A SILVER HOPE
CHAPTER TWENTY:
...Reviving the Illusions...
Inuyasha, Ali, Shippou and Holly stood looking up at the mountain, it was emitting a strange
aura. They all knew it, though none of them said it, they were almost at Naraku's castle and hopefully
the end of all the madness. After Holly's transformation problem, Inuyasha had come back for Ali
and her-he wasn't pleased about her hiding the truth from him and had given her his version of a lecture
of what holding things like that could do and how he would have killed her if it hadn't been for ali.
she still felt bad, but knew that it wasn't time for pity trips, that their friends needed them now and she
made peace with the fact that Inuyasha didn't care if she was demon or not. Now, they would make
everything right again by making the one person who screwed them all over pay.
Shippou: You've got to let us help this time.
Inuyasha: No I don't!
Ali: he's right-this time we're not going to hide while you have all the fun fighting...we want in on the
action and don't tell us it's too dangerous.
Inuyasha: But it is too dangerous. Anyways, I'm going to be the one to Kill Naraku and I don't want
any of you getting in my way.
Ali: hey, we won't get in your way, but we all have reason to make him pay. don't go thinking your
the only one...
Inuyasha: Alright, if I let you come will you shut up?
Ali: No, and Your not gonna stop me even if you decide not to let 'us' go.
Inuyasha was growing more esassperated with Ali,she was being more difficult then useual. He noticed
that Holly had fallen almost unnaturally quiet the past few days since her transformation, he looked at
her wondering if she was up to this or if she should stay back.
Inuyasha: Holly...?
Holly: Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine.
Inuyasha: right. Let's go!
The four gave each other a slight nod before dashing towards the castle that laid at the base of the
mountain, it seemed odd that the barrier wasn't active, but Inuyasha didn't care all he wanted was to
kill Naraku. Shippou sat on Holly's shoulder as she ran, they all stopped as soon as they entered the
grounds. It was quiet, almost...too quiet, Inuyasha growled under his breath.
Inuyasha: Dammit...
Ali: I don't like the feeling of this. where are the hordes of demons? or...anything?
Inuyasha: No one move!
He smelt that they weren't alone, though at the moment they couldn't see anyone else there with them.
suddenly a sinister laugh rang through the air, the others all stood ready for an ambush but none came.
Out of the shadows stepped a man, it was the man who was laughing darkly. He looked right at Holly
and winked, she gasped and lost her fierce look.
Holly: How can this be? I saw you die!
Nartaku: Hehe. you THOUGHT you saw me die...but you were too busy with your own selfish needs
to witness my great excape.
Holly: you bastard.
Nartaku: now, now. there's no need for such words...You know I still love you...Love to kill you that
is...hehe.
Inuyasha: That's enough! Shut your big mouth before I make you.
Nartaku: hmmm?
Inuyasha had moved between Holly and the strange man with his sword drawn, Holly gave her friend
a frown of disaproving but was distracted when a second man appeared from the shadows. He
waved at Ali who growled angerly while brushing off a disgusted shiver.
Baton: 'Ello again...
Ali: Fuck you!
Baton: Seems the Wrench still has feelings for me...
Ali: pft. as if...
Inuyasha: ALI! you know that scum?
Ali: yea...we had the unfortune of meeting...
Inuyasha kept glancing between the two snickering men and feeling that they had been sent as a
distraction, he knew that he could easily take both the men and still have enough fight left for Naraku.
Inuyasha: This' pathetic, I'm going to destroy you both without even breaking a sweat.
Nartaku: You think?
Holly: Inuyasha! Nartaku has Rapid regeneration...
Ali: and Baton is a master of Illusions...
Inuyasha: heh. And I'm sappoused to be worried why?
tired of waiting for the two to make the first move, Inuyasha lept at the two men with Tetsusaiga
raised over his head-both demonic men managed to move swiftly out of the way with a laugh. They
raced past Inuyasha and towards the two girls, Inuyasha spun and chased after them.
Inuyasha: Dammit, get back here!
Baton: we don't want to fight you yet!
Inuyasha: Too bad!
Ali yelped as she was surprised at the speed Baton moved at, he had grabbed her around the wasit
and lept clear across the other side of the castle's courtyard. Inuyasha began to go after Baton and
the helpless Ali when he heard the second snicker. He twisted just in time to see a screaming Holly
get thrown to the ground roughly by a punch from the sinister Nartaku.
Inuyasha: Holly! Get Away from here you bastard!
Inuyasha dashed towards Nartaku and Holly, he grabbed holly by the hair and lept in the air away from
the blade of Tetsusaiga. Holly was doing her best not to give in to the pain that surged through her at
the moment.
Holly: Inu...yasha...Help Ali...she's only human...
Ali: I heard that...AAAAAah
Inuyasha hesitated , watching as Nartaku threw holly as if she was a rag doll, but he also knew she
could take more punishment then Ali, being that he knew Holly was a demon now. He turned to make
his way to help Ali as he heard Holly had managed to kick the demon man in the pants and he was
yelling profanities at her. Again Inuyasha lept in the air, this time he managed to slice off Baton's arm-
the blood spilled all over Ali who had been doing her best to fight the man off.
Baton: My Arm! You Bastard!
Inuyasha: That's what you get when you play with the likes of me!
Baton: I'm going to kill you!
Inuyasha: heh.
Inuyasha glanced over at Ali for only a moment, she looked strangely grossed out at the red blood that
covered her, she was absorbed by it and unaware that she was in the way.
Inuyasha: ALI...MOVE IT!
Ali: oh...right...
She slowly limped away, her leg in severe pain from being attacked by Baton. The illusionary master
tried to attack Inuyasha with his sword, but was off balance and thrown to the ground. Inuyasha
laughed at the pathetic attempt the man was making to hurt him. Suddenly a dark grin spread across
Baton's face and he chuckled loudly.
Inuyasha: you finally see that it's useless to fight me?
Baton: not yet...but I have a treat for you...
Baton back rolled into the shadows, much to Inuyasha's disliking,
Inuyasha: Get back here you cowered! Hiding won't save you!
Ali: Inuyasha...he's using his illusionary powers! be careful.
Inuyasha: don't worry about me...
Holly let out a blood curdling scream which drew the attention of both Inuyasha and Ali, Nartaku had
both hands around a jagged dagger which he was pressing deeper and deeper into her chest.
Ali: Dammit Holly, Why don't you Transform?
Holly: I...Can't...
Inuyasha: What?
Holly: I...Can't!...
She squeeled as it appeared Nartaku was putting all his weight into the attack, Inuyasha growled and
raced towards the man before he killed Holly.
Inuyasha: Dammit Holly- I thought you said you'd be alright!
He was in mid attack when he was thrown back by a strong invisible force, he wasn't the only one
who looked confused. Ali looked around, it wasn't the man who was fully trying to kill holly and that
left one other person.
Ali: It's Baton...
Just as Ali said that Kikyo stepped out of the shadows with her bow raised and aimed at Ali, Inuyasha
looked stunned. Ali could clearly tell that it was an illusion made to trick Inuyasha, but he obviously
couldn't see past it.
Ali: Inuyasha...That's not Kikyo! it's a trick...snap out of it!
Seeing that her words weren't getting through to Inuyasha, Ali lept to her feet and made a desperate
lunge at the man pretending to be Kikyo, however, Kikyo hit Ali back to the ground with a swift
slice of her bow, causing a large gash to form across Ali's chest. Ali tried to stop her own blood
from spilling from her, but it wasn't working and she felt extremely dizzy and weak.
Kikyo: Now to kill you...Inuyasha...
Inuyasha was still hesitating, as Kikyo raised her bow again, ignoring the rocks Ali kept chucking at her
in a last attempt to distract the imposter long enough for Inuyasha to gain his senses and attack. the
Imposter was about to release her arrow, when Ali managed to hit her in the elbow and the arrow went
flying way over Inuyasha's head.
Kikyo: I'm going to kill you for that!
Kikyo lept at Ali and began to strangle her with the string of the bow, it's wire cutting into Ali's neck
as more blood was being spelt down her front. Ali looked around, her strenght fading quickly.
Ali: Inu...Yasha...
Ali managed to kick the imposter kikyo off, but as she fell back the string dug deep into her skin and
Ali held her neck hoping it didn't cut anything vital and prayed that she wouldn't end up bleeding to
death.
Holly was finding it increasingly harder to breath as Nartaku was not only stabbing her, but crushing
her into the ground. She wished that he had stabbed her anywhere else other then where he had as
she knew full well that she couldn't do anything with the dagger in her chest. she was rendered helpless
though he would have to do alot more to actually kill her. A strong wind picked up, and it was only
then that Nartaku seemed to be slightly distracted, Holly could at least breath and she smelt a very
familier and welcoming scent. Just as the winds came howling over the two, Nartaku was thrown off
of Holly and she gasped thankfully for cool air. She at up and watched as Nartaku landed a good
thirty yards away.
Holly: I wondered if you'd show up or if I would actually parish at the hands of...'that'...
Koga: Heh. I need you alive, remember.
Holly: I know, that's why I never gave up believing you'd come.
Koga: huh?
Holly smirked at the confused wolf demon, as she climbed to her feet and looked down at the dagger
still pertruding from her chest. Nartaku yelled angerly as he stood with his sword drawn and glared
at the two.
Nartaku: You'll pay with your life for that, Wolf!
He began to charge at the two when suddenly he was smacked by a large boomer rang shaped object
and was thrown out of sight-this time he didn't come back. IT was Holly's turn to look confused,
Koga: They just followed me...
Holly looked past Koga to see Sango, Miroku and Kagome all running towards them from outside of
the castle grounds. They came to a stop when they reached Koga and Holly, slightly winded from the
sudden sprint they made to get there. Instantly they noticed Inuyasha looking confused while Ali who
was severely hurt tried to fend off a blood thirsty Kikyo.
Sango: Holly, what's going on here? Why is kikyo trying to kill Ali?
Holly: That's not Kikyo...
Miroku: what? but it looks just like her...
Holly: It's not. We were actually on our way to save you guys when we got attacked by these two
goons. The One Sango just got is Nartaku, I'm still not sure if he's dead as he's got rapid regeneration
and that one who looks like Kikyo is Baton a master of illusions.
Miroku: That would explain wny Inuyasha isn't doing anything, he's been fooled by the illusion of
Kikyo.
Holly: That's why I've got to do this...
She pulled Nartaku's dagger from her chest, gaining disgusted looks from the others-she ignored them
and dashed off. She rushed past Inuyasha, knocking him on perpouse to snap him out of his spell-
she lept at the imposter Kikyo as she was about to finish Ali off. The Dagger hit the imposter in the
stomache at such an angle that it would do more damage going out then it did going in. Kikyo melted
away to reveal Baton who was royally pissed off that Holly had ruined his illusion.
Ali: finally someone does something...
Baton: You die now, Bitch!
Holly: I think not.
Baton: oh? what make's you so sure.
Holly: This.
She ducked just as Inuyasha thrust Tetsusaiga through Baton and he gulped, he had been sliced in half,
each side of him turned to ash and blew away in the slight wind. Holly stood back up and gave
Inuyasha a slight grin, she had heard him coming as soon as she had broken the Illusion and she knew
he was pissed at being decieved like that. He probably would have ended up hurting her too if she
hadn't moved, but it was understandable, also it looked as if the two had worked as one to make the
attack work.
Holly: That'w what you get for being a impersonating bastard and beating on our friends!
she kicked the ash with satisfaction, until someone grabbed her from the behind and pulled her roughly
into them.
Nartaku: And this' what you get for being foolish.
He had his sword at her throat and everyone was frozen, they knew that if they made any fast
movement that holly would have her throat sliced and not even a demon like her could survive that.
Guilt filled her for being the first to be taken hostage during battle, holly looked down, there was only
one way in which this could work, at least the others would be safe.
Holly: Let my friends leave here, unharmed and You can do as you wish with me.
Nartaku: How noble...but very tempting...
Holly: They got what they came for, there's no reason to keep them here any longer and it is me that
you want, correct?
Nartaku: How do I know this isn't a trick, that they won't come back for you...
Holly: they won't. I promise. and I always keep my promises.
Nartaku: well...Lord Naraku's going to kill them all anyways, I sappouse it doesn't really matter...
Inuyasha had stopped glaring at Nartaku and was starring at Holly with an expression that truly scared
her, He knew exactly what she was trying to do and was angry. The others were just out of ear shot
to actually hear what was being said between the two. the only thing the others could tell was that
Holly and Nartaku were in very deep conversation about something.
Miroku: Holly, what are you doing?
Nartaku: we're deciding how you're all going to...
Before Nartaku could finish his sentence both him and Holly were completely engulfed in a huge wall
of black flames. The others all began to redraw their weapons as they looked around for the source
of this. Out of shadows by the castle walls stepped a dark figure, he had long black hair, his clothing
was long black and red robes. In his hands was a large black sword and his eyes were glowing a
blood red-he was a demon with extrodenary dark powers.
Kagome: who's that?
Sango: I don't know...
Miroku: I have a feeling that we've met this demon before...
The man walked past them without even a second look at them. Ali managed to pull herself to her
feet, shakey, but she glared at him as if challanging him to do something. He glared at her while
sticking his head up as if he thought that she was beneath him. Out of the fire stumbled Nartaku, still
able to move after all the punishment his body had been put through. He raised his bloody sword at
the man who had attacked him with fire, but before he could even finish raising it-the man swung his
black sword and Nartaku seemed to slowly begin to dissintagrate into nothingness. The others were
shocked at how easily this demon had defeated Nartaku, they still were on edge as they felt that this
man wasn't there to help or hinder them. Koga walked over to the man to thank him, but the man
glared icie daggers at the wolf demon. this stopped Koga dead in his tracks and he backed away, the
man then turned to the still raging black fire. It popped and sizzled until finally it let out a small
explosion that revealed a fully transformed wolf demon,teeth dripping in blood. Standing in the embers
the man and the wolf stared at each other for a long moment as if they were silently talking to each
other through their minds. The man nodded once before picking up Nartaku's sword and walking off
again, without a word ever to anyone. He was gone just as quickly and mysteriously as he had
arrived and the only one who seemed to know anything was the wolf dragon demon.
Ali: Great...You transformed...Hate to tell you, but your a little late.
Ali smirked as best as she could, hobbling over to the dragon and looking at the others. Kagome,
Sango, and Miroku looked slightly unsure and nervously at the demon that Ali was now leaning
against.
Kagome: That...That's holly?
Miroku: She's...a demon...
Sango: She's a Dragon...
Ali: No, she's a Wolf...
Kagome: But, I thought...
Ali: Long story...
Miroku: Ali, your strength seems to be coming back to you.
Ali did feel better, but she had lost too much blood to care, all she knew is that the Demon holly
seemed to have a strange healing effect on her. Holly raised her enlongated head to the sky and let
out a long drawn out growl. The others followed Holly's lead to see what she was growling at-
thousands of poison insects were coming straight for them. Holly turned her head back to her friends,
she and Inuyasha were thinking along the same lines of that Naraku wasn't far and he was probably
pissed.
Holly: Koga,Miroku, Sango take Kagome and Shippou and leave.
sango: we're not leaving, we have a right to fight, too!
Miroku: it's too dangerous...
Holly growled and in a swift move had grabbed both sango and Miroku with her mouth and kagome
with her clawed hand, making sure not to hurt her friends. Koga lept onto holly's back with Shippou
in toe, as Holly flew into the sky ignoring the massive protests she was getting from her friends. Kirara
followed, still unsure if Holly was going to hurt them or not. As soon as Holly flew far enough she
landed deep in the forest and released her angered friends, she gave them an apologenic look.
Miroku: Why'd you do that? we can Help...
Holly: Because if we die...you'll be needed to protect Kagome...
Kagome: You won't die! and Neither will Inuyasha...
Sango: Kagome's right.
Holly: Inuyasha won't...I'll die to give him the chance to kill Naraku...
Kagome: No.
Shippou: Holly, don't talk like that...
Kagome and shippou had wrapped their arms around Holly's front leg, she bent her long neck to look
down at them-she would do anything at this point to help her friends. she glanced at Koga who was
just watching her in amusement.
Koga: just remember, I need you alive.
Holly: I know. Take care...all of you...Believe in us as we believe in you.
Kagome and shippou let go and Holly bowed to her friends before taking off back towards the castle,
a small tear in the corner of her eye, she had all intention of being the first to fall if it came right down
to it, for she knew that everything rode on Inuyasha's shoulders. When she reached the castle, it looked
as if it was too late as Inuyasha laid in a heap in some tall grass, Ali was holding Tetsusaiga which was
odd in it's self and Naraku standing to one side. Holly landed as quietly as she could by Inuyasha, he
was still breathing, but something was wrong-it was as if he had been attacked by someone else.
Holly: Ali what are you doing? Give Inuyasha his sword...
She detransformed and ran to Ali, who roughly through her to the ground, Holly looked confused at
her friend.
Ali: Don't get in my way...I'm going to kill Naraku with Tetsusaiga!
Naraku: hehehe. By all means, you can try to kill me...with a sword that's not yours...and a power
that's not yours...
Holly: NARAKU!
Naraku pulled his attention away from the enraged Ali to Holly who was now on her feet and blindly
sprinting towards him.
Naraku: You're still alive?
Holly: Sorry to disappoint you...
Naraku: ah, I see you managed to activate the eye, very good...
Holly: You bastard! You tried to kill me-and it almost worked...
Naraku: who ever said I tried to kill you. It must have just been a misunderstanding...heh.
Inuyasha was coming too, confused as to what had hit him, literally. Ali was dragging the sword
towards Naraku and Holly who was only feet from the evil demon now. Naraku laughed at Ali's
attempt to kill him with a sword that was too heavy for her to even carry.
Naraku: hmm, it's getting too crowded here...
Holly: ...
Naraku: As much as I'd love to see how this plays out, I think we should take our conversation
elsewhere...
Holly: what...
A strange mist surrounded both Naraku and Holly, she tried to back away but found that she couldn't
even move, as much as she tried. Naraku was laughing evilly as the castle and everything there
dissolved away to a blur of colours as Naraku transported both him and Holly to an unknown
destination. Watching hopelessly as Naraku took off, Ali dropped the Tetsusaiga and kicked it, only
managing to hurt her foot even more then it was. Inuyasha walked up behind Ali and grabbed his
sword before glaring at her.
Inuyasha: What the Hell where you doing with MY sword?
Ali: I was going to kill Naraku...
Inuyasha: ...You were going to give it to Naraku?
Ali: No...I was going to Kill him!
Inuyasha: keh...
He slipped Tetsusaiga back into it's sheith and walked away without another word.