Author's Note: Sorry for taking a little bit longer to update this story than you might have thought. But hey, I might update again today since I have all this free time, until tomorrow that is. Yeah, that's why I'm working on my stories today, a lot! Please read and review, enjoy!
PIRO the unforgiven one: I read that in your profile thingy! lol, I was wondering when you'd say one of your quotes in my reviews or not, and you have! now Imma go eat a ham sandwhich.. haha just kidding!.........no really dude I am, I'm fucking starving here...(cough)..Thanks for your review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter: Nine
Inuyasha and Kagome quickly gathered themselves again and walked together inside of the hut. Miroku still worked on Kohaku as Sango watched in silence as not to disturb him. Kikyo still meditated in the corner while Shippo and Kilala slept in the other, still by the fireplace.
Miroku opened his eyes and looked toward Sango smiling, "It's done, he should be free of any evil spirit that held him. However, the jewel shard in his back keeps him alive." Sango saddened at this, when they had to take it out to complete the entire jewel, he would no longer live.
"You need not worry." Said Kikyo, who made no movement to change her composure. "I'm certain when the jewel is whole, you will be able to wish him back his life." Miroku looked in her direction. "But, will the jewel still be fully pure? From everything that has taken place thus far including the jewel has been nothing but of evil relevance."
Kikyo looked at him now, "No it will not be evil. The jewel only brings forth the evil if the current owner of it has self-interested desires that aren't pure. If it is to wish for something that is untainted, such as of course, bring back another life, it will be purified and cease to remain and finally grant your wish. The jewel not only grants the wish that you speak it to be, but reads your heart's true desire of it. Which just proves how evil some people really are, no matter how good willed a wish is spoken."
Miroku and Sango nodded in understanding. Just as they gazed at the sleeping young boy once more, Inuyasha and Kagome walked in the hut.
"Will Kohaku be alright?" Kagome immediately asked and rushed to Sango's side. She still had the last thrilling moments of her and Inuyasha in her mind, but she was more concerned for her best friend right now.
"He will, for now." Kagome looked at Sango confused, 'for now? Would something bad happen later?' Sango looked up at Kagome, "The jewel shard is still inside him." She couldn't go on. She had let tears slide down her cheeks and she angrily wiped them away. Kagome hugged her and closed her eyes. "Sango you don't have to be sad, we'll wish him back to life once we complete the jewel, and –"
Sango pulled away from her quickly and looked at her. "You would do that for me? I was going to feel guilty about asking it to you later." Kagome smiled and hugged her again. "Sango, you shouldn't feel guilty to ask that of me. I actually couldn't think of a better wish myself." Sango nodded her thanks scooted over to her brother's side, placing her hand on his cheek.
Kagome watched and then felt silly as a thought crossed her mind. 'The firewood!' She had forgotten to get them. She stood up next to Inuyasha and whispered, "Let's go get that firewood now." She laughed and he just rolled his eyes as he smiled and followed her back out the door. Of course, Inuyasha was planning on doing something more out there than just getting firewood with Kagome. (A/N: Wink wink, hint hint, nudge nudge.....Ok I'll stop...)
Miroku watched Sango laid her hand on her brother's cheek; then the monk laid his hand on hers. She looked up at him. "I'm happy for you Sango, when the jewel is complete, you'll get Kohahku back. It won't be an easy task though, we all know that. But that's all right, because that's what life is about; there is no comfort afterwards, without pain coming first." He finished as he looked into her hopeful eyes.
Suddenly Miroku and Kikyo snapped their heads up at the same time. "An evil aura is approaching." Stated Kikyo already heading for the door. Sango grabbed Hiraikotsu and followed both her and Miroku out of the hut just as Shippo and Kilala woke up.
"Sango where are you going? Where's Kagome?" He asked rubbing his eyes. Sango looked at him, "Evil is coming. Stay here and watch over Kohaku. Kilala, guard the hut outside the front and protect them both." And with that, Shippo jumped by Kohaku and Kilala went right outside to transform and then guard the hut.
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As Inuyasha was about to make a move to kiss Kagome her head snapped up and bumped his face that was right behind her head and she dropped the firewood. Inuyasha growled and rubbed his poor nose. "What the hell was that for Kagome?...What?!" He looked where she was looking. She turned to him, "You sense it too?" He nodded and walked toward the hut just as the others came out.
They all looked at each other, retrieved their weapons while prepared for battle, not everyone was ready.
As Kagome went inside to repossess her bow and arrows that lay inside the hut, Inuyasha followed her. She got her weapons ready as Inuyasha just looked at her. Once she was done and ready she turned around and faced him. Shippo watched as they hugged each other instantly. "Hmmm I wonder what all happened when I was sleeping." He said in wonder as he cocked his head to the side and then just looked away.
"Kagome, no matter what happens, I'll always love you."
"I'll always love you too." They continued to hug like that for about half a minute and then he pulled away from her.
"Now then, let's go kick some major demon ass, like we planned." He said with a smirk and she nodded. They both headed out the door to see that Sango stood with her Hiraikotsu at ready.
By the time Kagome and Inuyasha stood next to Sango, Kagura made herself known to them all. "I'm sick of seeing you all alive! So I'll just go ahead and kill you right now! Dance of blades!" She let her wind fan come up and then down with much force. Blades of light were coming Inuyasha's way and he was prepared for them. He unsheathed Tetsusaiga, expecting it to transform, but it didn't.
"What the hell?!" Inuyasha looked up and dodged the blades just in time. But next time he wasn't sure if he'd be so lucky. With a look of sheer horror evident on his face, Inuyasha looked up at the darkening sky.
The moon. The moon was dark.
Everyone looked up, then at Inuyasha's now human form.
Kagura was very pleased. "How foolish of you to forget such a thing you stupid hanyou. Dance of blades!" She released another attack. Kagome and Sango came in front of Inuyasha, "Hiraikotsu!" Kagome shot an arrow. Kikyo and Miroku managed to hold their own.
More blades were coming at such a rapid speed; no one had time to move. One blade managed to barely strike Kagome and the force pushed her back to Inuyasha and they went flying backwards. "K-kagome. Are you ok?" She moved a little, blood trickling down her chin from the corner of her mouth. "I'm fine." She whispered and got up slowly from where she was on his lap.
Sango, Miroku, and Kikyo blocked some of her attacks but still had gashes on themselves from not being as lucky the other times. A couple came toward Kilala's direction and she knocked them away with her large paws and roared.
The fight continued on, but with painful tension.
Kagura was not in such a good shape herself. But the evil inside her kept her alive. "Dance of Blades!" the blades of sightless light hurled toward Kagome and Inuyasha, who were leaning on each other for support, just then Kouga appeared in front of them and punched the blades away as Ayame protected the other three.
"You're here!" Kagome exclaimed. Inuyasha just grunted. "Of course I'm here Kagome, I said I'd be back didn't I?" He asked her smiling. She smiled back and looked at Ayame, who was fighting off more blades. 'Kouga, you did it.' Thought Kagome happy.
The blades stopped coming.
Everyone looked at Kagura, seeing what she would do next. She held up a dark, yellowish orb. It did not shine, or look significant in any way but that didn't stop the group from worrying what it might be.
"I've had enough! Death shall be your salvation and misfortune!" She threw the orb into the ebony skies, a big flash, and millions of demons from the under world were hurdling there way.
Kikyo got an idea and turned to Miroku. "Monk, come with me here. We shall form a barrier so that we will be invisible to the eyes and also form a tunnel leading to hell." Miroku nodded stupidly and they sat in front of the group. They sat five feet away from one another, brought out sutras and did this motion with them at exactly the same time. Then, they placed the sutra between their hands in prayer and concentrated hard. They said a fast and inaudable chant, summoning the most difficult and powerful barrier to perform. The demons were coming closer as the barrier flashed and then went away.
"Miroku their coming! Hurry up!" Exclaimed Sango.
"Patients is a virtue my dear Lady Sango." He sang lightly as he still had his eyes closed and brows furrowed in concentration. The ground shook with a frightening vengeance. Sango blankly looked up at the millions of demons coming closer and looked back at Miroku ."Not right now it isn't." She said matter-of-factly.
The demons were fifty yards away just as the barrier was created. The demons made no move to stop. As they clashed with the barrier, the group shielded themselves with their arms on instinct. Afterwards, they looked up and saw demons disappear into the dark pits of hell that was created in the front of the barrier. Sort of like the wind tunnel, except it was just a tunnel. It didn't suck them in.
The group just stopped and looked at the demons that disappeared right in front of them. Sango turned around to them. "This is our time to heal and re strategize." She shouted loudly for everyone to hear and walked to them. They turned to her and nodded. Kagome ran inside the hut to retrieve more arrows for Kikyo and herself. Sango made sure she had all her weapons and poison powder.
Kouga towards Inuyasha, very pissed off as Ayame followed him and smiling lightly, "What the hell! Did you even know the new moon was tonight you mutt?!" Kouga shouted angrily as he looked in disgust at his dark hair and eyes.
Inuyasha growled, "Will you get over it already! We all know I won't change back until morning and therefore we need a plan. Kikyo and Miroku are holding the demons off for a reason."
They gazed back at them and they were in the same position they saw them last. "Let's use this time wisely." Agreed Sango with Inuaysha. They nodded and were about to form a plan as the demons stopped coming, but the barrier still stood. They saw Naraku in his baboon form, concealing the identity everyone else already knew.
"You think you can hide from me? I don't think so." He said tauntingly. He held up the jewel for the world to see. 'He must have already gone to the village we were going to and took the jewel shards we were after.' Thought Inuyasha angrily as he glared at Naraku from behind the powerful barrier.
Kikyo and Miroku made no move at all, for if they did, the barrier would be shattered from loss of concentration.
They held him off, in hopes of tiring him out first as he attacked. He whipped his wooden like tentacles all over the barrier and was careful not to get close to the dark tunnel. Everyone regrouped and prepared their weapons.
Kikyo and Miroku were beginning to become tired. Maintaining this barrier wouldn't last long.
"I'll have the entire Sacred Jewel!" His roar echoed throughout the forest. Kagome used her miko powers to heal her companions the best she could, as the others thought of a plan of their own.
Kikyo and Miroku had sweat dripping down their faces.
Naraku laughed evilly and couldn't help but think he would win against Inuyasha and his friends. Kagura stood aside, 'Is this the real Naraku?...or just another puppet?' She couldn't tell yet, and so just decided to let him take charge of things for a while as she recovered.
Miroku just couldn't concentrate. He began moving slightly, Kikyo was just as bad, 'We mustn't move, we mustn't move.' They thought and held the last of their power of the barrier before Miroku subconsciously opened his eyes a bit and shook his head vaguely, which felt light. That had done it. The barrier was no more. Naraku withheld his attacks to find that he could see them all now. And he laughed once again, "What will you do now Inuyasha?"