The Demon Known as Kagome

Chapter 18

--- ------ ----- ----- Last Time ----- -------- ---------

The girls at Naraku's castle were knocked out with the smell from the incense he lit. He knew that Inu Yasha would be coming shortly and that Kagome would die soon from blood loss. 'It will all work to my plan and my advantage,' Naraku thought.

Inu Yasha awoke twenty minutes to dusk. He got up and woke the others. The were all ready for what was to come. There would be no turning back.

Inu Yasha placed a hand on his sword hilt and walked towards Naraku's castle. He was followed by Miroku, Ganu and Shippo, Sesshomaru and Rin walked behind them and Hanto and Kilala brought up the rear.

Inu Yasha took his time. He thought about a strategy or plan as he went. He ran many through his head, but could not find one he thought would work or end well.

Sesshomaru watched his brother carefully. He glanced over at Rin every few minutes to make sure that she would be okay. Miroku and Shippo were thinking of a way to get Sango and Heisei back, as was Ganu trying a plan to get Lanuta. No one could actually think of a plan without faults. Kilala and Hanto kept there minds occupied by worrying about whether they were being followed or not.

Naraku sat on the steps of the main building facing the doors. He waited for them to arrive. He knew it wouldn't be long know. Kagura stood behind him and off to his left and Kana stood next to her, although her mirror was broken and she had no weapon.

Kagome was partly awake and sensed the others coming towards Naraku's castle. She wasn't far away from death and she knew it. She had a good hour or so before her time was up. Sango, Heisei and Lanuta were half awake, too, but because of the potent sleeping fumes in each room they weren't able to fully wake or move.

Inu Yasha and the others reached the gate to Naraku's castle five minute later. Miroku gripped his staff tightly, Sesshomaru stood next to Rin protectively, Hanto and Kilala had transformed into their cat demon forms, Shippo's hands were glowing with blue flames, Hanto flexed his claws and Inu Yasha gripped his sword hilt.

Inu Yasha kicked open the door. Both pieces flew off of their hinges and landed a few feet away. He stepped in and glared at Naraku. Naraku looked up.

"What brings you here Inu Yasha?" he asked with a smirk and a chuckle. Inu Yasha growled.

"You know what the hell we are here for you bastard!" he yelled. Sesshomaru stood off to Inu Yasha's right with Rin at his side. Miroku and Shippo were off to the left and Hanto, Ganu and Kilala stood behind Inu Yasha.

"Well, well Rin. It seems that you have come back to me," Naraku said as he looked at her. Rin flinched. She moved slightly behind Sesshomaru and grasped his sleeve.

Sesshomaru turned to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He never took his eyes off of Naraku and a deep growl emitted from the bottom of his throat as his eyes flashed crimson. Inu Yasha's eyes flashed red, too, but he stood still for the moment. Shippo, Miroku and Kilala growled at Naraku, but Naraku only smiled.

"I will give you an offer," Naraku said, "You can have two of your women in exchange for your shards of the jewel and I get to keep the other two." The rooms that the girls were hanging in lit up. You could only see there silhouettes and couldn't really tell them apart very well. Everyone looked around them from room to room.

"What?" Shippo yelled.

"We will not make any deals with you Naraku," Inu Yasha said through gritted teeth.

"Never," Miroku hissed.

Miroku bent down and pushed off the ground. He lunged forwards towards Naraku.

Kagura stepped in front of Naraku and waved her fan. Streams of wind pushed Miroku back. He jumped and landed near the room that Lanuta was in.

Miroku clenched his fist and punched down one of the walls. The fumes blew out from the room and Miroku covered his nose. He dropped his staff and got Lanuta down. Ganu had been moving towards them.

Lanuta blinked open her eyes. She glanced at Miroku and then looked around her. She saw Ganu and her eyes watered. Miroku cut her chains from her ankles and wrists. He then picked up his staff and stood.

Lanuta jumped up and ran to Ganu. She smiled and he kissed her forehead. He looked her over and could already tell about her bruises. He looked at Naraku and growled.

Inu Yasha unsheathed his sword. He lunged at Naraku while Shippo had been distracting Kagura. Naraku's tentacles whipped out from underneath his baboon pelt. Inu Yasha struck them down without a second thought or care.

Sesshomaru looked at Rin and she nodded. He left her and went to help his brother with Naraku. Kilala came and stood next to Rin to protect her if necessary. Hanto crouched low as one of the tentacles came towards them. He jumped on it and bit it apart.

Hanto ran over to help Inu Yasha. He dodged this way and that avoiding the tentacles. He jumped for Naraku's head, but was struck down. He rolled on the ground and jumped back up. He lashed out at one of the tentacles nearby.

Miroku ran to the room next to where Lanuta had been. He punched one of the walls down and covered his nose. He looked through the room and saw Sango.

"Sango!" he yelled. He ran to her and cut her down. He caught her and cut the chains off. He looked her over. He waited for her to open her eyes.

Sango blinked open her eyes. She was disoriented at the moment and didn't know where she was or who was holding her. She thought it was Naraku. She lifted one of her legs and twisted. She planted a kick to her so thought "Naraku's" side. Sango landed on the ground standing up.

Miroku flew into a wall and went through it and then through the second wall. Sango snorted. Her vision cleared and she looked to her right to see Kilala and Rin. She also saw Sesshomaru, Hanto and Inu Yasha fighting Naraku with Ganu darting over to help.

"If that wasn't Naraku...," she said. She ran over to the body that she had kicked. She moved a portion of the wall and found the unconscious monk.

"Miroku!" she yelled. She almost cried. 'What have I done?' she yelled to herself. She fell to her knees. Sango moved his head to her lap. He had a cut across his forehead and one down his left arm. Sango moved a strand of his hair.

Miroku slowly opened his eyes. He had double vision, but knew he was looking at Sango. Sango looked at him and smiled as a tear ran down her cheek. Miroku lifted a hand and brushed away the tear with his thumb. His double vision faded and he could see clearly. He stood up and held out a hand to help Sango up. She accepted and took his hand.

"I'm sorry," Sango said as she stood up next to Miroku. She looked to the ground ashamed of herself.

"Sango...," Miroku said. He lifted a hand and tilted her head up to look at him. He smiled and gave her a kiss. Miroku was relieved to see her and that she was alive, although they would have some emotional problems to work out later.

Sango smiled and went over to Rin with Miroku in tow. Kilala looked at her and growled a greeting. Sango smiled. Kilala jumped forwards and ran towards Shippo and Kagura. Kana simply stood where she first was and watched. There was nothing she could do.

Miroku released Sango's hand and ran towards another room. He kicked the wall over and found Heisei. He got her down and released her from her chains. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She stood up.

Heisei looked out into the courtyard and gasped. Shippo had been knocked down by a blow from Kagura. She ran to hiss side.

"Shippo," she said softly. His eyes snapped open and he looked at her. He jumped up and told her to go over with Sango and ran back to fight Kagura again. Heisei ran over to where Sango, Lanuta and Rin where.

Miroku watched her go over. He turned towards the last room, but met a barrier and a few of Naraku's tentacles. He slashed his way through the tentacles. He pounded on the barrier. It was obviously put up by Naraku to keep them out. He punched as hard as he could, but nothing worked.

Inu Yasha in the mean time looked behind him at the girls. Since Kagome was not there, she had to be in the room that Miroku was trying to get into.

"Kagome!" Inu Yasha yelled. He ran towards the barrier. He held his sword high and struck down upon it. Miroku turned around and ran towards Naraku since Inu Yasha had that covered. 'He'll find a way in,' Miroku thought.

Kagura had been taken down and Shippo and Kilala ran towards Naraku to help, too. Sango wanted to help, but she had no weapon other than her bare hands, which she figured wouldn't help. Heisei was also distressed because she wanted to help, too. Instead the four women, including Rin and Lanuta, had to stand there and watch their men fight.

Inu Yasha repeatedly struck the barrier. He swung with all of the force he could muster, but it seemed to not budge at all. All of a sudden a pink energy blast came through the barrier from the inside making a hole.

Inu Yasha jumped back. It went and hit Naraku making him fly back and lose his left arm and leg, which caught him off guard. Sesshomaru, Shippo, Miroku, Kilala, Ganu and Hanto took advantage of that. They attacked harder and with more force, not allowing Naraku to gain his guard back.

Kagome was about two minutes from dying. She spent the last of her remaining energy to hit Naraku so the others could gain an advantage. Her head lulled slightly to the side. Her tail brushed the ground and her blood ran down her legs and to the floor. She took a few breaths, breathing hard.

Inu Yasha jumped through the hole in the barrier. Kagome saw Inu Yasha one last time and closed her eyes. A single tear ran down her cheek.

Inu Yasha ran towards Kagome. He cut her down and took her chains off. She was limp in his arms. He noticed all of her bruises and wounds. Almost all of Kagome's kimono was soaked in blood. He knew of the injuries that Rin told him, but she had the two new ones.

"Kagome...," Inu Yasha said softly. He ran a finger down her cheek.

"Kagome?" he said again. She stayed limp. She was dead.

"Kagome... No!" Inu Yasha yelled. "Wake up," he added softly. He kissed her and tears filled his eyes. They streamed down his cheeks. Everyone that was outside heard Inu Yasha. Kilala lowered her ears and Shippo whimpered slightly.

"Kagome... you can't leave me!" Inu Yasha said softly, "I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." He sheathed his sword. He growled and his eyes turned completely black again. He stood up. Inu Yasha carried Kagome as gently as you would a baby. The room was full of dust and mist.

Inu Yasha stepped out through the barrier. His eyes were hidden by his bangs, his head slightly down. Kagome lay limp in his arms, her tail, which was also mostly blood soaked, slightly wrapped around her body. He stopped and stood still.

Everyone slowly stopped, even Naraku. Sesshomaru looked at Kagome and then at his brother. He sensed no life force coming from Kagome and he knew she was no longer living. Shippo sensed it, too. Hanto and Kilala transformed back to their human forms. They backed up and moved over to Lanuta, Sango, Heisei and Rin.

Miroku stopped. He stood up. He could feel the aura coming from Inu Yasha and how angry and saddened it was. He sniffed Kagome's scent and sensed she was no longer of this world. Ganu did the same as Kilala and Hanto and moved over to where Sango and the others were.

Sango, Heisei, Lanuta and Rin could also sense Kagome's death and Inu Yasha's anger. A tear ran down Sango's cheek. Her best friend was dead. Naraku stood there and watched Inu Yasha with the dead demon/priestess in his arms.

Inu Yasha slowly raised his gaze. His eyes were still black and tears slowly slid down each cheek. Inu Yasha glared at Naraku. The jewel shards that Inu Yasha had around his neck glowed. He gently placed Kagome on the ground next to him. His own clothes were now blood stained from Kagome's.

Inu Yasha took a step towards Naraku and unsheathed his sword. He slowly walked forwards.

'For being in the highest form you can be in as a demon,' Sesshomaru thought, 'Inu Yasha... you have great control.'

Naraku smirked. He lunged towards Inu Yasha. Inu Yasha easily dodged and swiftly moved to the side. His movements were fluid like water. Naraku turned and struck at him again. Naraku managed to stick a tentacle through Inu Yasha's right arm, but Inu Yasha did nothing about it.

Inu Yasha jumped lightly off the ground. He pulled his sword back and swung as hard as he could. Naraku pulled the tentacle from Inu Yasha's arm and froze. Inu Yasha sliced off Naraku's head in one swift movement.

Inu Yasha jumped away towards Kagome's body, after retrieving the remaining jewel shards from Naraku. Naraku's body went up in miasma. It truly disappeared for the final time. Kagura and Kana's bodies disappeared into ash, blowing away in the wind.

Inu Yasha landed next to Kagome. His eyes flickered back to normal and he stood over her. He pulled the shards from his neck and connected them with the ones from Naraku.

The Jewel of Four Souls emitted a bright blue light and it floated twenty feet into the air. From the light Midoriko stepped onto the ground. Inu Yasha had picked up Kagome's body and was facing Midoriko.

"What is it that you desire?" she asked in a dreamy, placid voice that slightly echoed. Midoriko looked at Kagome then back to Inu Yasha.

"It shall be done," she said calmly. She walked towards Inu Yasha and

Kagome. She held her hands over Kagome's body and closed her eyes.

Kagome's body sucked in the bright light that had come from the jewel and Midoriko stepped back and disappeared. The jewel floated down and went into Kagome's body. Kagome was it's protector and she was bound to it. Inu Yasha looked at the now glowing body of Kagome.

"Kagome... come back to me," Inu Yasha said softly. Inu Yasha kissed her and a tear slid down his cheek and landed on her glowing form. The light faded.

Kagome snapped open her eyes. She took a deep breath. She half sat up in Inu Yasha's arms. Inu Yasha almost jumped back and would have dropped her, but he didn't.

He looked down at her and smiled. Tears ran down his face. Kagome relaxed and looked up at Inu Yasha. She weakly smiled and reached up to his face. She brushed away a tear from his cheek, but winced in pain from her injuries. The jewel had brought her back to life, but didn't heal any of her injuries.

Inu Yasha looked worriedly to the others. They nodded and he sped off to Kiade's with Kagome still bleeding in his arms.