AN: Here we are, folks! The gut wrenching, nauseating, conclusion!!!!
Chapter Seven: The Bonds of Time And Fellowship
Inu-yasha spun around and let the stroke of his sword fall. The earth rumbled as the ground split. The two Narakus leaped apart from one another and flew up into the air. Inu-yasha jumped up and followed them, taking swings, and clashing with them at every turn.
"It is useless for us to battle any further.' The older Naraku said to the younger. "We must join forces to put an end to Inu-yasha."
"On this one thing we agree." The Young Naraku replied. "I will help you. " They both sprayed their miasma at him and leaped through it like air.
Inu-yasha held his breath and ran from the center of the dark, poisonous cloud, but no matter which way he ran, all he saw was shadows upon shadows. Some moved, but others didn't. He could feel Naraku's cold stare upon, but he knew not from where it came. After running on for a long while, his orientation thrown off by the mobile and immobile shadows, Inu-yasha felt his chest ache from holding his breath far too long. If he breathed in the toxic gas, he eventually would die. But if he passed out, he would be helpless to stop any attack from the mists. Inu-yasha thought about what to do… but he knew no matter what the choice, he would most likely die.
'If I have to die,' Inu-yasha thought, 'I'm taking at least one of him with me!' He lifted his head, and strained his ears for any sound… any sound…
"Inu-yasha!" a faint voice cried from what seemed like a great distance. "Inu-yasha!"
-------------- "Dad!" a child's voce called. Inu-yasha looked, in the cloud with him, was a little boy, with black hair, and big brown eyes. He smiled, and ran to him. Suddenly Inu-yasha found himself no longer in the midst of Naraku's miasma, but in the serene garden of a feudal palace, befitting the emperor himself. The little boy had almost reached him, but the, turned, and looked at a door in the palace entrance. "Mom!" the boy called. "I found Daddy! He's in the garden." Inu-yasha looked over, and saw Kagome. She was dressed in jeans and a blouse, like she was in her own time. She was a little older now, her hair was shorter, and her eyes were just a little bit sadder, but as she picked up her son, she lokked more beautiful to him than anything on earth. Then, she suddenly turned her head to him, and said, "Inu-yasha…" ------------
Inu-yasha snapped out of the vision. He was back in the miasma, but his lungs felt as if he'd just breathed in fresh, flower scented air. He could fight now. We would fight now; the miasma was clearing away.
--------------------------------
The two Naraku's watched their deadly miasma drift away, waiting to see a fallen Inu-yasha, but saw instead, his shadowed form striding from the very heart of the black mist.
"Impossible!" they both cried. "He should have died," the older Naraku insisted. "He did die this way! I saw him die!"
"Should have, could have, would have. I'm sorry, to disappoint you, but I ain't going down that easily. But you on the other hand are!" Inu-yasha raised his sword, and ran to them. The Naraku's turned to the right, but their escape was cut off by charging cavalry. It was lead by Yugi/Yami and his Millennium Item wielding comrades. The Narkau's leaped up to fly away, but they were stopped by Songo and Miroku on Kirara's back. They drifted to the ground, and made to the left, but saw Seshomaru's blank face racing towards them, his own soldiers behind him. And wolves encircled all around. They were backed up to the foot of the mountain, with nowhere to escape to. The ranks parted only once, to let Kagome through, The look inhere eyes was stronger, and colder, than even those of the dead Kikyo… She nocked an arrow on her bow. This was the end.
"I will not die with you, old man," the young Naraku said as Inu-yasha approached.
"You have no choice," the older Naraku said.
"DON'T I?" the young Naraku asked, his and eyes grown wild with utmost fear and desperation. He grasped the Jewel, and imploded on himself. Then, burst apart into a thousand screaming demons. The creatures of evil and darkness went tearing off on all directions… disappearing.
The Older Naraku had no such choices. Without the Jewel, or anything to absorb, he was helpless.
"You die now," Inu-yasha uttered in a low growl. He lifted his sword, which now glowed not red, nor white, but the brightest, strongest gold as Yugi/Yami and all carriers of the Millenniums Items lent their power to him. The Tetsaiga swept down, and severed Naraku's body at an angle. The demon stood, his red, dying eyes locked with the golden orbs of Inu-yasha's eyes before his body turned into crystal, from head to foot. And burst apart into a million pieces of bright, glittering particles…
"Now after the other one!" Inu-yasha cried, jumping on his steed and heading for the nearby woods.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome called. She jumped from her horse, and ran to his. She put her hand on his thigh, and looked up at him. "Wait Inu-yasha. We've already won a really great victory. Let's rest now. There'll plenty of time to go after the other Naraku later."
"Don't you get it, you stupid girl?" Inu-yasha barked. "If we let him get away, then what good was killing the other one?!" Kagome looked up at him, flabbergasted, as she backed away. Inu-yasha reared his horse, and took off into the dark woods.
All Kagome could do… was look on, and begin to cry.
--------------------------------------
Inu-yasha raced through the trees after the many parts of the younger Naraku. He was determined to finish this today, no matter the cost. But then, white mist slinked and curled around the ground and tree roots. His horse spurred and bucked.
"Steady you stupid thing!" Inu-yasha ordered it, "I said, stoawww!!" he cried as he fell from the horse's back. The horse shied away from a human form walking to them from the fog.
"What is this?" Inu-yasha asked. "What's going on?" he insisted as he drew his sword. Then, the figure emerged from the mist… It was… himself. Yes, Himself! Red armor and all. Only on this second Inu-yasha, the armor was covered in blood. The true Inu-yasha asked, "What is this? Another of Naraku's tricks?"
"No, you idiot," the second Inu-yasha said, "I'm you."
"Me?" the first asked.
"Yes," pepeated the second. "You. The other you."
"What are you talking about" the first demanded.
"I'm talking about your broken brain and your big mouth," the second retorted. "You just won! You had your woman by your side, your friends behind, and your future in front of you. It's more than I got, I can tell you that. Now turn around and go home before you lose it for good."
"Why should I listen to you?" the first Inu-yasha asked.
"Because I've been there before. You're gonna get yourself killed if you don't. Do you have any idea how much trouble it was to get permission to come talk to you?"
"Permission from who?" demanded the first Inu-yasha.
"From me," said Serenity Wheeler, stepping now from the mist. She was dressed in white, and had gold bracelets up her arms. The Millennium Necklace, which hung around her neck, was glowing.
"What are-?" the first Inu-yasha began to ask, but Serenity held up her hand.
"Listen well, Inu-yasha," Serenity said. "He speaks the truth. If you continue down the destructive path you are on now, you will die. Did you know that time is filled with infinite possibilities? There are different choices we all can make, and those choices lead to different outcomes. I've seen them all, and not all of them are good. In one, you've been dead for over four months, and Kagome is in mourning. In another, you died on the battle field, taking the Jewel with you. In yet another-"
"You die only a few short minutes from now," the second Inu-yasha finished.
"Sounds like I'm destined to die no matter what I do." the first Inu-yasha said.
"That's not true," Serenity told him. "If you turn around now, you have a chance. A chance for life and happiness. The vision you saw in the miasma was from me, but I also transported you there, to save you. It was real, Inu-yasha. You have a chance for that future. You have a chance to see your son grow up, and become strong, and healthy, and happy. Give him the chance to know his father. Give the both of you a chance top live." As Serenity said this, she and the second Inu-yasha disappeared. The path of his destiny lay before him, and behind him also. He closed his eyes, and thought. Listened. Remembered.
-----------------------------------
-------------- "Dad!"
"My son" Inu-yasha whispered as the little boy waved to him. "Kagome," he said, as she materialized, and picked he boy up.
"Inu-yasha," she answered. -------------
--------------------------------------
Kagome waited in the encampment, surrounded by her friends. She didn't know what to do. She wanted go out and find Inu-yasha, but everyone said it was too dangerous. How it could be more dangerous than the awful battle they'd just fought, she didn't understand. But she listened to them, and stayed in camp.
"We want to go find him, too," Miroku said, "But we must have rest."
"I know," Kagome said. "By the way, could you stop stroking my legs?" she asked through grtted teeth.
"Oh yes," Miroku said, scooting away. "Sorry."
"Don't be sad, Kagome," Shippo said. "At least we won."
"But we may have lost Inu-yasha." Kagome moped.
"If it helps," Miroku said, "My wind tunnel has shrunk. It means that Naraku is not as powerful as he once was."
"That means you guys have a better chance at beating him," Little Yugi said.
"If we find again," Songo said, "Now that he's weakened, he'll to ground, and hide away until he'd strong enough to emerge again."
"Don't worry about Inu-yasha," Serenity said, smiling. "I'll have a feeling he'll make the right choice and come back to us."
"What makes you so sure?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, he doesn't seem the kind to change his mind a lot," Joey remarked.
"Oh, just call it a hunch," Serenity said, smiling innocently.
"You've been up to something?" Joey said, eyeing his sister suspiciously.
"Who, me?" Serenity asked, faking innocence. As twilight set in upon the afternoon, they company heard the sound of hurried hooves.
Just then, Inu-yasha came riding out of the woods. He road into camp and dismounted his horse before the small city of tents and looked for his friends. When he found them again, he was so glad. He saw Kagome sitting by the fire with Yugi and the others.
"Kagome!" He shouted to her. She looked up and when she saw him her heart raced.
"Inu-yasha!" She exclaimed. Inu-yasha and Kagome ran to meet each other, they were both so overjoyed to be alive, and so were they all. Yugi, Joey, and the others were all so proud of the hard won victory that they'd achieved.
"Kagome!" Inu-yasha cried.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome cheered.
"Kagome."
"Inu-yasha." They embraced . Their lips met like two parted lovers who'd finally found each other again after years and years of separation.
"I was so worried when you went chasing off after Naraku into the woods. I was afraid you weren't coming back. You looked so crazed."
"All that's over for now." Inu-yasha reassured her. "Right now I only want to be with you."
"That's so sweet." Kagome said as she laid her head on his shoulder. Inu-yahsa's hand strayed down below her waist as he said, "Now, I get to enjoy the spoils of war."
"The spoils of war!" Kagome exclaimed. "Is that what you think I am?" She demanded from him.
"What, no, I didn't mean it that way." Inu-yasha tried to say but it was too late. Kagome jerked away from his arms, and stormed off. "Hey wait." Inu-yasha called, running after her, "Would you just wait a minute." He tried to grab at her arm but Kagome jerked away.
"Sit boy!" she ordered.
"Oh no!" Inu-yasha sighed as he was flung to the ground. At that, Joey, Yugi, Tristan, and Miroku came up to him while Kagome walked off with Songo, Shippo, Tea, Mai, Ayumi, and Serenity.
"Dude, you totally blew it." Tristan said helping him up.
"Yeah, I gotta admit that I've lost a lot respect for you after watching this." Joey agreed. Yugi just sighed at the han-you.
Miroku shook his head, and muttered, "Not how I would have handled it."
AN: Don't worry, It's really me :) Anyway, please review, and recommend this story to friends!
Chapter Seven: The Bonds of Time And Fellowship
Inu-yasha spun around and let the stroke of his sword fall. The earth rumbled as the ground split. The two Narakus leaped apart from one another and flew up into the air. Inu-yasha jumped up and followed them, taking swings, and clashing with them at every turn.
"It is useless for us to battle any further.' The older Naraku said to the younger. "We must join forces to put an end to Inu-yasha."
"On this one thing we agree." The Young Naraku replied. "I will help you. " They both sprayed their miasma at him and leaped through it like air.
Inu-yasha held his breath and ran from the center of the dark, poisonous cloud, but no matter which way he ran, all he saw was shadows upon shadows. Some moved, but others didn't. He could feel Naraku's cold stare upon, but he knew not from where it came. After running on for a long while, his orientation thrown off by the mobile and immobile shadows, Inu-yasha felt his chest ache from holding his breath far too long. If he breathed in the toxic gas, he eventually would die. But if he passed out, he would be helpless to stop any attack from the mists. Inu-yasha thought about what to do… but he knew no matter what the choice, he would most likely die.
'If I have to die,' Inu-yasha thought, 'I'm taking at least one of him with me!' He lifted his head, and strained his ears for any sound… any sound…
"Inu-yasha!" a faint voice cried from what seemed like a great distance. "Inu-yasha!"
-------------- "Dad!" a child's voce called. Inu-yasha looked, in the cloud with him, was a little boy, with black hair, and big brown eyes. He smiled, and ran to him. Suddenly Inu-yasha found himself no longer in the midst of Naraku's miasma, but in the serene garden of a feudal palace, befitting the emperor himself. The little boy had almost reached him, but the, turned, and looked at a door in the palace entrance. "Mom!" the boy called. "I found Daddy! He's in the garden." Inu-yasha looked over, and saw Kagome. She was dressed in jeans and a blouse, like she was in her own time. She was a little older now, her hair was shorter, and her eyes were just a little bit sadder, but as she picked up her son, she lokked more beautiful to him than anything on earth. Then, she suddenly turned her head to him, and said, "Inu-yasha…" ------------
Inu-yasha snapped out of the vision. He was back in the miasma, but his lungs felt as if he'd just breathed in fresh, flower scented air. He could fight now. We would fight now; the miasma was clearing away.
--------------------------------
The two Naraku's watched their deadly miasma drift away, waiting to see a fallen Inu-yasha, but saw instead, his shadowed form striding from the very heart of the black mist.
"Impossible!" they both cried. "He should have died," the older Naraku insisted. "He did die this way! I saw him die!"
"Should have, could have, would have. I'm sorry, to disappoint you, but I ain't going down that easily. But you on the other hand are!" Inu-yasha raised his sword, and ran to them. The Naraku's turned to the right, but their escape was cut off by charging cavalry. It was lead by Yugi/Yami and his Millennium Item wielding comrades. The Narkau's leaped up to fly away, but they were stopped by Songo and Miroku on Kirara's back. They drifted to the ground, and made to the left, but saw Seshomaru's blank face racing towards them, his own soldiers behind him. And wolves encircled all around. They were backed up to the foot of the mountain, with nowhere to escape to. The ranks parted only once, to let Kagome through, The look inhere eyes was stronger, and colder, than even those of the dead Kikyo… She nocked an arrow on her bow. This was the end.
"I will not die with you, old man," the young Naraku said as Inu-yasha approached.
"You have no choice," the older Naraku said.
"DON'T I?" the young Naraku asked, his and eyes grown wild with utmost fear and desperation. He grasped the Jewel, and imploded on himself. Then, burst apart into a thousand screaming demons. The creatures of evil and darkness went tearing off on all directions… disappearing.
The Older Naraku had no such choices. Without the Jewel, or anything to absorb, he was helpless.
"You die now," Inu-yasha uttered in a low growl. He lifted his sword, which now glowed not red, nor white, but the brightest, strongest gold as Yugi/Yami and all carriers of the Millenniums Items lent their power to him. The Tetsaiga swept down, and severed Naraku's body at an angle. The demon stood, his red, dying eyes locked with the golden orbs of Inu-yasha's eyes before his body turned into crystal, from head to foot. And burst apart into a million pieces of bright, glittering particles…
"Now after the other one!" Inu-yasha cried, jumping on his steed and heading for the nearby woods.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome called. She jumped from her horse, and ran to his. She put her hand on his thigh, and looked up at him. "Wait Inu-yasha. We've already won a really great victory. Let's rest now. There'll plenty of time to go after the other Naraku later."
"Don't you get it, you stupid girl?" Inu-yasha barked. "If we let him get away, then what good was killing the other one?!" Kagome looked up at him, flabbergasted, as she backed away. Inu-yasha reared his horse, and took off into the dark woods.
All Kagome could do… was look on, and begin to cry.
--------------------------------------
Inu-yasha raced through the trees after the many parts of the younger Naraku. He was determined to finish this today, no matter the cost. But then, white mist slinked and curled around the ground and tree roots. His horse spurred and bucked.
"Steady you stupid thing!" Inu-yasha ordered it, "I said, stoawww!!" he cried as he fell from the horse's back. The horse shied away from a human form walking to them from the fog.
"What is this?" Inu-yasha asked. "What's going on?" he insisted as he drew his sword. Then, the figure emerged from the mist… It was… himself. Yes, Himself! Red armor and all. Only on this second Inu-yasha, the armor was covered in blood. The true Inu-yasha asked, "What is this? Another of Naraku's tricks?"
"No, you idiot," the second Inu-yasha said, "I'm you."
"Me?" the first asked.
"Yes," pepeated the second. "You. The other you."
"What are you talking about" the first demanded.
"I'm talking about your broken brain and your big mouth," the second retorted. "You just won! You had your woman by your side, your friends behind, and your future in front of you. It's more than I got, I can tell you that. Now turn around and go home before you lose it for good."
"Why should I listen to you?" the first Inu-yasha asked.
"Because I've been there before. You're gonna get yourself killed if you don't. Do you have any idea how much trouble it was to get permission to come talk to you?"
"Permission from who?" demanded the first Inu-yasha.
"From me," said Serenity Wheeler, stepping now from the mist. She was dressed in white, and had gold bracelets up her arms. The Millennium Necklace, which hung around her neck, was glowing.
"What are-?" the first Inu-yasha began to ask, but Serenity held up her hand.
"Listen well, Inu-yasha," Serenity said. "He speaks the truth. If you continue down the destructive path you are on now, you will die. Did you know that time is filled with infinite possibilities? There are different choices we all can make, and those choices lead to different outcomes. I've seen them all, and not all of them are good. In one, you've been dead for over four months, and Kagome is in mourning. In another, you died on the battle field, taking the Jewel with you. In yet another-"
"You die only a few short minutes from now," the second Inu-yasha finished.
"Sounds like I'm destined to die no matter what I do." the first Inu-yasha said.
"That's not true," Serenity told him. "If you turn around now, you have a chance. A chance for life and happiness. The vision you saw in the miasma was from me, but I also transported you there, to save you. It was real, Inu-yasha. You have a chance for that future. You have a chance to see your son grow up, and become strong, and healthy, and happy. Give him the chance to know his father. Give the both of you a chance top live." As Serenity said this, she and the second Inu-yasha disappeared. The path of his destiny lay before him, and behind him also. He closed his eyes, and thought. Listened. Remembered.
-----------------------------------
-------------- "Dad!"
"My son" Inu-yasha whispered as the little boy waved to him. "Kagome," he said, as she materialized, and picked he boy up.
"Inu-yasha," she answered. -------------
--------------------------------------
Kagome waited in the encampment, surrounded by her friends. She didn't know what to do. She wanted go out and find Inu-yasha, but everyone said it was too dangerous. How it could be more dangerous than the awful battle they'd just fought, she didn't understand. But she listened to them, and stayed in camp.
"We want to go find him, too," Miroku said, "But we must have rest."
"I know," Kagome said. "By the way, could you stop stroking my legs?" she asked through grtted teeth.
"Oh yes," Miroku said, scooting away. "Sorry."
"Don't be sad, Kagome," Shippo said. "At least we won."
"But we may have lost Inu-yasha." Kagome moped.
"If it helps," Miroku said, "My wind tunnel has shrunk. It means that Naraku is not as powerful as he once was."
"That means you guys have a better chance at beating him," Little Yugi said.
"If we find again," Songo said, "Now that he's weakened, he'll to ground, and hide away until he'd strong enough to emerge again."
"Don't worry about Inu-yasha," Serenity said, smiling. "I'll have a feeling he'll make the right choice and come back to us."
"What makes you so sure?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, he doesn't seem the kind to change his mind a lot," Joey remarked.
"Oh, just call it a hunch," Serenity said, smiling innocently.
"You've been up to something?" Joey said, eyeing his sister suspiciously.
"Who, me?" Serenity asked, faking innocence. As twilight set in upon the afternoon, they company heard the sound of hurried hooves.
Just then, Inu-yasha came riding out of the woods. He road into camp and dismounted his horse before the small city of tents and looked for his friends. When he found them again, he was so glad. He saw Kagome sitting by the fire with Yugi and the others.
"Kagome!" He shouted to her. She looked up and when she saw him her heart raced.
"Inu-yasha!" She exclaimed. Inu-yasha and Kagome ran to meet each other, they were both so overjoyed to be alive, and so were they all. Yugi, Joey, and the others were all so proud of the hard won victory that they'd achieved.
"Kagome!" Inu-yasha cried.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome cheered.
"Kagome."
"Inu-yasha." They embraced . Their lips met like two parted lovers who'd finally found each other again after years and years of separation.
"I was so worried when you went chasing off after Naraku into the woods. I was afraid you weren't coming back. You looked so crazed."
"All that's over for now." Inu-yasha reassured her. "Right now I only want to be with you."
"That's so sweet." Kagome said as she laid her head on his shoulder. Inu-yahsa's hand strayed down below her waist as he said, "Now, I get to enjoy the spoils of war."
"The spoils of war!" Kagome exclaimed. "Is that what you think I am?" She demanded from him.
"What, no, I didn't mean it that way." Inu-yasha tried to say but it was too late. Kagome jerked away from his arms, and stormed off. "Hey wait." Inu-yasha called, running after her, "Would you just wait a minute." He tried to grab at her arm but Kagome jerked away.
"Sit boy!" she ordered.
"Oh no!" Inu-yasha sighed as he was flung to the ground. At that, Joey, Yugi, Tristan, and Miroku came up to him while Kagome walked off with Songo, Shippo, Tea, Mai, Ayumi, and Serenity.
"Dude, you totally blew it." Tristan said helping him up.
"Yeah, I gotta admit that I've lost a lot respect for you after watching this." Joey agreed. Yugi just sighed at the han-you.
Miroku shook his head, and muttered, "Not how I would have handled it."
AN: Don't worry, It's really me :) Anyway, please review, and recommend this story to friends!