crying This... is the ... LAST CHAPTER! And yes I know, I took forever and a day to finish it... but that's because I'm friggen lazy and didn't feel like writing... that's not a very good excuse is it? Well anyways, this is the last chapter of my beloved story i started like 30 years ago... sigh Have fun reading!
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted at her as he gently shook her shoulder, trying to wake her up. Kagome groaned and rolled over onto her back and glared at him.
"What do you want?" She demanded groggily
"I smell Kagura, and Shippo's with her!" Inuyasha exclaimed. That woke her up.
"Oh my god! Why didn't you say something?" She panicked as she threw her sleeping bag off of herself and she quickly started rolling it up. Inuyasha scowled at her and waited impatiently for her to roll up the bag, he had already packed up the rest of their things so she didn't have to worry about those. Kagome shoved her sleeping bag into her overstuffed yellow backpack and she pulled it up onto her back with extreme effort.
"Ok let's go!" She exclaimed and Inuyasha pulled her onto his back and took off in the direction where he smelled Kagura and Shippo.
"LEMME GO!" Shippo screamed as Kagura dangled him over the edge of her feather that was floating high in the air.
"I would… but I'm leading Inuyasha and Kagome here so I can't kill you yet." Kagura said with a bored expression.
"SHIPPO!"
"Inuyasha!" Shippo called back to the voice he instantly recognized as that of his adopted father. Shippo and Kagura could soon see the hanyou and time travelling girl running towards them. Kagome was readying her bow and arrows and Inuyasha was pulling out Tetsusigia.
"About time you guys got here!" Kagura called to them. Inuyasha stopped in his tracks, confused.
"What do you mean? This is a trap isn't it?" Inuyasha demanded as Kagome climbed off of his back.
"No… I'm deceiving Naraku once again and I'm here to help you get to your other friends before they die." Kagura explained with a smirk.
"You're lying!" Inuyasha called back.
"Believe me or not, it's your choice…but your friends' lives are at stake here so I would be careful…" She taunted them.
"Here, have this one." She said and she threw Shippo at them. The little kitsune screamed as he plummeted to the ground but he landed safely in Kagome's arms, knocking her over.
"If you don't believe me now… that's your problem." Kagura tried to convince them that she was telling the truth.
"Where are they?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Follow me, but if we get attacked I'm not helping you." Kagura stated flatly and she turned her feather around and floated south. Inuyasha growled and grabbed Kagome's arm and lifted her from the ground. He then pulled her onto his back and took off after Kagura.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked in confusion.
"This is our only lead and even if it is a trap, I can take Naraku. Just promise me you'll hide and stay out of danger. Ok?" He half ordered, half asked. Kagome nodded reluctantly and scowled at the thought of having to stay in hiding throughout the whole ordeal. Inuyasha bounded after Kagura, growling low in his throat. Every couple of minutes or so, Kagura would look back and smirk at them.
"Inuyasha, are you sure we should believe her?" Kagome asked as she tried to sooth poor Shippo who was shaking in fear, having just been dangled in the air upside down.
"No I'm not, but what else can we do? I already told you that." He snapped as he quickened his step.
"Naraku! What are you planning to do with us!" Miroku demanded as he struggled with the ropes tied around his arms and legs.
"Why would I tell you that you pathetic excuse for a monk?" Naraku chuckled from the opposite side of the room. Miroku glared menacingly at the evil hanyou and decided to temporarily ignore the demon, in order to figure out how to help Sango. He nudged her bound legs with his own and attempted to rouse her from unconsciousness. She was in the same state that he had been in when he woke up.
Flashback
He groaned in pain as he lifted his head off his shoulder. He realised that he'd been tied to a pillar and had his hands and feet bound in ropes. He also noticed that Sango was leaning on him, still unconscious. He shifted slightly in an attempt to wake her up. This plan only succeeded in making her chin dig into his shoulder. He sighed and shifted again, careful to keep her out of his lap, knowing the beating he'd receive for that.
"So you're finally awake, monk." A cold, calculating voice called to him from the shadows.
"Naraku…" He ground out, the loathing evident in his voice. His only reply was an evil chuckle that echoed throughout the room.
End Flashback
"Kagura… exactly what are you doing?" Naraku wondered under his breath as he stared into Kanna's mirror, watching Kagura lead Inuyasha and Kagome straight to them.
"Hurry up you pathetic hanyou!" The Wind Sorceress called down to them as she sped ahead on her feather.
"Where are you taking us Kagura?" Kagome called back.
"You'll know when we get there!" Was the only reply she received for her trouble. Inuyasha growled and quickened his step a little. He could feel Naraku's jyaki getting stronger and he knew Kagome could feel it too.
"Inuyasha! I can sense the jewel shard! Kagura was telling the truth!" Kagome whispered excitedly in his ear. He smirked and drew Tetsusigia, preparing to break down the nearest barrier… which was nearer than he thought. He skidded to a stop as Kagura passed right through the barrier with ease. He quickly took out the barrier with the red Tetsusigia. He slipped his sword back into the sheath. He took off at top speed once again, mentally preparing for the inevitable battle ahead.
"Kagura… you betray me again…" Naraku mumbled as he gazed into the mirror more intently after seeing Inuyasha burst through his barrier.
"This is the end Kagura, I cannot have an incarnation as deceitful as you…" He mumbled as he stood up and reached into a jar, and pulled out a heart. He squeezed it tightly and relished in the pain he knew she was feeling.
"He knows…" Kagura whimpered as the immense pain in her chest engulfed her entire body, making her mind spin. She crashed into the ground and started writing in pain. Inuyasha skidded to a stop when he saw her go down.
"Kill him… Free me…" Kagura whispered mere seconds before she blacked out from the white-hot pain shooting through her veins.
"Come on Inuyasha, we have to help her!" Kagome exclaimed, attempting to crawl off of his back, but he kept a firm grip on her knees.
"We can't… the only way we can help her is to either kill her, or kill Naraku… I'm going to go with the second option because I hate him more." Inuyasha explained as he took off again, in the direction where the jyaki was the strongest.
"He's going to stop you!" Sango screamed at the evil hanyou before her.
"And just what can Inuyasha do to me? I've proven time and again that I am far more formidable than he can even imagine, he cannot beat me." Naraku stated flatly, staring at the heart in his hand.
"NARAKU!" a familiar voice boomed from the entrance to the room. It was Inuyasha and Kagome… with a terrified Shippo.
"Inuyasha!" Sango called to them, smiling in relief.
"Are you two alright?" Kagome called to them, being forbidden by Inuyasha to go to them, she had to settle for asking them if they were all right… and not helping them if they weren't.
"We're fine, Miroku's just been knocked unconscious again a poisonous bee stung him!" Sango called back. Kagome gasped at her answer and she tugged on Inuyasha's haori sleeve.
"Inuyasha! We have to help him! He'll die if we don't!" She pleaded with the irate hanyou. He growled and grabbed her around the waist and pouncing to their friends' side.
"Kagome stay here, Sango… take care of her, one hair on her head is touched and I'm holding you responsible!" Inuyasha explained as he withdrew Tetsusigia. Sango nodded and started struggling with her bonds.
"I'll get you this time Naraku! You're DEAD!" Inuyasha bellowed, running at him, swinging Tetsusigia.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" He boomed and the flames of lightning engulfed the bored looking Naraku.
"You think you can destroy me with such a feeble attack?" Naraku asked, throwing one of his tentacles at him. Inuyasha easily dodged and attacked with another wind scar.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed at him as one of Naraku's tentacles came at him from behind. He immediately turned around and sliced the tentacle in half. Kagome heaved a sigh of relief, she was always more scared for him than herself whenever they fought Naraku. She turned back to tending for Miroku and screamed in shock as she was scooped off the ground by one of Naraku's tentacles.
"Kagome!" Sango screamed, receiving a death glare from Inuyasha, who leapt up and sliced the tentacle in half in an attempt to rescue Kagome.
"I thought I told you to stay put!" He grumbled as the tentacle reproduced itself and squeezed her tighter.
"I was trying!" She gasped out as the tentacle constricted her body. Naraku chuckled at Inuyasha's feeble attempts at rescuing the girl.
"Your battle is over here." He shouted and the tentacle holding Kagome swatted him away and sent him crashing into the ground.
"Inu…yash…a" Kagome groaned as she slowly lost consciousness. Inuyasha glanced from her to Naraku and back again. He couldn't attack Naraku without hurting her. Suddenly a tentacle came hurdling at him with such extreme speed that he barely dodged it. He growled and leapt into the air and attacked with a vicious,
"KAZE NO KIZU!" right at Naraku's chest.
"Inu…ya…sh…a" Kagome whimpered in her state of near unconsciousness. He growled once more, determined to save her. He leapt up to her and started slicing at the tentacle with all his strength and then again with his claws. Suddenly a thin green light whipped past his ear and sliced the tentacle off of Naraku's body completely. The part that was binding her faded into dust and Kagome started plummeting to the ground. Inuyasha dove down with her and caught her. He looked down at her, worry etched all over his face. He didn't even notice that his brother was standing behind him, fighting Naraku in his place.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked quietly as he laid her down gently beside Miroku.
"Inuyasha!" Sango exclaimed and she tackled him to the ground in order to dodge another tentacle.
"Watch her!" he ordered as he took off onto battle again. Now it was both he and Sesshomaru tearing apart numerous tentacles with a furious effort.
"Keep your mind on the battle, not your miko." Sesshomaru ordered as he sliced another tentacle in half.
"Shut up you bastard!" Inuyasha spat back, attacking with the Wind Scar.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked groggily as she came to. Sango was immediately leaning over her with concern etched over her face.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" She asked. Kagome half nodded and she attempted to sit up.
"Where's Inuyasha?" She asked with a grunt as she lifted herself up to a sitting position.
"He's still fighting Naraku, Sesshomaru's here." Sango explained as Kagome took in the scene before her. Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were surrounded with bits and pieces of Naraku's flesh, which was still squirming. She cringed at the sight of al the debris around them. She then realized that they weren't harming him at all. Inuyasha had numerous cuts and developing bruises and Sesshomaru himself had a couple of gashes here and there. They were weakening and they hadn't even scratched Naraku yet!
"Sango, they aren't even hurting him!" Kagome exclaimed, the urge to help Inuyasha slowly overpowering her need to recuperate from being knocked unconscious.
"I know… But my Hiraikotsu isn't here! And Miroku's still sick…" What can we do?" She asked desperately, not wanting to lose any more of her friends to Naraku. Kagome reached for her bow and arrows and struggled to her feet. Sango stood beside her, drawing out her sword.
"It's not my ideal weapon, but it's better than being vulnerable!" Sango mumbled half heartedly, turning the weapon over in her hands. Kagome offered her a sympathetic smile, really regretting having to leave Hiraikotsu and Miroku's staff behind with a village priestess they had passed on their way here.
"It's fine, you're an amazing fighter." Kagome assured her as she readied her bow and filled the arrow with her pure aura. She then let the arrow fly without giving Naraku the slightest warning so he had no idea what was happening until it was too late. The arrow pierced his stomach and from the wound down, his entire body dissolved. Inuyasha turned around to stare at her.
"INUYASHA!" She screamed as one of the few remaining tentacles darted at the hanyou's back. He turned around, only to get caught in the stomach with a tentacle. He grunted as it pierced right through him and came darting at Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippo. Kagome screamed and snatched Shippo off of the ground where he was poking Miroku's cheek in an attempt to wake him. Sango grabbed Miroku's hands and the two girls escaped the tentacle just barely.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed again as the vicious fighter Inuyasha collapsed to the ground. Her eyes swam with tears and she unknowingly dropped her bow and arrows, and Shippo and dashed towards her fallen love, desperate to save him. He saw her coming and tried calling out to her, tried to make her stop, but to no avail.
"Inuyasha?" She whimpered as she dropped to her knees beside him.
"Baka…" He whispered, feeling a couple of her tears fall onto his cheek.
"Please be ok…" She breathed as she grasped his hand and started rocking back and forth, trying to comfort both him, and herself.
"I'm… fine, been through worse… Kagome, stop crying… please?" Inuyasha pleaded, but was only treated with more tears. Suddenly a wisp of green light flew past Kagome's ear and pierced a flying tentacle aimed for her back.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha exclaimed, rushing back to reality and realising that she could have been killed had it not been for his brother.
"Brother, stop bending in submission to that wound, get the miko out of here. She is only in the way. Let me handle this…" Sesshomaru grunted as he mercilessly sliced of tentacles along to the rhythmic tone of Naraku's evil laughter.
"Shut the hell up Sesshomaru…" Inuyasha snarled as he struggled to a sitting position, despite Kagome's efforts to make him keep still.
"Would you rather die, or have me go through a little bit of pain?" He demanded as he slowly rose to his feet.
"Do you really need me to answer that?" She answered as she took a firm hold on his arm and helped him wobble to safety while Sesshomaru kept Naraku busy.
"My arrows!" Kagome breathed in realisation as she helped Inuyasha to sit beside the still unconscious Miroku. She bent down and kissed Inuyasha on the cheek, willing him to stay safe, and she walked away from him with one thing on her mind.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called to her, feeling extremely helpless and guilty for having her walk into the fight like this. She turned around momentarily and smiled at him with a determined look in her eyes that said that she was going to win, or die trying. That was what he was worried about.
"Naraku!" Kagome shouted to the vile demon that was still battling Sesshomaru. Naraku turned to glare at her and saw that she had an arrow pointed directly at him. She had already disintegrated a majority of his body, which he currently wasn't paying attention to. He hadn't really anticipated any of the group to get that close to him. He chuckled, pretending the powerful girl in front of him didn't intimidate him.
"You think you can just destroy me? Do you honestly think that would work? You are nothing compared to me, impudent little wench!" He hissed as he swiped a tentacle at her. Kagome's eyes widened as she realised that she could be pierced by him right now and be instantly killed. Milliseconds before the tentacle touched her sensitive skin, Kagome was swept off her feet by a blur of colour. She yelped in surprise as she realised that this was not a red blur like she was used to seeing, this was a white blur which of course meant that this was Sesshomaru saving her life.
"Stop being so reckless." He growled as he came to a stop and stood a little bit in front f her, acting as if she was under his protection instead of Inuyasha's.
"Thank you…" She whispered as she readied her bow once more and prepared to shoot the vile demon that had been plaguing them for over a year. Naraku turned to her and tried to intimidate her with an icy stare.
"Why won't you die? I told you you were worthless, why do you even bother?" He demanded as a couple of his remaining tentacles curled in frustration.
"I'm not worthless. Someone who's worthless is someone who doesn't have anyone there to help them when they need it. Someone worthless is someone who tries to hide behind a tough exterior just so they can stay alive just a little bit longer. Someone worthless is the person, no demon, you've become!" Kagome bellowed as she poured spiritual energy into the arrow and let it soar through the air and hit it's mark, Naraku's heart.
"Not… Worthless!" Naraku cried as Kagome's miko energy seeped through his veins and slowly caused his body to dissolve into nothing but dust.
"Finally…" Kagome whispered as she fell to the ground, unconscious from the amount of energy required to deliver that final blow to Naraku.
"She's waking up!" A high-pitched child's voice exclaimed from somewhere above Kagome's head. She groaned as a wet cloth was pressed to her forehead.
"Thank kami, she's been out for three days… go get Inuyasha Shippo." A feminine, but strong voice commanded gently to the child, Shippo. Kagome struggled to open her eyes, but found it extremely hard.
"Kagome!" A voice bellowed from where Kagome guessed was the doorway. She immediately recognised the voice as Inuyasha's and tried to reach her hand out to him. Instantly, she could feel his presence next to her, as if he had leapt across the room, which he probably had, she thought to herself.
"Kagome?" He asked warily, afraid to disturb her.
"Inu… yash… a?" She whispered back to him. She soon found herself wrapped safely in his arms, feeling him grinning into her shoulder.
"Don't do that ever again…" He scolded as he held her and Sango and Shippo crept out of the room unnoticed to tend to Miroku, who was still in bad condition.
"I won't…" Kagome assured him with a small giggle as her body allowed her to wake up a little more.
"You killed him you know." Inuyasha said, making sure she knew that she had been the one to save them all.
"I know…" Kagome answered meekly, she didn't know if she liked being the hero on such a large scale, it was very new to her, and she felt a little self-conscious as Inuyasha recapped for her how 'amazing' she was. He filled her in on all of the events of the last couple of days. How he had recovered a day earlier than her and had been antsy since he'd woken up. How Shippo was being 'an annoying little brat' while he was recovering. How Miroku was up to his old tricks despite the fact that he was still bed ridden. Kagome sighed and closed her eyes in contentment and listened to the calming melody of his voice recounting the events of the past couple of days.
"Kagome? Are you awake?" Inuyasha asked quietly, hearing Kagome's slower breathing. She shook her head slowly and she let out a large yawn.
"I've been sleeping for three days but I can't keep my eyes open…" She mumbled with a smile. Inuyasha smiled down at her and laid her down on the floor again to let her sleep.
"What do you think you're doing mister?" She demanded groggily from the floor with an accusing finger pointed at him.
"I thought I was letting you sleep, but I guess not huh?" He laughed and pulled her back onto his lap and into his arms.
"Much… Better…" Kagome stuttered through a yawn. Inuyasha laughed at her and watched as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Good night Kagome…" He whispered to her, as he kissed her forehead.
"G'night… Inuya…sha…" She mumbled with the smallest of smiles.
THE END!
bows and that my friends... was the end. I hope you liked it, and if you didn't... uhhh well that's just too bad for you isn't it? Please review and tell me what you thought of the story, or just to say hi! lol I wouldn't mind just a random reviewer saying hi to me, so don't hesitate to do so! (wow I sound like some sort of teacher... rolls eyes) well, until my next story ttyl, TTFN!
