Ok, this chapter is dedicated to a very special person, who got a whopping 100% on my quiz!!!!! The problem is...my computer screwed up and deleted your e-mail and I can't remember who you are!!!!! Was it you, Spam-chan? If you tell me who you are, I will send you your prize shortly!
Also, Kachie's computer has been acting VERY screwy, and hers is the only computer with a scanner that I can get to, which is why no one has received their prizes as of yet. Believe me, we are trying, VERY HARD!!!
Ok, next topic. Certain reviewers have been asking for me to do certain things with my story. I am sorry, but since my story has already gotten a plot to it and I have devised a method of getting it there that I like, I will not change it. For me to change my story would be like asking J.K. Rowling to make Harry Potter a girl and Clive Cussler to no longer add himself into his Dirk Pitt novels as a very minor character.
Even though the ideas I have been given aren't quite as bad as those, (on the contrary, they are quite good,) but it would make me feel the same. I wouldn't feel as good about it, and what I love about this story is the amazing feeling it and my reviewers give me. Please, no one be offended; if I weren't so dead set on what I wanted to do, I would use your ideas in a heartbeat, hands down.
Now, I have one last thing before my disclaimer and chapter. This chapter is going to be both happy and sad, but mostly sad. In the next two chapters, a lot of bad things are going to happen to a lot of good people, but please, I do not want flames. My ending is going to be a happy one. EVERYONE will be happy. So do not flame the authoress. That makes my confidence level do a U-turn...
Disclaimer: What? You think an American blond idiot could possibly own Inuyasha and friends? Ha! I pity the Lawyers who think such a thing!
Lawyers- Hey! We just got back from vacation!!! We didn't do anything yet...
Me- Keyword: YET...
Freedom and Death
Sango dodged Kohaku's scythe for what seemed like the hundredth time. She was getting tired, as was everyone else. No one wanted to hurt Kohaku, but if this kept up much longer, they might have to...
It had taken a minute for everyone to notice Kohaku's eyes. They had always seemed to be glazed over before...but now they had a slightly red glow to them. How could Sango not have noticed it when he had first made his appearance known?
"Miroku! Watch out!" Kachie yelled as she ran past him, dodging another of Kohaku's death swipes. Miroku did so as well and was narrowly missed. Kachie continued towards the boy with her new battle-axe in hopes of separating him from his weapon. No luck.
As Kohaku dodged one of Inuyasha's attempts to do the same thing, he swung his weapon at an odd angle, causing it to nearly take off Kachie's arm. Now sporting a large cut on her shoulder, Kachie had to withdraw to catch her breath. Koga gladly stepped out in her place and began his own onslaught of kicks and punches.
"Kagome, stay by Kachie for now, you need to save your energy to purify Naraku..." Hekele said as she passed by where Kachie had retreated next to Kagome. Kagome nodded but clutched her arrows, just in case. Something wasn't right here. Something seemed out of place. But Kagome didn't have time to concentrate on those nagging thoughts; she had to focus on the battle in case she was needed.
Hekele saw an opening on Kohaku's back and ran towards it, thinking that she could possibly restrain him if she could get behind him. She caught him by surprise. She knocked his weapon out of his hand and grabbed him. She wrapped her arms under his armpits and laced her fingers around his neck, effectively limiting his movements for a moment.
Naraku focused on the battle through Kohaku's eyes. He could control the boy with ease with the complete jewel in his hand. He could put his own essence into the boy's body and increase his strength and speed. It was quite amusing to watch his enemies attempt to disarm him. What they didn't realize was that it was as if they were trying to disarm Naraku himself.
How pathetic... he mused. He then turned to his servants, Kagura and Kanna, "You are to go and assist Kohaku in the battle, Kagura, and Kanna, you will remain in the shadows and steal their souls." The two female demons bowed and exited the room in a hurry.
"How are we to deceive Naraku now?" Kanna asked. Kagura shook her head.
"We can only hope that his hearing isn't as good as his sight right now...I can whisper the fact that this is an act into their ears, but after that we are on their own. You will try to steal their souls, but before you do, be sure they see the reflection of your mirror, so when they dodge it, it can look completely accidental..."
"I will try my best Kagura, good luck..."
"You as well..." the wind witch said as she burst into the throne room and Kanna disappeared into the shadows.
Kohaku skillfully threw Hekele off his back and across the room, forcing her to the ground painfully. Before she could stand and move out of the way, Kohaku retrieved his scythe and threw it towards her. Luckily, before it hit her, Sesshoumaru blocked it with his Tokijin, causing sparks to fly as steel collided with steel. Hekele took the chance to get up and retrieve her sword.
"Thanks!" she called to Sesshoumaru as she made another attempt towards Kohaku. Sesshoumaru only nodded slightly in acknowledgement as he too went after the boy carefully. No human was strong enough to throw a person of Hekele's weight as far as Kohaku had. Obviously, Naraku was giving the boy some extra power. Who knew what else was hidden from them.
Suddenly, a huge gust of wind sliced in the space between Sesshoumaru and the once again battling Hekele. Sesshoumaru looked up and saw Kagura. She had a grim sneer plastered onto her face.
"Lord of the Western Lands...it is time we battle..." she shouted. Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat as she came at him with a katana. He met her attack and blocked her blade.
"Treacherous wench," he hissed. Kagura gave him a serious look.
"Not really, Naraku sent us, of course this has to look real."
"Us? Where is Kanna?" Sesshoumaru asked, attacking her with his sword.
Kagura blocked it with a bit of difficulty, "In the shadows; she is to steal your souls. But before she uses her mirror she is going to warn the subject by reflecting light for them to see so they can dodge her."
"How is Naraku overseeing the battle if she is here with us?" Sesshoumaru questioned, lunging at her meanwhile.
"He is controlling Kohaku is he not? He is giving the boy part of his consciousness and strength in order to fight the lot of you. The reason he can maneuver so well is because Naraku is willing him to, and can see everything Kohaku sees," Kagura informed, dodging Sesshoumaru's lunge carefully. Sesshoumaru gave her a slight nod, one that was barely visible even to her, and lunged once more.
Sango was about to try another attempt at Kohaku when a shining in the shadows caught her eye. Knowing that Kanna had probably entered the room along with Kagura, Sango jumped back, just in time to dodge the mirror's attack. She still held her soul.
A warning...she warned me with the reflection first...this thing with her and Kagura is staged...good...but how does Naraku know what is happening? She thought, advancing on her younger brother once again. If only she could restrain him somehow...
Miroku dodged Kanna's mirror and came to the same conclusion as Sango. What he did not understand was that if the demon child was here...how Naraku could see the battle, he had thought that she had needed to lend him her mirror...
Apparently we were mistaken...he thought grimly. He saw as Kanna then 'went after' Hekele, who had withdrawn from the reach of Kohaku's scythe for a moment. She had, like him, no trouble dodging the mirror. It was then that he was sure that everything was an act; Kanna's never missed before. So how is he seeing this?
Naraku growled. So...they were betraying him were they? How predictable...
They think that I will be fooled so easily? That I do not know of their battling tactics? Kagura never uses her katana and Kanna never misses. I can see the reflection of light in her mirror every time she aims at one of those imbeciles. She is signaling them! Naraku was enraged. He stood and made his way out the door. If they were going to play that game, then he would have to teach them a lesson...
They will know pain.
Inuyasha kept a close eye on Kagome and Kachie as he battled. At this point, he and everyone else had pretty much understood what Kanna and Kagura were doing. It was Kohaku that he was worried about. It seemed that he could match the strength and speed of whomever attacked him. And Inuyasha knew that Kohaku had never been that strong before.
The doors to the throne room flew open and everyone froze. Standing there was Naraku. Kagura and Kanna visibly paled. They knew why he had come so soon...
"You must be punished," was all he said before he extended his hands and formed the shape of one heart in each. One heart had a thin white film over it. It was Kanna's soul.
There was no warning before he squeezed the two hearts and Kagura and Kanna clutched the spots on their chests where they should have been in pain. They collapsed to the floor instantly and fought to keep their consciousness.
"You betrayed me for the last time Kagura...and you've influenced Kanna to do so as well, you ought to be ashamed..." he said in an almost playful voice as he squeezed their hearts all the harder.
Sango threw her boomerang at Naraku in hopes of distracting him. Naraku, however, was not to be so easily taken advantage of. He leapt halfway across the room from his position and landed as gracefully as though he had merely taken a step. He resumed Kanna and Kagura's torture.
Kohaku began his onslaught once again as Naraku's eyes glowed red, matching his own.
He saw everything through Kohaku's eyes! Sango growled to herself angrily. She was done allowing her younger brother to be controlled by this, this bastard of a demon!!!
Hekele watched as Sango went after Naraku with her boomerang. He toyed with her for a moment or so before striking her with a stray tentacle. Hekele rushed to her side and tried to stop the bleeding that was now coming from her left hip. Naraku came up behind her, and having absorbed the hearts back into his body, he attempted to grab at her throat. Noticing him at the last moment, Hekele kicked him in the stomach, not that it helped much.
Naraku grabbed her by the throat and squeezed it tightly. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were dealing with Kohaku, but Miroku was on his way to her aid. He could not use his Kazaana for fear of Naraku widening it, but he vowed to still be useful.
Hekele was aware of her vision blurring as Naraku's hand squeezed even tighter on her throat. She was aware of the wind picking up and suddenly being released. She fell to the ground and clutched at her throat, as if to make sure she still had one. She looked up in time to see a slightly injured Naraku form the two hearts and soul in his hands and squeeze down on them. Hekele glanced and saw Kagura fall behind her; Kanna fell nearby, having directed her mirror at Naraku.
They saved me...she thought to herself, looking up at Naraku, who was still mere feet from her. She decided to return the favor. She glanced around quickly, making sure that Kohaku was occupied, and took her sais from her belt loops. She waited as Naraku took a subconscious step towards her, still holding the hearts and staring at his two victims. Taking the only chance she was sure to get, she raised her weapons and swiftly sliced at Naraku's wrists. He yelled in surprise and pain, having thought her unconscious or even dead. Hekele was satisfied to see his hands detach from his body and fall to the floor, hearts, soul, and all.
Naraku's yell/scream had surprised everyone and they had looked at him in shock. When they saw an injured Hekele holding her weapons and his detached hands on the ground, they mildly understood what had happened.
Naraku's body formed two hands where the old ones were sliced off and he snapped at Hekele.
"Do you think me so weak as to be affected so badly by such an attack?!" he yelled, causing Sesshoumaru to run towards the two out of worry.
Hekele smirked, "But you aren't whole..." she said, still half lying on the ground. Naraku was about to slap her when everyone noticed a bright light coming from Naraku's dead hands. The hearts that were imprisoned there glowed a gorgeous light blue and floated to their owners. Kagura was in shock as her heart disappeared into her chest and she felt it beating...she was finally free...
Kanna's heart and soul flowed into her body and she felt whole for the first time in her life. Her pure, snow colored hair turned a slight blond and then darkened to a very light brown, instead of being flat and plain it almost gained a mind of it's own and became full of childish waves, and her emotionless orbs turned a sea green. She was lovely. Her soul made her complete, both inside and out. Inuyasha was even able to detect an aroma...and neither she nor Kagura had a trace of Naraku's scent on them in the least...
"You...you BITCH!" Naraku yelled as he returned his attention to Hekele, rage filling his eyes. Hekele's eyes held a grim smile in them. She knew she was in for a bit of pain, but the fact that Kanna and Kagura were free and could help her friends made it better...
I hope you know what you mean to me Sesshoumaru...and Rin as well... Aishiteru...both of you... she thought as Naraku prepared to strike at her and as she recalled the meaningful embrace between her, Sesshoumaru, and Rin from earlier...
Flashback
"We'll get home soon Rin...I promise..." she said soothingly. Rin snuggled into her hug and nodded. When she was finally released, she jumped into Sesshoumaru's arms for an embrace from him as well.
"Sesshoumaru-sama saved us...Rin told Hekele-chan that everything would be ok!" she said as she squeezed him tightly. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at Hekele, who blushed in embarrassment that she had not had more faith. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and pulled her into the embrace with his tail, which he also wrapped around Rin. Hekele smiled as well and wrapped her arms around the two. She felt happy and safe in the embrace, like nothing bad could happen. It was a good feeling.
End Flashback
Sesshoumaru was mere feet from where Hekele lay with Naraku's enraged form hovering above her when it happened. It had only taken him seconds to get there. That was how quick it was. But those seconds weren't even enough. Sesshoumaru watched, almost as if time was suspended for this scene, as Naraku's arm formed a sharp tentacle and thrust itself through Hekele's already abused throat. She was dead.
Still running, Sesshoumaru thrust a hateful blow at Naraku, his eyes blazing red and his markings jagged and angry. Naraku dodged, barely, having needed a second or so to dislodge his tentacle from its unfortunate victim. Sesshoumaru swung his sword and dodged as Naraku thrust the same bloody tentacle that had killed Hekele at him. He sliced off the appendage and growled when Naraku simply grew another.
"You really must do better than that demon lord. You cannot avenge the love of your life by slicing off my limbs as she did..." Naraku sneered. Sesshoumaru merely snarled and continued their deadly dance.
It had happened so quickly...mere seconds...it actually took everyone else a moment to allow the scene register in their minds. All they had seen was a blindingly blue light as Kagura and Kanna became whole. And when the light was gone a split second later...Hekele was lying on the ground, dead, and Sesshoumaru was battling mercilessly with Naraku.
Kagome was in tears and Kachie was as close to it as possible without actually crying. She would not cry, she would keep Kagome safe and comfort her, but she would not cry...not yet. She turned her attention to Inuyasha and Kohaku, who had begun to fight once more. Kohaku showed no signs of tiring...
Kanna and Kagura were in a small state of shock as they saw Hekele's lifeless body on the other side of the room. She had...just saved them...made them whole...and now she was dead. The first in Naraku's blood bath...
Miroku was helping Sango away from Hekele's fallen body while attempting to treat her wound as best he could at the same time. It was bleeding badly.
"Sango, are you all right? Do you know how deep the wound is?" he asked, ripping a good portion of his robes so that he could bandage her up. Sango tore her gaze from Hekele's body and gave Miroku a tired smile.
"It is deep Miroku...it feels like he nearly ran me through..." she took her time speaking. She suddenly was feeling dizzy from all of her blood loss.
"Sango, keep your eyes open...please stay awake!" Miroku was beginning to panic...Sango didn't look like she could hold on much longer. The wound was obviously more serious than he could see.
Sango tried her best to comply. It was getting increasingly difficult to do so, however. She didn't know if it was the wound that was killing her or the fact that she had failed to save her brother like she had sworn to do.
She watched as Koga carefully walked over to Kachie, to check on her. Sango noticed that Kachie was staring at her...with pain in her eyes. She knew. She knew Sango was going to die. Sango gave her and Kagome a heart-felt smile, as if trying to reassure them. Kagome's own orbs were torn between her battling comrades and her dying friend, but Sango knew that she cared. She knew that Kagome would be the real hero too. After all, she would purify the jewel and everything would be ok in the end...
Sango looked back to Miroku, who was hurriedly bandaging her wound, "Miroku, I'm dying..." Miroku actually shot her a glare.
"No you're not. You are going to outlive me Sango, you are going to die old and happy, not here in this battle!" he snapped. Sango laughed and slowly reached out to touch his hand.
"Miroku, you know I love you, right?" she asked. Miroku gave her a hard look.
"Of course I know Sango...and you know that I love you enough to keep you alive, right?" he said, knowing where she was going with her question. He squeezed her hand tightly and kissed it.
Sango smiled as her eyes became clouded. Her wound didn't hurt anymore either. She was well aware that she was bleeding to death even more so because of how cold she felt. Sango was aware of Miroku's pained sigh and felt his shaky arms as he lifted her useless body close to his in a loving embrace. She recalled the warm feeling he had given her only hours ago when he had saved her from that soul freezing demon in Naraku's dimension. She felt it now as well. She also remembered their kiss...
Flashback
"That kiss meant nothing to me...I need for you to know that..." he said slowly. Sango snorted and tried to pull away.
"And why do you need for me to know that, Houshi-sama?" she asked, hurt woven in her words.
Miroku tilted her head to face him, leaned in, and kissed her on the lips, completely taking her by surprise. After a second she kissed him back, somehow feeling secure that it wasn't a trick. When they parted he tilted her head and gave her a kiss on the forehead before grasping her face in both of his hands and making her stare him straight in the eyes.
"Because I need you to believe me when I say that that kiss meant the world to me..."
End Flashback
Miroku pondered everything that he had been through with this woman in his arms. This woman who he loved. This woman who was dying.
All Miroku could think about were their more recent loving exchanges, and the joy he had felt when she had not rejected his kiss or his affections.
His only regret was that she hadn't known of his feelings sooner...
Inuyasha was thrown from Kohaku and he landed near Koga, Kachie, and Kagome. He shook his head as if to stop it's spinning and looked around at his friends.
"How are they holding up Koga?" he asked, standing up and readying his sword. Koga turned from Kachie to regard him.
"Kachie's shoulder is still bleeding, but I think it's slowed down some...and Kagome's..." he trailed off, following the said girl's gaze over to Miroku and Sango once more. It was then that Inuyasha saw them.
Sango was lying in Miroku's arms, dying, and Miroku seemed to be out of it...in shock. Inuyasha's own heart wretched at the sight.
Sesshoumaru was still battling with Naraku, Inuyasha mused, and he seemed to be getting tired. Naraku wasn't even breaking a sweat.
It's that damn jewel...he has all of it's power at his command...Midoriko must be rolling in her grave...sort of... Inuyasha thought, recalling how the jewel had been formed. He returned to his battle with Kohaku as the knowledge flashed through his mind.
Midoriko, who was the first Miko ever, had been battling hundreds of demons. She was exhausted and was losing. Suddenly, when defeat seemed imminent, the Shikon no Tama had burst through her chest and swallowed the demons' souls, as well as most of her own. Now, after all these years, within the Shikon no Tama still rages that final battle, and only when the jewel has been used or completely purified would the battle ever end, and the last of Midoriko's soul freed. The piece of Midoriko's soul that was already free was elevated to the level of a goddess in the heavens.
Inuyasha was snapped completely to reality when Kohaku once again threw him away. Inuyasha didn't have time to dodge before Kohaku threw his weapon.
Miroku gasped in pain as he felt cold metal protrude his back and dig itself into him. He held Sango's failing form tighter, out of instinct and pain. He was not aware of her own pained gasp as she felt the same sudden rush of pain, having been stabbed once again. The weapon had gone completely through Miroku's back/chest, and into Sango. Miroku, knowing full well what had happened held back his scream of pain as the scythe was pulled from its lodge in Sango and himself. He buried his face in the crook of Sango's neck and whimpered and pained whimper.
He could not hear her heartbeat. Sango was dead.
Miroku's eyes welled with pain and sorrow as he became aware of his own failing life. He turned slightly, painfully, to face Kohaku, their attacker. He shared with him a pained and yet patient smile.
"I...know you are in there...and...you must know...Sango...will never be mad...for what you have been made...to do..." He was met with an evil smirk.
"You will all die...one by one...I will kill you all," it was said in a voice unlike Kohaku's. Miroku stared into those crimson orbs from where he was quickly expelling his fluid life. The Naraku in Kohaku's eyes seemed to dance as Miroku drew his last breath.
"...We shall see..." and with that, Miroku allowed himself to fall to the cold hard floor, his fingers still entwined in Sango's, and was dead.
Inuyasha's eyes blurred fiercely as he witnessed the death of two of his best friends. Kohaku hadn't aimed for him at all...Naraku had made Kohaku throw his weapon at Miroku and at his own sister. Right when Miroku had been distracted in calming his one and only as she died too...
Inuyasha could see Kagome and Kachie in tears as well. Koga, like him, was fighting not to let the pained emotion show.
Kohaku lunged at Inuyasha once more and Inuyasha parried with ease. Kohaku jumped back near his friends and Inuyasha, in a small fit of panic, lunged at him. He could the most peculiar look on Kagome's face as he and Koga went after Kohaku as he bounded in another direction. She wore a look of amazement, realization, and shock.
Kagome saw it faintly. She had seen it when Kohaku had landed frighteningly close to her, Kachie, and Koga. And as Inuyasha and Koga drove the boy away, she was sure of it.
She had seen a Shikon shard in his back. She was positive.
"Kachie..." she whispered, still in awe and shock. Worried, Kachie looked at her.
"What? Are you alright?"
"...There was a shard of the Shikon no Tama in Kohaku's back...I could see it..."
Kachie's eyes widened, "How is that possible? Naraku has the whole jewel..."
Kagome shook her head; "He doesn't realize that there is a shard missing...it is in his possession, that's how he's always controlled Kohaku, with that shard in his back. But because it was in his power, he didn't know that it was missing from the jewel...it didn't click in his head...even though he is still using it as we speak..."
"It must be from the inside of the jewel...I didn't see any nicks in it..." Kachie mused. Kagome nodded.
"As long as Naraku doesn't figure this out...we might have a chance..."
Kagura and Kanna retained enraged expressions as they witnessed everything happen. The slayer and the monk were dead now as well...Damn Naraku!
Kagura stood up shakily and glared at the hanyou battling with the demon lord.
How dare he cause such pain...
She grasped her fan and flung it open as a huge gust of wind filled the room. She could make the dead dance...She would make the dead dance...Not Hekele, Sango, or Miroku...no, that would betray the gratefulness she felt for their sacrifices...but she would make the rest of Naraku's palace dance...after all, the halls were lined with dead nobles and servants who were exposed to Naraku's miasma...Yes...they would do nicely.
With her fan she called them forth and they burst through the doors at her will. She sent them forth at Naraku to aid the demon lord. Suddenly, from nowhere, came a clawed arm at her. Kagura dodged and looked at her attacker. It was one of Naraku's incarnations. She looked past him and saw seven more.
This wasn't going to be easy...Naraku had come even more prepared than even they had known...It was good that Kanna was there to back her up...
Sesshoumaru blocked, parried, attacked, and repeated as he and Naraku dueled. Fury washed over him in waves. Naraku had killed Hekele. He had stabbed her through her throat and now she was dead. HIS Hekele. Rin would never forgive him.
He would not forgive himself.
Sesshoumaru's rage wasn't enough to blind him, but it was enough to keep him from noticing as Sango and Miroku each fell to the clutches of mortality. He failed to notice as Kagura and Kanna tried to come to his aid, only to be occupied with more of Naraku's incarnations. No, Sesshoumaru's rage was beyond that.
He had never told Hekele how he felt about her. She knew, of course, and he knew this. But still, he had neversaid a word to her about it. Part of him knew that he was still discovering the depths of this thing called love. He dodged one of Naraku's blows as he pondered this.
Just how much of this feeling did he understand?
As he blocked another of Naraku's attacks and launched one of his own, Sesshoumaru ran over the exchanges he had shared with Hekele. Most of them had to do with either intense subjects, or some rather comical ones.
Was that love? Being able to speak to one another?
As Naraku dodged his attack, Sesshoumaru had another thought.
He recalled when the girls had broken the monk's nose and she had had to set and bandage it. The monk had given into his usual habits and had not only groped her but he had also been staring rather happily somewhere he shouldn't have. Sesshoumaru recalled the rage he had felt and how he had promptly removed her from the monk's reach, even before realizing just how much she meant to him.
Was that it? Was love looking out for one another?
Sesshoumaru parried Naraku's appendage as he pondered the topic more, using his confusion to fuel his rage.
He remembered easily what had taken place mere hours ago, in Naraku's dimension. Hekele had trusted him with her life, knowing that he had wanted to save her. Fear had eventually taken its toll, but even when afraid that he would not decide quickly enough, Hekele had called out to him, and he was more than happy to show her that he would not abandon her and let her die. Sesshoumaru knew that were the roles reversed, he could trust Hekele to do the same as he had.
Was that what love was? To trust another with your own life and heart and know that they would be safe in that person's hands?
Sesshoumaru blocked once more and thrust his sword into Naraku's shoulder, earning a slightly satisfying groan of agony. Pity it was his right shoulder. Naraku backed out of the blade before Sesshoumaru could twist it and healed his wound with the darkened jewel. Sesshoumaru scowled once more.
It really didn't matter now though, what love meant to Sesshoumaru, because he had failed. He had failed with mere feet to go to protect the one he had unwillingly fallen for. That stubborn, blonde and red haired, blue eyed, arrogant, tragic, and yet loving girl who had always defied him, most of the time with a smirk or genuine smile worn about her lips.
The guilt was killing him inside.
Flashback
"Rin...we will return soon, this I promise..." Sesshoumaru said softly to her as he gently hugged her. Rin took a little comfort from this and Hekele gave her a hug as well.
"But don't stay up waiting for us...we might be a little late..." she added, only half joking.
"Come back safe or Rin won't forgive Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele-chan!!! Sesshoumaru-sama and Hekele-chan promised!!!" she called after them as she disappeared safely into the distance.
End Flashback
He knew that Rin had meant what she had said, even if she didn't. He knew that she would forever hold a hole in her heart where her adoptive mother had resided. He would as well.
"So, what are we going to do with this new development?" Kachie asked Kagome quietly, referring to the shard remaining in Kohaku's back. Kagome sighed.
"...We need to get Kohaku over here somehow...without Naraku knowing what we're gonna do..." she said, after thinking for a moment.
"Well, what are we going to do???" Kachie pressed, totally confused.
"I'm going to try to purify the shard in his back. If I focus my power enough...I should be able to do it even though it's still inside him..." she explained.
"Why not use one of your arrows?" Kachie asked. Kagome shook her head.
"I don't know if I can focus enough of my miko energy into one arrow...and since I'll only have one clear opportunity at best..."
"Ok...but do you really think this will work?" Kachie asked.
"I am almost positive...it's how Naraku has been ordering him around and hiding his memories for the past year or so...without it, he would just be Kohaku...but, even if it doesn't work...it will still give us a little ground to stand on."
"The shard."
"Precisely." There was a pause, which was broken by Kachie.
"So how do we get him over here without making it seem to obvious?"
Sesshoumaru continued his battle with Naraku viciously, but he was beginning to slow down. The dark Shikon no Tama was fueling the hated hanyou's stamina more than Sesshoumaru could handle. His muscles were starting to ache and even his rage wasn't enough to keep him oblivious to all else any longer.
Sesshoumaru could see Kanna and Kagura having a battle of their own with some more of Naraku's incarnations. Kagura was using her ability to control the dead, however, the incarnations were much too powerful to be damaged with dead humans. He could see that three of them had fallen, however. The two newly freed shades of the hanyou Naraku had five more to slay.
Sesshoumaru, on a leap towards his adversary, had also seen the fallen monk and slayer.
Miroku and Sango as well?!? Even Sesshoumaru could not hide his grief at the tragic way in which they appeared to have died. But, to him, at least they had died together.
He battled with what he hoped was new energy but was actually merely more fuel for his anger. Anger, he knew, couldn't win this war. This war that he had been unwittingly sucked into of good and evil. Sesshoumaru, ironically, fighting on the side of good.
He heard the sound of fast moving wind and dodged out of the way, knowing very well that it hadn't come from the wind witch's fan. He saw the scythe of Sango's brother Kohaku fly past him and he turned to see where he was exactly, wanting to make sure that he wasn't close enough to pose much more of a threat.
Then Sesshoumaru felt a pain unlike he had ever felt before as he realized his mistake a moment to late.
Naraku had thrust his tentacle into Sesshoumaru's heart at the very moment he turned his back. He twisted the appendage with a sadistic grin and his eyes danced with amusement when the demon lord coughed up blood. As Sesshoumaru fell to the ground Naraku removed the appendage from its lodge and examined the blood that coated it with interest.
"Well, well, well...I see that curse I put on your sword not only inhibits its ability to bring back the dead, as you must have known, but it also prevents the Tenseiga from protecting you as it always has from bodily harm. How interesting...and here I thought I would have to separate you from it to kill you..." he said in a bemused tone.
Sesshoumaru was aware of everyone's frightened eyes on his dying form. He could smell their uncertainty and fear, though as the milliseconds passed by it was becoming increasingly difficult...
He looked to his right as best he could and saw, about thirty feet from him, Hekele's body. His blood red eyes softened slightly as he remembered the promise the two had made to Rin once again...
"Come back safe or Rin won't forgive Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele-chan!!! Sesshoumaru-sama and Hekele-chan promised!!!"
He could still see her retreating form on the fire-cat's back as she and Jakken had gone towards the village. He could still see the firm look upon her young face as she had made that declaration. He drew his last breath.
I am sorry Rin...but this is one promise that we couldn't keep... It was his last conscious thought as he was swallowed into the darkness of death.
Kagome looked on in shock as Sesshoumaru's eyes closed for the last time. She turned and saw that once more, the battle was frozen in shock. She could see pain written all over Inuyasha's face as the scene registered in his mind.
Just when they had stopped fighting and hating each other... she thought as the pain set into her own heart more. Four. Four of her dearest friends had been killed so far. She looked at the semi-frozen form of Kohaku and scowled. It was time to end this pain. She would never have an opening this clear again...she was sure of it.
"Now Kachie!" she hissed as she began to sprint towards Kohaku's turned back. Kachie complied and ran after her, knowing her roll in their 'almost-sneak-attack.'
Inuyasha was surprised to see Kagome and Kachie run past him and Koga in the momentary stupor of anguish they were currently sharing. He saw their target and growled to himself when it turned and saw them. He and Koga went to their aid in the blink of an eye, just as Kachie attacked Kohaku with her new battle-axe.
Kohaku parried and, seeing Inuyasha coming after Kagome, ignored her and turned to attack Kachie. Too bad that it was what the two girls had wanted.
Inuyasha caught Kagome's arm and pulled her back, "What are you doing?!? You two could get killed!!!" he yelled as Koga veered off to attack Naraku.
"I have a plan, let GO! SIT!" out of reflex, Inuyasha, despite the removal of his rosary, plummeted to the ground. As he grumbled curses for his damn reflexive fall, Kagome took the opportunity to run after Kohaku. She took a deep breath, thrust her hand out in front of her, and concentrated her miko power into it as she neared him.
Please...let this work... she pleaded to the silent gods above as she made contact with the spot that held the shard.
A scream of pain was heard as the soft pink light began to engulf the boy slowly. But it wasn't Kohaku's scream.
Naraku doubled over in pain as the miko Kagome began to purify the shard in the slayer's back. It was then that Naraku realized his mistake. He had never removed the shard from the boy's back. The jewel wasn't whole after all...
What is this pain?!?! he cried to himself mentally. Just then he looked at the shards around his neck. They were beginning to turn a pinkish color.
The connection! They are still connected when this close to one another! he thought as he recalled the little quirk that he had discovered and used against the group when they had arrived to his palace. It was then that Naraku realized what was happening to him because of this connection.
He was being purified...slowly...
They saw Naraku's look of horror as the jewel around his neck began to slowly become pure. Koga grinned and attacked, deciding to use this new development to his advantage. Naraku wasn't done for yet, however, and was still able to evade with ease despite the pain he was going through.
Inuyasha slowly realized the Naraku was being purified by the same connection that had drawn the shards to him and decided to assist Koga in his battle, hoping against hope that Kagome could keep up this plan of her long enough...
Kachie held Kohaku still as he began to shake violently with all the power that was flowing through him. She saw as his eyes flickered between brown and red. Kagome's plan was working...it was working better than either could have hoped.
She could feel Kagome's power flowing through the air in calming waves and was very surprised at its strength. Never before had she been able to sense anyone's power...but this was hitting her as much as it was everyone else.
Kagome intensified the power flowing through her hand into Kohaku when she realized what was happening to Naraku. Maybe...maybe she could finish him off...but she was beginning to feel the effects of using so much power she do it? She could feel something pushing against her power, however, making her new idea harder to accomplish. She could feel Naraku's power fighting for control of Sango's brother as Naraku himself battled with Inuyasha and Koga. She could feel where, inside Kohaku, there seemed to be a battle of her own against Naraku.
The battle was intense.
Naraku wasn't as graceful or as agile as he had been moments before. Inuyasha and Koga used this advantage as best as they could. Naraku seemed distracted somehow, and it wasn't just the pain either.
Suddenly, he doubled over and screamed once more. Kagome must have done something...she was still with Kachie at Kohaku's side and purifying the shard.
Why aren't they done already? Inuyasha growled to himself. It had never taken Kagome less than the blink of an eye to purify a shard, or even a group of shards for that matter.
It was then that he saw Kohaku's body begin to glow with the energy of the two beings battling for control of him.
So that's why Naraku seems distracted...he's trying to keep Kagome from purifying him by keeping control of the shard in Kohaku... he mused as he took another swing at the evil hanyou. Naraku dodged and launched an attack of his own, only to have his appendage sliced off by Kagura's Dance of the Dragon attack.
Kagura herself stood near her former master, panting and ragged looking. Kanna was next to her, looking hurt but standing firm.
The incarnations they had been battling were all dead.
"Naraku...you must do better than that..." she panted angrily. Somehow, she was beginning to feel extraordinarily weak...and it wasn't because of the battle she and Kanna had just finished either...
Naraku's face contorted into a pained, yet evil grin. They are still made from my flesh...if something were to happen to me...they would die as well...their bodies...being mere portions of my own, cannot withstand as much as mine...they would die first...
"What are you smiling about?!?!" Inuyasha yelled. Naraku merely continued to grin until another wave of pain hit him.
"Kagome!!! Hang in there...you're winning!!!" Kachie encouraged as she continued to hold Kohaku's shaking body. She watched as the levels of the black and pinkish light went up and down, colliding with one another in different places. She knew what those lights represented. The represented the good and evil energy fighting within Kohaku. She could feel them both intensifying drastically. She heard Naraku yell in pain and gave a triumphant look towards him, that is, until she saw Kanna and Kagura double over too. She heard their screams of pain as well, and realized partially what was going on.
Why are they being affected by the purification of the jewel? Is it because he created them??? she thought to herself with worry. If Kanna and Kagura died...then not only would they have never truly tasted freedom, but then Hekele's death would be in vain as well...as would Sango and Miroku's death...and even Sesshoumaru's...all of them had died to keep everyone else safe.
Please...let this turn out ok...she thought as the power levels increased once again. This time, they were so profound that she was burned slightly from the clash and had to let go...
Kagome breathed heavily as the amount of energy she was using began to take its toll. It was not that she was running out of energy, it was that so much of it was flowing through her body that it was tiring her. She forced herself to keep going, however, because she had to.
She closed her eyes in concentration and to keep the blinding light that was emitting from Kohaku's body out of them as well. She dug deep within herself and pulled forth all of the energy she could. She really didn't care what happened to her at this point...as long as they won and not Naraku.
Naraku doubled over in another wave of pain, as did Kanna and Kagura. Kanna didn't get back up.
Naraku stood and dodged one of Koga's kicks to the face. He knew what he had to do to survive. He put forth all of the speed and energy he could and ran at Kagome. He would kill her.
"KAGOME!!!" Inuyasha called warning to her as he attempted to get to her before Naraku, Koga right behind him.
Kagome saw Naraku form a barbed appendage, and knew it was meant for her. She put forth another burst of energy into Kohaku in a wild attempt to stay alive and saw as she overtook the evil hanyou's power. Kohaku glowed pink just as Naraku reached her and thrust his appendage at her.
It never hit.
Kachie saw what was about to happen and ran in front of her friend. Now it's my turn to make a difference in this...this war that never should have been. Good luck Kags...everyone...I'm sorry Koga...
It was then that she felt the pain. She saw the barbed appendage through her in her own blood.
Naraku, with great difficulty, yanked the appendage from Kachie's abdomen, causing her to collapse to the ground. Kagome put forth one last burst of energy into Kohaku's shard and Naraku, who had been half lying on the ground in pain, went flying towards the other side of the room.
Kachie looked up towards her friends. She gave Kagome, whom she was facing, the best smile she could manage and stuttered out her last words with difficulty.
"Sorry Kags...but there wasn't...another way...tell Koga...not to be mad at me...ok?" she requested. Kagome could only nod.
"Of course Kachie...Thank you..." she cried, pain and sorrow laced in every syllable.
"KACHIE!" Koga yelled as he ran to her side, but it was too late. She was already dead. Koga let his tears fall freely and held her to him in grief.
Inuyasha was already at Kagome's side as she fell to the ground out of fatigue. Inuyasha grasped her and hugged her fiercely. He sniffed her up and down for any injuries, as if to make sure that she wouldn't too fall and never wake up. Satisfied that she was only tired, he calmed a bit.
Kohaku slowly opened his eyes; he felt so odd. The last thing he could clearly remember was going on his first mission as a slayer with his family...there were also jumbled thoughts in his mind, memories even, of being controlled...gods how his head ached!
"S-sango? Where's Sango?" he asked to no one in particular. A girl with raven hair and a strange, short, white, and green kimono looked over at him slowly and smiled slightly. Behind her was a silver haired hanyou with dog-ears a-top his head.
"My name is Kagome, Kohaku...how are you?" she asked. Kohaku noticed how tired she sounded.
"I...think I'm ok...why wouldn't I be? Where are my father and Sango?" he asked again. The Kagome girl looked at him somewhat sadly.
"Kohaku...I will tell you later...right now...you should leave...head east until we come and find you...if you come upon a village before we find you...go to the priestess's hut and stay there. Do you understand?" she asked. Kohaku nodded.
"Now turn around...there is something in your back..." she said slowly. Kohaku complied.
"Now, this might hurt..." she said. Kohaku nodded and bit down a gasp of pain as he felt the girl pull something out of him. It was a small, pink jewel...
"Now go...quick..." the hanyou growled, Kohaku hesitated, but grabbed his weapon and took his leave in the direction that the hanyou was pointing in.
It was then that Kohaku became aware of his surroundings. He was in what looked like a throne room. There were corpses and blood everywhere. He could not see any of the people directly, but he had a feeling that he should give thanks to them. He would ask what had happened later, right now he decided to listen to the hanyou and the girl, Kagome, and exit with haste. It seemed odd to trust these strangers...but Kohaku had this gut feeling that he could trust them, and he never went against his gut...
Naraku watched through half-lidded eyes as his last servant was freed from his power and released into the world. Kohaku had willingly listened to their instructions and left in the direction Inuyasha had instructed. Now, with the boy gone, the remaining three fighters turned their tired and hateful gazes at him. He could see the shock in their expressions as they gazed upon his, 'body,' or rather, what normally made it up.
Naraku was in pieces, literally. The demons that formed his body were all cast out and mostly dead. Only Naraku's head, suspended in the mess of limbs and body parts, remained completely intact. That is what needed to be done away with now...his head...Naraku's entire body was dispersed, but as long as he could still be permitted to exist, the world would not be safe. Naraku knew this with pleasure; his enemies did not. He knew they knew what they had to do, and he also knew that they would not show mercy...
"Why do you seem so surprised that I am alive? I am a hanyou after all..." he taunted slightly. Too bad they hadn't the patience to answer him nicely...
Inuyasha took one look at Naraku's pathetic state across the room and charged at him, Tetsusaiga drawn and ready. He saw the place where the demonic energies collided and prepared to use his Kaze no Kizu.
This is for all of the pain you've cause me. For all of the pain you've cause Kagome and Koga even...for killing Sesshoumaru, Sango, Miroku, Hekele, and Kachie...and for controlling and manipulating Kanna, Kagura, and Kohaku...this is for EVERYONE!!! he thought angrily. He swung his blade and the Kaze no Kizu appeared, in all it's glory, and sliced Naraku to bits.
Kagome, with Koga's help, stood up and walked towards what was left of Naraku. It was over. They had won.
But as Kagome hobbled past her fallen friends, and enemies even, she couldn't help but wonder if it had been worth it, to live while they had died.
When Kagome and Koga met up with Inuyasha, Koga dutifully allowed Inuyasha to take her without even the trace of annoyance. Inuyasha took Kagome the rest of the way to Naraku's remains. They would make the jewel whole now...truly whole.
Inuyasha saw Kagome's downcast eyes and knew what she had to be thinking. Inuyasha looked at the shard in her hand and made up his mind once and for all what he would do with the jewel if he had his way.
When they came upon the remains it wasn't hard to find the mostly pure jewel. Kagome kneeled down with Inuyasha's help and lifted the jewel up to her face with a slight scowl at all of the pain and suffering that it and its power had caused.
Kagome sighed and put the shard up to the rest of the jewel and pressed it. To her surprise, it actually glowed and went inside the jewel. In another burst of light, (which surprised all three of the survivors,) the jewel turned from pink to a light, soft blue. It was the same color as the light from the well when Kagome and Inuyasha traveled between their times.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha said, in awe as the jewel began to glow once more, still that light shade of blue.
"I...think it's because the jewel has never truly been pure...there was always that war between good and evil inside of it...and now it's over...inside and out..." she said, trying to explain the phenomenon. Inuyasha nodded and was mildly surprised when Kagome placed the whole jewel in his hand and closed his fingers around it.
"Inuyasha...I promised to give you this when we were finished collecting the shards...go on and make your wish..." she said, completely surprising him. Inuyasha looked at the jewel for less than a second before in taking a deep breath.
"I wish..." was all he could get out.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, an arrow flew towards Inuyasha and lodged itself in his left shoulder, inches above his heart. Inuyasha yelled in pain.
Kagome, Inuyasha, and Koga, (who had since joined the two to witness the wish-making,) looked up at Inuyasha's attacker as Inuyasha himself ripped out the arrow. All of their jaws dropped in shock. Before them stood, out of a cloud of black, a woman with long black hair, black 'angel' wings, dark soulless brown eyes, and a very pale complexion. She had her bow and a quiver of arrows at ready, aiming another arrow directly at Inuyasha.
"Kikyo..." Inuyasha managed to get out in shock. Kagome and Koga shared the emotion.
"Inuyasha..." she spat, "it's time to end this..." She drew back the arrow, and let it go.
Me- I HAVE DONE IT!!!!!!! I finished the chappie!!!
Kachie- She was having a really hard time with this chappie and had to keep
calling me for advice and help...I was having a hard time too, can you
imagine my face when she asked me how she should kill me?!?!
Me- Also, I kept re-writing parts and adding and taking out parts...and I think
that I should have added more of Kagura and Kanna's battle, but I couldn't
figure out where to write it in at...
Lawyers- Rumiko Takahashi must be dying from shock at what you have done to
her characters...so we're gonna sue you! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!
Sesshoumaru- Excuse me...but did Hekele not warn you that lots of bad things
were going to happen? Recall also that she said that there would
be a happy ending...
Me- Thank you Sesshoumaru. (gives Sesshoumaru a huge hug and a kiss on the
cheek.) See? I killed him and yet HE understands my mind!!!!!
Lawyers- (grumble, grumble) Whatever...
Naraku- YOU KILLED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ME- Oh, shut up...
Kagome- Don't worry...things will get better really quick in her story...The next
chapter is the last chapter...and the chapter after that is the epilogue...
Kachie- Yep...and the epilogue is going to have flowers, dancing, and
happiness...whoever can guess what is gonna happen in the epilogue
will get the next chappie dedicated to them...no prize, (big computer
troubles...scanners are not working...--...) but a dedication...well
good luck...
Me- R&R...or no chappie...