A Wish upon a Star
... only two chapters left...
and for all those people who were demanding long chapters... Sheesh... Fine... Here you go! .
And... thank you to all of your reviews! They're helping me a lot of with this story!
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Chapter Twenty- Eight
The Final Battle
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Kagome clung onto Inu-Yasha's shoulders tightly as he leaped up into the plundering drops of rain and swiftly made his way through the forest. Clutching onto her bow and arrow tightly with one hand and his shoulder with the other, a question popped into her mind as he headed down to take another leap.
"Inu-Yasha... Where are we going?" She asked; the question dampening Inu- Yasha's mood increasingly.
"When I was young and still played with Naraku, we used to have a secret underground layer, where we'd do all that we wished. I know that he's waiting for me there... I don't know how I know... but he's there ..." he replied simply and he felt his skin prickle when he saw the exact location he wanted to go.
Kagome nodded, knowing she needn't say anything to let him know she understood what he meant. She felt Inu-Yasha freeze underneath her palm and she noticed he was preparing for landing.
As he landed, Kagome yelped as mud sprayed onto her dress and onto her face, "Jeez, you could have at least made a softer landing!" She said out and wiped the mud off her face though a trail of dirt still remained.
He laughed lightly though all his muscles were tense and then he took a deep breath.
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome asked for reassurance as she noticed he wasn't acting like his usual brave, rude and arrogant self.
He glanced towards her. "Here we are..." he said and crouched down.
Kagome raised an eyebrow as Inu-Yasha started to shift leaves and twigs aside from the ground, leaning down beside him, Kagome stared down at the ground where some sort of wooden trap door seemed to be appearing.
"Some help Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked as he stopped midway through his 'search' in the ground.
Kagome glanced at him, and with a delicate voice asked, "What am I to do?"
Inu-Yasha grinned at her. "Help me clear away all these twigs and leaves, the trap door is underneath them."
Kagome nodded and immediately went to work on shifting aside the leaves, twigs, broken branches and dirt, half of her in horror to what lay in beneath, other half hoping desperately to get this over with.
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Kikyou walked silently in the dark corridors with a fire lit candle in her hand. She had previously been trying on her wedding dresses, and it seemed like forever until Queen Youkai and her mother were finally done with her.
As she walked down her corridor and exited from the staircases, she quickly made her way to her room and walked in.
Immediately, an evil aura struck her – making her swagger at the doorway. Shaking her head to wash away the dizziness she glanced up and raised an eyebrow.
"...I swear I just saw Naraku standing out in my balcony..."
Just as soon as she found her way to her balcony, she panicked as she saw blood poured all across her balcony, and nonetheless – Kagome's balcony door wide open.
"Oh dear god," She said as she noticed Inu-Yasha's room seemed vacant as well. "Kagome – Naraku's played you two in a trap..."
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Kagome shuffled aside to make room for Inu-Yasha as she saw the trap door coming to shape. It was laid flat down on a ground, with a brass handle on the far left middle. Standing up, she peered down at Inu-Yasha's anxious face and took in a deep and sharp breath as he pulled the trap door open, revealing a small tunnel leading downwards, with a bronze ladder on the side.
Inu-Yasha glanced up at her. "Ladies first!" he said and made room for Kagome.
Kagome glanced at him, hoping he was joking... he surely wouldn't let her enter that... the forlorn tunnel first would he? "Inu-Yasha... are you serious?"
He looked at her blankly. "I don't joke around at a time like this."
Kagome raised her eye brows and leaned over to look down the tunnel. "Fine – I'll go first, but you have to swear not to shut the trapdoor and leave me down there... promise?"
He grinned. "Great idea..." Kagome gaped at him with fury and he quickly took back his comment. "Just kidding..."
Kagome shook her head and hovered above the tunnel. Taking in a gulp, she crouched down against the mud again, and before she took a step onto the ladder, she looked at him sharply. "How safe is this thing?"
"It can sustain my weight... yours... maybe not"
Kagome growled with frustration. "Oh shut up, do you see me laughing on about the situation we're in?"
He shrugged. "I'm just trying to make the best of our time..."
"But please don't!" Kagome replied and then looked down to see exactly where she should place her foot. Glancing at Inu-Yasha one last time, she lowered her leg onto the railing and started going down... placing one foot down before the other slowly.
Kagome shivered as she felt a chill smack her body, making her shudder. This place was cold... and it wasn't pleasing her one single bit. She was about to go deeper in the tunnel when she heard a squeak from beneath her. Shrieking at the top of her voice, she scared the living soul out of Inu- Yasha who was looking down at her from the top.
"What the hell happened?!" He yelled out at her, ready to jump down there if anything had attacked her.
"Inu-Yasha, there are rats down here!" She wailed out, ready to climb all the way back up.
Inu-Yasha sighed, grumbling something incoherent and then rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on – they're just rats!"
"But... I swear, they're like dozens of them down here!" she said and clung onto the railing tightly, hoping that she wouldn't fall down in the pool of rats.
Inu-Yasha sighed. "Kagome, come on – what's more important? Rats or killing Naraku?"
"At the moment, rats!" She replied and winced when she felt a bug cross her hand. "This place is swarming with bugs!"
"Oh god... wait, I'm coming down..." He said and before Kagome knew what he was doing, he had jumped down the tunnel, falling down right in front of Kagome's eyes, and before she knew it- he was at the bottom. "Come now... I'm standing right here!"
Kagome looked down at him and took a deep breath... if he could do it... so could she.
Climbing down slowly, ignoring the bugs she felt beside, around, or beneath her and made a disgusted face when she smelt the rotten air down below. "Inu-Yasha, it's starting to stink!"
He sniffed. "You're right – so lets hurry up and make our way out of this tunnel!" he said out from bellow her and Kagome sighed in frustration before jumping off the ladder when she noticed no more steps were below her. But as soon as she landed, she shrieked again when she felt two rats run around her left foot.
"Inu-Yasha!" She yelled out and then leaped to his side, looking around frantically. "They're a million rats living down here...!"
"Forget about them – I can sense him..." he said and pulled Kagome slowly through the dark cellar they were in.
"You sense Naraku?" She asked quietly, biting her lip in attempt not tot scream when she felt herself step on something's tail.
He nodded. "Yeah." Making their way through the cellar and into a narrow though dark passage Kagome took a sigh of relief as she noticed the pathway had become clear and no more rats could be felt swarming beneath her.
"Kagome...?" Inu-Yasha whispered from in front of her.
Kagome looked up at him and nodded. "Yeah?"
"Don't scream, actually – don't make any sound – the wall on top of us is filled with bats." He said slowly and pulled her in front of her, making sure she didn't run back at that moment.
Kagome widened her eyes in horror... oh god – this wasn't fair...
They both crept slowly through the tunnel, making not one sound as they stepped quietly through the horrid passage. Kagome, who was a little pissed at the fact that Inu-Yasha had pulled her in front of him and now there was no way to go back, mindlessly kicked a rock which was in her way, not thinking about the consequences.
It was a horrid mistake, and she was soon to find out.
The both stopped midway through the passage as they heard a deafening roar come from in front of them.
Inu-Yasha froze and stood in horror at what had awakened during their walk. "Kagome... stay quiet, and walk back slowly with me, understand?" Inu-Yasha whispered to Kagome in a dead silent whisper as she stared in horror at the creature approaching them.
She nodded, holding the urge to scream.
Taking a step back, Inu-Yasha hoped hopelessly that this would work... though only a fool would walk back cautiously.
Kagome screamed at once as a tail whipped out in front of her, almost hitting her stomach in its process.
"Oh SHIT!" Inu-Yasha yelled out, and without thinking pulled Kagome around and ran the other direction. "Kagome, you idiot!"
"It wasn't my fault that the thing just woke up!" She yelled out and hopelessly ran after him, noticing that the passage behind them was falling apart.
"Not THAT, you woke up ALL the BATS!" He yelled out, and at that moment, a swarm of creatures fell from the ceiling, surrounding the two in complete darkness. Kagome shrieked, this was definitely not her day...
Jumping back out of the passageway and back into the cellar, Inu-Yasha ducked down, pulling Kagome down with him. Kagome panicked as she felt the rats... the horrendous rats' critter around her, though what was more fearful was the bony wings hitting her back as they flew around the two in the cellar.
"We have to get out of this cellar!" Inu-Yasha yelled out at her, knowing that they could be trapped in here forever if they didn't.
"Back home?" Kagome asked in hope.
He shook his head. "No, follow me!" He jumped up and pulled Kagome up, dashing forward for a tunnel a few meters in front of them. Moving aside, he motioned Kagome to jump through.
"But I'll break my back" She said, noticing there was no ladder whatsoever.
"JUST JUMP!" He said and noticed the long whipping tail appearing from where they had previously been attacked. Kagome, who noticed as well, took no time in deciding and mindlessly jumped in the tunnel, hoping dearly to god that she wouldn't break any bone.
Miraculously, she didn't – and instead, fell delicately down in the big, empty... though rather blue cellar down below. Inu-Yasha came next and then sighed as he looked around.
"This way will work as well..." he said and looked at Kagome who was staring wide eyed at something in front of her. "What's up with you?" he asked moving beside her to look as well – however, the scenery didn't impress him.
"The sea – were standing right in the middle of the sea, but... how come no water is flooding the cellar then? This is impossible... crazy -."
"Shut up," Inu-Yasha said and tugged Kagome aside to a pathway. "It's a barrier, a priestess put a barrier here, so no water would flood this area, so its like were standing in the middle of the sea – but in a cellar as well."
Kagome nodded and let herself be dragged off by Inu-Yasha; amazed by the sea creatures she saw swimming beside her. Just as they entered the passageway, Kagome felt her blood chill as she heard the unpleasant, yet familiar voice approach them.
"So you both are here..." Kagura's voice echoed in the dimly lit passageway and Kagome felt her body prickle as the exited the passageway and entered a large, brightly lit cavern.
"Where's Naraku?" Inu-Yasha asked, ignoring her pout as he ignored her words.
"Standing right in front of you..." Kagura said, and before either Kagome or Inu-Yasha knew it, Kagura had transformed to Naraku. "Sorry... but today, you'll only be seeing me..."
Inu-Yasha narrowed his eyes and put a hand to his sword. "Naraku – today's the day you die..."
He smirked. "Oh, that's not nice... why don't I just die another day? There won't be room for three funerals..." he replied, smirking as he reached over for his own sword.
"This is it... say your final words Naraku!" Inu-Yasha said and took out his Tetsusaiga, the large sword gleaming with light. Naraku smirked and pulled out his own sword which looked small compared to his, but Inu-Yasha knew that looks didn't count.
Kagome whimpered and was about to run to Inu-Yasha's side as several vines snapped out from behind her, pulling her to crash into the wall behind them. Screaming as they wrapped around her body, she whimpered as they tightened their hold on her arms, legs and neck – making her securely fastened to the wall.
Inu-Yasha glanced back at Kagome, all his thoughts of fighting Naraku vanished from mind. Kagome, who had noticed him – shook her head immediately.
"Inu-Yasha, I'll be fine! Worry yourself over the fight with Naraku!" Kagome yelled, hoping Inu-Yasha would focus his attention on Naraku.
Inu-Yasha was about to reply, however he was knocked down as Naraku leapt from his current spot and attacked Inu-Yasha furiously with his sword.
Yelping at the pain at his shoulder, he got back up and struck Naraku who counterattacked by holding up his sword in his defense, which simply absorbed Inu-Yasha's attacks.
That's how it seemed to go, one stroke after another – and Inu-Yasha was always hit while Naraku always defended.
Kagome winced as she felt the vines tighten their grip... at this rate – they would stop her chances of even breathing!
Inu-Yasha growled as he frustratingly stroke Naraku again, though with Naraku's sword at maximum power, Inu-Yasha had no chance of winning. 'Damn! If I only I knew how to raise my swords power...'
As if reading his thoughts, Kagome tried to remember the map which the sea captain had given her... damn... it had said something on it – something which had told her about the Tetsusaiga's power!
"Inu-Yasha... the map – the map your mother..." Kagome said as she desperately tried to breath at the tight knots the vines had on her neck.
Inu-Yasha glanced at Kagome for a fleeting second... the maps – he remembered his mother telling him about some maps... Kagome – she knew? "Kagome – TELL ME!" He yelled out to her as Naraku suddenly grew another arm and stroke him in the stomach, making blood ooze out of Inu-Yasha like water out of a cup.
"I can't... I forgot..." Kagome said as she choked on her breath – damn these moments...
Inu-Yasha growled as his head suddenly became lighter than it had before... shit... he knew was about to faint... damn...not at this time! "Kagome... you have to remember!"
"I can't! It was so long ago!" She said and shut her eyes as the knots became tighter... any second now – she knew she was going to break into a million pieces.
"KAGOME! YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER!" Inu-Yasha yelled out when Naraku hit the sword out of Inu-Yasha's hand and stroke him in the chest, breaking many bones in the process.
Kagome winced. She couldn't breathe, let alone think. Feeling extremely dizzy as her lungs received no air, she opened her eyes... shit – why the hell was everything so quiet?
Inu-Yasha swaggered back, shit... damnit... he was losing... it was all up to Kagome... if she didn't tell him how to release Tetsusaiga's full power, they both were dead. Looking back before turning to block Naraku's attack, he felt his blood chill when he noticed Kagome's face had a slight shade of blue... and if it wasn't now...it was never.
"KAGOME! SNAP OUT OF IT! REMEMBER! JUST...REMEMBER!"
Kagome opened her eyes... was that Inu-Yasha's voice? "Inu...Yasha?"
"THE MAP! REMEMBER!" he shouted back and fell to the ground as Naraku broke his kneecap.
"I can't..." Kagome whispered out, her lungs desperately hoping for some air – ugh... if she didn't breath for another few seconds, her brain would burst.
"KAGOME, THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE!" Inu-Yasha yelled out, grabbing the Tetsusaiga again from the floor.
Kagome groaned...her head was swimming... it was as if everything from the day she was born was swimming in front of her eyes, replaying her life one last time before she would die.
And just at that moment, she remembered.
Trying to choke up the sentence out of her mouth, Kagome mentally wailed as she noticed no words were coming out of her mouth. Reaching up with a pale hand to her throat in an attempt to free her throat from the vines grasp, Kagome took in a deep breath as she pulled the vines far apart from neck enough to breath.
Kagome coughed, her chest weaving up and down. "I-Inu-Yasha..." Kagome whispered out, her voice coming out in croaked gasps. "...it can only be released with a soul of pure heart and a spirit which can match no other..." Kagome said out, faint enough for Naraku to dismiss it, but loud enough for Inu-Yasha to hear.
Inu-Yasha widened his eyes, his hope of defeating Naraku, coming back instantly. Getting up from the cold bare floor, he attacked Naraku with his sword, surprising him and making Naraku stagger back. As soon as Inu-Yasha had done so he turned around to cut the vines off Kagome... he knew what those words meant – and he needed Kagome's help for it.
Kagome dropped to the floor as the vines released her, she had no strength to stand up, and she had told Inu-Yasha what he had wanted to hear? So... couldn't she go to sleep now?
Apparently not, Kagome moaned in pain for her aching body as Inu-Yasha shook her awake, knowing they had only mere seconds before Naraku would attack again. "Kagome, get up! If you faint now – you won't ever wake up again!"
Kagome groaned. It was as if it were one of those situations, where there were a thousand blocks of cement on top of you, pushing you down, but you still tried to get up. Wincing as she tried to pull up her weight, Inu- Yasha growled at her slowness and pulled her up himself.
"You won't get away that easily!" Naraku said and attacked them with full power.
Inu-Yasha took a gulp and leapt to the side, hoping he wouldn't crush the bones which already hadn't been broken in Kagome's body. "Kagome, you still have the arrow and bow I gave you right?"
Kagome looked at him as she tried to stay conscious. "Yeah... but I dropped two of the arrows..."
Inu-Yasha growled. "Fine... then listen -." Inu-Yasha didn't have the time to continue as he picked Kagome up again to dodge another one of Naraku's attack. "Aim at Naraku... when I swipe my Tetsusaiga – you strike your arrow, understand?!" he said, rushing on his words.
"But... why me?" She asked, ignoring Inu-Yasha's desperate look.
"Because the map was talking about YOU! Now let's get this over with and hope this works!" He said and got up, swaggering as he did so due to his broken knee cap.
Kagome winced at crawled to the corner, knowing the whole burden of the situation was now placed on her back. Getting to a corner of the cavern, she stood up slowly and raised the bow which was still clutched to her hand.
Inu-Yasha growled as Naraku shifted his attention towards Kagome, raising his Tetsusaiga he attacked Naraku on the back, drawing his attention back to himself... he couldn't let him attack Kagome... not when the fight depended on her.
Kagome took in deep shallow breaths, trying to steady her shaking arm. This was impossible... she only had one arrow... meaning one try – and if she didn't strike. It was over, and not for the good of them.
Raising the arrow to her bow, she closed one of her eyes to steady her aim... this was it. Now or never. "Inu-Yasha, NOW!"
Before Naraku knew it, Inu-Yasha had leapt to Kagome's side, and just as soon as she let the arrow go, Inu-Yasha had struck the Tetsusaiga.
Naraku stared in horror as Kagome's arrow lit in a pink flame, and Inu- Yasha's strike from the Tetsusaiga which was lit in orange combined with Kagome's arrow – creating a devastating attack.
It all happened at once.
The attack hit Naraku, his scream engulfed the tunnels, caves and the cavern... and then – the walls started to crumble.
It was like watching a horror movie in slow motion. Naraku's face, which was usually kept clean and simple was contorted into a disgusting yellow expression... and then, his mouth was swallowed in his mouth – his nose dissolving with the flames, and then his entire body exploding into a million pieces across the cavern.
They had one chance... and they took it – and succeeded.
Inu-Yasha dropped to Kagome's side... holding her gentle frame lightly in his arms.
It was over... finished... he was dead; Naraku was dead... never to haunt them again.
Kagome clutched onto Inu-Yasha's chest lightly. "Inu-Yasha?" She whispered out lightly, hoping to god he would find a way to save them from the crumbing tunnels.
"Yeah?" He asked back, finding no strength in him to walk again.
"We have to get out..." She said and urged him to get up.
Inu-Yasha shook his head. "I can't..." He said and sighed. "Let's just stay here... for a while..."
"Inu-Yasha – we'll die! The whole place is falling to pieces!" Kagome said and shook him harshly.
Inu-Yasha groaned and stood up; ignoring the pain from his knee, stomach and everywhere Naraku had attacked. Swinging Kagome over his shoulder. He swaggered forward, jerking back when a large chunk of wall fell directly in front of them.
He groaned when he felt Kagome go limp in his arms... damn... she had fainted – meaning, he was alone... and it was up to him to get them out of here.
Ignoring the massive blood spill... or whatever the purple liquid which had oozed out of Naraku after their attack on the side, he walked ahead with big heavy steps.
Shit... this place stank... and for the worse; it was making him dizzy. He bit his lip when he swaggered to the left, hitting himself on the shoulder as they made their way through the crumbling passage way.
He yelped when he felt the floor beneath them shake... oh god – he had to get out... now.
As he made his way into the cellar where the barrier was put, keeping the sea from flooding the place, he crumbled to the ground. There was no way he could go up the tunnel...make his way through the rats – dodge the beast in the tunnel of bats and then make his way up the ladder.
No way at all.
Clutching Kagome's hand, he pulled her in close to him. There was still one way... but it still differed to prove to him that it would actually work.
He would wait until the barrier broke, flooding the water in – then... he would swim up to the surface, and drift to shore.
Waiting for the wall of the cavern to fall so the barrier would break, Inu- Yasha tightened his grip on Kagome's waist... oh god how he hoped she would survive this.
He felt his guts turn as he heard the sickening crunch from above, knowing it was time the ceiling was about to cave in. Preparing himself for the wave of water to rush in, he took in a deep breath... and the barrier broke.
The water rushed in the cavern, knocking out any standing stone and breaking every strong object. Ducking his head, and covering Kagome completely so none of their bones would break for the sudden water burst, he held his breath as water surrounded them from every direction.
He opened his eyes, seeing nothing but water around him. Feeling himself lift off of the ground, he held Kagome tightly and with strong determination, despite his physical state – swam up to the surface.
It seemed like his lungs would burst as second by second passed. He needed air, and he knew the unconscious Kagome did too.
As he saw the morning sun in the distance, he jumped out of the water, taking much needed breaths.
'In – out – in – out – in – out' He chanted, instructing the way his lungs needed to work. Laying Kagome down gently on the surface of the water so she would float, he ignored the strong migraine in his head as he forced his body to swim... the last thing he needed was Kagome to get Hypothermia.
It seemed like hours... but he swam – holding an unconscious Kagome with him, he still couldn't see the shoreline... but who cared? He was happy – despite the major injuries... he was still gloating.
He had done it.
It was over.
Naraku was gone.
And that was all that mattered, well... apart from getting Kagome safely back home – but...he was gone... Naraku was dead!
A proud and heroic smile crossed Inu-Yasha's face, not a grin – nor smirk, but a smile.
It was morning now... time had seemed to fly as they had gone on their small adventure – but as he had said before... who cared?
And hour passed... and then another – and finally, Inu-Yasha saw the shoreline of the beach. Swimming hopelessly for another ten minutes he took in a deep breath of pride As he clambered onto the shore. Laying Kagome down on the sand, he looked around. They were back, and they had survived.
And before another passing moment, he dropped to ground in an unconscious faint.
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There you go!
A long... eventful... chapter.
Oh my god... Kikyou's actually alive?! O.O... doesn't that make you wonder what Naraku had been planning to do?
Hmm... And the Tensaiga... it still hasn't been revealed!
Well... if you want another chapter faster than my usual updates... you'll have to review!
Arigato!
Bye! (until the next chapter of course)