To Protect the One I Love

Author's Notes:  Just to let the readers know, any detail from the series that they don't exactly remember or maybe you haven't seen the episode, I'll explain it all at the bottom.  I don't want anyone to get lost.

The True Power of the Shikon No Tama

            "Inu…yasha…" Kagome could barely sit up without getting dizzy, but if she could she would help him like she always had.  It wasn't Inuyasha's fault that he became lost to his youkai blood if Tetsusaiga wasn't in his hands.  She would never scorn him for anything he did to her or anyone else.  If anything, she would try her best to let him know she wanted nothing more than to understand him and be there for him always.

            "Kagome-sama!  Inuyasha!"

            "Kagome-chan!"

            Finally the others joined up with the couple and immediately ran to their side.  Little Shippo brought Kagome's backpack off Kirara upon smelling the blood from her wound.  "Kagome!"

            Miroku bent besides Inuyasha and placed a hand on his shoulder.  "Hang on, Inuyasha!"  But the transforming dog demon threw Miroku's hand away with a growl.

            Sango held hiraikotsu in front of them all, protecting them momentarily if Naraku tried anything.  Watching him, she instantly saw the demon fang in the wrong hands.  "Tetsusaiga!"

            Miroku dashed to Kagome's side as Shippo tried to wrap her forearm.  "Kagome-sama, what happened?!"

            Kagome kept one eye closed and grimaced as she spoke.  "Naraku seems to have taken some of Sesshoumaru's powers and attacked me."  She coughed once, her breathing becoming more difficult.  "Naraku took Tetsusaiga and for some reason, the barrier's not working."

            Miroku heard this and gasped.  "Tetsusaiga's barrier won't work because Naraku is a hanyou just like Inuyasha.  His human side allows him to wield it without being rejected by Tetsusaiga's kekai.  Which leaves us with more problems."  He frowned.  Without the sword, Inuyasha won't be able to control himself, and as far as I can see, it's already started.  The other thing is that without Tetsusaiga and Inuyasha on our side, Naraku is going to be impossible to defeat.  Miroku saw Naraku begin to form Kazu no Kizu and started running towards him.  "Shippo, watch Kagome-sama!  Sango-chan!" 

He didn't have to finish his sentence because the taijiya was already by his side. "Let's go!"  She shouted.  Kirara came up and she immediately grabbed hold and jumped on.

"Hang on, Kagome!"  Shippo begged as Kagome threatened to fall into unconsciousness, but the entire time, she kept her eyes locked on Inuyasha's struggling form.

"Inu…yasha."  She whispered painfully.  My body's shutting down on its own, but Inuyasha…what you're going through must be ten times worse.

BA-DUM

Inuyasha felt his claws extend and his fangs grow longer and sharper.  It was almost like before with Kaguya, but it didn't hurt as much.  He continued to fight it as he vaguely heard his friends defending him.

"Hiraikotsu!"  Sango threw her youkai-bone boomerang forward, slicing off Naraku's left arm.

"Kazaana!"  Miroku exclaimed, opening the black hole etched in his hand.  The broken arm was sucked in before Naraku could reattach it.

The dark demon lord seemed unfazed by the loss.  Tetsusaiga remained securely in his right hand.  "Pitiful fools."  Naraku swung Tetsusaiga in a wide arch, unleashing another Kazu no Kizu in Miroku's direction.

"Houshi-sama!"  Sango dove down with Kirara and grabbed Miroku's hand, pulling him out of the way of the attack.

"He used Kazu no Kizu!"  Shippo exclaimed the obvious.

BA-DUM

This feeling is getting stronger.  I can't control it!  My claws crave blood, want to rip open flesh and tear deep into the bone.  I want to kill…

Miroku mounted Kirara behind Sango and looked down below.  Things definitely weren't going well for them.  Then, out of the corner of his eye, the priest saw Inuyasha get up from his crouched position and dashed towards Naraku.  "Inuyasha!"

Even with the warning, the demon lord didn't have enough time to dodge the surprise attack.  Inuyasha slashed hard against Naraku's chest, ripping up four deep and bloody gashes.  Naraku retreated and narrowed his eyes at the hanyou.

"So, you still think you can win?"

Normally the self-confident hanyou would take time to give a retort, but instead he lunged forward again, this time slashing with Hijingetsusou (Claws of Blood)- Naraku's blood that is.

Naraku could neither dodged nor deflect the multi-projectile attack and it ended up slashing his robes to pieces.  This got him mad and the red glow in his eyes rivaled that of Inuyasha's.  "Lowly demons like you should learn their place!"

When Inuyasha rushed in again, Naraku lunged with Tetsusaiga.

"Inuyasha!"  Everyone exclaimed.

The scene before her threatened to bring tears to Kagome's eyes.  Her Inuyasha was completely impaled by the demon fang, its dangerously sharp tip protruding out of his back.

"It's too bad you had to act so foolish, Inuyasha.  I would've loved toying with you some more but alas, all good things must come to an end."  Naraku said confidently.

"This…is the end for you, Naraku!"  Inuyasha said in a low voice, his head still bowed.

Naraku's eyes widened when Inuyasha twisted around, pulling the blade from the demon lord's grip.  Then in mid-step he pulled the sword from his stomach and as he faced Naraku once more, brought the bloodied blade back up, severing off Naraku's other arm at the shoulder.

When he raised his head again and gold met red, the hanyou smirked triumphantly.  "You let your guard down, Naraku.  Kazu no Kizu!"  Inuyasha unleashed his attack at point blank range without even swinging the sword this time.

Naraku was blown back to the far side of the cavern, slamming hard into the wall.  Rock and boulders came down collapsing on top of him.

Inuyasha jumped over to Kagome's side where Miroku and Sango were already checking on Kagome's condition.  "Kagome!"  He called out.

Opening her eyes, Kagome whispered.  "Inuyasha?  Is that you?  Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm right here."  He knelt down and put a hand on her knee.

"Where are you?  I can't see."  She continued staring straight ahead.

Miroku ran a hand in front of her face and when she didn't even blink, he turned to Inuyasha and Sango.  "The poison has gotten to her eyes and blinded her."

"I…" A voice said from under the rubble behind them.  "I will not be defeated by the likes of you!!!"  Suddenly the rock pile exploded and Naraku, in his true form, rose up to almost the cavern's high ceiling.  "It's not over yet!"

"Let's go!"  Inuyasha ran forward and used Kazu no Kizu.  Pieces of Naraku's grotesque form were blown off.

"Hiraikotsu!"  Sango's boomerang severed more of the unrecognizable limbs that made up Naraku's mix -matched body.

"Kazaana!"  Before Naraku could reform, Miroku sucked up the pieces into his air void.  But all around him, Naraku's bees began to appear and he had to close it.

On top of Kirara, Sango took out some of her youkai poison and threw it into the air.  "Shippo!"  She called out.

Shippo nodded and jumped up.  "Kitsune Bi!"  His foxfire seemed to ignite Sango's poison powder and fill the air with a noxious gas that had all the bees falling from the sky.

The three had knocked off a lot of Naraku's huge form, but more remained and miraculously, Naraku's arms began growing back and the gashes in his chest healed themselves.

"He's still regenerating!"  Sango exclaimed.

Kagome didn't have to see the battle to understand what was going on.  Her miko senses told her all she needed to know.  Reaching out, she saw the Shikon no Tama engrossed inside Naraku's chest.  I have to get it back once and for all!  If I don't, he'll just keep healing himself!

Struggling with the effort, Kagome slowly got to her feet.

This got Inuyasha's attention.  "Kagome!"

She brought up her bow and pulled back her arrow.  "Now, Inuyasha!  Use…Kazu no Kizu!"  Each breath took an immense amount of effort and standing alone seemed to drain her of all her energy.  But she had enough strength for this…she had to.  She would aim for the jewel, but this time, she would not strike it directly.  Just underneath it would be enough.

She knew Inuyasha would do his part at the right time, so she released her purity arrow.

"Kazu no Kizu!"  Inuyasha slammed the blade down and five streaks flew towards Naraku.

Kagome's arrow weakened his body, especially around the jewel.  Inuyasha's attack ripped open his skin, giving the miko an opened path.  Now's my chance!  Dropping her bow, she ran forward at full speed, catching everyone, including Naraku, by surprise.

Naraku's body fell to the ground where tentacle-like flesh had just been keeping him up and shock covered every one of his features.

Lunging the last few feet, Kagome dug her hand into the newly opened wound and grasped the Shikon no Tama inside.  As soon as her delicate fingers entwined around the magical glass jewel, there was a flash and the entire room was bathed in a pure white light.

Inuyasha feared for the girl and called out her name, reaching forward as he did so.  "KAGOME!!"

* * *

When the priestess opened her eyes, she saw nothing but white all around her.  Then the form of another priestess began to materialize in front of her.  She was shocked when she recognized the person that had long flowing black hair and piercing blue eyes.  "Midoriko!  What are you doing here?"

Before the past priestess could answer, a door appeared behind her.  "In order to purify the jewel, the evil residing inside it must be defeated."

Kagome remembered Sango telling her that there was an eternal battle going on inside the jewel.  "The youkai spirits?"  She wondered.

"The youkai inside the jewel have combined into one entity and it has the ability to take the form of something or someone it feels will give it the upper hand and confuse you, the one trying to purify it and ultimately destroy it."  Replied Midoriko.  "So I can not tell you what you will face.  Only you will know.  And here, a gift."

In Kagome's hands appeared a bow and a single arrow.

"Fail here and Naraku's desecration of the jewel will be complete.  Your mere existence has kept him from succeeding."

Kagome gasped.  "So if I lose, I'll cease to exist?"

Midoriko nodded.  "I can't tell you anymore.  Good luck."

Kagome nodded and walked towards the door, pausing a moment to catch her breath and steady her heart, before opening it up and stepping through.

She had barely stepped through when an accusing voice yelled at her from behind.  "How dare you."  It ground.

The voice was frighteningly familiar.  But…it couldn't be…

Turning around, Kagome saw it was none other than, "Kikyou!"

The priestess looked anything but happy and glared at Kagome with eyes full of hatred.  "I lost my life protecting the Shikon no Tama and I burned it with me in hopes of preventing it from falling into the wrong hands and look what you've done!  You bring it back to this world and shatter it, bringing pain and suffering to countless innocents!"

"But you were the one who gave it to Naraku!"  Everything the dead priestess said hurt Kagome deeply, but she knew it wasn't entirely her fault.  She had still been new to this world when her arrow pierced the crow demon and destroyed the Shikon no Tama inside.

"Better Naraku than you!  You can't even protect it right!"  Kikyou continued to accuse.  "I became a miko only after years of rigorous training and conditioning.  I sacrificed my entire childhood for the life of a solitude priestess.  To not know freedom or happiness or love!"

"But Inuyasha loved you!  He cared enough to want to die with you!"

"Until you broke my spell and awakened him!  Now I am truly alone!"  Kikyou, her bow and arrow staying down at her side, were now aimed at Kagome's heart.  "After I died and you appeared as my reincarnation, everyone forgot about me.  You took my soul, my love, and everything else that ever mattered to me!"

"Now wait a minute!  I never asked for any of this!  When I released Inuyasha from Goshinboku I only did so because I didn't want to die in a world that I didn't know, away from the family that loves me enough that they've put with up me going back and forth between worlds for almost three years!  I accept responsibility for breaking the jewel, even though at the time, it was an accident."  Kagome defended herself.  "I've sacrificed everything to make sure those shards didn't find their way to demon hands and yet I admit some did, and don't think their deaths don't haunt me every night because my guilt won't let me believe their deaths were anybody's fault but my own!"

"As for Inuyasha, what happened between us couldn't be controlled.  It just happened and I don't regret any of it because without Inuyasha by my side I never would have made it as far as I have!  And it's because of him and everyone else who has been hurt by Naraku that I have to do this!"  Kagome raised her bow and arrow.

"Nani?!"

This isn't the real Kikyou.  This is the evil of the Shikon no Tama and the real reason everyone got hurt.  "And this is the person that I must defeat!"  She let the arrow go and it struck Kikyou's heart.

A bright pink flashed and Kagome had to cover her eyes from the light.  When it dimmed down, Kagome gasped when she saw Midoriko in Kikyou's place.  "Oh no!"  She ran forward and cradled the dying priestess's head in her lap.

Midoriko smiled.  "Don't worry.  I am glad you were able to defeat the evil here.  It tested your heart to see where your intentions lied.  It looked for courage, friendship, wisdom, and most importantly love.  Since you have all these, it recognized you as a Naobi, or good person, instead of a bad person, also said to be a Magatsuhito.  You're intentions are as pure as your soul and now I know it'll be in good hands."

"But…why do you have to die?"  Kagome wondered.

"Where one falls another takes its place.  I have battled inside here for hundreds of years.  Now it is time for a new protector to rise from my ashes."

Kagome nodded.  She held great esteem for the miko to have battled so long.

The body of Midoriko began to glow and slowly faded from Kagome's arms.  Then everything around her turned white…

* * *

"KAGOME!!!"  Kagome heard Inuyasha scream her name with such a passion it startled her.  The Shikon no Tama still clutched in her hands began pulsating and a strong pink light began shining out from inside Naraku.  The power surge was so great, an invisible force slammed everyone away like a seismic shock.  Kagome cried out and flew through the air, only to be caught by Inuyasha's strong arms. 

As he landed, he covered her body with his arms and shielded her from the rest of the blast.  Miroku placed a shield around himself and Sango, while Shippo coward behind Kirara.

When the blast dissipated, Naraku's body was beaten and ragged; only a fraction of his former strength remained.

When Inuyasha released his hold on Kagome slowly, making sure she wasn't hurt further, he was amazed to see a nearly completed Shikon no Tama shining brightly in her cupped hands. 

"Kagome-sama!  Are you alright?!"  Miroku asked.

She nodded and smiled towards the priest.  "Yeah, the Shikon no Tama seems to have run the poison from my body!  I feel fine!"

Inuyasha smiled, relief filling his heart.

They all gathered and just stared at Naraku, surprised at the transformation.  He was heaving greatly and several of his veins began popping out of his forehead.  "That girl…"

Everyone immediately got in front of Kagome and prepared for anything from the demon lord.

The cave walls around them began shaking with a sudden earthquake.

"He's trying to cause a cave-in!"  Miroku shouted.

"He's going to bury us alive!"  Shippo ran up Kagome's back to her shoulder and hid in her hair.

Naraku's eyes still glowed red, but the more power he put into the sudden attack, the more wrinkled his skin became.  Not only that, but his hair turned from jet-black to ash gray.  It was as if he were aging hundreds of years in mere minutes.  "If…I have to die…then I'm… taking her with me!"

What was left of Naraku's body exploded with all his energy reserves and flew right at the huddled group.

Inuyasha immediately jumped forward to meet the attack.  As the giant ki ball ran to meet him, he was reminded of when he went up against Ryuukotsusei, the demon his father sealed away and was never able to defeat.  But this time, images flashed in front of him.

FLASH!

"Naraku pierced through my grandfather's sealing charms along with his right hand, then disappeared forever.  He said, 'the air void I have cut through you will swallow you up, even if you bear children.  If you don't kill me, the curse will be passed on from generation to generation until your entire lineage has vanished from this world.'  This air void has grown over the years and the winds had only increased.  If I don't vanquish Naraku, eventually I too will fall victim to it."  "You mean you'll die?"  "Yes, I don't mind that, if that's to be my destiny…"

FLASH!

"He tried to make Sango-chan hate her brother and tried to use her to kill him."  "Why…why are you guys so…"  "Stop making a mess!  It's better for you to stay with us, after all, you are a pretty strong fighter."   "Inuyasha."  "This all happened because of me, and it might happen again, and you guys are so…"

FLASH!

"Don't forget Inuyasha, Naraku is our enemy no matter what."

FLASH!

"I'm sorry I couldn't kill him."  "Kagome this is the best battle you've had since we met."  "Inuyasha, we have get Naraku.  No matter how hard it will be, we will bring him down together…"

FLASH!

Kagome…  Inuyasha saw the center of the ki and with everyone in mind he aimed true.  "Kazu no Kizu!"  Naraku's blast began to be absorbed into Tetsusaiga, but then Inuyasha felt himself being pushed back.

In order for the attack to work, Inuyasha's strength must overpower his enemy's…

"NARAKU!!!"  Inuyasha pushed forward one last time and immediately felt the break.  With his father's sword charged up, Inuyasha shouted, "BAKURYUUHA!!!"

Naraku's death cry was overshadowed by the blast of Inuyasha's attack and the subsequent cave-in.

"Let's go!"  Miroku jumped on Kirara and pulled Shippo up with him, Sango already in the front.

"Kagome!"  Inuyasha rushed forward, the young miko getting safely on his back, before he followed his friends out the exit to the side.

The rock around them began to tumble and for a moment, the hanyou wasn't sure if they were gonna make it.  But then dawn's new light poured through and greeted the comrades.

Everyone spilled out on a grass field nearby, all of their minds not really comprehending what had just happened.  After three years…Naraku was gone for good.

Sitting up, Miroku slowly looked at his covered hand.  He was almost afraid to look underneath…

Besides him, Sango gently took his hand and began unwrapping the rosary.  When she finally finished, Miroku held his breath and watched as she lifted the small piece of cloth that covered his palm. 

"It's…gone."  He said in shock.

"And Naraku will never again walk this earth."  A new voice joined them.

They all started and looked over to see Midoriko's spirit smiling down on them proudly.  "Naraku destroyed other people's lives in order to immerse himself in the dark powers of the defiled Shikon no Tama, but in reality he was becoming more dependant on it.  When it was taken away, Naraku ceased to exist.  But the true power of the Shikon no Tama is in the heart and soul of its bearer.  The jewel amplifies the will of the person's inner light and the one who possesses the jewel actually makes their own dreams come true.  For those without a strong will, they become dependant on it and use it as a crutch, in essence becoming weaker by the minute."

"Midoriko-sama…" Kagome admired.

"Thank you, Kagome, for you set my soul free.  The Shikon no Tama has a new protector: You.  Be strong and never lose faith in yourself."

The spirit of the priestess disappeared, leaving everyone in awe of their accomplishments.  So many lives had been destroyed by Naraku and Kagome only hoped that those spirits could now rest in piece. 

Author's Notes:  WOW!  That was a long chapter, but like I said after over a hundred episodes, do you really think Naraku would go down without a fight?  Now of course the jewel isn't complete and Kagome must find the last few shards out there (Yes we know where they are).  As promised, I'll go into a little more explanation about some of the references I made, just so no one gets too confused…(these do contain SPOILERS)

#1.  Sesshoumaru's Powers – Okay, there was an episode where Naraku kidnapped Rin in order to lure Sesshoumaru to his lair and absorb him, like he did to every other demon he's run across, and become more powerful.  Sesshoumaru, being the cocky demon that he is (no offense to all the Sesshoumaru fans out there), allowed himself to be covered in Naraku's flesh and almost be absorbed until Inuyasha arrives and "distracts" Naraku and Sesshoumaru breaks free.  All I did was say Naraku got some of his powers without Inuyasha's older brother knowing it, which in my opinion could be true.

#2.  Naraku being a Hanyou – Later in the series, Miroku and Inuyasha sense that Naraku's barrier was weakening and were almost able to track him down, but they later found out that since Naraku was originally the bandit Onigumo, that when he lured all of the rest of the demons and fused with them, essentially becoming the Naraku we all love to hate, he still had Onigumo's beating heart which would explain why he wasn't able to kill Kikyou before (because of Onigumo's feelings towards the priestess) and why he is in actuality – a hanyou.  He even has one day where he turns all human, but unlike Naraku, he doesn't pick the day, it just happens.

According to Myouga-jiji, Inuyasha's father put a barrier on Tetsusaiga where Inuyasha could only use it if he learned to love humans and used it to protect them. (kinda like putting Inuyasha in his father's place and his love for Inuyasha's mother)  ANYWAY, when Sesshoumaru tried to lift the sword it rejected him, along with any other full fledged demon that tried to wield it.  Humans can wield it no problem as well, but it won't transform.  So if Inuyasha can wield it, having both bloods in him, why not Naraku?  I thought it was a pretty nasty twist.

#3 – Inuyasha's Demon Side – Inuyasha's father also made it so Tetsusaiga seals up Inuyasha's youkai blood and keeps him from becoming a killing machine.  When Tetsusaiga is out of his hands for too long and his life is in danger, instinct kicks in and Inuyasha can't control himself. (But I think everyone knows that.)

#4 – Naraku's True Form – I don't go into a lot of detail on Naraku's true for, but it basically looks like his body is connected to a giant squid's except for the suckers and there are more than eight tentacles.

#5 – Midoriko – I personally think the entire episode with her was confusing and I hate to watch it a few times to understand it.  Midoriko was a priestess who had to ability to purify demon's souls.  When they all tag-teamed her, she did a massive overdrive spell and sucked up all the souls into her own heart, then her heart came out of her chest with not only the youkai souls but also her own, and that became the Shikon no Tama.  It's called this because Shikon stands for the four (I call them virtues) that one who wants to use the jewel must possess.  Courage, Friendship, Wisdom, and Love.  If you have all four of these, you are considered a good person, or Naobi.  If you are a bad guy, you're called a magatsuhito.  Only a Naobi can use the jewel, but its still dangerous.

Now, my story isn't over yet, so stay tuned!  This is only the beginning…