The dark figure stood before them, surrounded by a black mist. A dark face peered at them thoughtfully. His face was sunken in. He had honey colored skin. His eyes glowed a red, rivaling that of Sesshomaru's. He didn't wear a top, but black, baggy pants that hugged his hips and ankles.
"What is he?" Inuyasha asked, more to himself then anyone. He wasn't expecting an answer.
"He is an evil without name. Naraku himself gets his power from him" Sesshomaru and Inuyasha looked toward Ekibyougami who still lay in Kagome's arms. He looked fine, now. His wings were gleaming white and strikingly similar to Kagome's silver.
"Is that what was controlling you?" Sesshomaru asked. Inuyasha gave him a confused look as all the events that led up to that moment fit into place. Ekibyougami nodded.
"Who are you then?" Inuyasha asked the burning question.
"I am Shoji, Kagome's elder brother." Sesshomaru gave him a questioning look and turned to Kagome who nodded her head slightly. Inuyasha didn't even attempt to hide his shock.
The darkness began to laugh. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and the silent Angels turned to the newly formed figure. It stuck its blade into the stone floor and leaned on it slightly, a mocking gesture.
"I didn't plan on a family reunion, but you will die none the less. I will take great pleasure with your pain, seeing those who you love most perish before your eyes, Angel." His voice was cold and deep. His lips curled into a sneer. "I will keep you as a pet." Sesshomaru growled and Inuyasha tightened his hold on his sword hilt.
"You are outnumbered Kuroji." Inuyasha sneered. The others looked from him to what he named Kuroji. The named seemed to work for everyone.
'If we live through this, it will be nice having an actual name to curse.' Shoji thought.
"So, you've decided a name for me. Very well. You are the first enemy that has even come this far. I will keep the name. I will always remember the ones I defeated this day were at least worth a moment of my time." Kuroji began to laugh. Inuyasha resisted the urge to flatten his ears against his head.
Shoji began to get up. He stood in front of Kuroji, Kagome rising behind him. Their wings spread from their backs, parallel to the floor. Kuroji looked toward Inuyasha, his face growing serious.
"I have more power than you pup. Do not assume that this is anything more than a drop of my true power. In fact, I am many." Little pieces of smoke that surrounded him began to grow faces. "I will add more to myself. That which you fear most is nothing to me."
Naraku and Kikyou appeared kneeling beside him. Naraku didn't have his baboon pelt on. Kuroji laughed again. His eyes flashed a brighter red for a moment, and then faded. The group watched as horror spread to Naraku and Kikyou's features. Naraku cursed and fell forward, leaning on his hands. Kikyou began to scream in pain, she held her head with her hands and her eyes grew wide. Inuyasha took a step forward.
"No, Inuyasha. Don't come. I… I'm so… sorry." A single tear dropped from her face. Just as it hit the floor, Kikyou curled in on herself. A black hole began forming, surrounding Kuroji and spreading outward. As it touched Kikyou, it swallowed her.
"Kikyou…" Inuyasha whispered. His claws drew blood from his closed fist and instantly began to drip blood on the floor. One for every tear he couldn't cry.
The black hole expanded again, this time swallowing a screaming Naraku. Kuroji laughed harder this time as black tentacles flew from him toward the four. They all jumped back. Except for Kagome.
"Kagome!" Shoji screamed as he lunged for Kagome, barely missing the oncoming tentacle. He knocked Kagome to the ground. Sesshomaru cursed himself for not reacting sooner.
"Kagome?" Shoji asked her. He turned her over. Kagome's eyes were shadowed. She neither blinked nor moved. In one, quick movement, dodging another tentacle, he picked her up bridal style and jumped over to the others. Mindful of her wings, he landed in a crouch position beside them.
"Kagome?" Sesshomaru bent to touch her face. She was cold. Her eyes rolled back into her head and her breaths were shallow. "What's wrong with her?" He asked Shoji, not meaning to yell.
"I don't know." Shoji said honestly. "Please be alright my dear sister. I have waited for over a millennia for you to free me. I cannot let you die." Kagome didn't respond. A noise from the opposite side of the hall drew their attention.
"What did you do to her!" Inuyasha yelled at Kuroji, putting his sword into a defensive stance, blade curved downward. Kuroji stretched out his hand. Dark energy gathered around it.
"I suppose there is a first for everything. So I will tell you the truth, I don't have any idea." The energy was released in a flash of black and red toward the group.
They all dodged in separate directions. Sesshomaru dodged left standing unfazed. Inuyasha dodged right landing in a crouch. Shoji flew above the doors mere seconds before the blast flew out, creating a new path to the palace. Shoji hoped no one was hurt, but hopes were useless.
"Liar!" Inuyasha shouted. Sesshomaru turned toward Shoji.
"Protect her." Was all the demon lord said.
"I do not speak the truth often, yet I speak it now. Perhaps it is your dead miko that has done it. However, I find no knowledge of the sort in her memories, which are available for my use." Kuroji turned toward Sesshomaru, raising his sword.
Sesshomaru brought up Toujikin Both flew at each other at lightning speed. The swords met in a blinding flash of black light. Sesshomaru dropped his sword instantly and held his head as a growl came from his lips.
"No! Sesshomaru, your sword was bred for death. It gives him power! It must not be used against you!" Shoji shouted.
"Why didn't you tell us this before? What about Tetsusaiga?" Inuyasha yelled in outrage.
"The Tetsusaiga will work. It was made for protection with good intentions." Inuyasha nodded and turned toward Kuroji who was still standing over Sesshomaru's form. Sheer, unimaginable pain swept Sesshomaru's head. Millions of emotions and memories he thought long buried swam to the surface and clouded his mind.
"Hey!" Inuyasha growled. "You still have me to deal with." He raised his sword, a sudden, disturbing thought came to him, he was actually glad Sesshomaru was all right. 'Who would've guessed?' Kuroji turned to him. Inuyasha defiantly sprinted toward him. They met in a flash of gold versus silver. The meeting caused sparks to fly between both competitors.
"Can we help?" Came a male voice from the doorway. The voice went unnoticed by the three on the battlefield. Shoji turned to meet them, descending to the ground as he did. Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kaede, and Kagura were waiting to join in the final battle.
"So, it finally happened?" Kaede pointed toward a still unconscience Kagome. Her silver wings slightly touching the floor.
"Yes. The final battle has begun. Child?" Shoji motioned for Shippo. "Can you care for her?" Shippo puffed out his chest.
"You are brave, my dear nephew." Shoji put Kagome in a sprawled position on the floor, her wings spread out beneath her.
"Let us begin."
Sesshomaru opened his eyes and put his hands on the floor in front of him. He felt helpless. He was grateful to Inuyasha. If not for the pounding in his head, he would have thought more on that. The cries of all the people he ever killed rang through his head, plugging his ears wouldn't make a difference. He glanced down at Toujikin and bared his fangs. He looked up helplessly at the battle. Near the door he could see Kagome's friends. The pup, Shippo, was put in charge of Kagome along with the monk.
'Good boy.' He glanced at Kagome and felt pain in his heart that he not only couldn't help her, he didn't know what was wrong with her. The pain in his head had eased, but not enough for him to remove himself from the floor.
Kuroji and Inuyasha jumped away from each other due to the force of the last attack. Kuroji gathered energy in his hand again. Kuroji effortlessly released the powerful attack. Inuyasha put up his blade and swung down on the energy making it fly past him. He turned and cursed himself as he saw the blast head for the door, toward Kagome and the others.
Miroku moved in front of Shippo and raised his staff. He drove it into the floor. As the wave of energy hit, the staff released a shield over the group. Sango looked at Miroku in surprise.
"Houshi, I didn't know you could do that." Sango said. Miroku looked at the gapping group.
"There are many things you don't know Sango." Miroku went to Sango and pulled her in for a kiss. He let her go and smiled. "Be careful, Sango." Sango nodded and smiled.
"You too Miroku-san." Sango said with a blush. 'At least he didn't grab my ass.'
They all became serious and turned back to the battlefield. Inuyasha and Kuroji had resumed their battle, when suddenly it gave a turn for the worst as Kuroji shot a quick blast, impacting Inuyasha's stomach, sending him sprawling.
Kagome's eyes lost their glaze.
Kuroji turned to Sesshomaru who was still on all fours on the left side of the hall and picked up his sword, having dropped it during the fight with Inuyasha. He grinned. Sesshomaru tried to move, but the voices became louder.
"It will be a great pleasure to kill you now, Lord Sesshomaru." Kuroji lunged, aiming for Sesshomaru's neck. Sesshomaru looked at Kuroji, acceptance crept onto his features. He was ready to die. He would have many regrets, but the foremost in his mind was that he couldn't save Kagome.
A blinding flash erupted from Kagome, and then all went still. Horror marred Sesshomaru's features, and even Kuroji didn't make a sound. The sword pierced Kagome's belly. Going through, stopping inches from Sesshomaru's neck. Blood quickly began seeping into Kagome's white kimono.
Kuroji pulled the sword out, the force made Kagome's body gave way. She sank to her knees. Kuroji took a step backward and looked at his bloodstained sword. Even he knew that something terrible had happened. He had killed the Pure One.
Instantly the voices vanished. Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome and pulled her onto his lap. Blood trickled from Kagome's mouth. She threw her head back as her chest heaved. She drew her last breath, and then went limp in his arms. Sesshomaru's eyes went wide.
"No!" Inuyasha yelled. His ears flattened against his head. "Kagome!"
"Mama!" Shippo began to cry as he sat on the floor. Miroku, Sango, Kaede, and Kagura bowed their heads, crying softy. Shoji's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. Sesshomaru looked up at Kuroji and bared his fangs. A growl shook the room, as his eyes once again became black and red. He reached for Toujikin, but Shoji's voice stopped him.
"No! Use Tensaiga! It's the healing sword. I know what she meant to you, but you cannot avenge her with anger, it will only make him stronger." Sesshomaru gently put Kagome down and stood. He drew Tensaiga.
"Shippo, I can use your help." Kaede said. Shippo went to her side, wiping his tears away, he nodded his head. "Use Fox Fire on my arrows."
As Shippo set fire to Kaede's arrows the others spread out to form a cage around the combatants. Suddenly, white strips lined Kuroji's face, like Sesshomaru's purple stripes. A white feather lit his forehead and the base of his blade was white.
"Thank you, Kagome." Shoji said. Everyone including Kuroji looked at him. "Kagome must have known that if she sacrificed herself, she could weaken Kuroji, she was pure. When he killed her he lost some of his powers."
"Even so, I will still kill you all." Kuroji said, raising his blood soaked sword. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. His anger was increasing. He fought to make sure he didn't transform.
"Don't let Kagome's sacrifice be in vain." Miroku yelled to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He opened then as he exhaled. His eyes had returned to their golden color.
"I wont." Sesshomaru's voice was a deadly calm. 'If I defeat him and live, there might be a chance to bring her back.'
They all nodded. Kuroji sneered and cracked his neck indicating his readiness for the battle to resume. They all went into attack positions. Inuyasha fired the Kaze no Kizu and Kagura added her wind attack to its power. Kuroji dodged and it headed toward Miroku.
Miroku pulled back his staff and struck the force, returning its aim toward Kuroji. Just as he was about to jump and avoid it, the feather on his forehead flashed and he cringed in pain, making him stall. He was about to move, to just miss it, when an arrow struck his shoulder. Kuroji tore it out angrily, and then he noticed the attack force and threw up his arms to block. It hit him and he came crashing to the ground. Kuroji got up and spat blood.
Sesshomaru was about to make his attack when Shoji's hand met his right shoulder. He met Shoji's gaze. There was something about Shoji's eyes that told him to wait. Shoji had a plan. It was a plan they really needed.
"I can combine with Tensaiga to make it stronger. The sword is completely pure and will not destroy me in the process. " Sesshomaru nodded. Shoji spread his wings behind him and a light emitted from them. A wind circle collected at his feet and moved upward. The wind swallowed him and he disappeared, leaving a ball of light. The light moved toward the sword and absorbed it.
Sesshomaru's fingers had a momentary tingling sensation. He looked at the sword, near the base was a symbol of two crossed feathers, other than that, he didn't see a difference. However, the blade felt different, the power had changed, the feel of the Tetsusaiga was nothing compared to his. Sesshomaru smiled, he wouldn't tell Inuyasha. His mile faded as he saw Kuroji stand after the Kaze no Kizu attack.
Kagura had seen what Shoji has done when an idea came to her mind, why not do the same, her powers where similar in nature and would accept her. She didn't know how she would get out again, but if she didn't, she may not live much longer anyway. She would at least give them a chance. She didn't even expect to get this far. Who knew that Naraku would just disappear and leave her heart lying on the floor? Literally.
"Inuyasha, let me combine with Tetsusaiga, it may be the only way to win." Inuyasha was about to say 'not a chance,' but a dark energy blast headed his way. Inuyasha jumped out of its path, landing 15 feet to the right of Sesshomaru. He noticed that the blasts were no longer black, but a deep red. He decided that Kagura was right.
"Fine." Inuyasha nodded at Kagura. She glowed off white and wind surrounded the Tetsusaiga. It eased and Inuyasha noted with gratefulness that the only change was a symbol of two curved lines, supposedly wind, that were parallel to each other at the base of the sword.
Both Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga glowed than began to pulse in sync with each other. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha exchanged glances and they both understood. Sango caught their exchange and motioned to Miroku, who motioned to Kaede and Shippo. Shippo remained clueless, but Kaede inclined her head slightly.
Keade held and arrow to Shippo. Shippo understood that and lit it using his Fox Fire again. She aimed and fired at Kuroji's back as he was about to attack Sango. Instead, he turned and cut the arrow in half. Miroku threw his staff point into the floor at Kuroji's feet. Kuroji turned around at the sound as a blinding light emitted from it. Kuroji let out a low growl and covered his eyes. When the light subsided he looked up and Sango released her boomerang. It flew toward him from the right. Kuroji swung his sword at it, and split it in two. Sango knew she would mourn the loss.
That's when he felt it, a strange, yet powerful force from behind him. It was like nothing he knew before. His red eyes grew wide as a bead of sweat moved down the side of his face. He slowly turned as found its source.
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood in front of Kagome's body. Their swords were crossed and an intensely white light radiated around them. Panic swept through him like a flame. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha ran toward Kuroji. They jumped in unison and raised their swords, moving slightly away from each other. Inuyasha swing his sword down in an arc from his right shoulder to his left foot; Sesshomaru from his left shoulder to his right foot.
Arcs of light flashed toward Kuroji, who was rooted to the spot. The arcs met and flashed as they fused together. It began to take shape; it became the beautiful and powerful form of Inutaisho, his true form in all its glory. His fangs bared and claws sharp as blades. Inutaisho's ghost roared and his eyes glowed red.
Kuroji's scream broke the silence as shockwaves rolled out from him. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru dug their feet into the floor, fighting to keep upright. A light flared from Kuroji and he flung his arms out. Two snapping sounds were heard.
When the light faded all that was left was Kuroji's sword embedded while upright into the floor. It was pure white with a golden feather on the hilt. No sign of him remained. He was finally gone, the battle was over.
The light from the candles had long gone out from the fight, but the hole in the wall that came from the newly cut path leading to the palace served as a window to the outside world. Light streamed down on the tired warriors. The room was in shambles. The warriors silently thanked the gods.
The sword glowed white for a moment and two nearly identical metal on marble sounds were heard. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha looked at their swords in disbelief. Half of each sword lay on the floor at their feet.
With Tensaiga broken, Kagome couldn't be revived. Her soul would leave her body before Toutousai could mend the swords back together. The deafening sound of despair went through the room.
Kagome was gone.
Kagura raised herself off of the floor and looked at the broken Tetsusaiga. She felt intensely grateful that she was able to get out with everything still attached. Similarly, Shoji got off of the floor and dusted himself off. He was confused, he should have still been inside the Tensaiga that now lay on the floor.
"No…" Shoji's eyes went wide as the realization of what a broken Tensaiga meant seeped in. He looked at Kagome's prone form on the floor behind the demons. Sesshomaru followed his gaze and ran to her. He cradled her head in his lap and took a stray piece of hair out of her face. Her soul would leave soon, and he couldn't stop it.
A howl of anguish echoed in the bare room. Even Kagura felt tears sting her eyes. Though Kagura never knew her, she had come to respect her. Sesshomaru squeezed his eyes shut. A single tear slipped down his pale cheek. Sesshomaru opened his eyes in surprise and touched the tear. He stared at his hand in silence. It was the first time he had ever cried. Not even the death of his mother brought so much pain to him. How could he live without her?
'What now?'
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head toward the figure he recognized as his mother. He looked around the room, wondering if anyone else saw her also. The room faded before his eyes. The others had vanished, and only Kagome remained, her lifeless body still prone in his arms.
His mother smiled.
"Mother?"
"My dear son. I never could teach you how to care. I hoped that you would be able to learn, but my prayers weren't answered while I was still alive. My last wish was that I would be able to see this day somehow, and here I am. I always had great faith in you, my son. It is funny that I, your mother, could not teach you even in my death what this girl has in living and dying. She has answered my prayers, your guardian angel. I am so proud of you."
Sesshomaru lowered his head to Kagome and stroked her cheek softly. "She is gone. I would rather be lower than Inuyasha and forfeit the throne of Inutaisho just to see her smile."
Sesshomaru's mother tilted her head to the side.
"Is that so?"
Sesshomaru nodded without looking up.
"I came with a gift for you Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru looked up at his mother questioningly.
"I wished for your happiness every day and night Sesshomaru, and it would be a shame that just as you learned to care you shut yourself up again. I want for you to be happy my son. I care not who with, but she is very special and I would be very proud to call her my daughter."
She pointed to Kagome. Sesshomaru looked to Kagome again and closed his eyes. 'I can't live without her.'
"I know, and her life is my gift to you." Sesshomaru eyes snapped open and locked with that of his mothers.
"Never forget me Sesshomaru. I will allow her to live as long as any demon would. You will not lose her to time, so do not fear to take her as a life-mate. Just be happy, my son, that's all I ask. You have made both of us very proud."
"Both of us?" Sesshomaru echoed. The tip of a sword touched his left arm. Sesshomaru turned to see the owner of the sword. Inutaisho stood above him, the repaired Tensaiga in his hands. "Father?"
"Take nothing for granted, Sesshomaru. Rule your lands well." Sesshomaru nodded and closed his eyes.
"I will not disappoint you. I swear."
Sesshomaru opened his eyes again. He heard other voices. When Sesshomaru looked up he saw the others, and his mother and father had vanished. Startled gasps met his ears. He looked at Shippo who had positioned himself by his side. Tears were streaming from the little kits face. Movement on his lap immediately caught his attention.
Kagome was breathing.
Kagome rolled off of Sesshomaru's lap and onto the floor and coughed up blood. Everyone ran to her side. Sesshomaru put his hand on her back. He silently thanked every God he could think of as he made slow circles on her back, careful of her wings.
"I want to go home." Came a hoarse voice. All but the demons started laughing. Relieved tears came out of Sango's eyes, glad that her sister was alright.
"We couldn't have done it without you, Kagome." Shoji said, his voice a bit shaky. Everyone nodded.
"That was really brave, Kagome. But, I still don't understand how you are alive, we all saw you die." Said Sango. Kagura nodded.
"This is not the time for this." Sesshomaru growled.
"I agree" Kaede said. "Kagome needs her rest, but perhaps we can stay with her until then." Sesshomaru nodded.
"Alright. Thanks Kagome." Inuyasha said, lowering his head.
"Don't thank me yet, Inuyasha." The others became confused. They turned to her.
Kagome rearranged herself so that she was sitting on her heels. She stretched out her right hand toward the sword in the center of the hall. Light began radiating from the once evil sword. The sword pulled itself from the floor and began to levitate. Heads turned from the sword to Kagome and back again. An intense flash of light swept the room then quickly subsided.
Two forms were seen floating where the sword had been. One was much smaller than the other. Once the light faded the two beings fell to the floor in a heap. Immediately the group recognized the two.
"Kohaku!"
"Kikyou!"
Kagome's world faded into darkness once more.
