Long Years Past
Chapter 1
Prologue
"Inu Yasha!"
The sounds of intense fighting echoed deep within the forest.
"Inu Yasha-san! Watch out!"
The haynou turned around just as a slimy tentacle slammed him into the ground.
"Damn." he muttered, seeing the blood beginning to seep through the fire rat robe.
The evil cackling of laughter greeted him.
"Fool!" Naraku shouted. "Did you really think a pathetic half-breed like you could defeat me?"
"Feh!" was Inu Yasha's reply. "I'll rip you to shreds!"
Inu Yasha lunged at him, Tetsusaiga in hand, only to be thrown back again by the monstrous fiend.
"Inu Yasha-san, are you ok?" Kagome said as she ran to the fallen haynou.
"Damn." he said again. "Kagome," he turned to face the miko, "you know what we have to do!"
"Right!" she answered. "Sango, you're up."
Sango stepped out of the forest underbrush and nodded.
"Kirara!"
The cat demon sprang into the air with Sango on its back. They sped toward Naraku.
"Ah! If it isn't Sango the demon slayer!" Naraku roared. "Your brother is serving me well. You must be so proud. I'm sure your father would be."
The impact this statement had on Sango could not have been clearer. Kirara howled, and a righteous fire burned in the exterminator's eyes, hungry to avenge her fallenfather and possessed brother.
"Hiraikotsu!" she cried, flinging her boomerang bone at him with all her might.
It sliced through the grotesque tentacles, but they regenerated themselves in a mere five seconds. This did nothing to phase Naraku; for to him, she was only a pest, and one that should be swatted and killed as quickly as possible. And swat her he did; or tried to. The slimy arms came flying at Sango from every direction, but Kirara was too fast. When Hiraikotsu returned, the exterminator sent it flying at Naraku one more time, having accomplished her task.
Unbeknownst to Naraku, Inu Yasha was preparing to unleash the backlash wave. Sango was just a diversion while the others got into position.
The moment her boomerang was back in her hand, Sango and Kirara turned and fled into the forest, so as not to be in the line of fire. Naraku realized too late what was happening.
"Bakuryuha!" came the cry, followed by the distinct twang of a bowstring. Kagome's arrow encased in Inu Yasha's backlash wave came hurtling toward Naraku. Before the fiend had time to react, the whirling myriad of light smashed into him, tearing apart his monstrous body. The miko's arrow rang true and hit Naraku's head straight on. Flesh and bone disintegrated, leaving nothing behind but a sundered demon aura. Miroku appeared and unleashed Kazaana; the swirling vortex engulfing the last of Onigumo's remains. The monk sealed the hellhole with his rosary beads, and everything was quiet again. Not a sound was heard save for the rustling of the trees in the wind. The company stood in silence; Kagome still clutching her bow should Naraku appear again; Inu Yasha still holding Tetsusaiga, praying it was not another trap.
It was Sango who first broke the silence. Her question was simple.
"Did we do it?" her tentative voice wanting to believe it was true. "Have we finally beaten Naraku?"
"There's one way to find out." answered Miroku. They all turned to face him as he bent to remove the beads and cloth. A tiny gasp said it all.
"It's gone! It's gone! The wind tunnel is gone! This can only mean that we have truly beaten Naraku!"
The rest of the entourage ran to Miroku's side, all eager to see the wind tunnel that was now no more than a jagged scar.
"Look." It was Kagome who spoke now. Their heads turned toward her as she walked to where Naraku once was. There, on the ground, was the Sacred Jewel, now almost complete. The miko's touch purified it instantly. She brought it back to Inu Yasha, who was still at loss for words. Taking the remaining jewel fragments from her pocket, she placed them in the Sacred Jewel and the fused together. Everyone gasped at the now whole Shikon no Tama.
"It's complete." Inu Yasha whispered. The haynou's words said it all.
