Disclaimer: blah blah blah... don't own Inuyasha... blah blah blah...
Heh... -ducks as bricks start being thrown one by one- alright, alright... fluff it is, then. Just... cut on the brick throwing!
You really don't want to kill me... I'm the one writing the story, after all...
-Shuffles uncomfortably under the gaze of angry reviewers-
Alright, alright...
Here's your next chapter...
Forever
Chapter 9: Power
Naraku
The jewel shone brightly, filling the entire room with a glorious pink light. It was freedom, this jewel. It was power.
His power.
Naraku chuckled at Kagura, and the way she was near to growling at him, perhaps even attempting to destroy him. But he knew she wouldn't He knew she couldn't. For he had the Shikon no Tama, The Jewel of Four Souls, The sacred Shikon Jewel.
It was his. His alone. And he didn't have to share it, didn't need to wait to possess it completely.
A smile traced Naraku's lips. It was no evil smile, no sorrowful smile. It wasn't a smile of grief or pain or relief. No, this smirk was a true one. A blissful smile that reached his eyes and glinted in the strong light of the jewel.
He hadn't smiled for a long time...
It felt good to smile, to feel at peace with himself. Naraku made a mental note to smile more often.
Looking down at the jewel he still clutched in his hand, Naraku brought it up to his chest, right before his heart. Now to business...
He pressed the jewel gently against his skin, feeling it become faint to the world outside, and strong within him. Power flowed steadily into him, fortifying his barriers, strengthening his wit. Soon his hand was against his heart, touching no more than his very own skin.
Naraku breathed in, feeling each particle of air enter him in a graceful movement of air. He exhaled, and felt the air before him shudder, both with fear and lust. Lust for his power.
Power that was his.
Kagome
She and Sango had finished their planning. It was quite an intelligent way about their problem, Kagome believed. They would certainly win... Unless her dreams proved to be right. If they were, she would surely follow Inuyasha to the grave, to Hell, and be with him for all eternity there...
She simply wouldn't allow herself to be a puppet for Naraku to use to destroy the past.
And the future.
It was right before her... yet why had she not realized it? Naraku would know the second he entered her soul every secret she knew, everything she'd ever learned. Including the well, and her time. She simply couldn't let him control her again. Kagome gulped, a tidal wave of fear consuming her.
Naraku had already possessed her once. So... he knew of the well. And her time.
And he would destroy it.
Inuyasha
He sighed, resting against a tree trunk as Miroku and Sesshomaru fought. All three were topless, sweating, and tired to no end. But they trained this hard for a reason. Naraku had the entire jewel now, he would be stronger than before. Much stronger. Thus they had to train, to equal his strength, or defeat it.
Miroku put up a good fight. He parried Sesshomaru's attacks perfectly with his staff. But when Inuyasha's brother did manage to catch Miroku unawares, it would weaken the monk considerably.
Sesshomaru would heal. Being a demon, he couldn't sport wounds for long. But for Miroku, every scratch added up until he fell to his knees in weariness.
Inuyasha would have laughed at Miroku's weakness, had the time not been now. Had they not been so desperate, he and Sesshomaru would be sharing a hearty laugh at Miroku right now. But this was no time for games. This was the time for war.
Oh, how he wished it hadn't been so... how he wished Naraku would just... vanish for a change. But he wouldn't. Had it been some other time, Inuyasha would probably be dragging a starry-eyed Miroku from the hot springs where the girls bathed. He would be laughing at Miroku's ignorance, eyeing Sesshomaru warily. He would be with Kagome, holding her...
Holding her...
Would it have been any different if Naraku had not meddled with their fates? Yes, Inuyasha decided, it would. Had Naraku not killed him, he would never have, perhaps been given the chance to hold Kagome, to kiss her...
He wouldn't have lived had he not died.
It was strange, that thought, yet true. For had Inuyasha not died, had Naraku not possessed Kagome... they'd have continued arguing, pretending to be mere acquaintances, barely friends.
He couldn't pretend any longer.
He was glad Naraku had appeared in their lives.
The fiend had let them live.
Kagura POV
That... that fiend! That insignificant, ignorant, arrogant fool! That... that creature... he'd chained me, deeming me unworthy to serve him. Could he not have simply let me go?
No... I knew too much of his secrets. His dark, dirty secrets that plagued my mind. I didn't want to know them, yet I'd been chosen by the gods to serve him. Him, of all demons! Him, that fool, that arrogant fool!
I tugged at my chains, trying in vain to break free. My fans lay on the rock floor to my right, ripped and useless.
I stopped struggling and sat down as best as I could on the cold, damp floor.
Who was my guard? Was there one? The doorway was right before me, the light almost blinding in contrast to the darkness of my prison cell. And my guard stood before the door, gazing at me with pearl eyes...
Kanna.
That brat... I'd trusted her once, even liked her. I'd even loved her as I'd have loved a sister... she was my sister in a way.
We were both a piece of that insolent demon, Naraku. We were both tainted with his blood in our veins. But Kanna and I differed in one way: She called this life a blessing, and I a curse.
"Let me out..." I growled at the girl, struggling with my chains.
Kanna merely smiled, and retreated into the corridor. I was in darkness again.
Naraku
It had been a good idea to leave Kagura bound. He didn't trust that demon. She would surely betray him had Naraku chosen to leave her free... And so he'd bound her with chains that would not be undone unless he himself chose to unbind them.
Kagura hated him. He was her enemy.
As was Inuyasha. And Kagome. And Sango, and Miroku.
They had a common enemy.
Which made them allies.
Naraku couldn't risk a single secret being told to them, such as the key to his undoing... Kagura knew everything about him. From his birth to his possible death she knew.
But there was one secret she didn't possess knowledge of. It wasn't Naraku's secret... no; it was that girl's. The second he'd gained possession of her control, Naraku had learned everything she knew, including that very valuable piece of information...
Naraku smiled as the wind blew against his face. His hair flapped freely behind him, as did his dark green cloak. His eyes glittered with a malice, a hate so strong that he seemed to own all in that instant. As he would. Naraku stood at the peak of his mountain, gazing at the horizon from the height of the world.
He knew of the well.
Kagome
Clouds gathered on the west horizon, replacing the sun as it fell. It had been one month since Inuyasha had revived. One month from her enslavement to Naraku.
One month since she'd been condemned to death. It would be tonight. The battle would come without bidding, without warning.
Naraku had the entire jewel.
And she had no weapon against him.
Kagome gasped as Inuyasha's arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. She turned, and buried her head in his chest, seeking warmth.
"He's coming..." she murmured to Inuyasha. "He will arrive by nightfall..."
The hanyou pulled back slightly, and held her chin in his hand. He brought his face close to hers, and gazed into her eyes. His golden orbs illuminated the darkness in Kagome's mind. He was her torch, her guardian...
Her angel.
"He will not hurt you." He said, gaze locked to Kagome's.
"I do not care what he does to me." Kagome whispered in reply. "If he kills you, I'll have no reason to live..."
"He will not kill me. I promise."
"How can you promise to remain alive, against Naraku? He has the entire jewel. He has a far greater power than your own... He will kill-"
Kagome was silenced with Inuyasha's finger on her lips. He took away his finger from her now trembling lips and kissed her lightly. Pulling back, Inuyasha held Kagome close against him again. His ears perked, and Kagome knew he felt Naraku's presence draw near.
Inuyasha held a shivering Kagome against him.
She clung to her angel, his protection a need, a desire.
Inuyasha POV
She was shivering as I held her close to my heart. My presence comforted her somewhat, yet Kagome still feared Naraku's wrath. I myself was afraid. But I had to be strong. If I showed my fear, whom would Kagome hold on to?
She needed me.
As I needed her. As I needed air, water, as I needed wind to calm me. I needed Kagome. She was my life. If I died, I would lose nothing. If Kagome fell, I would lose all.
The clouds to the west gathered, darkening the already darkened sky. I smirked, my long-dead humor returning. There would be no stars tonight.
I felt Kagome sob into my chest, spilling tears on me. I held her closer, watching alertly as a chariot formed from the dark clouds. It was a dark chariot, drawn by midnight steeds. They stomped through the air, snorting at the village below them as their rider pulled their reins and stopped.
Naraku...
The demon stepped from his chariot gently, guided to the ground by a demon much like Sesshomaru's demon form. It was a scaled lizard in the form of a wolf, ears and tail the same. Its snout, however, was a snake's. A long neck spouted from its body, carrying a serpent's head. Naraku sat calmly atop it, watching me hold a shivering Kagome against me.
I must have looked proud and defiant then, for as Naraku stepped from his mount, he began to laugh, mocking me.
Kagome whimpered against my chest as Naraku approached us. He tried to lay a hand on her shoulder, but I threw it away.
"You will not poison her again." I growled, tightening my grip around Kagome.
Naraku took a few steps back, and smiled.
"I need her body, simply, to capture the west. I will return her for your use later." He replied.
"She is no tool!" I growled, as Kagome sobbed against me. She was afraid. Naraku angered me.
"She is human, fool," replied Naraku, "And is useful for nothing more than finding shards and using as a powerful puppet. Of course..." he touched his chest, "I already possess the Shikon Jewel. So I need a puppet..."
"You will not touch her!" I shouted, ready to draw Tetsaiga. But Kagome stopped me, drawing back from her place against me.
She looked at me, black eyes still watering with waiting tears. Her face was red from crying, and she looked about to break down emotionally as she placed her hand on my arm.
"Don't..." she whispered.
I obeyed her willingly.
It was my love for her that may very well have killed us all, for Naraku was unguarded.
He stared at me, glaring into my mind, trying to destroy my hope, shatter my dreams.
I left Kagome then. It killed me to leave her side, to leave her on her own. As I drew Tetsaiga slowly, I glanced back at her. Kagome stood, facing Naraku defiantly. Never had I seen a more hope rising sight.
I turned back to Naraku and eased Tetsaiga in my fierce grip.
Cliffy! Alright, people... please review! I thank all those who have reviewed, and those who've stayed with me so far. You're so kind...
Ok... out of the writing mood. Hope you liked this chapter...
Heh... -ducks as bricks start being thrown one by one- alright, alright... fluff it is, then. Just... cut on the brick throwing!
You really don't want to kill me... I'm the one writing the story, after all...
-Shuffles uncomfortably under the gaze of angry reviewers-
Alright, alright...
Here's your next chapter...
Forever
Chapter 9: Power
Naraku
The jewel shone brightly, filling the entire room with a glorious pink light. It was freedom, this jewel. It was power.
His power.
Naraku chuckled at Kagura, and the way she was near to growling at him, perhaps even attempting to destroy him. But he knew she wouldn't He knew she couldn't. For he had the Shikon no Tama, The Jewel of Four Souls, The sacred Shikon Jewel.
It was his. His alone. And he didn't have to share it, didn't need to wait to possess it completely.
A smile traced Naraku's lips. It was no evil smile, no sorrowful smile. It wasn't a smile of grief or pain or relief. No, this smirk was a true one. A blissful smile that reached his eyes and glinted in the strong light of the jewel.
He hadn't smiled for a long time...
It felt good to smile, to feel at peace with himself. Naraku made a mental note to smile more often.
Looking down at the jewel he still clutched in his hand, Naraku brought it up to his chest, right before his heart. Now to business...
He pressed the jewel gently against his skin, feeling it become faint to the world outside, and strong within him. Power flowed steadily into him, fortifying his barriers, strengthening his wit. Soon his hand was against his heart, touching no more than his very own skin.
Naraku breathed in, feeling each particle of air enter him in a graceful movement of air. He exhaled, and felt the air before him shudder, both with fear and lust. Lust for his power.
Power that was his.
Kagome
She and Sango had finished their planning. It was quite an intelligent way about their problem, Kagome believed. They would certainly win... Unless her dreams proved to be right. If they were, she would surely follow Inuyasha to the grave, to Hell, and be with him for all eternity there...
She simply wouldn't allow herself to be a puppet for Naraku to use to destroy the past.
And the future.
It was right before her... yet why had she not realized it? Naraku would know the second he entered her soul every secret she knew, everything she'd ever learned. Including the well, and her time. She simply couldn't let him control her again. Kagome gulped, a tidal wave of fear consuming her.
Naraku had already possessed her once. So... he knew of the well. And her time.
And he would destroy it.
Inuyasha
He sighed, resting against a tree trunk as Miroku and Sesshomaru fought. All three were topless, sweating, and tired to no end. But they trained this hard for a reason. Naraku had the entire jewel now, he would be stronger than before. Much stronger. Thus they had to train, to equal his strength, or defeat it.
Miroku put up a good fight. He parried Sesshomaru's attacks perfectly with his staff. But when Inuyasha's brother did manage to catch Miroku unawares, it would weaken the monk considerably.
Sesshomaru would heal. Being a demon, he couldn't sport wounds for long. But for Miroku, every scratch added up until he fell to his knees in weariness.
Inuyasha would have laughed at Miroku's weakness, had the time not been now. Had they not been so desperate, he and Sesshomaru would be sharing a hearty laugh at Miroku right now. But this was no time for games. This was the time for war.
Oh, how he wished it hadn't been so... how he wished Naraku would just... vanish for a change. But he wouldn't. Had it been some other time, Inuyasha would probably be dragging a starry-eyed Miroku from the hot springs where the girls bathed. He would be laughing at Miroku's ignorance, eyeing Sesshomaru warily. He would be with Kagome, holding her...
Holding her...
Would it have been any different if Naraku had not meddled with their fates? Yes, Inuyasha decided, it would. Had Naraku not killed him, he would never have, perhaps been given the chance to hold Kagome, to kiss her...
He wouldn't have lived had he not died.
It was strange, that thought, yet true. For had Inuyasha not died, had Naraku not possessed Kagome... they'd have continued arguing, pretending to be mere acquaintances, barely friends.
He couldn't pretend any longer.
He was glad Naraku had appeared in their lives.
The fiend had let them live.
Kagura POV
That... that fiend! That insignificant, ignorant, arrogant fool! That... that creature... he'd chained me, deeming me unworthy to serve him. Could he not have simply let me go?
No... I knew too much of his secrets. His dark, dirty secrets that plagued my mind. I didn't want to know them, yet I'd been chosen by the gods to serve him. Him, of all demons! Him, that fool, that arrogant fool!
I tugged at my chains, trying in vain to break free. My fans lay on the rock floor to my right, ripped and useless.
I stopped struggling and sat down as best as I could on the cold, damp floor.
Who was my guard? Was there one? The doorway was right before me, the light almost blinding in contrast to the darkness of my prison cell. And my guard stood before the door, gazing at me with pearl eyes...
Kanna.
That brat... I'd trusted her once, even liked her. I'd even loved her as I'd have loved a sister... she was my sister in a way.
We were both a piece of that insolent demon, Naraku. We were both tainted with his blood in our veins. But Kanna and I differed in one way: She called this life a blessing, and I a curse.
"Let me out..." I growled at the girl, struggling with my chains.
Kanna merely smiled, and retreated into the corridor. I was in darkness again.
Naraku
It had been a good idea to leave Kagura bound. He didn't trust that demon. She would surely betray him had Naraku chosen to leave her free... And so he'd bound her with chains that would not be undone unless he himself chose to unbind them.
Kagura hated him. He was her enemy.
As was Inuyasha. And Kagome. And Sango, and Miroku.
They had a common enemy.
Which made them allies.
Naraku couldn't risk a single secret being told to them, such as the key to his undoing... Kagura knew everything about him. From his birth to his possible death she knew.
But there was one secret she didn't possess knowledge of. It wasn't Naraku's secret... no; it was that girl's. The second he'd gained possession of her control, Naraku had learned everything she knew, including that very valuable piece of information...
Naraku smiled as the wind blew against his face. His hair flapped freely behind him, as did his dark green cloak. His eyes glittered with a malice, a hate so strong that he seemed to own all in that instant. As he would. Naraku stood at the peak of his mountain, gazing at the horizon from the height of the world.
He knew of the well.
Kagome
Clouds gathered on the west horizon, replacing the sun as it fell. It had been one month since Inuyasha had revived. One month from her enslavement to Naraku.
One month since she'd been condemned to death. It would be tonight. The battle would come without bidding, without warning.
Naraku had the entire jewel.
And she had no weapon against him.
Kagome gasped as Inuyasha's arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. She turned, and buried her head in his chest, seeking warmth.
"He's coming..." she murmured to Inuyasha. "He will arrive by nightfall..."
The hanyou pulled back slightly, and held her chin in his hand. He brought his face close to hers, and gazed into her eyes. His golden orbs illuminated the darkness in Kagome's mind. He was her torch, her guardian...
Her angel.
"He will not hurt you." He said, gaze locked to Kagome's.
"I do not care what he does to me." Kagome whispered in reply. "If he kills you, I'll have no reason to live..."
"He will not kill me. I promise."
"How can you promise to remain alive, against Naraku? He has the entire jewel. He has a far greater power than your own... He will kill-"
Kagome was silenced with Inuyasha's finger on her lips. He took away his finger from her now trembling lips and kissed her lightly. Pulling back, Inuyasha held Kagome close against him again. His ears perked, and Kagome knew he felt Naraku's presence draw near.
Inuyasha held a shivering Kagome against him.
She clung to her angel, his protection a need, a desire.
Inuyasha POV
She was shivering as I held her close to my heart. My presence comforted her somewhat, yet Kagome still feared Naraku's wrath. I myself was afraid. But I had to be strong. If I showed my fear, whom would Kagome hold on to?
She needed me.
As I needed her. As I needed air, water, as I needed wind to calm me. I needed Kagome. She was my life. If I died, I would lose nothing. If Kagome fell, I would lose all.
The clouds to the west gathered, darkening the already darkened sky. I smirked, my long-dead humor returning. There would be no stars tonight.
I felt Kagome sob into my chest, spilling tears on me. I held her closer, watching alertly as a chariot formed from the dark clouds. It was a dark chariot, drawn by midnight steeds. They stomped through the air, snorting at the village below them as their rider pulled their reins and stopped.
Naraku...
The demon stepped from his chariot gently, guided to the ground by a demon much like Sesshomaru's demon form. It was a scaled lizard in the form of a wolf, ears and tail the same. Its snout, however, was a snake's. A long neck spouted from its body, carrying a serpent's head. Naraku sat calmly atop it, watching me hold a shivering Kagome against me.
I must have looked proud and defiant then, for as Naraku stepped from his mount, he began to laugh, mocking me.
Kagome whimpered against my chest as Naraku approached us. He tried to lay a hand on her shoulder, but I threw it away.
"You will not poison her again." I growled, tightening my grip around Kagome.
Naraku took a few steps back, and smiled.
"I need her body, simply, to capture the west. I will return her for your use later." He replied.
"She is no tool!" I growled, as Kagome sobbed against me. She was afraid. Naraku angered me.
"She is human, fool," replied Naraku, "And is useful for nothing more than finding shards and using as a powerful puppet. Of course..." he touched his chest, "I already possess the Shikon Jewel. So I need a puppet..."
"You will not touch her!" I shouted, ready to draw Tetsaiga. But Kagome stopped me, drawing back from her place against me.
She looked at me, black eyes still watering with waiting tears. Her face was red from crying, and she looked about to break down emotionally as she placed her hand on my arm.
"Don't..." she whispered.
I obeyed her willingly.
It was my love for her that may very well have killed us all, for Naraku was unguarded.
He stared at me, glaring into my mind, trying to destroy my hope, shatter my dreams.
I left Kagome then. It killed me to leave her side, to leave her on her own. As I drew Tetsaiga slowly, I glanced back at her. Kagome stood, facing Naraku defiantly. Never had I seen a more hope rising sight.
I turned back to Naraku and eased Tetsaiga in my fierce grip.
Cliffy! Alright, people... please review! I thank all those who have reviewed, and those who've stayed with me so far. You're so kind...
Ok... out of the writing mood. Hope you liked this chapter...