Chapter Fourteen: Let's see you come up with a title at one in the morning!

Sesshoumaru's P.O.V

Sesshoumaru arrived at the clearing that night, wondering briefly where Ishiru was before leaning against a tree just out of sight to wait. He did not wait long. Ishiru arrived with a cloth over her forehead and eyes.

"Why over your eyes as well?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"It's no different from when I was blind." Ishiru replied, tugging the cloth into place. "Besides, it's good for training."

They went through their training that night, their battle leading them across the riverbank and up a massive tree nearby. They reached the top, still battling when a horde of Naraku's demons sailed above their heads, heading towards Naraku's fortress. They both looked to follow the demon's paths.

"It's time." Said Ishiru, leaping down from the tree, Sesshoumaru soon following. They both darted across the landscape, moving towards Naraku's palace. After a time, they split, Sesshoumaru moving to his pre-planned place for the attack. As soon as the sun released the twilight upon the land, they would attack. Ishiru kept going to the fortress, to the place where she would guard Naraku. Sesshoumaru watched her disappear into the foliage as she went on her way.

This was it. That night Naraku would die and Ishiru would return with him to his fortress, as things were meant to be. 'Wait. Meant to be?' Sesshoumaru was surprised at his own thoughts. 'Do I really care about her that much?' He asked himself, his pace slowing slightly. 'Yes. . . I do care about her that much. I don't want her to ever leave.' He realized, startled into stopping. 'Has this Sesshoumaru become so weak?' He thought bitterly. Then, yet another epiphany occurred. 'Only for her. She is my only weakness. But she will no longer be in danger after this night. She will return with me, and be my mate.' With that thought, he sped off to his destination to await the twilight.

OOO Naraku's Fortress OOO

Ishiru arrived at the fortress, going immediately to her chambers. She slid the door panel shut, and collapsed to the floor, Naraku's control over her released. She slammed a fist against the door, only to be sharply zapped by wards. She growled, moving away from the wall.

"You can't keep me in here!" She shouted, knowing Naraku would hear. She spent a good twenty minutes shouting, kicking and simply going all out against the walls. It only left her tired and crying in the middle of the floor. In her fury she had long before shed the blindfold, and her deep emerald eyes spilled tears of both anger and sadness down her striped cheeks.

"I hate you. . ." She whispered, her forehead against the wooden panels of the floor. She swung her head up, shouting to the ceiling. "I hate you!"

OOO Twilight OOO

It was time. The first pale purple glow had begun to show across the night sky. One by one the groups moved in on Naraku's fortress.

Inuyasha-tachi approached from the east, the twilight's strength at their backs. Kagura was waiting for them. She had her little army of the undead. But she had picked the weakest things she could find for her legion. And she released many of them from her spell after only one hit, leaving them lifeless on the battleground.

It was not long before Inuyasha's group had worn through the undead army. Sesshoumaru approached from the north, meeting Kohaku and a small army of Naraku's weaker spawn. He moved the boy-child out of the way and made quick work of Naraku's children with Sorryuha, Toukijin's ultimate attack. Both he and Kohaku made their way towards the palace. Sesshoumaru was still, naturally, somewhat wary of the boy.

Kouga and his tribe advanced from the cliff-side of the fortress. Naraku had left that side guarded by only a myriad few hawk demons, trusting the cliffs to deter any real attack. It was not long before they had ridded themselves of the hawk demons and reached the top of the cliffs. No one approached from the east or south, for that was Hakudoshi's place and Ishiru would never have gone to him for help.

The sky had opted for a lighter shade of the blue purple pre-dawn as they all advanced upon the fortress. They gathered at the front gates, quickly and quietly disposing of the guards. Needless to say, Inuyasha wasn't involved in the disposal of the two sentinels. Once within the gates, they stood in a courtyard of sorts. Across the way was the main building. Ishiru sat cross-legged in the center of the doorway, just in front of the closed panel. The blindfold was still across her eyes, but, oddly enough, was not covering the little gem on her forehead.

This puzzled Sesshoumaru. Why was she still wearing it? And, that point beside, why was it not covering the jewel?

"Ishiru." Inuyasha was the first to call out. "Where is Naraku?" The hanyou was eager. All of them were. Ishiru stood, and slid the door panel aside.

"Follow me." She said, her voice quiet. "I will lead you too him." Kagura joined her at the front of the group, as she also knew the many pathways of Naraku's fortress. Ishiru lead them down, deep into the palace. Soon, they were below ground. Sesshoumaru was not the only one to notice this. Kagura spoke up first.

"Ishiru, Naraku's original place was on the first floor, wasn't it?" She asked, turning her red eyes to the girl beside her.

"It was. But Naraku became nervous a day ago." Ishiru replied, still walking. "Perhaps he caught something from Kohaku's mind. I think he wanted to use the labyrinth to confuse anyone who did get past his defenses." The boy Kohaku was not with them, lest Naraku try to use him against Sango. Sango, on the other hand, knew nothing of Kohaku's involvement, or that he had freed his mind from Naraku's grip. She made the connection quickly.

"Kohaku is-" Ishiru cut her off.

"Yes. He has his mind back. He does not remember much. But I did not want him here should Naraku use him against you." When the tajiya looked like she would protest, Ishiru continued. "You can see him once we have defeated Naraku. He is safer on the surface away from the battle." At that, Sango nodded in agreement. The group continued down the maze. After a time they came to a small door. It was along the side of a long hallway, not at the end so not to seem obvious. Ishiru slid the panel aside and stepped in, motioning for the others to go to the side and keep out of sight. They did, moving to almost encircle the undulating mass of miasma and flesh that was Naraku.

"Naraku, that hanyou you spoke of and the wolf tribe are attacking the fortress." She said, walking up to Naraku until she was only a few yards from him. A face began to form in the myriad flesh, then a torso, and arms. Naraku's form turned to look at her.

"Is that all, Ishiru?" Naraku asked, a slight smirk in his voice.

"No." She admitted. "Sesshoumaru is among them." She said, spitting out the name hatefully. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at that, thinking it sounded a little bit harsh. But he knew that it was part of her act.

"Good girl. Now go take care of them." Naraku replied, withdrawing back into the mass of revolting flesh and shouki.

"Of course, Naraku-sama." Ishiru turned to face the others, taking her mace-whip from her obi. "With pleasure." In one fluid movement she swung the weapon, sending the mace in a wide arc. The spiked ball traveled across the group behind her, and would have gored them if they hadn't ducked out of its way. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome, pulling her down with him. Kouga leapt out of the way, as did his followers. All but one, who was gored by the spiked metal sphere.

Sesshoumaru leapt towards the ceiling, thunderstruck. How? No. . . That wasn't the question. Why? Why Ishiru? Why are you doing this? It didn't matter. Sesshoumaru growled. Naraku would be defeated. He would be destroyed, or they would all die.

The western lord darted towards Ishiru, who was preoccupied with the others. She spun at the last moment, managing to get away with a small scratch just beside her eye. The blindfold fell away and Ishiru looked to Sesshoumaru, her black-green eyes glaring.

Wait. Black-green? Of course! Naraku was controlling her. 'But how did he manage. . . The jewel. Naraku overloaded her with his shouki.' Sesshoumaru backed away from her, concentrating his attacks on Naraku's shifting body.

As he made the first strike, masses of tentacles sprang forth from the putrid mass. The battle became gained a chaotic, almost frenzied feel. Each was barely holding their own. Kouga's tribe had lost three. Inuyasha had received his share of wounds, as did every other. Kagome, protected by Miroku, was firing arrow after arrow, lighting up the battle with their warm pink lights. Sango was with Kirara, both defending one another. Ishiru went after Sesshoumaru.

The two met. Ishiru drew a blade from her leg bindings, striking at Sesshoumaru in strong, powerful attacks. That solidified Sesshoumaru's theory. Ishiru fought with light, fast, and calculated attacks. Her movements were brazen, forceful, not unlike his half brother's. Sesshoumaru restricted her movements just as easily as he had Inuyasha's many times before. The pair slammed against the mass of tissue that was Naraku, immediately being covered by sweeping flesh and tentacles. For a moment, Sesshoumaru was surprised that the gem on her forehead was not pulling at his youki. Then a dark, glasslike half-sphere began to show around it. 'A barrier.'

"Let her go!" Sesshoumaru snarled, looking at the eyes that he knew Naraku could see out of. Naraku smiled through her.

Ishiru, trapped within her own body, was in a very different state of mind than Naraku made her appear to be. 'Stop! Please! Just let me go! You'll die!' She screamed mentally, wishing Sesshoumaru would year her. Naraku smirked.

"Your love wants you to stop, to "just let her go."" He said, goading Sesshoumaru. "She doesn't want you." Sesshoumaru's expression faltered, not enough for the untrained eye to notice. But Ishiru's eyes were trained to pick up his emotions. Ishiru was horrified. 'No! Oh gods, no!'

"She's crying Sesshoumaru." Naraku said, taunting him. He drew them deeper into the heap of flesh pulling the pair apart as he opened up a small chamber within the mass. He gave himself a form, standing behind Ishiru, who looked over her shoulder at him, her expression seductive. He draped an arm over her shoulders the other going to Ishiru's hip, pulling her to him. He kept Sesshoumaru locked at the other side of the little chamber, tentacles wrapping around his forearms just out of the reach of his venom.

Naraku smirked at the demon lord, his hand moving from Ishiru's waist to her thigh, roughly caressing her pale skin. Sesshoumaru snarled, pulling at the restraints. Naraku gave him a smug look.

"You see this Sesshoumaru? Do you see what will never be yours?" As he spoke his hands ventured, his touches more brazen and rough as he went. He brushed Ishiru's jet-black locks away from a shoulder, exposing her neck. "Did you want to taste this sweet skin?" Naraku ran his tongue along Ishiru's pale skin, his eyes closing as he growled in pleasure. Ishiru's body was made to moan, and tilt her head to the side.

Sesshoumaru was on the brink of losing control. How dare Naraku touch what was his! His eyes began to cloud over with red. But he couldn't transform in there. The room was far too small, despite the fact that it held the battle with room to spare. (Which, may I remind the reader, is still raging outside) He couldn't transform and he couldn't get free. Naraku was going to take Ishiru right before his eyes and he was helpless to do anything.

Ishiru could still see, and feel. She shuddered inwardly at Naraku's touch. 'Stop it! Stop!' She shouted, wishing he would hear. 'I don't want him! Sesshoumaru!' She saw him look away, his bangs covering his face. 'He's giving up?' Ishiru thought helplessly. 'He really thinks that I-' Her thoughts came to a halt. Naraku's hand had made its way to her center and was roughly working her flesh. 'No. . .'

"NOOO!" Ishiru screamed, a burst of energy springing from her body as she purged herself of Naraku's shouki. Naraku was thrown back with the force of her anger. The hanyou struggled to get up, pushing himself to his feet as he drew energy from the mass around him. Ishiru ignored him, going immediately to Sesshoumaru's side, tearing away the restraints. She took a step back, hanging her head.

"Sesshoumaru I – I didn't. . . I couldn't let him. . . I'm so sorry." She said, her tears returning. Sesshoumaru only moved to stand between her and Naraku.

"Now is not the time for this." He said curtly and Ishiru nodded turning to face Naraku as well. Sesshoumaru drew Toukijin, bringing it up for Sorryuha, intending to destroy Naraku once and for all.

"Ah. Careful Sesshoumaru. Wouldn't want to hurt your little ward." As Naraku spoke, Aisumii appeared from within the undulating mass around them, holding Rin in her arms. Sesshoumaru halted his attack at once. The little girl was in a drugged sleep, her body limp in the nymphs grip. Ishiru's eyes lit with anger, her stance widening as she snarled at Aisumii. The nymph brushed off Ishiru's glare and handed the unconscious human to Naraku.

"I'll kill you." Ishiru whispered, her rage hushing her voice. She darted towards Naraku, her movements almost invisible. She barely plucked Rin from his grip, still loose since he hadn't time to react to Ishiru's attack. She had barely gotten away from him when a vine looped around her ankle. Ishiru crashed to the ground, her momentum gone. She shielded Rin's body with her own as she landed, rolling up to push herself up on her remaining free foot. Ishiru reached down and burned the vine away with her venom, straightening to see Sesshoumaru destroying a tentacle that was about to attack her.

Ishiru looked about for a place to put the Rin, but nowhere was safe as the entire room was made of Naraku's flesh. She cut the spiked ball from her mace-whip and used the strong cord to tie the child to her back, leaving her arms free.

They fought. Aisumii soon was rather worse for the wear, sporting her share of wounds, all inflicted by Ishiru. Ishiru gave one final attack at Aisumii, her claws cutting through the plant user's throat. But, as she pulled her hand from the bloody mess, she felt the cord holding Rin to her loosen and fall away. She spun. Naraku had Rin, a tentacle holding her against the far wall of the little chamber.

Ishiru missed the white-pink blur to her right. The purifying arrow burst through the wall of flesh and whizzed just in front of her forehead. A crack, like glass tapped with a tiny metal hammer, was heard from the barrier around the gem. Then the barrier shattered and the arrow went on its way through Naraku's miasmic flesh into the wall behind. Ishiru looked out at Kagome. She and the group weren't doing very well. Miroku was visibly wearing out, unable to use Kazanna in the enclosed space. Kirara was bloody and favoring a hind leg. Kouga had few followers left. Sango was panting, her sword blade broken, and using only Hiraikotsu.

They would loose this battle. Sesshoumaru, Rin, Kagome, all of them would die. Ishiru looked at Naraku, who had come to the same conclusion and was grinning malevolently. Ishiru wiped the sweat from her forehead, trying to come up with a plan. She felt the gem on her brow. But if she. . . It didn't matter.

Ishiru moved to stand in front of Naraku, glaring up at him. She leapt up at him, landing lightly on a rise of flesh that his form stood upon. Ishiru looked up at Naraku's smirking, jet black eyes.

"So. Have you decided to chose the winning side?" Naraku asked. Ishiru didn't reply. She walked up to him, moving so her body was flush against his. Naraku grinned. All others in the room were dumbfounded. Ishiru looked up at Naraku, who wrapped an arm around her waist. "Now then, shall we continue where we left off?" He said, his other hand beginning to venture. Ishiru brought back a clawed hand, drawing her venom to her palm as she dug her fist into Naraku's chest, her claws curling around his heart.

"You will never touch me again." She growled, then ground her forehead against his, the gem coming in full contact with Naraku's brow.

The result was phenomenal. Dark purple and black materials came from all around the room, rushing into Naraku's form, attempting to replenish what was being drawn out. Naraku tried to pull away, but Ishiru kept a firm hold. She felt the shouki slowly poisoning her, but she paid it no heed. Wind whipped up from nowhere and swirled around her, following Naraku's energies into the gem. Soon, there was nothing left of the hanyou.

Rin lay on the ground where the flesh mass had released her. Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and Kouga-tachi all were frozen by the spectacle. Sesshoumaru slowly approached Ishiru, who stood still where she had before. When Sesshoumaru was within a few feet, she turned to face him. Her movements were weak and broken and her breathing was ragged and irregular. She looked up at Sesshoumaru, giving him a weak smile.

The gem cracked, then fell away in glittering fragments. Ishiru wavered, then her eyes closed as she slowly fell. Sesshoumaru caught her. Her body was cold, too cold. Sesshoumaru moved a hand to her neck. Nothing. She had no pulse. His hand went to Tenseiga at his side. Again, nothing. Sesshoumaru's hand began to tremble and he forced it to stop. His mind was in a state of suspended in animation, neither acknowledging nor registering what was proven so plainly to him.

He didn't notice when the little fragments on the ground began to glow a faint blue. He only realized it when Ishiru's body began to glow the same hue. She began to glimmer in and out of existence and Sesshoumaru snarled. He wrapped her in his youki, holding Ishiru's limp body to his chest. Soon, the light extended to his form as well. The pair faded into nothing.

OOO

BluePanda : HAHAHAHA! I'm the pretty princess of aluminum foil! Watch me dance! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! O.o Me twitchery. Hee hee.

Akuma : - Rubbing his forehead – By the gods' grace. . .GO TO BED!

BluePanda : But it's only one in the morning.

Akuma : No comment. – Picks up Blue and throws her in the bed. -

BluePanda : RAWR! Wanna join me?

Akuma : Go to sleep.

BluePanda : No.

Akuma : - Lies her down in the bed and strokes her hair until she falls asleep – (Don't ask,makes me fall asleepno matter what)

Review Responses:

So-chan-neko77 : S'okay. I took long enough to get this chapter out so it's excusable. Thankies! - Another one? You mean a sequel? I don't know. I'll have to finish this one first. BUBBLE PIPE! – Blue attacks the bubble pipe. . .Akuma takes it away – You're supposed to be in bed.

bowowowlover : Thankies! I'll probably do one eventually. But not for a while. I've got to get everything else worked out first.

OOO

Akuma : Now, seriously folks. Leave the poor girl alone and let her sleep.

Blue : Sleep? What is this? I don't needs sleepsage! Cafffiiiiieeeeene!

Akuma : - Knocks Blue over the head and puts her to bed now that she's unconscious.