Kagome's Return chapter 8 Naraku part 2
Character deaths will occur. Kagura is already dead. And more will happen. You are warned.
On the other side of the well . . .
Shippo looks at Sota and says, "Are you sure about those stories that you've been telling me?"
Sota nods. "Yep. Once I recognized Akane's name, I started asking about Furniken high and the odd students that go there. And, whenever she'd come over, I'd ask her or her boyfriend, Ranma, to tell me stories. He'd do anything that might lead to a cure for his curse."
Shippo smiles. He changes into a young human boy. Then, a few seconds later, into a young human girl. "How's this?"
"Your tail." Rin mentions as she joins the conversation.
Shippo purses his lips. "I can hide it under some clothes. It's uncomfortable doing that, but, that'll work."
"Yeah, that should work." Sota agrees with Shippo. Rin nods her agreement.
Shippo smiles. "And now, watch me turn on the charm. After I'm finished spinning my story, Akane and her friends will be here, and doing everything that they can to open the well. With their help, we'll get through the well and help Kagome."
Sota and Rin nod. "The Tree won't answer us." Rin whispers. "And it won't let us through."
Shippo picks up the phone. "This is how this machine works, right?"
"Let me." Sota moves over and starts to dial the phone.
"Shippo? Are you going to stay a girl?" Rin asks.
"Huh?" Shippo shakes his head, no, and changes back into his normal shape.
Rin slumps. "I wanted a sister . . . " She whispers.
Sota looks at Rin. "I like him better as a boy."
"Hey! I'm a Kitsune!" Shippo interrupts the two of them.
"Hello! Tendo residence!" Tendo Kasumi answers the phone.
"Shush." Shippo whispers to Sota and Rin, and then he begins to speak to Kasumi . . .
Back to the other side of the well, but, from Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru and the others POV.
'Come on, Kouga.' Inu-yasha thinks. 'He whispered to us that he had a plan. Hurry up!'
Naraku speaks, his voice magically enhanced so all can hear, "Kagura, Kouga stand in front of me. I wish to reward you."
Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru and the others exchange glances. 'I hope everything is working,' Miroku thinks, 'Kouga whispered that Kagura was to free his people, so he could fight.'
Kagura and Kouga, they both had been semi-hidden in the crowd next the Inu- yasha and the rest, walk toward Naraku.
They stop in front of Naraku.
"Kagura." Naraku begins. "Kouga." He nods to both of them.
They nod to him.
Naraku waves to one side. A huge Oni throws a tied up Tanuki demons at the feet of Kagura and Kouga.
Naraku smiles, "your plan to free my captives won't work."
Even though her gag, Sango moans. 'He found out!'
Sesshomaru glares at Kanna, who is hiding behind Naraku and Kagome. 'She is dangerous. Perhaps more dangerous than Naraku. Her mirror and its powers . . . I wonder if even Naraku knows all that it can do?'
Both Kagura and Kouga faces go blank from shock.
"I had expected treachery from, you, Kouga. But, you, Kagura? Your lust for Sesshomaru will be your death."
Kagura pulls out her fan . . . then crumples to the ground. Her heart flies into Naraku's hand.
Kouga freezes as a beam from The Jewel strikes him. "You will join your friends, tonight, Kouga. Along with your friend Hachi." Naraku nods to the tied up Tanuki Demon. Who is, of course, Miroku's friend/companion.
'Hachi.' Keade thinks, 'I had hopes that he could have escaped notice. He normally does. But, if Naraku has him . . . There is no hope. Naraku, as he was moving us, never made a mistake. So, none of us can escape.'
Naraku looks out to the crowd of Demons. He holds up Kagura's heart, and shouts, "Let the torture begin!"
'He'll remove the gags. He wants us to scream.' Sesshomaru thinks as he looks over the crowd of demons. 'I know many of these demons. Do I offer them something? No. If they are here, now, with Naraku, then I will not trust them. And begging them for help, turns my stomach.'
Sango thinks, as she scans the crowd, 'I will not give these scum any satisfaction. No matter what, I will not open my mouth. Except to curse Naraku. If the jewel is complete, my brother is dead. What more do I have to live for?'
Keade thinks, 'My body is old. Perhaps . . . yes, I can control my body, and my heart. Tonight is not how I wanted to die. But, sometimes you do not have a choice.'
Kirara thinks, 'One claw. All I need is one claw free. Please, my ancestors, hear this prayer, let me be free tonight . . . and I promise you blood . . . blood enough to drown in.'
Miroku thinks, 'pain is fleeting. I will not feel it. Tonight . . . I will be free of my curse.'
Inu-yasha thinks, 'I will kill Naraku! I will get free! These chains will not hold me!' his chains rattle as he twists . . .
The demons shout, "YES! Death! Death!"
The ground shakes . . .
"NO!" a shout from outside the field is heard.
A small path is made as the demons on either side move to one side.
A short human walks into the field.
"I will not allow you to kill my granddaughter or her friends!" Kagome's Grandfather, dressed in the traditional costume of a Shinto priest, stands in the middle of the field . . .
Naraku looks at Kagome.
Kagome is staining, mightily, to try to free herself. Tears are beginning to form in her eyes. Naraku wiggles his fingers and the gag flies from Kagome's mouth.
"Grandfather! No!" She screams. "Run!" she starts to cry, as tears run down her cheeks . . .
Naraku smiles. He looks at the old human in the middle of the field. "And how do you plan on stopping me?" he purrs. 'I do not sense any power from him.'
Kagome's grandfather, swallows hard, as he scans the crowd, 'I moved too quickly. I should have waited longer. I don't see her.' His hand under his baggy clothes tightens on the pistol grip. 'But, now, I know why the God Tree told me to bring Sota's toy.'
"Monster." Kagome's grandfather states. "I've tried to protect my granddaughter, ever since she began her quest. Tonight, I finally have the opportunity to do so."
"Admirable, old man, I'm sure," Naraku replies. "But, you have no power." He smiles. He waves his hand at some of the demons standing nearby. "Capture him. And that means alive."
He nods to Kagome. "Since he is your grandfather, I'll let you decide. Do I start with him or do I finish with him?"
"Neither!" Kagome screams. "I will get free, Naraku, you monster!"
The demons, some small oni's, saunter toward Kagome's grandfather. They, obviously, see that he is no threat.
Kagome's Grandfather pulls out a water-pistol. (One of Sota's favorite toys.) He points it at Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru and the others and begins to spray them with water. "I win!" He yells!
Naraku's eyes open wide. He starts to laugh. "You expect that to work? That's only water!"
SNAP! SNAP!
"Water that is ruining the writing on those spell scrolls." Kagome's Grandfather says, as he smiles.
"DIE!" Inu-yasha yells as he rips the chains off his body.
Sesshomaru rips his chains off, "Where is Tokijin?" He calls. 'I cannot sense it, or the others.' He thinks.
Kirara grows larger, breaking the chains.
Sango breaks her chains, holding onto them. 'Naraku broke my boomerang in front of me earlier. He will die tonight by my hands.' She thinks, as she begins to twirl the chains.
'I need someone to free me. I don't have the strength to break these chains.' Miroku thinks. 'Perhaps, though, I can shift them enough, so my well-trained fingers can free me?' he begins to squirm in his chains.
'We might win.' Keade thinks. Hope appears her eyes.
Naraku holds up the Jewel and an iridescent semi-visible barrier springs up between him and Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Kirara and Sango, all of whom are jumping at him.
Kirara's claws give off an unearthly screech as Kirara slowly slides down the barrier, along with the others.
The small oni's that were ordered to capture Kagome's grandfather, quickly vanish. (They are not, repeat not, staying anywhere near a free Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Sango and Kirara . . . )
Kouga, unparalyzed since Naraku is concentrating on others, leaps at him, roaring his tribe's battle cry.
The chair that Naraku was sitting on changes shape. It is one of his puppets, disguised. The puppet's tentacles flip out and capture Kouga. He begins to chew them with his fangs and rip at them with his claws.
Naraku surveys the scene, as the group shakes off the stunned feeling caused by hitting his barrier. He thinks, 'None of the other demons are moving.' He grits his teeth. 'They are not going to help me. If I win, they'll obey me, maybe. If I lose, they'll vanish, and when Sesshomaru comes by to demand an explanation, they'll lie to him.'
He glances at Kikyo. Kikyo raises an eyebrow, but doesn't move. 'If I hand her Inu-yasha, she'll help, maybe. But, otherwise, nothing.' He glances at Kanna. Kanna stares back, without emotion.
Naraku holds back a groan, as he feels something sap his power, and whips his head around to look at Kagome.
Kagome is straining to get free herself. Sparks of power of running up and down her body, arcing from chain to chain. Naraku can hear her teeth grind and the emotion shining in her eyes causes him to step away from her.
"Again!" Sesshomaru yells. "He can't maintain this barrier against all of us!" He attacks the barrier, again. Inu-yasha, Kirara and Sango instantly join him.
The barrier moans. Light flickers up and down it.
Sweat forms on Naraku's brow. He growls. "Fine. If this is how you want it." He glares at the assembled demons. "Remember this night. Remember my power and know fear."
He waves his hand . . . the barrier vanishes.
Sesshomaru, Inu-yasha, Sango and Kirara, all stumble, for a second, as the wall that they were fighting vanishes.
"I had prepared for this." Naraku hisses. His fingers writhe.
Something, feather light, touches the necks of Sango, Kirara, Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru's eyes open. His right hand flashes into his hair.
The small spider-demons hidden in their hair bites . . .
"Remove your hand from your hair, Sesshomaru, without, of course, touching my spider." Naraku smiles, as he orders Sesshomaru.
All four of them are standing, stock still, in the middle of the field.
Sweat begins to form on Sango's brow. 'I can't move! I've got to fight him! I will not die like this!' she thinks.
Kirara's fur stands on end. 'I must break his hold.'
Inu-yasha's hand slowly, painfully, forms a fist. 'I will kill him!' A low, hard growl is heard from his throat.
Sesshomaru's hand slowly leaves his hair. But, his other hand is also slowly moving upward. His mouth slowly begins to form words, "You cannot control all of us for long."
The sweat on Naraku's forehead begins to drip onto his fancy silk clothes. He thinks, 'he's right. I can't. Something has caused Sesshomaru's mental defenses to be much stronger than I thought. I can control him, but then, I lose the others. Or I can control the others, but lose him.'
Miroku's chains, suddenly, start fall from him. Kagome's grandfather stands, revealed, behind him. Miroku rips his gag out of his mouth and begins to chant. 'This spell should disrupt Naraku's control. It won't free them, by itself, but, since their fighting that control, it should help them.' He thinks.
Naraku groans. 'I'm losing . . . ' he thinks.
Kikyo hisses a spell.
Miroku's chains suddenly wrap around him. His gag flies into his mouth.
"You owe me." Kikyo smiles at Naraku.
"Occupy Sesshomaru." Naraku growls, as he nods. Kikyo's smile grows. She nods back and begins to chant.
"Sleep!" Naraku orders Inu-yasha, Kirara and Sango. All three sway and wobble for a few seconds . . . but their eyes roll up and they fall limply to the ground. 'I still need them alive, to torture in front of Kagome.' he thinks.
Sesshomaru, momentarily free, begins to run, fast, toward Kagome. 'Free her and the two of us can beat him.' He thinks.
A mass of gangrene green tentacles spring from the ground under Sesshomaru's feet, tangling them up, and stopping him.
"Sister! Stop!" Keade yells as Kagome' grandfather removes her gag. She begins to chant.
The chains around Kagome shudder and twist, as Keade's spell begins to work on them.
"Die!" Naraku yells as he points at Keade. A black lightning bolt leaves his finger. 'That attack! I can't allow anything to free Kagome.' he thinks.
Keade's manages a gurgling scream as her head melts.
Time stops . . .
Kagome's Grandfather looks into Naraku's eyes. 'All my life, I've been a coward. Tonight, though, I'll die like a man.' is his instantaneous thought.
He stands up straight and proud.
"You two, old man." Naraku hisses as another black lightning bolt leaves his fingertip.
"NO!!" Kagome screams as she watches her grandfather die . . .
Naraku smiles at Kagome. "I can, of course, raise him from the dead, just as I did Sango's brother. Shall I?"
Kagome glares at Naraku. Death is in her eyes.
"Ugghh!" kikyo moans.
Naraku looks around, ignoring Kagome.
Sesshomaru has almost ripped up all of her tentacles, and Kouga has, also, almost beat the puppet into pieces.
Naraku pulls out what looks like a ball of string from his clothes. He throws the ball at Sesshomaru. In the air, the ball expands and changes into a huge, massively strong spiderweb.
It lands on Sesshomaru, engulfing him in it, freezing him in place. "Even if my mind control didn't work. I had something planned, Sesshomaru-chan." Naraku purrs.
All the demons around the field, all of whom, have been intensely interested in this fight, take in a deep breath. Nobody, nobody has called the lord of the western lands, Sesshomaru-chan, especially as an overt insult, in years.
Sesshomaru stops his struggles with the web for a second. He says, in the coldest voice anyone as ever heard, "When you die, Naraku, I will hunt down your soul, in whatever hell it descends to. What I will do with it, then, will make demons and humans shudder in terror for the rest of time." Sesshomaru looks around, looking for something . . .
Naraku smiles, "how? Oh, you might, given time, free yourself from that web. It will even prevent you from changing into your giant dog shape, by the way. I've got things under control, however."
His smile grows, "I had a dream, last night, in that dream, I saw myself destroying your family swords, even the other blades that you and Kagome were wearing. Which is what you're looking for, I'm sure. Right now, they are on their way to Mt Fuji. Where they will be taken to the still, molten core of the mountain and cast into its fiery depths, destroying them."
Sesshomaru's eyes harden, he still glances around, looking for something, or perhaps someone, but he says, "Tenseiga, or Tetsusaiga, even Tokijin and Jaa Kalpa help, Naraku, but, I am, Kagome is, even Inu-yasha is more than a person that wields a magic sword."
Naraku eyes narrow, he thinks, 'why is he talking to me? What or is it who . . . is he looking for?' "DIE! Naraku!" Kouga screams as he, finally crushes the controlling puppet. The tentacles that have been holding him vanish. He shoves those tentacles off him.
Naraku growls. "Sleep!" he points to Kouga.
Kouga holds up the squashed spider-demon. "I've killed it, Naraku and your next!" he yells
AN unearthly, and horrible soul-rending, scream is heard across the field. It literally stops everyone in place, including Kouga.
The scream comes from Kanna. At her feet is a broken mirror. Another, unhurt mirror is in her hand.
"I think not." Naraku states. "That was one of the souls of one of your people, prince Kouga, dying. Forever. That soul is shattered beyond repair. Obey me." He orders.
Kouga slumps as his eyes focus on the mirror in Kanna's hand. 'If I still had the speed that shards gave me, maybe. But, without them, I'm not fast enough.'
Kagome tenses her arms and legs, trying to break the chains. 'Some movement in them. My hands are free, but I can't touch anything important. He's been too busy to notice, but, not enough.' She thinks.
Her eyes flick around, and she sees the person the Sesshomaru is looking for. She instantly looks away. 'I won't look at her. If I do, Naraku will notice and spot her. But what does she think that she can do?'
Kouga's eyes flick to Kagome.
She licks her lips and says, "I'll forgive you, no matter what, Kouga."
Kouga straightens up, standing tall. He scans the crowd of demons, watching him and Naraku. 'Fools and cowards. We are fighting for their amusement.' He thinks.
"On your belly, Kouga." Naraku orders.
Kouga looks down at his right hand. He spreads out his fingers, lengthening his claws. "No. Naraku. I am going to remove any reason for you to threaten my clan."
Naraku laughs, "ha! Ha! And how will you do that, Kouga? As long as they're alive, you must follow my orders."
Kouga bites his lips. He growls, "And If I'm dead? You have no reason to oppress them."
A timeless pause covers the field. Wind, softly, mummers through the demons.
"The most powerful attack that a Demon prince has," Kouga growls. "His dying curse."
Naraku draws in a deep breath and begins to chant, trying to come up with a defensive spell.
Kagome, tears falling from her eyes, wordlessly moans, "nnnooo!"
Kouga shoves his hand into his body, ignoring the pain, and fighting to stay conscious, as he rips out his own heart.
It beats, pumping blood, in the palm of his hand, as he holds it above his head.
"My dying curse, Naraku." Kouga begins, as blood spills through his lips. "I curse thee, Naraku. When Thy die, Thy soul will be reborn into the rat, thy are. My clan will feast upon thee, and this shall happen, time after time, until the end of time."
Kouga falls face first to ground. His heart, still at last, rolls from his fist . . .
"All that for nothing." Naraku smiles. "I shall not die! Kouga! And, even if I do, I will destroy your clan before I do so. IF they are all dead, your curse means nothing."
Sesshomaru coldly states, "You will die tonight, Naraku. I will see to that. And, Prince Kouga's curse is wise. For it will work, and the power of a dying demon prince means that it will, his people will live and your continuously reborn soul, will provide them with the food they need. He was a wise prince and I honor him for that."
Naraku frowns. 'What is he up to? Sesshomaru would never praise anyone. Is he trying to distract me?' he thinks.
CLICK
Time freezes . . .
Bullets begin to hit Naraku's back.
Kagome s' mother, who has been using the confusion of the fight to move close to Kagome, opens fire with Kagome's submachine gun.
'No battle cries. No warning. I want him dead.' She thinks.
She brings the submachine gun up from under her large cloak and begins to fire. She is dressed like the villagers, and she had been pretending to be one, as she moved closer and closer to Kagome.
'IF only father had waited until I was closer to Kagome. Then, I could have done it simultaneously with him. But, he moved too quickly.' She thinks.
Naraku twists under the impact of the bullets. His body begins to change shape. As the body changes, it heals, at least some, of the damage from the bullets.
His arms and legs begin to change shape, into long thin spidery limbs. His head and body changes, his clothes split.
He is changing into a huge giant spider. "These aren't magic!" he screams. "They can hurt me! But not kill me!"
Mrs. H takes a deep breath. She removes one hand from the gun. Her remaining hand isn't strong enough to keep the gun on target. But, that, actually helps her. Kanna and Kikyo were about to move against her. But, the random bullets force them to fall on the ground.
Her free hand reaches into a pocket. She pulls out something, small enough to be concealed in her fist.
She throws it to Kagome.
A large acorn flies toward Kagome. "He said that. He apologizes and wishes your forgiveness!" Mrs. H cries.
Somehow, Kagome manages to move her left hand far enough that she, barely catches the acorn.
The submachine gun stops firing. Mrs. H has run out of bullets.
"Human." Naraku's voice, somehow it still sounds normal, even though he's a giant spider, says. "I will feed on your blood."
The giant spider, that is Naraku, walks toward Mrs. H.
'I've got to give Kagome time.' Mrs. H thinks. She spins and begins to run.
"Run! Human! I enjoy the chase!" Naraku rushes past Kagome.
Kagome's head cannot turn far enough to see what is happening.
Mrs. H screams in agony . . .
A scream that ends when Kagome hears sucking sounds . . .
"NO!" Kagome screams. She looks at the acorn.
'No choice. It's this or nothing . . . ' She thinks.
Kagome opens her mouth and flips the acorn in it.
She swallows and feels the hard acorn go down her throat.
Kagome begins to glow . . .
"What did you do!" Naraku screams from behind her.
The end . . .
On the other side of the well, earlier.
"What about the children?" Kagome's grandfather asks, as he and his daughter stand on the edge of the well.
"I've called Kagome's friends. They know enough to help. They'll be over in a little while." His daughter replies. "They'll pretend to be watching Kagome."
"And if we don't return?"
A pause . . .
"Kimiko?"
"They are strong children. They'll survive." Kagome's mother whispers, "But, for once, we have a chance to help Kagome. Can we ignore that? Shouldn't we, at least, try to help her?"
Kagome's grandfather nods. He swallows. "I need to use the bathroom." He whispers.
His daughter puts her hand on his shoulder. "Be strong, father. Remember all the times when you've fearlessly placed those spell scrolls on Inu- yasha. Just do that again."
He nods. "I just wish I knew why the God Tree told us to bring Sota's water- pistol?" he whispers.
"He's a god. He's supposed to know things." She replies. "But, if it's just a whim, or a joke, he'll get an earful from me."
Mrs. h adjusts the submachine gun that they found in Kagome's backpack. "Let's do it, father."
He nods.
They jump into the well.
Authors' note: a lot of deaths in this chapter . . . smile. And no magic sword to bring them back to life, either . . .
I should post the next chapter on Sunday, but it will be later than normal.
thank you for reading jeff shelton