"Tell me, Inu-yasha," Oda said, "What will you do when you've found al the shards of the Shikon Jewel?"
"What else," Inu-yasha answered. "I'm gonna become a full demon."
"That saddens my heart, Inu-yasha," Oda said. "Haven't you thought of becoming something greater than a demon?"
"What? Becoming human?" Inu-yasha asked.
"No," Oda Nobunaga said, "I mean becoming who you were born to be."
"What are you talking abut?" Inu-yasha asked.
"This war torn land of ours needs heroes, Inu-yasha. I will not live forever, and once I united this land again and died, someone will need to take on my cause and defend it if we are to have a lasting peace."
"That's something I never thought I'd hear from you, Oda Nobunaga. Aren't you one of the most dangerous warlords out there?"
"I may be a warlord now, Inu-yasha. But once I was a peace loving man. I forge alliances by the sword now, but there will come a day when alliances will be forged by paper and pen. I will need skilled warriors by my side to help guard the peace I intend to win for this war-torn land. I want you to give some thought to joining me in my crusade."
Transition
As soul catching demons flew away form the smoking crater at the top of Fuji, Takashi managed to grab one in his iron clad hand.
"This belongs to my enemy's dead sister." he said, letting it go. "But I flies it is releasing souls. That can only mean… Full speed to the mountain, NOW!" their steeds hissed and flew on.
Transition
From above the three on the volcano there came a loud shriek that pierced their ears, making Kaiba and Kaede fall to the ground, covering their ear.
"They're here!" Kaiba yelled. Kaede turned and looked to the sky, and saw them. The nine demons clad in sable robes, and their leader, who's hood flew back at the rush of the wind, revealinga skull that bore a red eye on the brow.
"The mark! Xung Ho! I gave you that mark over 30 years ago!" Kaede yelled, aiming her arrow.
"And I will kill you for it!" he cried at her. The steeds opened their mouths, and with more shrieks, they spewed fire directly at Kaede and Kaiba, but before the flames could reach them, a sheild had been thrown up, sending the blaze back at the riders.
"What!" Exclaimed the skull. He looked, and the holes that were his eyes blazed as they saw Kikyo with her arms raised.
"Still hiding from me are you? First your master, now that clay husk that calls herself your sister."
Kaede fired her first arrow, and it hit Nobu, the rider to the left, while Kaiba fired white lightening, and took out three more riders. Kaede then took out two arrows, and fired them both at once, hitting the riders that were shooting fire at Kikyo. The priestess's shield was fading. Finally, they were down to Takashi, his minions picked off.
"Who is the one who has been hiding?" Kaede asked. "You have no more distractions, Xung Ho."
"Oh but we do," laughed the skull. He raised his arm and green fire formed in his palm. "Now I shall have my revenge. We die today priestess!" His entire body erupted in green fire and charged at Kaede. But then, Kikyo ran forward and pushed both Kaede and Kaiba down, just as Xung Ho came down on top of her. She grabbed onto his rams and they fell, and rolled to and over the lip of the crater.
"Sister Kikyo!" Kaede screamed and grabbed her hand just as she went over. Then both felt a heavy weight pulling them. Xung Ho had grabbed Kikyo's leg, and was laughing louder and louder.
"Kaede, drop me." Kikyo urged her.
"No!" Kaede said.
"It is the only to kill him. I have no purpose here, sister. I am just a loose end. You said it yourself; I must return to the grave."
Her eyes filled with tears, Kaede dropped Kikyo, and both she and the demon fell into the fire.
Kaiba got up and stood behind her, looking into the pit. Then he did something he never thought he'd do. Especially for Kikyo. He clapped his hand together, and bowed his head.
"Goodbye sister," Kaede said. As Kaede and Kaiba descended the mountain together, they looked to the south east.
"That's Naraku's army," Kaiba said. "He's on the move again."
"Then we shall meet ere sun rises." Kaede said.
Transition
As the army was camped, Kagome watched the sun setting. She couldn't explain it, but she knew Kaede was alright. She knew her heart somehow that the old priestess had defeated the curse. And she knew something more. Something that troubled her deeply. As the girl turned to her tent, she thought she heard someone say her name.
"Kagome," she heard again. It was a woman's voice. She knew this voice. Suddenly she wasn;t in the camp anymore. She was in a place in her mind. And before stood the image of Kikyo.
"What do you want," Kagome asked.
"You need not fear me anymore, Kagome. I am dead once again. And now I have passed through the spirits again, I see the truth. I see myself living still. I live in you, and because I live on, so must Inu-yasha. Now, I return to you what has always been yours." She held out her arms, and to glow. Then, she erupted into particles of light, and floated back into Kagome.
Kagome wrapped her arms around herself as she felt the power flowing back, feeling whole once again. When it was done, she was standing at her tent again. "Kikyo," she whispered.
"What's that?" Inu-yasha asked from behind. She turned.
"Huh?"
"What about Kikyo?" he asked her again. She went into his arms. She was crying.
"She- she's gone," Kagome said. "No, she's not gone. Not really. She's… part of me again."
"What?" he asked, holding her.
"I can't really explain it… I just know that she's not there anymore. It's like a missing part of my soul that Kikyo took with her has been… returned to me."
'Kikyo's gone?' Inu-yasha said to himself. 'Then… that means I'm free.' "Kagome, doyou know what this means?"
"What?" she asked.
Transition
Meanwhile, Souta sat on a log by the river. The laughter of children from the villages rang behind him as they played. But as the sun disappeared and gave way to night, Souta smiled.
'She's gone, isn't she Loki,' he asked.
'Not so,' Loki said to his young counterpart. 'She lives on in our sister, Kagome. Just as it should be.'
"Hey Souta!" Shippo called. "We're playing ball. Wanna be on my team?"
"Sure," Souta said, leaping up to join his friends.
Transition
As his untiring, undead horde marched on under the moon, Naraku felt the shifting of the universe, and he smiled.
"At least I managed to get rid of one nuisence. And I no longer have to worry about that useless servant anymore. Now I need only crush Inu-yasha and his army before the world is mine."
Transition
"What does it mean, Inu-yasha?" Kagome asked.
Before he could answer, he sniffed the air, and scowled. "Oh no."
"What?" Kagome asked, looking at him. "What is it?"
"He's back." Inu-yasha said.
"Lord Inu-yasha, this young claims to have business with you," a soldier said, leading Kouga behind him.
"And what do you want?" Inu-yasha asked, blocking Kagome from Kouga.
"I wanna make a deal," Kouga said.
Transition
Men scattered as the Blue Eyes White Dragon landed in the middle of the camp, and Kaiba and Kaede dismounted the creature. As Kaiba recalled the Dragon back to it's card, Kaede went off immediately in search of Kagome and Inu-yasha.
Transition
"I wanna know what you and Kouga talked about," Inu-yasha said to Kagome after Kouga had left. "And just why did he suddenly give you those Jewel shards when he's been hording them away for over two years?"
"He said he still thought maybe Loki's prediction would come true, but he felt it wouldn't as long as he had the shards. He said I could have as long as I promised that you would never go near his territory ever again."
"So now you're making my promises for me?" he asked.
"It was the only way to get his two Jewel Shards," Kagome said defensively.
"Stop your barking, Inu-yasha," said a voice behind them. They turned and saw the young Kaede walking towards them. "Ye have what ye wanted. Are ye not content?"
"Kaede, you made it!" Kagome said happily, hugging her.
"Of course. Was there any doubt?" Kaede said with a smile.
"Getting a little aren't ya, old woman?" Inu-yasha asked her.
"Old I may be," Kaede said to the han-you, "But in this form, I am a force to be reckoned with."
"Kaede," Kagome said, "Um…"
"Aye, I know," said the priestess. "I saw it happen. But know that she died with no hate in her heart, this time."
"You're talking about Kikyo, right?" Inu-yasha asked darkly.
"Aye," said Kaede. "But that matter is over. Now we must look the destruction of Naraku. Inu-yasha, I shall serve ye and your army as best I may."
"Then come with me," Inu-yasha said, leading her to Oda Nobunaga's tent, where the head generals and commanders were to make their plan of attack.
"Lord Inu-yasha, welcome," Oda said, "You are just in time. Who is this you bring?"
"Her name's Kaede, and she's a powerful priestess," Inu-yasha said.
"Our scouts report that Naraku's army of the dead are moving fast."
"That would make sense, since dead soldiers need no rest," Yugi/Yami said.
"Our victory does not depend on a full frontal assault," said one Nobunaga's generals, "But one form the rear."
"Inu-yasha, you and King Yami shall engage the front lines, and keep Naraku distracted while my forces manover around his flank and approach him from the north east. This will confuse our enemy. He won't be expecting my troops to come from behind."
"Just don't think this is fool proof," Inu-yasha warned them. "You don't know Naraku like I do. He's tricky. He may make incarnations or make demon puppets to warn him of anything unexpected. And he may have a possessed demon slayer fighting with him. I want that boy taken alive if possible."
"But why, if he fights for the enemy," asked a general.
"He's been brainwashed," Kagome said. "He doesn't know what he's doing. Besides, we promised his sister we'd save him."
"Understood," Oda Nobunaga said. "And if Naraku somehow does manage to overpower us, none must be afraid to die with honor. But, the women who fight with us may have chance for escape. Lady Kagome, that will be your task."
"No way," Kagemsaid, clenching her fists. "I'm fighting too. If Inu-yasha goes down, we go down together."
"You really are stupid," Inu-yasha replied. "He's giving you a chance to get out of this."
"I don't want to get out of it," Kagome said. "I want to help."
"I don't want you to get killed."
"Kagome, all those who would survive if this attack should fail will look to ye for leadership and guidance," Kaede said. "Ye must live, if only to avenge us when we are gone."
Kagome just crossed her arms and scowled. "Alright, fine. But you'd better come back alive or I'll never forgive you, Inu-yasha."
"Then if there is nothing else, we shall part and be ready on the morrow," Oda said. He clapped his hands, and bowed his head to all, who replied the same.
