Chapter 15
The Final Battle
Kagome jumped down from Kirara, dressed in the war garb she had found in one of the chests in the closet of her room. Inutashio had told her it was there when he had visited her in her dreams last night, offering her a few words of wisdom and encouragement.
The armour itself was designed much like Sesshomaru's. Her outer kimono though was black with two silver dogs running across it and an army of various youkai and humans firing arrows at them. She wore a silver and green obi that matched the fire in her eyes perfectly. She wasn't sure what the armour pieces were made of but she suspected they were from the bones of vanquished youkai, just like Sango's weapon. The armour, at first seeming far too large and heavy, had adjusted to fit her perfectly and didn't feel heavy or restricting at all.
Her hair was tied back and her quiver was on her hip. A bow made from bone rest easily in her hand, another gift from Inutashio that she had found in the closet.
She stepped forward, head held high and looking every inch the confident Lady of the Western Lands as Miroku and Sango fell into step on either side of her. Kirira followed directly behind her still in her battle form.
"Kagome-sama." Naraku greeted with false warmth and a slight smile that portrayed amusement.
"Naraku." She greeted, her voice cold as she stopped several feet away from him.
She used her miko powers to assess everyone before her. The two Schichinintai showed up as they always had. Undead like Kikyo with jewel shards. Naraku's youki was alarmingly strong but nothing she didn't feel confident in taking on. Kohaku appeared human enough. The woman reeked of a very powerful kuromiko. This one made Sebaki look like a child. Inuyasha's youki was weak. The last presence she could not see, though the youki from it was astonishing and recognizable.
"Sesshomaru! He's at full strength and beyond. And I senses Jewel shards coming from him. Lots of them!" She felt the first stirrings of panic as she tried to factor in this new information.
"Have you chosen your champion, Kagome-sama. It can be whomever you wish and they may wield whatever weapon you may wish."
At this, Inuyasha started to try and tell her something, but it was garbled through his bit. Four years of traveling with him gave her a kind of empathy with him and she knew what it was he was trying to say.
"No, Inuyasha. I will fight his champion. I will not hide behind others." She said coldly.
"E I GA ." He shouted out, his eyes wide in worry as he tried to get the message across to her.
She looked at him in surprise, easily figuring that one out.
"I can not wield Tetsusaiga." She pointed out.
He shouted it again, more insistently.
"I suppose it can't hurt. If anything, the blades barrier may protect me." She thought. "I will fight your champion Naraku. I choose my bow and arrows, my miko powers, and the Tetsusaiga as my weapons. What are the conditions of the fight and who will I fight?" She asked coldly and calmly.
"The conditions are simple my dear Kagome-sama. If you win, I will free Inuyasha and Sesshomaru-sama."
"And if I lose?" She asked just as coldly.
"If my champion beats you you will hand over your half of the Shikon no Tama and yourself, to obey me for all time as my obedient slave."
"And my child?" She asked, fearing the answer.
"The child will belong to me."
Her heart hardened. If she was going to lose she would make sure it was due to death. Herself she could live with as being his slave but never her child.
"Bring your champion forth Naraku and let us finish this." She commanded as Kohaku handed her Tetsusaiga.
Her opponent stepped forward out of the trees. She felt her heart flutter in panic, fear, and pain. She tore her eyes from him to the Kuromiko, who was grinning evilly at her. Her panic and fear turned to righteous anger. She knew the signs of mind control anywhere and now she knew why the kuromiko was positively glowing with power.
"Naraku, you bastard." She snarled.
Naraku chuckled. "Your life and the jewel are all but mine."
She snarled as she placed Tetsusaiga on her side and drew her first arrow, allowing her purifying powers to mesh with it and getting ready to set up a barrier. This fight was going to take every ounce of her courage, training, and power to win. She could not afford distractions.
"Damn bastard. What is with him and mind control? Does he have some sick, twisted desire to see loved ones fight each other to the death or is he just running out of new ways to torture us?" She wondered angrily.
She forced the physic evaluation of Naraku aside, knowing she would never understand him, as she turned her full attention to Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru, my mate." She said confidently as he walked towards her, the vacant look in his eyes hurting her more then she had ever imagined it would.
He didn't speak, just drew Toukijin and held it ready before him.
"Would you dishonor yourself so much as to strike at your mate?" She asked as she drew her bow back.
He didn't slow his advance and only stopped when they were mere meter's apart.
"Are you so weak as to let some human woman control you?" She asked in a whisper.
"Kagome-sama." Miroku called worriedly to her.
She ignored him, not once braking her gaze from Sesshomaru. For a brief minute she though she saw a flicker of emotion but it was dead quickly and she figured it was just her imagination.
"Sorry my Mate." She whispered, her eyes moistening in tears as she released her arrow.
He brought up Toukijin to block it. The sword hummed with the purifying power behind her arrow. As fast as she released it she summoned a barrier and fired another arrow. He dodged this one and struck out with Toukijin's power.
With his power amplified a million fold with Shikon shards, her barrier was quickly taxed. She gritted her teeth and sent more power into it, even as she tried to find where the shards in his body where and how she was going to get them out.
"So many." She thought in despair, finding them scattered through out his body. "Naraku must have shattered his half of the jewel."
The flow of power from Toukijin finally relented and she fired another arrow, once again easily dodged. She fired off the rest of her arrows pointlessly, none of them coming close to harming him as he either dodged them or destroyed them with Toukijin.
Out of ammunition she dropped her bow and drew a non transforming Tetsusaiga. She held the blade in one hand and the sheath in the other. She dropped her barrier, needing the power for her next spell.
He slashed at her with Toukijin one last time. She held the sheath in front of her and grounded herself as she had seen Inuyasha do so many times in the past. Her friends screamed her name and tried to rush to help her.
They were cut off by Kohaku and Mukotsu. Kanna did not interfere. She paid them no mind, focusing on her own target. The sheath started to crack but she held faith in it. She focused her powers and flung it at the control the kuromiko had on Sesshomaru.
She felt the spell falter a little but otherwise it had no effect. The bitches spell must have been tied with something personal. But what? She spared a glance at the Kuromiko standing next to a smug Naraku.
The woman was not chanting nor seemed to have any items on her, though her eyes were focused in concentration and hatred. Hatred?
The blast ended and she looked to her mate again, bringing up her shield as he lunged at her, only to be deflected back off of it. His eyes went red and he snarled in rage at her.
She ignored him, pouring as much power into her shield as possible as she focused on the spell the kuromiko had on him again. Hatred was the binding element. She could feel it in her soul, which took her by surprise.
Her barrier collapsed suddenly, taking her by surprise. In reflex she leaped back, Toukijin slicing across her chest. Blood began to flow and Naraku chuckled. She stumbled but regained her balance. The cut was shallow and hurt like hell but it was not life threatening. Naraku wanted her alive after all, which was probably the only reason she still was.
In that instant of inattentiveness she caught sight of her friends. Sango was fending of Kohaku, tears streaming down her face as Miroku was fighting Mukotsu with Kirara's help.
She looked back to Sesshomaru, tears threatening to spill as she realized how hopeless the situation was. She could not beat him, not charged up on shikon shards as he was. Even without the jewel shards he would have easily defeated her.
Sesshomaru sheathed Toukijin and drew Tenseiga. She was confused by this action, wondering if he had, perhaps, regained some control over his body and mind. She reached out with her miko powers and found nothing changed.
"Of course. Naraku wants me alive." She thought grimy and with much depression as he rushed towards her in a blur she almost couldn't follow.
Instinctively she brought Tetsusaiga up to block. The blow knocked her back several feet back and onto her rump. Tetsusaiga went flying from her grasp and she was positive her wrist was broken, the bones shattered from the force of the impact of blade on blade.
She cradled her injured hand as she looked up to see Sesshomaru walking calmly up to her, his eyes dead and Tenseiga in his hand. She felt tears begin to flow and blinked them back bitterly.
She could not win. She would lose here and now and Naraku would get the jewel, she and her child would be his, Inuyasha would most likely be killed or absorbed and Sesshomaru would be killed, controlled like this, or absorbed. She could not bear it for her own failures.
"Stop." She shouted to him, making it half a plea and half a command, her pain and love for her friends overflowing. Tears of loss and pain streamed down her face.
To her surprise, Sesshomaru stopped and looked at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Stop." She shouted again. "I will concede defeat if you let Inuyasha, my child, and Sesshomaru go. Free of all bounds and spells."
Everyone but Sesshomaru, Kanna and Kohaku looked at her in surprise, ceasing the fighting for a moment.
"A O E! O!" Inuyasha shouted through his gage, which she rightfully translated as "Kagome! No!"
"You are already defeated." Naraku laughed. "I have no reason to make a deal with you."
"No. I can still win Naraku." She said confidently as she staggered back to her feet, blood staining the front of her kimono and running in small, red streams down her armour.
She drew every last ounce of her power to her, drawing on all of her love, pain and fear to add to it. She glowed so brightly it was like staring into the sun, even for those without the sight.
"I can purify everything for a five mile radius Naraku. Sesshomaru-sama would sooner die than disgrace himself by harming his mate, let alone living the rest of his life control by a mere human bitch. And so help me I will do anything in my power to protect my friends and let him keep his honor and pride." She shouted confidently, her power growing even stronger, so strong Tenseiga started to pulse in warning.
(POV)
He fought through the red fog of hate that clouded his mind. He could feel it. It was so close. It was like a warm blanket on a cold winters day, warm and inviting. The love that welled from it called to him.
He fought fang and claw towards it. He would not lose to some human. The warm shelter grew stronger, and as it did so did he. Finally, he was within reaching distance, but the fog of red hate started to suffocate him.
Dimly, he could hear voices. They were familiar and distant, though he found it hard to place their owners.
"You are already defeated…"
"Naraku." His mind registered, and his hatred for that speaker sparked, almost trapping him in the wall of red again.
He was saved by another voice that rang loud and clear in his mind. He didn't catch the first half of what she said, but the rest went through his mind like a jolt of lightening.
"Sesshomaru would sooner die then disgrace himself by harming his mate, let alone living the rest of his life control by a mere human bitch. And so help me, I'll do anything in my power to protect my friends and let him keep his honor and pride."
"Kagome!"
The red fog of hate was pushed back completely as he came to, his world coming back into focus as he thrust the anger out of his soul and enveloped the love and clean anger coming from his mate.
He saw her then and it shocked him deeply. She stood before him in all her glory and pride, wearing his mothers armour as if it had been made for her. Her miko powers flared wildly around her as she stared Naraku down.
He could tell her wrist was broken and could smell the blood from the gash on her chest. She was clearly in a lot of pain, but none of it showed. He noticed he was holding Tenseiga and that Tetsusaiga was blade first in the ground not too far away from him. Kagome was holding it's sheath and he assumed she had been wielding Tetsusaiga and that he had used Tenseiga to knock it out of her hands.
He also felt the power of the jewel shards coursing through his body. Their corruption stank to his youki. Even as he noticed all of this subconsciously his mind thought of only one thing.
Never in his life had he been so proud of another. The fact that that other was his mate only made it more sweet.
"Choose Naraku." Kagome snarled at the hanyou, having yet to notice Sesshomaru was himself again.
"I have already won woman. I have no need to barging with you. You claim you would sooner see your mate dead then have him dishonor himself by harming you, but what about Inuyasha and that nekoyoukai of yours? Are you so willing to destroy their lives all for the honor of a man who took you against your will? What of the warriors fighting for your cause not so far away? Will you sacrifice their lives?" Naraku challenged with howling laughter.
He felt Kagome falter, and faltered himself as the Kuromiko was able to fight back Kagome's unconscious control over him. He snarled as he fought the bitches control, finding it harder without Kagome's support.
As quickly as she had faltered she was back. He smiled in satisfaction as the Kuromiko screamed in pain as her spell was broken as Kagome's overpowering love for all living things raced over him.
Kirara roared as Inuyasha shouted something that was garbled, though he figured he was trying to tell Kagome to do it. Kagome stood firm once more.
"There is your answer Naraku. They would sooner die than lose to you. No true warrior would prefer losing to you than die killing you." She said firmly as her power grew about her once more.
She held out her half of the jewel in her hand and concentrated all of her power into it. It was a last ditch effort Kikyo had warned her about. She felt her power draining and was so busy concentrating on what she was doing, she never noticed anything else around her.
Every jewel shard was purified. Jakotsu, Kohaku, and Mukotsu screamed in agony as the shards shot from their bodies and fused with her jewel. Two more shards came from a distance and he figured they must be from the other two members of the Schichinintai.
Sesshomaru held back his own howls as the shards in his own body became pure and shot out from him, leaving bleeding puncture marks all over his body. The last shards flew from Naraku and all anyone could do was watch as the jewel was completed before her. It flashed painfully as it was completed, temporarily blinding everyone.
She opened her eyes and stared at Naraku in triumph, before promptly collapsing to the ground. He rushed to her side, catching her before she fell and held her close. Inuyasha, no longer being held down by Jakotsu, who was nothing but dust and bones once more, was up on his feet in and instant and rammed into the Kuromiko, knocking her to the ground.
He wrapped his legs around her neck and promptly broke it. Sango was ignoring them, crying over her brother whom was now lifeless on the ground. Miroku was trying to comfort her even as he protected them from Naraku, who took that moment of distraction to flee. Kanna was no where in sight and no one could remember when she had disappeared.
With the kuromiko dead he was completely himself again. He held his mate close as she breathed shallowly, having used far too much of her power. Her spirit was all but drained.
(break)
"Damn Schichinintai." Kouga snarled to himself as he barely managed to dodge aside from Suikotsu's claws, only to have to jump back to avoid Bankotsu's halberd, Banryuu.
Both Schichinintai men had decimated large portions of their army before Kouga had managed to catch their attention. Now he was almost wishing he hadn't. Without the jewel shards in his legs he could barely move fast enough to keep both of them busy.
"At least they only have one shard each. I would already be dead if Bankotsu had even half of the power he had last time we fought him." He thought.
Suikotsu made another lunge for him and this time Kouga would not be able to move aside.
"Kouga." Ayame shouted as her kick took Suikotsu in the side, giving Kouga the precious seconds he needed to draw his katanna and parry Banryuu before Bankotsu speared him with it.
"Ayame." Kouga shouted in concern.
He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye as she desperately fended off Suikotsu, retreating quickly and off balanced. His attention was called back to Bankotsu as the leader of the Schichinintai forced him off balance yet again.
"Damn it." He cursed. "Get out of my way bastard."
"Just die already ookami." Bankotsu shot back.
He heard a scream and glanced back to see Ayame laying on the ground with blood running down her check from Suikotsu's claws.
"Ayame." Kouga shouted, watching hopelessly as Suikotsu's claws came baring down on her, only to be cut off by blades of wind.
Suikotsu jumped back, snarling his rage as he glared up at the bitch who dared to steal his kill.
"Kagura." Suikotsu snarled.
Distracted by the shock of events, Kouga failed to notice Bankotsu's fist come for his face until after it had connected and he was laying on the ground looking up at him in surprise with Banryuu a millimetre from his throat.
"Die, ookami…" Bankotsu started to say, but suddenly went silent, his mouth wide in shock.
Kouga watched in horrid fascination as Bankotsu suddenly screamed in agony, joined shortly by Suikotsu. The shards in their bodies flashed white before shooting off. Both Schichinintai men collapsed as nothing but dust and bones again.
"Kagome." Kouga thought numbly as he got back to his feet, Ayame by his side in an instant.
He looked around for Kagura, wondering why the wind witch had bothered to save Ayame when she had killed so many Ookami in the past. She was no where to be found.
He looked around the battle field, taking a moment to rest. Blood was flowing freely and never before had he seen such a bloody conflict. Without Bankotsu, Suikotsu and Kagura the army was starting to look lost and their own forces were starting to win.
"Kouga?" Ayame called concerned.
"I'm fine. "Kouga answered.
His hair went up and he quickly turned around and spotted a flash of dark meisma.
"Naraku." He snarled as he took off to intercept the hanyou.
"Kouga." Ayame shouted after him.
"Take care of things here." He shouted back to her.
"Hai."
"This time Naraku, I will kill you." Kouga thought determinedly as he grounded to a halt right in front of Naraku's path.
He turned to look at the undead Miko who calmly walked up beside him and didn't once acknowledge him. The fighting was off to their far right as they waited in silence for Naraku to make his appearance.
"Damn woman makes my skin crawl." He thought in regards to Kikyo as Naraku appeared before them, looking shocked his path was blocked.
Kouga just gave a feral grin as Kikyo gave an amused one. Naraku, was stunned into silence.
(break)
"Kagome." Sesshomaru called softly to her.
Inuyasha walked up to him, pausing only to slice his restraints with Tetsusaiga before removing the damn bit from his mouth and bringing the blade with him.
"Kagome." Inuyasha called weakly as he kneeled down next to them, tears threatening to spill.
She stirred slightly in his arms and her eyes opened, though they seemed to be dazed.
"Inuyasha?" She called, her eyes searching around blindly.
"I'm here." He answered, taking one of her hands in his own and brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face.
"Is Naraku gone?" She asked, her voice sounding strained.
Her armour had taken the blunt of Toukijin's strike and her wound was shallow, in no was there a threat of her bleeding to death anytime soon.
"He fled." Inuyasha answered.
"The jewel is complete?"
"Yeah. You did it. Just like you vowed to do. It is pure and glowing pink." He answered.
"Do you still want your wish?" She asked.
He hesitated.
"No. I no longer wish for that." He answered, shaking his head to empathises the point.
"Why? I thought it was what you wanted more than life itself." She asked, confusion in her voice.
"It would make you unhappy and such a selfish wish would only corrupt the jewel again." He answered truthfully.
She nodded her head and smiled.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah."
"I can't see. Is Sesshomaru alright? Is the kuromiko dead, or did they leave?"
"I am here Kagome." Sesshomaru answered for himself, holding her tighter.
She smiled as she reached out with her hand, tracing his face with her fingers.
"Can you hear fighting?" She asked.
Sesshomaru frowned at the odd question but did concentrate and was shocked to hear the sounds of battle off in the distance.
"Indeed." He answered.
"Please. The armies of the Southern, Eastern, South-Western and our own lands are fighting Naraku's hoard. They need your help. And….please, can you bring back Kohaku with Tenseiga?"
He turned his attention to where Sango was grieving over her brother. He handed Kagome to Inuyasha and walked over to the crying Taijiya.
"This is for what you did for my mate and for what the boy had done for Rin." He said calmly as he slashed Kohaku with Tenseiga before sheathing his fathers fang and returning to Kagome.
"Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome called.
"Yes?"
"I apologise for breaking your command not to speak with Inuyasha." She said as he took her from his brother again.
The apology took him by surprise.
"You are forgiving. It was an order I made in anger and I rectify it now."
"Thank you." She smiled. "Inuyasha, bring my bow." She said softly before losing consciousness once more.
Behind him he could here Sango cry in joy as she hugged a crying and confused Kohaku to her. Sesshomaru stood up, cradling Kagome against him as he turned to look at them.
"Save your weeping for later." He said in his usual, emotionless voice, catching all of their attentions. "There is a hanyou out there who will die tonight for the atrocities he has committed. Come."
They stared at him in shock for a moment before falling into step behind him as he marched towards the sound of fighting, tracing Naraku's scent. Inuyasha kept pace with him, stopping only to grab Kagome's bow, as the three humans rode on Kirara.
They crested a ridge and saw the battle laid out before them in all of it's bloody glory. He ignored it in favour of following Naraku's scent, which led them around the battle and to a ridge where the hanyou in question had found his way bared by the human miko who smelt of dirt and ashes and had rescued Rin from Suikotsu years ago, and the ookamiyoukai Kouga. Inuyasha disappeared briefly before returning with a fresh quiver of arrows.
He landed behind Naraku, the others lined up beside him. Naraku turned to face them. His face showed calm, but his eyes held a hint of panic.
"Kagome." Kouga shouted, worry evident in his voice.
(POV)
Kagome woke again and Sesshomaru set her down. She was a little unsteady but took her bow back from Inuyasha and used that to steady herself as she tied the quiver on.
"Damn. I'm weaker then I thought." She growled to herself as she forced herself to stand up tall beside Sesshomaru, head raised high in defiance. Her vision was still a little blurry but it was quickly clearing.
"Kouga-kun. Who is commanding your forces?" She asked in an emotionless voice.
"Ginta and Hakkaku." He answered.
"Return to them." She commanded.
"What?" Kouga demanded shocked.
"Your army needs you Kouga-sama. Today is not a day to worry over petty revenge. Today it is serious and this is war. Return to your tribe and lead your people to victory on the battle field of honor."
He looked at her in stunned disbelief, as did her friends. He finally relented and left, a lot slower than normal making the lack of his jewel shards painfully obvious.
She turned her attention to Kikyo and shared a respectful nod before turning to face Naraku, her eyes as cold and emotionless as the taiyoukai she stood beside.
"Naraku." She said coldly.
"Kagome-sama. How nice to see you again so soon." He said with false sweetness.
"We end it today Naraku. Never again will you be able to harm and corrupt the lives of others for your sick desires. You have made too many strong enemies and now you shall pay for your atrocities with your life. Prepare to go to hell Naraku." She said coldly.
She lifted her bow off of the ground, drew an arrow and trained it one him. Her friends also readied their weapons and themselves for what they knew would be the final battle with him.
Naraku laughed as he shed his human guise and started to morph into a sick, twisted parody of hundreds of fused youkai. She held steady and waited as her friends fanned out around her.
Sango took to the air on Kirara. Miroku ran to her left as Inuyasha bounded to her right. Sesshomaru remained beside her and took a few steps forward as he drew Toukijin.
She could feel Naraku's youki growing at an alarming rate until it was even greater than Sesshomaru's. She pushed her fear aside as she summoned her barrier, leaving Sesshomaru out of it as she knew he would want to fight Naraku physically.
"Your power has grown considerable." He commented, not taking his eyes off of their shared prey.
She nodded in acceptance of the ever so rarely giving compliment.
"I know you can feel his youki and we both know that Naraku is even more powerful than we first anticipated. This once we are all going to have to work together."
He nodded his head as they waited for Naraku to finish his transformation.
"Rin and the kitsune kit?"
"Safe at home with Sekira." She answered. "I left orders for them to be giving to Keade and her village should we fail to win today. Keade will care for them for as long as she can."
He nodded his head again and this time turned to face her. She shifted her gaze from Naraku to him, surprised to see him smiling at her in pride, his emotionless mask gone. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. He was so beautiful when he smiled.
"Never in my life have I been so proud of another." He said.
She smiled back and held back a blush. She nodded her head and turned her attention back to Narku, who had finally finished his transformation.
All but Kikyo shouted out a cry as they launched themselves at him.
"For my betrayal."
"For my friends"
"For my curse."
"For my family."
"Roar."
"For my honor and pride."
Kagome let her arrow fly, Inuyasha launched a Kaze no Kizu, Miroku flung wards and battled with his staff, Sango launched her newly repaired Haraikatsu, forged from the shards of her first one by Toutousai, Kikyo fired her own arrow, Kirara evaded attacks keeping Sango safe, and Sesshomaru launched his own attack from Toukijin.
Pieces of Naraku fell everywhere and Kagome kept an eye on them, deliberately destroying any large pieces, remembering what Inuyasha had said about Naraku trying to absorb him and Sesshomaru.
Naraku was between her and Kikyo and both of them covered the other warriors with their purifying arrows, which seemed to be the only thing that truly hurt him. Sango's Haraikatsu was dealing as much damage as Inuyasha's and Sesshomaru's swords. Miroku diverted his attention from Naraku to the hornets flying around him, preventing him from using his Kazanna.
Kohaku stood off to the side, watching in horrid fascination at the fight going on before him. Kagome put everything out of her mind and concentrated on the task before her.
She fired another arrow straight at Naraku, her hope rising as it flew true, to bounce off of his barrier. Toukijin's attack was stopped, as was Sango's and Inuyasha's.
"Keh. Wont stop us this time Naraku." Inuyasha snarled as Tetsusaiga turned red. "Kaze no Kizu." He shouted as he slashed the barrier and watched in satisfaction as it crumbled.
Distracted, Kagome barely had time to shout a warning to him before one of Naraku's tentacles shout out and knocked him from the sky. Inuyasha shouted in pain as she shouted his name.
Tetsusaiga went flying from his grasp to be lost amongst the dust they were kicking up from the battle. Naraku's follow up attack was stopped by Kikyo, who's arrow purified his tentacle off.
Not missing a beat Sesshomaru launched another attack with Toukijin as the others shouted to Inuyasha, who forced himself to his feet and started to defend himself with his claws as he desperately looked for Tetsusaiga, fearing a transformation in such a life threatening fight.
Kirara roared and Kagome shouted again, as did Miroku, who rushed to catch a falling Sango as Naraku managed to hit the flying nekoyoukai into a near by tree. The tree snapped as Kirara fell to the ground, the now broken tree landing on her and pinning her as she mewed pitifully.
Miroku caught Sango, the force of the fall knocking him off of his feet and to the ground.
"Sango." He called concerned as he checked her over.
She was just unconscious. He sighed in relief as he stood up and guarded her body untill she could recover. Both of them were out of the fighting range and he realized that both of them were out of their league and decided it would be best to remain out of this fight, no matter how much he wished revenge on Naraku.
Kohaku caught up to them and tended to his sister as Miroku stood guard. Seeing her friends safe Kagome turned her attention back to the fight before her. Inuyasha was barely dodging attacks, his body covered in various wounds, clearly not at full strength. The absence of his fire rat robes made a big difference as his body was all but unprotected.
She turned to Sesshomaru, who was also starting to tire now that he had twice the number of attacks to dodge. She caught Kikyo's eyes across from her and they shared a nod. Kikyo defended Inuyasha as she defended Sesshomaru.
Naraku snarled in annoyance, and changed tactics. Kagome watched in horror as Naraku levelled an attack at her and Kikyo. Kikyo, ever calm under fire, merely erected a barrier that purified any part of the hanyou that touched it.
Kagome, on the other hand, had next to no power left and could only watch in horror as the attack came for her.
"Kagome." Inuyasha shouted.
There was a white blur and something slammed into her, knocking her to the ground and forcing the air out of her lungs. When she recovered she realized her hands were sticky with blood and that someone was on top of her. She opened her eyes to stare up into golden ones that held a hint of concern.
"Sesshomaru." She whispered in disbelief. "You're wounded." She gasped when she saw the front of his shirt red with blood and a piece of tentacle sticking out of his chest.
"I am fine." He said as he got off of her, ripping the piece of Naraku out of him and throwing it aside.
"Look out." Came Inuyasha's shout.
Sesshomaru was barely able to get Toukijin up in time to deflect the attacks coming at them. She quickly erected a weak barrier. It gave Sesshomaru the time he needed to deflect the attacks and gain a breath before it collapsed.
She looked back to Inuyasha, who was fighting off more of Naraku's attacks as he vainly looked for his sword. Confident that Kagome was safe for the moment, Sesshomaru darted back into the fry, alleviating some of the pressure from his brother and working out some of his anger at Naraku for daring to try and harm his mate..
Kagome took a few seconds to catch her breath before picking up her bow again and firing.
"It is hopeless." Naraku taunted. "Your lives will be mine and I will have the completed Shikon no Tama."
"Over my dead body." Inuyasha shouted.
"That is acceptable." Naraku chuckled.
"It's like we aren't even hurting him." Kagome thought emotionlessly, strangely calm. "How can we hurt him? How can we kill him?"
"I gave Naraku your jewel shards in order to kill him." Kikyo had said that almost four years ago after stealing their jewel shards and giving them to Naraku.
"The jewel?" Kagome thought, pulling out the Shikon no Tama and staring at it, glowing a healthy pink.
"Midoriko sealed herself and the youkai she was fighting in here. Can it be used to trap Naraku?" She wondered.
The budding of a plan came to her. She gripped the jewel closer to her as she rushed down onto the field, dropping her bow as it would only hinder her. Her sudden movement caught Sesshomaru's eye and he turned to look at her in disbelief, wondering what she was doing to so endanger herself and their child.
That moment was all it took for Naraku to take advantage of it. Something collided with his side, sending him flying as he dropped Toukijin, instantly loosing it in the dust. Inuyasha was also distracted by Kagome's action and received the same treatment.
Kagome, however, was left alone as Naraku let her run closer to him. Kikyo, understanding that Kagome had finally figured it out, called off her own attack and gathered her miko powers around her, ready to finish off Naraku once and for all.
"Naraku." Kagome shouted as she stopped her sprint and walked up to him confidently, Shikon no Tama held before her.
"You come before me unprotected miko." Naraku laughed.
She held the jewel before her. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru recovered by this point. Both of them were now weapon less and both of them alternated between scanning for their weapons and watching Kagome, both of them frozen by the power of the moment.
"I can not defeat you Naraku." Kagome said calmly. "Thus, I wish but one thing in exchange for the Shikon no Tama."
"Name it and it will be yours." He promised with a smile on his still human face.
"I desire that my friends and I can go free, never to be bothered by you again." She demanded.
"Done." He said eagerly and quickly.
"Kagome, no." Inuyasha shouted as he bolted towards her, seeming to move in slow motion as she handed the jewel over.
Naraku laughed loudly as he finally achieved his ultimate desire. She never saw the attack coming and was flying through the air before she even knew what had happened. Inuyasha caught her and Sesshomaru joined them at once, using his acid whip to defend them from the few attacks Naraku sent at them to keep them distracted while he fully absorbed the jewel into his chest.
"Now Kikyo." She whispered.
Kikyo, ignored by Naraku, started to glow as she sent out her purifying powers and cast the spell to seal Naraku into the jewel with the other youkai Midoriko had condemned years ago.
Inuyasha cradled her against his chest. Oh how she hurt, but Kikyo needed to be protected least Naraku figure out what was going on and decide to attack her. Caught in the throws of her spell Kikyo could not defend herself.
"Inuyasha. Protect Kikyo." Kagome ordered, her voice horse.
He looked at her stunned, never dreaming Kagome would order him to protect Kikyo. Seeing his confusion she quickly explained. His eyes widened, as did Sesshomaru's as they listened to her explanation.
Nodding in understanding, Inuyasha set her down before rushing to fight Naraku once again, hoping to keep the hanyou's attention on him. Kagome scanned the battle field and spotted Miroku protecting a still unconscious Sango who was being tended to by Kohaku.
Seeing her friends still safely out of danger she forced herself to her feet and retreated from the field back to where she had dropped her bow. Sesshomaru covered her retreat and Naraku seemed to let her go.
"Kikyo, please hurry." She thought as she got to her bow and picked it up again.
She turned her attention to Kikyo and realized what was taking so long. Kikyo, no longer a pure, human miko, didn't have the power to do what they had planned. Realizing that she was going to have to blend her power with Kikyo she limped across the field towards the miko.
Her body hurt, and her wrist was still broken. It was throbbing now, having been put through so much abuse after having been forced to put pressure on her wrist every time she had fired her bow. The adrenaline was starting to run out.
She was generally ignored and she could hear the crude cursing of Inuyasha from beside her as he fought a quickly growing, more powerful Naraku. With both warriors deprived of their weapons, the fight was going bad.
Inuyasha continued his Hijin Tetsuou and Sankon Tetsuou as Sesshomaru lashed with his poison in both whip form and spray from his claws. Above all of it Naraku was laughing manically. She was almost there when she heard a loud grunt followed by a loud thud.
She turned to see Sesshomaru laying in the dirt, his once white robes now brown with dirt and red with blood, of which she didn't doubt much of it was his. Naraku seemed to notice her for the first time and launched an attack at her.
She was frozen to the spot. Inuyasha tried to reach her, but was knocked aside by another tentacle. She watched in horror as Naraku's attack came closer. She had no way to defend herself.
That had hurt. He was growing tired and his injuries were starting to stock pile. He peeled himself off of the ground as he looked up to see Naraku knock his pitiful brother aside and launch an attack at Kagome. An attack she had no way to dodge.
"Damn. No time to get to her. If only I had Toukijin." He thought desperately. "I must protect her and my child."
There. Before him. He could see the sun glinting off of a flash of steel. Snarling, he rushed forwards, bowing down and scooping the blade up as he ran past.
"Kagome." He mentally screamed as he launched his attack, watching in satisfaction as Naraku's attack was cut short by….
"What?" He thought shocked as he looked down at the blade in his hand.
The fighting stopped momentarily as everyone stared at him in shock.
(POV)
Kagome watched in shock as Naraku's attack was cut off by the Kaze no Kizu.
"Inuyasha must have found Tetsusaiga." She thought in relief.
She turned to thank him and found her jaw dropping open in shock. It was not Inuyasha who held Tetsusaiga, but Sesshomaru.
"How?" Inuyasha asked, looking up from his place on the ground.
"Of course." Kagome thought mentally. "Tetsusaiga can only be used to protect humans. Sesshomaru was protecting me, thus the barrier let him pass."
Sesshomaru seemed just as stunned as everyone else. His father's fang, the one blade he had coveted for so long, was finally in his hand. The blade had accepted him.
"Sesshomaru." Inuyasha called. "Can I have my blade back now, unless if you want me transforming on you?"
Sesshomaru looked from the blade to his brother, who stood beside him with his hand held out. Briefly he toyed with the idea of using Tetsusaiga to cut that hand off and return an old favour, but tossed that thought aside as childish and unbefitting of his rank.
He handed the blade to his brother, deciding that winning this battle was more important and he would need his brother whole to win it, as much as he despised admitting he needed help at all.
"Arigato." Inuyasha let lose the breath he had been holding. "Looks like you don't hate humans as much as I thought you did."
"Shut up hanyou." He said coldly.
Inuyasha chuckled.
"There's the arrogant bastard of a brother I know. Let's say we send Naraku to hell. For Kagome?"
"For Kagome." He agreed.
Inuyasha smirked as he turned to face Naraku, concentrating on the now foul aura of the jewel. Power began to radiate from Tetsusaiga.
"I'm going to use Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack, but I will need time to draw the power. Can you distract him long enough for me to pull it off?"
"Of course."
Sesshomaru leaped forward. Catching a glint of light, he finally spotted Toukijin and rearmed himself. Naraku cursed, but continued his assault. Inuyasha closed his eyes and concentrated, for once trusting his brother to defend him for the first time since his brother had banished him and his mother.
(POV)
She limped the rest of the way to Kikyo, also letting out a held breath as Sesshomaru handed Inuyasha Tetsusaiga. She noticed he found Toukijin and was now attacking Naraku full force, gaining all of the hanyou's attention. Inuyasha was just standing there, but she could feel the youki gathering around Tetsusaiga and knew he was getting ready to use the blades ultimate attack.
"He must be aiming for the jewel and Sesshomaru is protecting him." She thought, suddenly swelling with pride as she watched the two brothers put all of their hatred aside to fight for a common goal.
She stopped next to Kikyo and silently added her power to hers. She felt Kikyo welcome her into her power mesh. The world darkened and all she could see was a black void with Kikyo standing next to her.
"You're assistance is appreciated." Kikyo said.
Kagome merely nodded her head as she added her own, quickly draining and waning, power to the fight. The jewel in Naraku's chest started to burn and he hissed in pain and rage.
"What?" Naraku screamed as pink power started to erupt from his chest.
His eyes scanned the battle ground until it settled on Kikyo and Kagome, both of whom were kneeling on the ground by this point, side by side with hands held in prayer and glowing with power.
"Bakuryuha!" Inuyasha shouted.
Naraku turned to look at Inuyasha in shock and horror as Sesshomaru retreated out of the blast range and added Toukijin's attack just to make sure. The Bakuryuha picked up Toukijin's wave and increased its power. Naraku screamed as the combined might of both attacks ripped into him, cutting and dividing his body until next to nothing was left of him.
Suddenly so weakened, his youki all but destroyed, he screamed in pain again as the jewel was finally completely purified. It rose from his chest, as his body smoked and dissipated. The completed Shikon no Tama settled in Kagome's hand, glowing healthy pink once more.
The smoke cleared and all that remained of Naraku was a human man covered in horrible burns. Kikyo stood up and walked up to him.
"Onigumo." She said calmly.
"Ki…ki…yo." Onigumo stuttered, pain lacing his voice.
"I am here." She kneeled down next to him and rested her hand on his forehead.
Inuyasha watched silently as he sheathed Tetsusaiga and walked up to them. Kikyo turned her attention away from Onigumo to him. She stood up and walked up to him.
Kagome watched in silence. Sesshomaru walked up behind her and supported her as she tried to stand. She gave up and just rested against him, ignoring the blood that was soaking her clothes and continued to flow from his many wounds and the pain of her broken wrist and slashed chest.
"Inuyasha."
"Kikyo."
"I free you from my hatred." She said.
He stared at her in shock as she turned back to Onigumo.
"Come with me to hell, where we belong." She said to him.
"Will I be with you? For all eternity?" He asked weakly.
"For all eternity." She agreed.
Onigumo tried to smile as the ground around them started to crumble.
"Kikyo." Inuyasha shouted.
He attempted to reach her, only to be repelled by the dead Miko's barrier.
"Go on Inuyasha. Live. Find happiness again." Kikyo bid.
Kagome watched, silent tears flowing freely down her face as Kikyo and Onigumo started to disappear into the ground.
"Inuyasha." She whispered, hurting for him.
Inuyasha was crying freely, tears streaming down his face as he reached out to the first woman he had ever loved.
"You are free to love again Inuyasha." Kikyo whispered as she sank into the earth.
Inuyasha sank to his knees and continued to cry, softly calling Kikyo's name even after the earth had sealed itself up again and she was gone. Kagome looked on in worry and sadness as Sango, Miroku, Kohaku and Kirara finally rejoined them.
They shared a moment of silence in respect to Kikyo and Inuyasha before moving away from that spot to another, clear of the debris of their battle. They sat in silence as they tended their wounds.
Miroku tended Inuyasha as Sango bound Kagome's wrist and treated her few wounds before turning her attention to Kohaku once again. No one bothered with being body shy. They were just too beat up to care.
Sesshomaru was worse off and Kagome tended him as best she could with one hand, silently wondering how he managed to so easily and effortlessly overcome such a handicap. She had to peel his clothes off, the blood having dried somewhat and acting as glue.
He was clearly in a lot of pain. While he didn't make a sound of discomfort, he did winch ever once in a while when her fingers explored a tender spot. Kagome was glad they had bothered to bring a first aid kit full of bandage and antiseptic.
It was the antiseptic that finally got a whimper out of him, the sound taking her by surprise so much she froze in shock, before continuing her work.
"Gomen." She apologized.
"I am fine." He said, his voice strained.
When everyone was finally tended to, Miroku hesitantly removed his prayer beads. The kazanna was gone. That lightened the mood for everyone but Inuyasha, who was depressed enough not to notice, and Sesshomaru, who just didn't care.
Kagome looked up from tending Sesshomaru, tying the last bandage around his chest off, as the commanders of the army approached them. Instantly, Ladies Akio, Terea, and Aleria were by her side, as was a concerned Kouga before his mother firmly banished him.
Akio looked over their work, redoing anything that had been poorly done. Her work on Sesshomaru was fine, but Akio did look her wrist over. Now that the adrenaline was over, it hurt like hell. She gritted her teeth in agony as Akio set bones and retied the bandage.
The other lords arrived soon after and they set camp right there, packaging them into the first tent they set up and sternly ordered to rest.
Too exhausted to truly fight, she obediently crawled under the furs provided, drank the draught Akio had forced upon her and slept deeply in the arm of her mate the moment her head touch his shoulder. He followed right behind her as soon as he finished the foul tasting concoction Akio forced down his throat.
Akio smiled at both of them before retreating from the tent to tend to the other wounded. With that potion in their system, even Sesshomaru should sleep for twenty-four hours without waking.
Wow, that was one long chapter, but I couldn't be mean and divide it into two. So tell me what you thought of the fight. Naraku really needs to think up new schemes doesn't he? Ah well, not like he's ever going to be able to again. Sigh. I almost feel sorry for him, NOT. I do, however, sort of feel bad for Onigumo and Kikyo, but I wanted to get ride of Kikyo in a nice way without letting her take Inuyasha, need him for my sequel, and I respect Kikyo. Anyone who has seen the latter eps. knows she changes a lot from the vengeful bitch you first meet her as. Heck, there is one whole ep. where she learns respect for Kagome. And anyone who saves Rin's life can't be that bad.