To The Den of Evil
The full moon illuminated all the shadows in the small hut. Sango, Shippo, and Kagome shared a blanket while Miroko slept sitting against the wall. The only ones awake were Kirara and Inuyasha. All day he had sensed his presence but he could not pick up a scent, until now. Naraku was close extremely close but that was not all that bothered Inuyasha. He had also picked up Sesshoumaru's scent. He stood up and left the hut.
He had vowed to kill Naraku, to avenge Kikyou's death, the death of Sango's clan of demon exterminators, free her brother Kohaku of Naraku' spell and relieve the monk Miroku of the curse that had left a wind tunnel in his hand. Defeating Naraku would also bring him closer to finding the rest of the jewel shards. And he would fulfill his ultimate goal of becoming a bona fide demon. "Inuyasha."Miroku stood at the door of the hut, his voice was stern but he was facing the moon. "I have also felt a dark formidable presence for some time but I was not certain if it was Naraku." Miroku cast a questioning glance at Inuyasha. "Were you planning on leaving us and hunting Naraku on your own?" Inuyasha would not meet his gaze. "So what if I was? You guys would only get in my way anyway." Miroku ignored the indirect insult. "Even if that is the case, are you forgetting that we all bear a grudge against Naraku? It is as much our battle as it is yours, please don't forget that." Inuyasha turned to face Miroku but found Kagome and Sango facing him, clearly upset about his idea to exclude them. "Fine, since you guys are all awake anyways let's go." Sango glared at him and went back inside to get her weapon. Kagome cast him a warning look and went after Sango. "Honestly how can he be so rude?", she thought to herself. Kagome smiled to herself. Maybe his confidence meant that they might finally defeat Naraku this time.
Inside his castle, Naraku watched Sesshoumaru through Kanna's mirror. He had hoped that Sesshoumaru would have agreed to his plan but secretly he had known that he would not. Perhaps if he knew the danger the human child he carried was in he would change his mind. "Kagura," he called. Kagura appeared before the screen and bowed. "Show our guest in." Kagura bowed again and left.
She met Sesshoumaru at the entrance to the castle. "Lord Sesshoumaru, welcome.", she said. Sesshoumaru did not return the warm welcome. "Where is Naraku?", he demanded. Kagura frowned, did he always have to be so cold towards her? "He has been expecting you.", she answered. She led Sesshoumaru to the veranda that Naraku was sitting on. "Sesshoumaru, I wasn't expecting to see you and your entourage so soon." Naraku smiled at Sesshoumaru and then looked down at Rin who he still held in his arms. "And how is the human girl doing?" Sesshoumaru looked down at Rin. He lay her body on Ah and Un and drew his sword. "I haven't come about the human girl. I am here to kill you Naraku." Naraku's eyes widened in alarm. But his face was quickly masked with a smile of amusement. "Sesshoumaru, surely you are smarter than that. Rin's soul has been removed from her body," he called for Kanna to come forth. "Kanna has placed her soul in one of my rooms. If you kill Inuyasha her soul will be returned to her. But the longer her soul is kept from her body, the less her chances of survival are."
Sesshoumaru didn't move, then he sheaved his sword, "What's this? Is he surrendering?", Naraku thought to himself. Suddenly the earth started to pulse and Sesshoumaru's eyes turned bright red. Naraku frowned; this was not what he had expected. Jaken noticing what was happening, lead Ah and Un and Rin to safety. A large gust of wind sent him crashing to the ground. "Quickly, we must escape before we are all killed in Lord Sesshoumaru's rage."
Sesshoumaru had fully transformed now. He growled and snarled at Naraku ; this time he would not escape. Kagura stepped back. Sesshoumaru was enormous. Perhaps, he could defeat Naraku this time and finally bring her the freedom she desired.
Sesshoumaru pounced on Naraku. Naraku jumped out of the way. The veranda was smashed and melting from the acid dribbling from Sesshoumaru's mouth. More than ever, Naraku wished to absorb Sesshoumaru's power. He knew that it would be difficult to absorb Sesshoumaru now nevertheless overtake him. Naraku allowed himself to transform. His long crab like claws sprung out towards Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru dodged the attacks and let his teeth sink into the claw. He thrust Naraku aside. Naraku rose from the debris and jumped at Sesshoumaru.
Jaken sighed a long depressed sigh. Once again, he had been forced to abandon his lord in battle. He looked back to Rin's motionless body. For a human child she hadn't been so bad. Jaken sighed again. If only he could redeem himself, maybe Lord Sesshoumaru would value him again. Suddenly, Jaken's eyes brightened. "I know how to redeem myself before Lord Sesshoumaru!", Jaken cried. With that, he turned around and rushed into Naraku's castle.
Inuyasha and the group trudged on. Naraku's scent was heavy in the air. Inuyasha turned around. Kagome's usually cheery look was replaced with one of horror. "Inuyasha look!", she cried and she pointed to the trees in the distance. "It's Sesshoumaru!". Inuyasha looked up. Indeed, it was Sesshoumaru, but the sight of him in this form told Inuyasha he was with Naraku. "Inuyasha's brother in this form looks so frightening.", Shippo exclaimed. "Feh," Inuyasha sneered, "He isn't so tough." Miroku nodded in agreement with Shippo. "It's hard to believe that Inuyasha ever beat him.", Sango said. "And just what is that suppose to mean!", Inuyasha yelled. "Calm down Inuyasha.", Kagome said. " I'll bet he's with Naraku. If we keep him in our sights we'll find Naraku's castle."
Jaken weaved in and out of the rooms. Naraku had said that Rin's soul was being kept in one of the rooms; all he had to do was find out which one. Ah and Un followed him, carrying Rin on their back. Jaken slid open a screen door. A demon jumped out at him. "Take this!", he cried. He raised his two head staff at and engulfed it in flames. The demon cried out in pain and dissolved into a pile of ashes. Jaken looked into the room and noticed the glowing white orb it had been protecting. The orb floated towards Rin and disappeared inside her. Immediately her eyes fluttered open. "Jaken!", she exclaimed. "HAHAHA! I did it!", Jaken laughed, giddy at his accomplishment. "Wait Jaken, where is Lord Sesshoumaru?", Rin asked, her eyes wide with concern. "Lord Sesshoumaru is fighting against Naraku.". Rin rushed to hug Jaken . Her jester caught him off guard and left him stunned. Quickly, Rin dashed outside. When Jaken had come to his senses, Rin was gone. "Oh no! That foolish child must have gone in search of Lord Sesshoumaru! Rin come back!", Jaken called.
Inuyasha jumped over the walls of Naraku's castle. Kagome and Shippo held tight onto his back while Kirara carried Sango and Miroku over. "This way!", he called and they headed to the front of the castle. There they found Sesshoumaru and Naraku engaged in battle. Naraku's claws were bound around Sesshoumaru's hind legs. Sesshoumaru growled as he tried to wrestle free. Naraku was trying to absorb him again. He had added a new trick to his book; stealing energy. Sesshoumaru felt his power slowly slipping away. "Inuyasha, are you going to interfere?", Miroku asked. "This is Sesshoumaru's fight. I'm not lifting a finger to help him.", Inuyasha said "But if I find an opening, I'm taking Naraku down." Naraku turned to face Inuyasha. "Sesshoumaru, you seem to have brought your brother to me anyway.", Naraku smiled. "Inuyasha, watch as I destroy you brother; you will share a similar fate." Suddenly, one of Naraku's claws pierced Sesshoumaru's shoulder .Then he unleashed his poisonous fumes. "Lord Sesshoumaru!", Rin cried. Sango looked up. "Look! On the roof!", she exclaimed. Everyone looked up to see Rin sprawled on her hands and knees. "Stupid girl, she's gonna get killed!", said Inuyasha.
Suddenly, Rin jumped off the roof onto Sesshoumaru's back. "Is she crazy!", Inuyasha exclaimed. Rin hung on to Sesshoumaru's right ear. He shook his head trying to throw her off and she dangled in his face. "Lord Sesshoumaru! I'm not going to leave you. Remember? I said I'll follow you… forever."
Sesshoumaru hesitated and then stopped shaking his head. Reluctantly he allowed Rin to climb on to his head. Naraku laughed. "I see you have your human child back. Unfortunately for you now you will both die." Naraku started glowing bright red. "Witness my power!", he cried and unleashed a powerful beam at Rin and Sesshoumaru. "Inuyasha, you have to protect the girl!", Kagome exclaimed. "I'm on it!", Inuyasha called back. He raced in the direction of the beam. He secretly cursed his sympathy for humans knowing that saving the human girl meant saving Sesshoumaru as well. He swung his mighty sword and aimed his wind scar at Naraku.
