Shadows from the Future
Chapter Twenty-two: Death of Our Hero
"INUYASHA!" Kagome called throwing the jewel towards him, he caught it with ease. Inuyasha looked at the jewel dumbly for a moment before realizing why she had thrown it to him, 'What? That can't be the only way, can it?' Kagome screamed in pain again. "Inuyasha… what is wrong?" Naraku's red eyes saw the jewel and stopped his assault, "HOW…?" He looked down at the school girl who was doing her best at smiling up at the hanyou. "L-loser…" she hissed. Naraku violently threw Kagome against the wall and pinned her with his tentacles. "Inuyasha… you gave me the jewel or your mate DIES!" Naraku's vine twisted around like a drill towards Kagome heart. Inuyasha growled, "It's the only way… I'm sorry Kagome." He whispered gripping the jewel,
'Please…' he prayed to the precious stone, "grant me this one wish. Make me a full demon so I can save my Kagome.'
The Shikon Jewel began to pulse and turn into a bright white.
"Alright! Two down one to go!" Kouga said as he jumped backwards towards Ayame. "Good, then we can finish up here and go inside with the others." She said. Kouga smirked, but he felt pulsing in his legs and arm. "What the…" he hissed before said body parts began to burn. "Ugh…" His legs gave in causing him to fall onto the ground bending over as if he was going to vomit. The final demon took this opportunity to attack him. "KOUGA!" Ayame yelled when she saw his predicament, she quickly kicked the demon away and ran to his aid. "Kouga! What happened? What's wrong?" she asked worriedly. Kouga breathe heavily still holding onto his legs, he felt a powerful pulse rip through him. He let out an ear piercing scream as all three jewel shards were ripped from his legs and arm. The tiny pieces of glass flew into the castle.
Keishou quickly stood after hearing the scream, "Ah crap that was Kouga." He turned to Kilala, "Kilala, you'll need to watch over Arasoi. And you!" His attention switched to Jaken who seemed to be trying to tip toe away. He grabbed the small demon by his shirt, "AH! BUT WHAT HELP COULD I POSSIBLY BE!?" he screamed as he helplessly dangled in the air. Keishou's ears fell flat on his head in reaction to the shriek. He grabbed Jaken's beaklike mouth to keep him from screaming anymore. "None actually, I just don't trust you." He then leaped back to the courtyard to see a bloody Kouga and Ayame fighting for her life against a large snake demon. Keishou quickly threw Jaken to the ground and attacked the demon from behind, "CLAWS OF DEATH!" His claws ripped through the snake killing it instantly. "For crying out loud, I leave you two alone for no more than five minutes and this is what I see!" Ayame gave the boy a stare that would make even the strongest demon squirm. He gulped and decided to change his attention to Kouga who was now on the ground panting with three holes in his body. "What happened to him?" he asked kneeling down to the ground. "The shards literally flew out of him, for no reason at all." Keishou's eye's widened in realization, "Someone got the jewel and summoned the shards to it."
Miroku's spell seemed to be working on the young boy. Sango had grabbed the boy's hand and held it throughout the entire processes. The young monk felt the demon aura leave from the boy's body, 'If Miroku can keep this up for a little while longer we can finally save Kohaku.' Sango thought happily. Kohaku began to stir and his brown eyes slowly opened half way. He saw Sango and smiled, "S…Sango…" he said before his eye's flashed open. A purple glow seemed to be coming from his chest. "Kohaku!" Sango yelled holding his hand tighter. The shard's glow darken until the small glass burst from the boy's chest and flew out of the room.
Inuyasha saw the shards fly into the jewel and within a matter of seconds he held the entire Sacred Jewel in his hand. Its white aura surrounded him. Inuyasha felt an intense burning in his joints. He felt his fangs grow and his began to blood boil. He howled as the white aura around him subsided until there was nothing. The jewel was now completely colorless but glowed brightly before becoming a white aura itself and flying towards Kagome, it settled inside the girl's chest. Kagome opened her eyes to see Inuyasha, she gasped in astonishment when she saw what the jewel. Below Inuyasha's eyes were two purple strips. His fangs were keen along with his claws. His eyes were sharper looking, giving him a new look a maturity but his face still held most of his pervious boyish looks. Kagome felt that Inuyasha's strength had skyrocketed with his new transformation but she wasn't sure if he would remember her or anything else.
Naraku trembled then laughed, "I SEE! SO YOU PICKED POWER OVER YOUR MATE'S LIFE, EH? VERY WELL THEN!" Naraku was about to stab his vine into Kagome chest, before Inuyasha appeared in front of him. The now full demon thrust his claws into Naraku, and then threw him across the room where Sesshoumaru stood and poisoned him with his own claws. Kagome felt Inuyasha pick her up to her feet and hold her tight. "Kagome…" he whispered softly burying his nose in her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. Kagome was shocked that his voice hadn't changed, it wasn't the deep voice he had when his demon blood took over. It was the same voice he had when he was a hanyou. "I'm sorry." Kagome looked up to him, "Don't be," she said. "It was the only way. I still love you and no matter what form you take, that will never change, Inuyasha." Inuyasha leaned down and kissed her. She was disappointed when he pulled back, "I need you to leave here. I can't have him attacking you again. I won't let him kill you." Kagome nodded sadly. "How can I leave?" Sesshoumaru pointed down the hall, "Keep going down the hall, there shall be a door that leads to the courtyard." Kagome nodded her thanks to Sesshoumaru and looked up at Inuyasha, "Remember your promise to me, Inuyasha." He smiled, kissed her forehead and nodded. She then ran down the hall as Naraku got himself up.
"You lowlife hybrid! You used the jewel to become a full-demon!" Naraku yelled. "I WILL KILL YOU! ONCE AND FOR ALL!" He charged towards the brothers. Inuyasha took Tetsusaiga and attacked the charging hanyou. "That was for Sango and her brother!" Naraku hit the floor and Inuyasha jumped into the air and attack him again with the mighty fang. "That was for Miroku and his wind tunnel!" The villain screamed in pain as Inuyasha slashed his remaining arm off. "That was for Kikyo's death." Naraku agonizing screams filled the room, causing him to smirk, "And this," Inuyasha took his sword and along with Sesshoumaru charged and attacked Naraku. "Is because I hate you." Finally, after years of fighting, Naraku was slaughtered. The castle erupted in a huge explosion of wind.
Everyone was thrown into the courtyard. Keishou was the last to awake. He saw Miroku comforting Sango by Kohaku's body. The monk's face showed how grateful he was to have his cruse lifted, but how much pain he felt for Sango. He saw Ayame helping Kouga up. Jaken was running away from the scene. And last of all, he saw his parents from the past holding hands while looking around at the remains of the castle. Inuyasha felt Kagome lightly swing her arm making both her hand and his swung back and forth, "I feel so bad for Sango." He heard her say. "I know, but if you think about it. Maybe he's better off dead than walking around the living knowing the only thing keeping him alive is a small piece of glass in his back." Kagome sighed, "Speaking of shards, what happened to the jewel once it was completed, Inuyasha? I felt something go inside my chest but I don't know what it was." Inuyasha looked at the ground, "It vanished inside you." The girl placed a hand on her chest, "What do you mean, Inuyasha?" Inuyasha's eyes were hidden under his sliver bangs. "It was always part of your soul and once I used the jewel it returned to your body." Kagome took his chin and raised it up to her eye level, "You mean… it was purified?" The dog demon nodded. "Probably. I mean, I wish to become full demon to save you. The jewel was created by a human fighting a demon, so a demon using the jewel to save a human must have purified it." Kagome smiled, "I broke it. You fixed it."
Inuyasha smiled as well leaning in to kiss her, before his eyes darted open and he pulled back. He swung Kagome around and held her close to him; he felt a sharp pain at the base of his spine. Inuyasha slowly looked around to see a crumbling figure of Naraku and the vine that stabbed him. "If I die, Inuyasha," He hissed, "You shall die with me…" With that, the figure crumbled into nothing but dust. Inuyasha fell to his knees, the pain was too much. "Inuyasha!" Kagome cried getting everyone's attention. "The bastard… He poisoned me." Inuyasha whispered. Kagome sat on her knees and held him close to her, "Don't… you promised me you wouldn't." Inuyasha buried his head in her chest, "I'm sorry." He smelt her tears, "You… better not… wrench." He warned. "If I'm gonna die here… I aint gonna leave seeing you cry." Kagome held him closer, "Inuyasha…" she whispered. "How can this be happening?"
Sesshoumaru walked towards the scene. "I see Inuyasha's full demon form was still defeated." Miroku turned to the demon, "Even in his final moments you have to insult him! I cannot believe how heartless you can be!" Sesshoumaru seemed to have not heard the monk or he simply did not care for his word. He unleashed the Tensaiga and swiped it against the air. A long wave of purple light swept across the battle filed. Keishou felt the deep gash in his face heal. Sango, Miroku and Kagome felt the cuts and bruise began to heal, along with Ayame. Kouga felt the holes in his body begin to quickly heal. Kohaku began to breathe again and Sango felt his heart beat. Kagome felt Inuyasha stir from in her hold, "Inuyasha…" she gasped when she saw the full demon sit up. His sharp amber eyes were wide with astonishment. He turned to his older brother and asked simply, "Why?" Sesshoumaru returned the sword to its scabbard, "I told you before; I will not give Naraku the satisfactory of being the one to kill you. That will be my battle. The fact the other mortals were healed as well was just because they were in the range." He turned around and walked away with Jaken running behind him.
(AN: I was sitting here for a good 20 minutes deciding whether or not I should leave you and let you think Inuyasha was going to die. Then I thought, 'Well, they have been nice to me this whole time, and ending it here would make the chapter rather short. Also they may come and attack me while I sleep.' So, I thought it'd be in everyone's best interest if I ended it where I did. Now you must all review so you can get your finishing chapter. There's only going to be one more chapter left. So review or else you will not know how this rather long fanfic ends. REVIEW NOW!!!)