Inuyasha

Coming of Age

Chapter 22

'He's always been a little...different. Just look at him, there's just something a bit off with him.'

"Those words..."

'Kisho...you're just special. No two people are alike. Just ignore what they say.'

"I did, but why am I different?

'It's all Naraku's fault.'

"I blame him for all my problems, but I should also share the punishment. I won't kill in cold blood just to satisfy my taste for revenge. I fight to protect."

Kisho moved through the forest slowly on his four legs. His fur was matted with dry blood, but most of his wounds had been healed due to his unique healing powers. The only injury he really bared was the one across his face. His healing powers had adjusted to the acid poison and it was now working to heal his leg. Kisho's present state scared most of the creatures in the woods as he made his march towards the well. His clawed feet pressed firmly against the hard dirt ground as his yellow eyes gazed out into the darkness. Night had past and morning had arrived, but the day was still dark. Naraku's evil had caused a blanked of darkness to cover the lands. Kisho could sense that Naraku was close by. The air was filled with Naraku's scent.

As Kisho walked past a few bushes the sound of a twig snapping caught his attention. His ears perked forward as his eyes turned towards the source of the sound. Kisho was past the blue moon, but he remained in his beast like form so he could fight against Naraku. The problem Kisho was facing right now was that it was very difficult to keep back his demon like instincts and he immediately began growling and snapping his jaws at what ever was in the bushes.

"I am surprised, Kisho. I thought you had a much keener sense in that form," Sesshomaru said as stepped out into Kisho's view.

Kisho stopped his growling as he stared at his uncle, "I do have a much keener sense, but it's much more difficult to concentrate in this form. I am human after all."

"Hmm...indeed," Sesshomaru said with a sense of anger in his voice.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken said as he ran out from the bushes, "Whoa! What sort of creature is this that lurks in this dark day?"

Sesshomaru didn't say anything while Kisho stared at the little green imp, "I'm surprise you're still alive. Who'd thought a little green spec like you would still be running around in these dark times."

Jaken narrowed his eyes to him, "Ah, you're Inuyasha's offspring. You low grade demon. Clear a path for Lord Sesshomaru."

Kisho narrowed his eyes as he pinned his ears flat against his skull, "Not a chance. If you want to force me then go right ahead."

"Enough, Jaken," Sesshomaru said as he glanced to him, "He's facing Naraku with me. If he was able to come this far then he's worthy to fight along with us. Unlike my brother."

"But..." Jaken began to say, but Sesshomaru just ignored him and began to walk again.

Kisho stepped forward and hit Jaken across the face with his tail, "You heard him. Shut up and let's go."

Jaken gripped his staff tightly as he got up off the ground after being slapped in the face, "You ingrate."

The three moved across the forest grounds until they reached the meadow that contained the well. Kisho stood back up on his two legs as he stepped forward to look around, "I don't see him, but I can sense him."

"That coward must be hiding," Jaken said as he hid behind the two.

"Hmm..." Sesshomaru glanced from one side of the meadow to the next. His hand gripped Tokijin hilt as he stepped forward.

Kisho followed Sesshomaru lead as he stepped carefully. The winds blew across the grassy meadows carrying a bone chilling feeling. Kisho snorted lightly as he felt the winds blow through his fur. Just when Kisho thought the silence of the meadows would never break there was a faint laugh. The laugh immediately caught Kisho's and Sesshomaru's attention. They both listened to the cold laugh that slowly grew louder and louder.

"Naraku! Show yourself," Kisho yelled.

"That coward is hiding behind another trap," Jaken said as he yelled from the side lines again.

"Ha-ha, you believe this is another trap?" Naraku said as his voices echoed in the winds.

"Of course. That's all you ever do isn't it?"

"Indeed, but you're assumptions are wrong this time. We are here to fight and fight we shall. It's only a matter of time until the final shard will reveal itself to me. I have enough time to destroy you both before that time."

"Naraku, you will not defeat us so easily," Kisho said as he continued to look around trying to find any sort of energy around that would give Naraku's position away.

"You are no match for this Naraku..."

A ball of dark energy pummeled into the ground between Kisho and Sesshomaru, blowing them back. Kisho was thrown hard as he rolled across the ground until he finally came to a slow stop. Sesshomaru however regained his balance and he landed perfectly against the ground with Tokijin now in hand.

Naraku stood perfectly against the ground in his awesome form. His long black hair flowed behind his shoulders as his devilish armor glowed from his immense power. Kisho slowly lifted his head up as he tried to focus his yellow eyes, "I can almost see the Shikon Jewel. It's inside him..."

"Your eyes almost work as well as your mothers. I'm somewhat surprise since you have performed less then what I had expected from someone of your background."

Kisho growled lightly as he laid there against the ground. He still had the wind knocked out of him, making it difficult to stand.

"Naraku, keep your eyes on me!" Sesshomaru called out as he swung Tokijin in the air towards Naraku.

"Humph, how amusing," Naraku narrowed his eyes slightly as a barrier formed around him. Tokijin struck the barrier instantly and its power rumbled, trying to push back the barrier, "Sesshomaru, I'm surprise at how weak your attempts are. Have you grown weaker in these years?"

"Don't taunt me, Naraku. I'm strong enough to beat the likes of you," Sesshomaru gripped his sword a bit tighter to increase the energy flowing through the sword. Tokijin's power was actually pushing back the barrier slightly, but Naraku didn't seem that concern by it.

"Interesting, your efforts prove amusing enough," Naraku didn't even gesture what his next move was. The barrier began to absorb the power from Tokijin. Sesshomaru must have figured out what Naraku was doing and he quickly leaped back just as the barrier sent back his attack. The barrier blew a straight across the ground and straight into the forest. That wasn't all Naraku did. He kept the pressure on Sesshomaru by releasing a horde of demons at him.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as he swung Tokijin again. The sword pulsed with its power and it shot a beam right through the demons that dared to attack him.

"Hmm...not to bad. Though I have other business to attend to soon," Naraku said with a grin across his face.

"Well you're just going to be late then!" Kisho yelled out as he charged forward across the grassy meadow at Naraku. He moved quickly across the grass ground as his legs thrusted him forward. Naraku tilted his back slightly as he saw Kisho charging for him. Naraku revealed a long whip that was covered with spines from his arm and he snapped the weapon straight at Kisho. Since Kisho wasn't holding anything back now like he was when he fought Iluska, he easily avoided the whip by either ducking or leaping out of the way. Naraku still had his barrier up, but that didn't phase Kisho one bit as he leaped out to attack. His head crashed against the barrier as he barked at Naraku with his teeth barred.

"You think you can break through my barrier?" Naraku said as he watched Kisho thrash around.

"I know I can!" Kisho bashed his head against the barrier again and this time it shattered. With the barrier down Kisho lunged for Naraku's throat with his teeth and claws extended. Naraku didn't even attempt to stop him, because he knew what was going to happen next. As Kisho bit down on Naraku's flesh the poison gas flowed out and Kisho was instantly poisoned by it. He fell against the ground in an instant as he coughed and chocked from the fumes. Naraku raised his hand as it formed into a sword like shape, "Fool .Do you think such pitiful efforts could stop me?"

Before Naraku got his chance to strike Kisho, his hand was suddenly blown away by a blast off energy. His dark eyes turned towards Sesshomaru who still held Tokijin. "You are becoming bothersome," Naraku said with a snarl.

Sesshomaru didn't say anything else as he swung Tokijin again. The sword sliced right through Naraku, but with Naraku's regenerating skill he easily reformed himself again. While Naraku was distracted by Sesshomaru, Kisho's body was working fast to heal himself from the new poison in his body. Kisho could concentrate on what to heal in his body and he forced all efforts on Naraku's poison that had paralyzed him temporally.

While Kisho was down, Naraku and Sesshomaru fought it out. They were both extremely fast as their attacks whizzed past each other, but Naraku had an edge over Sesshomaru. He shot a strange ball of flesh out at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru naturally avoided the attack, but that was what Naraku had predicted. The ball suddenly extended hundreds of arms out that reached out to snatch Sesshomaru from the sky. Even with his speed Sesshomaru was unable to pull free from the strange creature's grip. As Sesshomaru fell back he tried to cut himself free, but Tokijin proved to be useless against the creature. Sesshomaru was brought to the ground and held down by the strange creature. It was extremely difficult to move even for him.

"You see, Sesshomaru. My creation can even keep you down. Not even your precious swords can free you. Nothing can...and now this is where your time ends in this battle," Naraku said as he threw a huge beam of energy at Sesshomaru. The energy was the same energy Naraku had absorbed from Tokijin earlier, he wanted Sesshomaru to be destroyed by his swords own attack.

As the attack came pummeling towards Sesshomaru, Jaken leaped in to protect his lord, "I won't let him strike you down, Lord Sesshomaru. I'll fight with all I have!"

"Idiot..." Sesshomaru mumbled as he watched Jaken attempt to fight. He knew the attack would be too overwhelming for him. Sesshomaru however didn't fear his death, because deep in his mind he knew an attack like that couldn't destroy him.

Jaken held onto his staff tightly as he prepared an attack. As he lifted his staff up, Naraku's attack was suddenly split down the middle. The rest of the attack blew past Jaken and Sesshomaru into the forest. Jaken blinked in surprise as he stared at his staff, "But I did nothing..."

"That's right, because I did," Kisho said as he stepped over Jaken. He had transformed back to his normal form again. His face was still severely injured, but he could still fight. His cloths were torn all over since he had hid them in the bushes earlier when and they did get hit by a few attacks. His claws glowed with his purifying powers as he narrowed his eyes to Naraku. His white and black hair flew behind his shoulders as his amber eyes narrowed in on his opponent.

Naraku remained still as he stared at Kisho. His dark eyes were becoming darker by the moment. Kisho was an ever growing pain in his side and he was becoming annoyed with his feeble attempts, "Boy. You are much more troublesome then I had first anticipated. I was going to wait for your parents to arrive to kill you, but I think killing you in front of your uncle is enough."

"Right, well then let's get right to it then," Kisho said as he stepped forward. As he did he felt Jaken grip his pants legs. He paused a stepped as he looked down to the green little imp, "What the...let go of me."

"Get him...avenge Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken cried out.

"He's not dead."

"Indeed," Sesshomaru said in a low voice, "Kisho, beware of this creature Naraku has. It thrives on demon energy."

Kisho nodded his head as he turned back around to face Naraku. To his surprise Naraku didn't waste any time to launch his first attacks. Naraku was using his hands like flexible spears that shot straight out at Kisho. Kisho quickly leaped to the side to avoid the first set of finger like spears before he began to run forward to avoid the next set. Kisho was fast, but he was nothing compared to Naraku and Sesshomaru.

Jaken was trying to figure a way to free Sesshomaru as he occasionally glanced to Kisho and Naraku, "He's much slower then you, Lord Sesshomaru."

"I can see that. I'm sure Naraku realizes that as well, but Kisho makes up for his weakness with stronger attacks," Sesshomaru said as he gazed at the fight.

"My, you speak so highly of him," Jaken said as he rubbed his chin, "It's unusual to hear you speak like that..."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes to Jaken who immediately shut up. He disliked him pointing out such weakness to him.

Kisho flipped through the air to try and gain some ground on Naraku, but Naraku swung his hands quickly to close any openings Kisho might have to attack. With his chance to attack blocked once again Kisho was on the defensive as he leaped and bounded to avoid the vicious attacks, "Damn it. I can't get on the offensive like this...unless."

Kisho skidded to a halt just as the long spear like finger from Naraku crashed down in front of him, ripping his pant knees. With a brief stop he quickly charged straight for Naraku.

"How careless..." Naraku mumbled as he shot his spear like fingers straight at Kisho. Naraku's attack went through Kisho's shoulder and lower stomach, but despite being impaled Kisho swung his claws with his purifying powers at Naraku. His attack destroyed Naraku's two hands and the spear like fingers disappeared from Kisho's body as he gripped his injuries lightly.

Naraku stared at his missing hands while a few of his demons appeared to repair them, "Hmm...a risky move. You have learned a lot in these days since you came here. It's sad that you couldn't have taken your sister's place. She is weak...you on the other hand would have made a fine servant."

"Peh, like I'd ever do that. My heart is pure and true, it will never be tainted by the likes of you."

Naraku smiled to Kisho with a wicked look to his eyes, "Your mother fell to me. In all your travels you have slowly handed your life to me with each guardian you destroyed."

"What? If you're talking about injuring me then you know damn well I can heal myself."

"Fool, ever since you arrived you became ensnared in my trap."

Kisho shook his hand of his blood as it dripped down his arm. His powers were working slower now since he had used most of his energy to heal the poison, "Even if I had I can still defeat you now."

"You're wrong. The guardians sent to destroy you were simply used to exploit your powers and you're potential. I know your every move and your every weakness."

Kisho narrowed his eyes as he raised his bloody claws, "Then try and stop this!"

Naraku raised his hand as the Shikon Jewel appeared. The jewel was almost whole once again except for the tiny shard missing in the edge. The jewel was pure black from being tainted by evil and the strange aura it admitted burned Kisho's hands. He quickly recoiled as he gripped his hands, "Gah! What's happening!?"

"Your powers in your claws thrive on pure energy. Feeling such tainted powers corrupts them, making them useless in your efforts. You are too pure for your own good."

Kisho held his hands a bit longer before he raised his right claw to attack. He didn't have his powers in his hands, but he didn't need any. He would just have to fight on pure strength alone. Naraku ducked his head to the side to avoid his attempts, but to his surprise Kisho countered with an incredible fast spin kick. Kisho's foot had hit Naraku square in the chest, knocking him back a few steps. Naraku snarled lightly as he raised his arm to reveal two long spikes that stuck out the side of his arm. As Kisho swung his claws again, Naraku used the long spikes to block. The Shikon jewel had melted back into Naraku's hand as he used his other arm with spikes to stab Kisho in the stomach.

"Your healing powers will fail you in the end," Naraku whispered in his ear.

Kisho winced from the hit as blood began to run down from the corner of his mouth, "You'll see...that I will be the cause for your end."

Naraku laughed as he pulled the spike from Kisho's stomach. While Kisho was still trying to recover from the hit Naraku used his elbow to hit Kisho across his injured face knocking him across the ground. "You're just as foolish as Inuyasha."

Kisho laid still on the ground before his arms weakly began to pull himself up once again. He coughed heavily as blood fell against the blades of grass that blew gently in the darkness. Kisho's cloths were becoming soaked in his own blood, but he was still able to continue on. "I'm glad you said that..." Kisho said lightly as he coughed again, "...I've always wanted to be like my father."

Naraku didn't say a word as he swung his blade like spikes at Kisho again. Kisho ducked his shoulder down just as the blade flew past him, he quickly swung his claws to counter Naraku's attack, but be missed as well. The two were fighting in close combat now. They exchanged blows back and forth, but Naraku was waiting for a perfect moment to unleash his real attack.

Kisho leaped back from Naraku to have some room to attack and he charged forward, but instead of attacking straight on this time, Kisho leaped into the air to attack to attack from above. Naraku swung his hand and the large clump of flesh appeared that had subdued Sesshomaru. Kisho swung his claws to destroy the strange creature, but without his purifying powers his attack proved to be useless. The lump of flesh wrapped around Kisho's body as it threw him against the ground. Kisho tried to pull his arms free, but he just couldn't seem to get free of the strange creatures grip.

"Now this is where you die," Naraku said as he opened the palm of his hand up. The attack he used before on Sesshomaru shot out at him at high speeds.

Kisho kept struggling against the creature as his eyes frantically tried to find a way to free himself.

'...thrives on demon energy..'

Sesshomaru's words rung out through Kisho's head as his eyes widened to the. Naraku's eyes watched as the attack pummeled into Kisho. The ground around him exploded from the shear force of the attack, leaving a huge crater in then ground. Pleased with himself, Naraku turned around and headed back towards the well. As he walked slowly across the meadows something stung him in his shoulder. Naraku had never felt such pain before and he almost buckled over. His pain soon turned to rage as his fearsome eyes shot down to his shoulder. His eyes glared at the dark red sword embedded in his shoulder. Naraku's narrowed eyes turned towards the large crater. As the dust and debris settled, Kisho's human form was visible as his black hair flowed in the winds.

"Humph, with each of your transformations you grow weaker. Now you're nothing, but a mere human."

Even though Kisho had survived the attack he did get hit by the blunt end of it. His injuries were slowly building up and it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay focus. As Kisho stared at Naraku in the distance he could hardly see him through his blurred vision. Only his will to fight was keeping Kisho going. "Naraku...the others will come."

"Others? Your friends have fallen. No one stands before you now. The last shard will make me a full demon, and then I truly will be unstoppable," Naraku said as the Shikon Jewel appeared again in his hand, but this time the jewel wasn't so dark with evil. Kisho's presents had begun to cleanse the tainted jewel and in his human form his pure heart was even purer. Naraku wasn't surprise by the change to the Shikon jewel, but Kisho was. Of course Kisho didn't know much about purifying powers and the jewel itself, but he knew it was strange that it was changing.

Naraku gripped the Shikon jewel tightly as he suddenly shot spear like projectiles again from his hands at Kisho. Since Kisho couldn't see all to well he had a late reaction. He saw the spears at the last moment and he leaped off to the side to avoid. As he tucked rolled across the ground his injuries burned, slowing him down. As he struggled to get up, Naraku attacked again. Kisho was still struggling on the ground as the spears flew through the air towards him. Before the spears could hit him though, his blood sword reacted on its own and flew back to its owner. The power of the blood sword pulsed destroying the spears before they were able to harm Kisho.

"I'm glad...that happened," Kisho said weakly as he reached out to take his blood sword from the air.

As Kisho gripped his sword again the spears from Naraku increased. More and more were being shot by him with each passing minute. Kisho swung his sword through the air destroying any that were close to him. Naraku smirked lightly as he watched the boy. He knew Kisho was getting tired, but he also knew another weakness. The Shikon Jewel began to glow dark black again and as it did Kisho felt the chilling energy. The power robbed him of his energy as he fell down to one knee, but he was still determined to kill Naraku. He still swung his sword in the air to defend himself.

"I'm surprised to see so much resistance in him. Most would have been corrupted by now, strange," Naraku said to himself as he watched Kisho continue to swing his sword around recklessly.

"I can't keep this up much longer..." Kisho said weakly to himself as one of the spears flew past his face cutting the side.

While Kisho fought something surprisingly happened. Across the field in the darkness of the shadows his friends slowly stepped out, lead by Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha had to carry Kagome in his arms since she was tired, but other then that she was ok. Koga, Keiji, and Kyoko had managed to defeat Kagura, but they also left her alive. Sango and Miroku appeared not to long after the wolf demons. They both were fit to fight and Miroku's wind tunnel was holding on by a thread. Taking up the back was Shippo. His long fox tail swayed in the wind while his bright eyes stared out to the fight.

Kisho paused a moment as he stared at them with his only good eye. Despite the fact he couldn't see them visually well; he could sense them clear in his mind, "Mom..."

Naraku's eyes shot towards the group before looking back at the distracted Kisho. Seeing his chance to attack now, Naraku threw one spear at Kisho. The strange spear from Naraku had a long point at the end but down the shaft were tiny little spikes. Kisho was so distracted by his friends that he didn't see the attack.

Kyoko and everyone else did though, "Kisho look out!"

Kisho turned his head just as the spear hit him through his chest. The spikes instantly caught his skin pulling Kisho back with the spear. He flew back against the trees with the spike going through his chest. He was about two feet off the ground as he hung there with his hands against his sides. His eyes were closed tightly as his sword melted back into his blood. Naraku snorted lightly as he formed another spear to throw at his heart, "Now to end this."

He threw the spear at Kisho. Inuyasha and everyone else were too far away to help as they felt their hearts leap to their throats. The spear was inches from Kisho when suddenly Tora leaped out from the tree's and caught the spear in his hands. The spikes down the spear cut through his hand like butter, but Tora tossed the spear aside as if the pain didn't bother.

"I grow tired of your interference, Tora," Naraku growled as he tried to catch Tora up in his whip like hands again, but this time Tora was quick enough to avoid him. He quickly sprinted past his attack and leaped over to Inuyasha and the others.

"Tora, where the hell have you been?" Keiji yelled as the rest of the group stared at Naraku and Kisho.

"Investigating. I've been trying to find the last shard, but I can't seem to find it anywhere."

"Kisho...is he..." Kyoko tried the get the words out, but she just couldn't.

"No, he's unconscious," Inuyasha said lightly as he glanced back to everyone, "But, he's lost a lot of blood."

"This place is covered in it. I'm surprised Kisho isn't dead," Sango said as she looked at the meadows.

"He's held his own this whole time," Sesshomaru said from where he was bounded together with the strange creature still.

"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha growled while Jaken leaped out.

"This is no time for fighting," Kagome said as she looked towards Naraku who was staring back to her.

"Right," Inuyasha mumbled while Sesshomaru didn't say a word.

"You said that the last shard location was only known by your offspring. Of course I had Iluska, but she proved to be useless. Then I discover your boy, yet he is ignorant of everything. Of course I manipulated your mind even more to get a straight answer. You then said the shard will appear before the old well, yet I do not see the shard," Naraku said as he stepped slowly towards the group, "It's impossible that you could have lied. Tell me where it is!"

Inuyasha pulled Tetsusaiga out from its sheath as he set Kagome down, "She doesn't have to tell you anything, Naraku!"

"Inuyasha..." Kagome began to say, but Inuyasha raised his hand slightly.

"Get, Kisho down. I'll handle this myself."

"Hey, don't forget I have a bone to settle too," Koga said as he stepped in.

"We'll help too," Keiji and Shippo said as they stepped forward.

Inuyasha nodded his head lightly. He didn't want to share this challenge to fight Naraku with everyone else, but he had other priorities now, "Kagome...Kyoko, get Kisho down."

"Ah, don't forget about me. I may be blind, but I'm not weak," Tora said as he stretched his tiger like claws on his hands.

"Fools," Naraku said as he leaped to attack.

All the boys leaped up to meet Naraku in his attack while the girls quickly ran down the meadow towards Kisho. The fight exploded as a series of attacks collided with each other, but the girls were far enough away now that they wouldn't get out in the cross fire. Kyoko kept an arm out for Kagome since Kagome was still uneasy on her feet. As they neared Kisho he was still lifeless as he sat nailed against the tree.

"I can't believe how many injuries Kisho has," Kyoko said as she ran.

"He's growing closer to death the longer he stays here," Kagome mumbled while Kyoko raised an eyebrow. She didn't fully understand what Kagome meant, but it didn't matter right now.

As they stopped at the bottom of the tree they both noticed that the spear was imbedded pretty deep into the tree.

"Great, that's going to be impossible to pull out," Kyoko said as she looked at it.

"The spikes too," Kagome said as she looked at Kisho's wound. The spikes all traveled a different direction. Meaning a few of the spikes would tear Kisho's flesh even more then it was, if they tried to pull it out.

"Kisho, can you hear us?" Kyoko said as she patted the left side of his face gently.

Kisho didn't respond, but Kagome noticed he was still breathing very slightly, "Come on. We have to get him down. His healing powers are the only thing keeping him alive."

Inuyasha was keeping up with Naraku and his attacks. He had fought Naraku for a long time and he could predict the way Naraku would attack sometimes. Inuyasha kept his wind scar attack back since Naraku would only absorb the power of it. Koga kept the pressure on when it came to close combat. As soon as he was close enough to attack he would swing his hands like a wild dog. Keiji was following Inuyasha's lead and he would attack when Inuyasha wasn't able to. Shippo used his fox fire when ever he was able to as well. Naraku was extremely fast and it was hard for Shippo to get a clear shot. When no one else could get close enough to attack, Tora quickly intervened. Tora wasn't only fast he was strong. The only problem was since he was blind there were certain attacks that he couldn't predict.

While everyone was busy trying to keep Naraku occupied, Miroku and Sango were searching the area to see if they could find the shard. It was difficult without Kagome as their guide, but they already knew it was somewhere in the area. It was just the matter of finding it.

Naraku used the Shikon Jewels power to throw the group back from him. In an explosive shock wave, the entire group was knocked unconscious except for Inuyasha who had some how managed to get back up after such a vicious attack. While Naraku stared at Inuyasha he noticed Kagome and Kyoko in the background. 'That woman is more trouble then I had expected. I will make her suffer along with Inuyasha!'

Naraku threw another explosive attack at Inuyasha and this time Inuyasha jumped into the air to avoid it, but Inuyasha had failed to realize that the attack was really intended for Kagome and Kyoko.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted from the sky.

Kagome and Kyoko both turned around when they heard Inuyasha's voice. As they turned around their eyes were met with the huge power coming straight at them. The attack was about to hit them when suddenly Kisho's eyes opened. His eyes glowed a bright yellow as his purifying energy stretched out around himself and the girls to shield them from the attack. As his purifying energy kept the attack back and the spear in his chest melted away and he fell from the tree, free from its grasp.

Naraku's eyes were wide opened as he stared at the crippled Inu laying at the foot of the tree, "It's...impossible."

"Kisho, don't move too much," Kagome said as she put her arm gently around his back.

Kyoko was on the other side of Kisho to help him up, but Naraku suddenly charged at them. He was instantly in front of her and she quickly tried to strike him down, but she was no match for someone like Naraku. Naraku easily knocked her back with just one swing of his hand. His sights soon turned on Kagome and he knocked her back too with ease. Kisho was left alone, lying weakly at Naraku's feet. He could barely lift his head to meet Naraku eye to eye. Naraku's whip like hands wrapped around Kisho's neck and lifted him off the ground. Naraku's grip was tight enough to keep a firm hold on him, but it was lose enough for him to breath.

"You are my key to the shard. I was so blind from the start, how did I miss it?"

"What the hell are you even talking about?" Kisho said as he stared at Naraku.

"Naraku! You can't!" Kagome cried out while Naraku turned around to face her with Kisho hanging in the air by his neck still.

"And you. I thought you were trying to deceive me but what you said was true. You only hoped that I didn't notice. Am I right?"

Kagome was silent while Inuyasha came running over, "Kagome, are you ok?"

"Yes...but Kisho," she muttered lightly as she stared back to Naraku.

Naraku had a pleased grin as he held up Kisho in the air, "See this, Inuyasha? This will be the first to fall to the power of this Naraku. Now that I have completed the jewel."

"What?!" Inuyasha yelled out as he raised his sword, but before he could swing it he saw something that no parent should witness.

Naraku trusted his free hand through Kish's heart. As his hand exploded through to the other side a jewel shard fell out of Kisho's body. Kisho's eyes grew wide as he watched the tiny shard fall from his body. 'I had it the whole time...' Once the shard was out he threw Kisho aside.

Kisho's body rolled across the ground slowly until it finally stopped. Kagome ran frantically over to him while Inuyasha stood there in shock. Naraku held the last jewel shard up in his hand as he gazed at it. The little jewel shard glowed brightly in his hand as Kisho's blood dripped from the tiny object. He had longed for such perfection and now it was in his grasp.

"Kisho..." Kagome whispered as she held onto Kisho's lifeless hand, "Don't do this...please."

Kisho's eyes were shut tightly as Kagome hugged his head. His skin had lost a lot of its color and his hair was now tainted with his red blood.

Naraku laughed loudly as he held up the completed jewel, "No one can stop me!"

'My grandson, you have not failed in your task. You must do something that I was not able to do myself if you want to see your world free. Escape from hell...'