Thank you 2 all of those who reviewed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U dunno how happy dey made me. I am SO sorry dat I haven't updated lately. But I've been saying dat way too much, ne? T.T Srrry. Ooookay, let's just get on with it den?
Disclaimer:: I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does.
The song in mentioned this chapter is called "Slipped Away" and it belongs to Avril Lavinge.
The plot of this story belongs to me though!!!
::Chapter 5::
"Shippo." Inuyasha commanded quietly. "Be still!" The young kitsune sniffled and rubbed his eyes. The mention of Kagome's name from Shippo's earlier outburst had left Inuyasha itchingly uncomfortable. ((A/N: Sorry, I don't think 'itchingly' is a real word, but please bear with me))
"Inuyasha," he whispered, "I'm so scared." Inuyasha patted his head impatiently, hoping the annoying kid would just think he was patting his head "comfortingly" and spill his story.
"Can you tell me what's wrong, Shippo?"
Shippo shuddered and clamped his mouth shut, and shook his head, looking as stubborn as ever. Something snapped inside Inuyasha as he watched the kitsune cross his arms. That's it! Inuyasha decided angrily. My kindness act is OVER!
"DAMMIT SHIPPO, HOW HARD IS IT TO TELL ME WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU IN THAT FOREST!?!?!?!??!??!?"
The hanyou's sudden wrath shocked the little kitsune, and he looked at him through egg-platter sized eyes. Taking in rapid breaths, Inuyasha growled and punched the wall nearest to him.
Shippo flinched as he heard the sound of wood shattering into bits. Pieces of wood flew everywhere, leaving a large hole in the middle of the wall.
Inuyasha grunted and took the splinters out of his hand.
"That felt better." He muttered to himself. "Kikyou will kill me though... Haven't been able to beat the crap out of anything for years."
He suddenly turned to Shippo, who yelped and quivered under his gaze, never having saw Inuyasha so angry and violent since.. That unfortunate day.
"You ready to tell me what's on your mind?" He snarled. Poor Shippo nodded his head vigorously and collapsed on the hard floor.
"I- I saw..." He tried to start. "In the forest... I saw..."
Inuyasha glared and crossed his arms, tapping his foot patiently.
"I saw... Well.. I visited the Goshinboku.. and I saw............." It was there that Shippo drifted off and stared at his feet.
"TELL ME WHAT YOU FRIGGING SAW!!!" Inuyasha shouted. Shippo-chan jumped and said his answer in a hurry.
"I saw Kagome in the forest!"
There was silence.
Inuyasha stared, his golden eyes softening. He finally turned away and stared out the hole he had made.
"Keh. Shippo, Kagome is gone now.. You know that..." Inuyasha said quietly. Shippo bit his bottom lip, clenching a hand tightly.
"But Inuyasha, she spoke to me." The kitsune retorted. He wrinkled his nose in confusion when he realized what he just said. 'Didn't I just say that WASN'T Kagome a moment ago?' Shippo glanced over at the half-youkai when he didn't hear his reply. "Inuyasha?"
But the hanyou wasn't listening. Staring out the hole that faced the vast forest, he was lost in his own world. Lost in a world full of memories both joyous, and painful...
"Naraku, you're going down!" Inuyasha screamed.
"I doubt that," Naraku chuckled. His red eyes gleaming amusedly. "Once again, you will fail. But today will be different. Today, all of you will die."
The malice-filled being eyed the circle that has surrounded him. As he met each eye, shivers ran down the back of the injured opponents.
Inuyasha.
Kagome.
Kouga.
Ayame.
Sesshoumaru.
Kagura.
Kikyou.
Kirara.
Sango.
Miroku.
Everyone was there. Hanyou, ningen, and youkai that have all joined hands just for one goal: To put an end to Naraku.
'How foolish.' The evil hanyou thought to himself. 'Do they really think that they can defeat me, the great Naraku?'
Inuyasha's clawed hands clenched the handle of Tetsusaiga tighter. No way he was going to lose this time. After a year of looking for Shikon shards, and yet another looking for Naraku, he wasn't going to give up this easily. Two years of arguing, fighting, killing, watching innocents die, watching the ones he cared for get hurt, and he thinks he's just going to let Naraku kill them all!?
'I think not!'
-
With her arrows carefully aimed at Naraku, Kagome pulled feathers back further, causing the bow to stretch into a taut arc. Kagome had figured how to put two or three more arrows into her bow about half a year ago, and after months of training, she has finally perfected her skill.
'I have faith.' She told herself. 'Once we defeat Naraku.. Once we defeat Naraku, after years of grief, Sango will be able have Kohaku back. After years of anguish, Miroku can finally have the Kazaana removed from his hand. After years of guilt, Kouga finally let go of his revenge for his comrades. After years of living falsely, Kikyou can maybe finally lead a normal life. After all the years of pain... Maybe Inuyasha can finally cast away his mask and be himself and live with the person he loves.'
She glanced over at Kikyou when she thought the last sentence. The resurrected miko had a determined look on her face, and like Kagome, she was aiming arrows at Naraku. 'And then, he can finally live happily...'
She blinked as her eyes turned blurry. Why was she crying at a time like this? 'For everyone's sake, for Inuyasha's sake, we will defeat Naraku.'"NARAKU, THIS IS THE END!!!" Inuyasha shouted. "PREPARE YOURSELF!!! KAZE NO KIZE!!"
With that signal, everyone attacked. Arrows were let go, the power of Tokijin was released, Haraikotsu was sent flying through the air, Fuginomai was sent from Kagura's fan, etc. ((A/N: Sry all I said was etc, I can't list everything...))
Naraku is strong. No one could deny that. But has he ever battled with the combined forces of his strongest rivals? No.
A bright flash of blinding white light surrounded the area and everyone was thrown onto the ground as the attacks met their target.
"NooooOooOooOoo!!!"
Shippo's face turned into one of concern. "Inuyasha?" He repeated.
"Wha?" The hanyou shook himself from his book of memories. He glanced at the kitsune but quickly looked away again. Inuyasha got up from his chair and walked to the doorway.
"Don't mention what you told me today.. ever." Inuyasha said quietly, keeping his eyes averted.
"But why Inu-"
"Ever!" Inuyasha snapped back. Shippo fell quiet and bit his bottom lip uncertainly. Inuyasha exhaled and opened the door.
"Tell Kikyou I'll be back later tonight." With that, he slammed the door close, leaving Shippo inside, confused and worried about his friend.
After all the years of avoiding this time, the sights and smells seemed almost new. But they weren't.
Inuyasha kept his arms pinned tightly against his sides, hands clenched tightly, and head bowed, he slowly walked toward the two-story house that was also a shrine.
"Kagome-neechan.."
The voice froze Inuyasha in his tracks.
'No, I don't want to hear about Kagome anymore..' He thought painfully.
Unable to control himself, Inuyasha poked his head around the corner, shocked when he saw the small recognizable figure of Souta.
Souta was kneeled before a small shrine in front of the Goshinboku tree, holding incense in his hands.
'Who would he be praying to?' Inuyasha wondered to himself.
"Neechan.." Souta's words were barely audible. That was when Inuyasha remembered. Even though Kagome's funeral took place in the Sengoku Jidai, Kagome's ashes were returned to the Higurashi family.
Not in the mood of talking to anyone or disturbing Souta's praying, Inuyasha leapt upon the window ledge that belonged to Kagome's room. The window was open, and Inuyasha went inside, looking around.
Though it's been almost a whole year from that day, Kagome's room was left exactly the way it was. Schoolbooks were piled neatly in a stack on the floor, Kagome's makeup and a brush with a few strands of Kagome's hair was still on her desk. Pictures of Ayumi, Eri, Yuka, and Hojo were on her bedside table, and as Inuyasha leaned closer, pictures of Shippo, Sango, Kirara, Miroku, Kaede, and himself were also there.
Inuyasha sat down on her neatly made bed and rubbed his nose. Kagome's sweet scent was still lingering in the room, though not as strong as before. Being in a room full of kagome, Kagome, Kagome, Inuyasha couldn't help it as his mind was once again lost in the world of memories...
"NooooOooOooOoo!!!"
Naraku's cry of agonized defeat was bloodcurdling. It echoed across the opened battlefield and faded away into the distance.
Everyone painfully stood up and glanced over at the place where Naraku had been. In place was a pile of bone, and youkai parts, and flesh. Everyone was silent for a moment until the reality set in.
"Yes!" The single word rang out loud and clear. They have done it! They have finally put the end to
Naraku!!! Everyone cheered and cried with happiness, and even the great Sesshoumaru smiled.
Kagome jumped up and down, hugging everyone in sight. Inuyasha smiled and hugged her back when she got to him. She stared up at him in shock and then grinned. She stepped back and Inuyasha watched as she walked over the steaming pile of Naraku's remains.
-
Kagome stared down at the ugly remains of what used to be a person that was beyond evil.
"You're finally gone, Naraku. Never to cause pain or destruction again." She said out loud smugly.
"Like usual Kagome, you're wrong." A cold raspy voice answered. Kagome gasped when she felt something burning hot wrap itself around her ankle. She looked down to see the ripped up face of Naraku. He was grimacing slightly, but it was still recognizable as a smile. It was his hand that was around her ankle.
"I won't die if I absorb the miko powers from you." He smiled wider. "While I will get stronger, you will become weaker."
A cold sensation replaced the burning touch of Naraku's hand. When Kagome tried to jerk away, she found that she couldn't. She could feel her energy quickly being dragged from her and into Naraku.
"Help!" She tried to shout, but her voice was but a whisper. "What's wrong with me?"
"It's already working you see," Naraku sneered. Kagome bit her lip and looked back at her companions. But they were too busy celebrating amongst themselves to notice her dilemma.
Her legs couldn't hold her up anymore and she collapsed.
"Help.." She wheezed. Naraku's grip tightened, and his face slowly began to heal itself.
-
Inuyasha was the first to realize something was wrong.
"Kagome?" He looked around. "Kagome?" Then he spotted her. Laying in the dirty mud, looking pale, and topaz eyes beseeching.
He ran over to her, kneeling beside her. "Kagome, daijabou?" He asked, wrapping her arm around his neck.
"Naraku.." She choked. "It's Naraku."
Inuyasha tried to help her up. "What about Naraku?"
As if on que, he heard the all too familiar chuckle. He looked down at the pile of ruins and was shocked to see Naraku's face smiling back at him.
"The fuck!?" Inuyasha snarled. Inuyasha saw his enemy's hand attached to Kagome's ankle and he ripped it off.
Naraku laughed. "It won't help, Inuyasha." He said mockingly and watched as the hanyou set Kagome down and unsheathe Tetsusaiga.
"Even if you kill me, Kagome is left weak and she will die too." Naraku chuckled even louder, and the others came over, concerned about Kagome's condition and anguished that they thought Naraku could die so easily.
"Not likely." Inuyasha gritted his teeth and swung Tetsusaiga, sweeping away all evidence of Naraku's existence.
Sheathing his sword, he picked up Kagome and started running.
'I have to get her to Kaede. Kaede will heal her.' He told himself frantically. He looked down at Kagome's now pale, and shallow face. Her breaths coming in quick gasps. Her skin cold and body limp.
"Kagome, don't give up. You'll get better, I promise."
But she didn't. Kagome died the very next day.
Inuyasha wiped away the trail of tears that fell down his cheeks, finally noticing that somebody had left a small black machine on in the room. Soft music was pouring from it, and Inuyasha remembered it was called a "radio". He continued to wipe tears away as he listened intently to the sad song.
"Na na
Na na na na na
I miss you
Miss you so bad
I don't forget you
Oh it's so sad
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
Na na
Na na na na na
I didn't get around to kiss you
Goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again
I know that I can't
I hope you can hear me
Cause I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
I've had my wake up
Won't you wake up
I keep asking why
And I can't take it
It wasn't fake it
It happened you passed by
Now you're gone
Now you're gone
There you go
There you go
Somewhere I can't bring you back
Now you're gone
Now you're gone
There you go
There you go
Somehow you're not coming back
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same, no
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
Na na
Na na na na na
I miss you..."
Wow, this was probably the longest chapter I've written!!! LoL, PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thaaaaaaaaank you!!! I luv all my loyal fans!