, not again!!" Cursing the gun, Ishiyana rolled out of the Kitling's reach. Leaping to his feet, he took off at an aimless run, tossing the empty clip from the gun. As he searched for another gun lying about, the Kitling took a flying leap and landed just behind him.
Wump.
"Ow!" Ishiyana yelped as the Kitling's giant paw pinned his chest to the outside wall of the well house. Struggling to get free, he tried to pry himself away from the wall, but the creature simply leaned more weight upon him.
Scowling, Ishiyana watched the cat draw back its free paw and unsheathe its claws…
Dammit, NOW what do I do?? My gun's empty! Ishiyana glanced down at it. Then again…
"Kagome, if you have the power to make those arrows anything but normal…"
He lifted the gun and pressed it to the Kitling's heart.
"…Couldn't it be said that you could generate the same power without those arrows?"
He fired.
BLAM!!
"KREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEARRRRRRRR!!!!!"
The Kitling screamed as it was enveloped in a tremendous blast of yellow light. The gun ripped itself out of Ishiyana's hand through the mighty backlash, making his hand sing in pain.
Wincing, Ishiyana cradled his hurt hand against his chest as the yellow blast diminished and slowly dissipated. Blinking, he looked around.
"Where did it go?"
"Mrow?"
Ishiyana's eyes slowly traveled down…
…To the tiny kitten at his feet.
"What the…" Ishiyana watched in amazement as the kitten shook its head and gently bopped itself with a paw. Grinning angelically up at him, the kitten purred and rubbed against his leg.
"Oooook…" After a moment's hesitation, he gathered the kitten up in his uninjured hand, smiling wryly as it simply curled up and cuddled into his chest. "Guess I purged you of Naraku's influence." He looked up at the sky imploringly.
"God, can my life get any weirder?"
Holding the cat against him, Ishiyana rushed down the steps in the well house and leapt over the side of the well.
"Now to help save Kago-OOMPH!"
The air whooshed out of him as he hit the dirt at the bottom of the well. He stood, rubbing his sore bottom with his injured hand.
"What the heck just happened? Why didn't I go through?" His eyes widened as his hand passed over his missing back pocket. "Oh no! My jewel shard's gone!!"
The kitten mewing in his arm, Ishiyana dropped to his knees in the dirt.
Kagome, please be safe!!!
* * *
Naraku hit the ground in the clearing, rolling from the impact. Wheezing for air, he clutched at his burned throat and lurched to his feet.
"D-damn…m-miko…!" His voice was faint and raspy, and pain flashed across his face with every word.
"Naraku!!"
The demon's red eyes wrenched to the side as the demon slayer and the monk ran up to him. A hissing breath escaped him.
"Of course…we c-can't…forget…you." Naraku turned towards them and sent an extension flying at Miroku.
"Gah!" Miroku swung his staff up to block, but the tentacle simply wrapped around him. After pinning his arms to his sides, the tip dug around in the front of his cloak.
"Let go of him!" Sango heaved her boomerang. "Hiraikotsu!!"
Growling in frustration, Naraku sent a second tentacle to intercept the boomerang. With a jerky movement, he sent the weapon back at Sango. It buried itself a few feet from the demon slayer.
"F-fools!" The instant his first tentacle closed about the shard, he wrenched it away from Miroku, spinning the monk into the dirt. Immediately, he sent another tentacle towards the young boy who sat beyond them, head bowed.
Sango gasped, running to her weapon. "No! Leave him alone!!" Horror swept through her as the tentacle embedded itself in the young boy's back.
"Kohaku!! Run!!"
The boy squirmed weakly under Naraku's grip, but it wasn't until the shard was nearly dislodged that his face finally cleared.
"S-Sango?? What's going on?" Heart pounding furiously, Kohaku tried to wrestle away from Naraku's tentacle. "Sango, help!!"
She ran forward, Hiraikotsu poised…
…The shard slipped free.
Sango's heart all but stopped as her younger brother's face drained of all its color and he slowly crumpled to the ground.
"No…no, it can't be…" Dropping her boomerang, Sango rushed to her brother's side and cradled his body in her arms.
"No… No! NO! KOHAKU!!!" Rage boiled through her veins as Sango rose to her feet. "Naraku…you…BASTARD!!"
Naraku turned away from the girl, fusing the two shards to the large jewel in his possession. That only leaves… Drawing on the power of the shard to heal his neck, he looked around.
"Kagura!! Where are you??"
The woman slowly stepped out from behind a tree, the two jewel shards from Kouga glittering in her palm. Her face was emotionless.
"Finally!" Naraku spat out. He angrily wrapped a tentacle around her middle and hurled her to him, snatching the jewels out of her hand. When she started to withdraw, he grasped her wrist.
"You think I don't know what you've done?" Kagura swallowed hard, refusing to meet his gaze. Naraku's bruised face smirked. "When my body is complete, I'll be sure to make you suffer like you've never imagined."
When the woman paled, Naraku flung her away from him. He greedily fused the two shards to the jewel.
"Finally, I can—"
"Forgetting something, Naraku?"
The man slowly straightened, turning towards the miko. Kagome held up the final shard, letting it glimmer in the sun's light.
As Kagome strode forward, Inuyasha burst out of the woods.
"Kagome, are you nuts??" Rushing forward, he laid a hand on her arm. He winced at the pain of her burning aura, but his grip remained strong. "No way in HELL am I going to let you face him!!"
Kagome didn't even look at him. "Inuyasha, you will have to release me."
"Not a chance!" Inuyasha yanked on her arm, forcing her to stumble closer to him. Ignoring the sizzle of her aura, he tipped her face up. "I'm not going to let you get hurt, you hear me! So just…get somewhere safe!"
She smiled softly. "Sorry, Inuyasha. Not this time."
Inuyasha was saved from making a blistering retort when one of Naraku's tentacles wrapped around Kagome's middle.
"Why you…" He lifted his sword. "Get your filthy hands off her!!"
Naraku ignored him, retracting his appendage. Inuyasha gasped as her hand slipped from his grip.
"Kagome!" Fear curled in his stomach as he raced after her.
The girl alighted upon the ground before Naraku and gazed at him calmly. The demon stared down at her, his red eyes practically glowing. Hissing, he grabbed her arm and pried the jewel shard free from her hand.
"Get away from her, Naraku!!" Naraku glanced up as Inuyasha raced forward.
"Watch your mouth, half breed!!" Power sizzled about him for an instant before a barrier leapt up between them.
"Oomph!" Inuyasha gritted his teeth in pain as he tried to force his way through, the barrier sizzling.
Kapow!!
Inuyasha flew backwards through the air, landing hard a few feet away. Wincing, he slowly pried his head off the ground.
"Damn you…"
Eyes glowing with greed, Naraku fused the last shard into the jewel.
SHANG!!
Everyone lifted a hand to his or her eyes as the jewel erupted with a purple light. Naraku's face was bathed in it as he gazed down at the jewel.
"Finally," he whispered, running his thumb over the jewel. "My human heart will perish forever!"
Grinning madly, he started to close his hand over the jewel. I wish…
"Not a chance, Naraku."
Kagome's hand clapped over the jewel, preventing Naraku's hand from completely covering it. The demon glared at her.
"You have outlived your usefulness, miko. DIE!!" Lifting his free hand, he released a cloud of miasma in her face, but her aura simply burned it off before it reached her.
The jewel glimmered.
"You can't destroy me, Naraku, but this jewel can destroy you!!" Kagome's face burned with rage. "I will never let you hurt another living being!! I'll purify you before you get the chance!"
The jewel trembled.
Naraku tried to wrestle the jewel away, but Kagome kept a firm grip on her part of it. Their auras clashed as demonic and miko powers arose. Neither noticed the dark clouds gathering in the sky.
I won't let this HUMAN deter me! I will have absolute power!
I can't let him get away with every horrible thing he's done. Naraku must be purged from the earth!
I wish—
I wish—
KrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
Lightning rent the sky.
Inuyasha covered his ears as a horrible screech split the air. He rose unsteadily to his feet, the Tetsusaiga dropping limply to his side.
"No…way…"
Kagome and Naraku froze as a vortex of wind swirled about them. The jewel howled, light spilling violently from the cracks between their fingers. Two swirls of color leaked out from the jewel, one a violent, blood red, the other a pale pink. The howl increasing in pitch, the two colors began to twirl violently about the pair. Strange voices whipped through the air.
"…You bitch! Humans were meant to perish!! How dare you presume…"
"…Pitiful creature! Your evil can never persist on this earth. You will be purged…"
"I'll rip you limb from limb!"
"I'll purify your soul if it kills me!"
"You—"
"Will not—"
"WIN!!!"
Kagome and Naraku's heads both tipped back in a scream as the two colors clashed and enveloped them, sparks of lightning cracking forth from the points of contact. Deep within the vortex, Kagome and Naraku had stepped apart, each clutching his or her heart in pain. The jewel hovered in the air between them.
Inuyasha took a step forward. "K-Kagome!! KAGOME!!" The wind pushed him back.
"KAGOME!!"
The colors pulsed, the vortex shrinking upon the pair. With a flash of light from the jewel, the two colors ripped apart.
K-KROOOW!!
The air positively screaming in agony, the two auras settled upon the pair. The red aura crashed violently into Naraku, the pink into Kagome. Their screams mingled and warped in the wind as lightning violently crashed in the sky.
The two lifted off the ground, writhing in their respective auras.
B-BMP.
With a howl, Naraku's red aura exploded into a long, reptilian body.
Kagome's hair shot out from her head, long raven black locks floating behind her.
B-BMP!!
Naraku's head melted into that of a misshapen dragon.
Kagome's clothes transformed into armor.
B-BMP!!
The two erupted in a blinding flash, a final clap of lightning shattering the sky.
Inuyasha's eyes watered as he tried to peer at the two glowing forms that slowly lowered to the ground. Instinctively, he rushed towards the girl.
"K-Kagome, are you all right?" He came to a stop beside her, hesitating. The girl glowed in an ethereal white light, power shimmering about her form. Slowly, Inuyasha reached out and touched her armored shoulder.
As she turned to gaze at him, his heart lurched to a stop.
The girl looking back at him was not Kagome.
…It was Midoriko.
The most powerful human that ever lived.