Hunting Fear

A note to all my readers: I am very happy with how this story has come along and the popularity it has received. (thirty-one reviews, whoa!) Some of you left a review every chapter, some of you came in the middle of the story. Whatever your reasons for reading my story, thank you. Your support is appreciated. Due to AP classes, I have not been able to update as often, as some of you have noticed...anyway, this story is soon to come to an end. I feel bad that I haven't been able to put in a lot of work lately, and I feel like the quality of the chapters is beginning to degrade with each update. In order to preserve the goody-goodness you all love, I think this is going to be the last chapter, the end of the book. Don't panic, though, I am going to start a sequel soon, and with Christmas break approaching, I may be able to contribute a chapter a day. I am planning on a trilogy. So keep reading!! I may include a sneak preview of the sequel if this chapter does well.

BOOM!

Panicked men ran across the sizzling forest, charred wood flying through the ash-choked air. Amongst them was a single man, walking calmly though the midst of the chaos, a deep laugh ringing from his throat. His hands, clean to the mundane eye, were stained with the blood of many victims. He licked his bloody-red lips, baring his pointed teeth. The fires of hell burned in his eyes.

A single dying man lay there, his eyes smarting with the smoke, and his lungs charred with the ashes. Koga's eyes burned with a fire as well. A single though pulsed through his mind as his weak body shuddered. He had to find Ayame. He had to save her. He had to be with her. He could feel her heart beating strongly within his own, he could sense her presence. He could feel her wounds across his own chest. His teeth gritted as he glowered at the evil man before him. He had caused her pain; he had separated them. That bond was not to be strained.

"You're mine, Naraku!" he screamed with the last of his energy, almost completely powered by his spiteful will. Blood intertwined with his tears and sweat, making it nearly impossible to see. A smirk curled over Naraku's hideous lips.

"Do you pose a challenge?"

"No, I pose a defeat!" Before either man could react to the powerful words of hate, Koga's fingers had locked the trigger of his gun, an aim straight and true for Naraku's tainted heart. There were a few smitten seconds of silence. Neither man could process the events in their brain, they were both stunned. The puncture in Naraku's chest soon ran with blood. With a pitiful scream, the villain fell to the ground, clutching at his heart, if he possessed one.

The cocky Koga smirked one last time before he fell to the earth as well, the gun slipping from his hand. His combined exhaustion and shock had stopped his own heart. The murderer had one last kill, but he had been killed by his own deeds and actions. The only blood shed then after was of the sinful.

Inu-Yasha shook his head. Rin looked at him sadly. His fears were her own, though she had already confirmed them. She could feel disaster; she could feel the pain of Naraku's victims. He stared hollowly at his cell phone. He could feel disaster as well.

"Inu?" Rin asked softly.

"Yes, Rin?"

"Koga is dead." Inu-Yasha closed his eyes tightly, turning away from the words, but he knew it was true. He could feel the lost spirit of Koga wandering, ever searching for his beloved Ayame. The icy stab in his heart spilled the blood of grief. There were others that had been lost as well, others that had suffered, but none hit Inu quite as hard as the loss of his life-long companion. Rin looked down, not regretful of her words, but empathetic to her friend.

"Naraku is dead as well." Rin averted her eyes. She knew it could not compensate for a brother's death. No restitution was satisfactory other than reuniting in heaven. Inu would always thirst for revenge, or the feel of his companion at his side, but he would find neither, at least not in the time that he dwelled in mortality. But now he would wander eternally through the deep wallows of self-pity.

"I can feel Ayame's spirit leaving her as well." Rin's eyes were filled with tears, though inside, a joy burned with in her. The lovers would be reunited after all.

"No!" he cried out angrily. Abundant tears slid down his hot cheeks. "We have to save her, Koga may be dead, but I promised I would bring her back to him. I promised she wouldn't get hurt." His voice started to crack. The hard shell of emotional stability had cracked. He started to run vainly forward.

"No." Rin said calmly. Tears were on her face as well, dripping onto his arm as she held him firmly. "Don't you see? We cannot change her fate. She is going to die, Inu-Yasha. But there is hope. She will be with Koga, in a better place, a dwelling of peace and rest. She will be with Koga, and she will not be harmed. Injuries will leave her in that state."

Inu-Yasha turned his face from her, but he felt within his heart as well. He owed Koga his love; he was not one to stand in the place of love, or love and death. Even in death, their love would go on. Ayame slowly left life behind in his arms.

There was still one mission left unaccomplished: finding Sango.

"Wake up." A soft serenaded. Sango's chestnut orbs slowly opened, revealing the beautiful sunshine of a woman. She blinked softly, her eyelashes fluttering. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she stared into unfamiliar yellow irises.

"Who are you?" she asked in a whisper, the only voice she could manage.

"Inu-Yasha, I'm a police officer. I was sent to rescue you. I found you last night, and I brought you here to get fixed up." Sango looked around, analyzing her surroundings. The white walls shone brightly at her. She rubbed her eyes and put her palm on her forehead. She was tired, she felt entirely wasted. Her mind was somewhat blank, but she did not wish to remember the events of the last couple of days. She just needed some rest.

Inu-Yasha laughed. "Late night, huh?" She nodded. "Well, I'll leave you alone in a second, but I thought you might want to be....reunited."

Before she had the chance to process his words, a familiar head poked his head in the doorway.

"Miroku!!" she cried out happily. He dashed in, wrapping his strong arms around her. Inu-Yasha slowly slipped from the room. Warm tears and words of joy exchanged between the two for several moments. For a couple of moments, the two just embraced. They had longed for each other for so long it seemed as though it has been an eternity. Soon, he was pulled away, leaving Sango to her thoughts.

There was an element of strong emotion in Inu-Yasha's voice. There had been fresh mourning, the hallow hole of loss in one's heart, and something Sango had not expected....jealousy.

Gylfie