"Talking"
'Thinking'Inside the jewel
Stressed Word
Sango hurried to Kirara and they took to the air with Kagura seconds behind them. Kagura finally caught up to Sango's pace and flew in silence with her. Sango quickly wondered if this was a trap, but dismissed the idea when she glanced at Kagura. Kagura was still a little pale from explaining the situation to Sango. She still couldn't believe that her best friend, her sister by bonds had become an enemy. Sango's eyes watered when she thought of Kagome being like Kohaku, a mere puppet. Still, she had set Kagura free. Then she went and killed her love and the wolf prince.
"Why is she doing this?" Sango whispered to herself.
"She is losing herself and accepting the youkai taint Naraku put in her," Kagura explained.
"I know I will fight for her, and if I must against her. Will you fight?" Sango asked not expecting her to say yes.
"I will fight, Naraku is no longer my master and I shall bite the hand that feeds," Kagura answered.
Sango gave her true last smile before she turned her eyes to where Naraku's palace lay. She could see that there was light miasma floating around the area. She frowned when she saw that there was a black ring surround by jade stones. Kagura sniffed the air, and could smell Inuyasha's blood. Sango thought back to her Tajiya training and tried to remember the ancient youkai spells. That's when she flew closer to the ground and saw Inuyasha lying Tetsusaiga on the ground. He eyes widened as Kagome charged him.
"Let's watch for now," Kagura whispered.
"But-"
"We need to make our timing right," Kagura said.
"Is Naraku planning a ritual?" Sango asked.
"Not that I know of," Kagura answered with a questioning look.
Inuyasha was now on an altar and Kagome was standing beside him. Kagome raised the dagger high in the air as she stared into his honey eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek as she hesitated. Naraku frowned and urged her to proceed with a courtesy threat. Kagome watched as Inuyasha smiled at her, which seemed to be only for her.
"Don't forget about me," Inuyasha whispered as he closed his eyes.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered as dropped the dagger and cover his bleeding stomach wound with her hands.
"What does it take to rid myself of you?" Naraku growled as he plunged the dagger downwards.
Sango had jumped off Kirara and landed with her feet on Naraku's chest and her sword to his throat. Kagura softly landed and could do nothing but watch the scene unfold as it began to snow. Kagome had her upper body covering Inuyasha as smiled down at him. The dagger was sticking out of her back taunting the world with its victory. Inuyasha pulled Kagome into his lap as he sat up and watched her weakly smile.
"Like old times, eh?" Kagome asked as she watched his image blur.
"Stupid, I'm supposed to be protecting you!" Inuyasha softly scolded.
"I thought…I told you to move on," Kagome softly muttered as she stuttered. "I just want you to be happy."
Inuyasha held her close as her eyes struggled to stay open. The once brown orbs turned blue began to dull as her breath slowed. He held her even closer trying to protect her body from the snow that softly fell. She finally stilled and he frowned when the scent of death came closer to her body. Kanna walked over towards her sister and watched not bothering with Naraku. Kagura tilted her head and looked away in fear of tears that threatened to spill.
Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut as he huddled into a ball with Kagome near him. His eyes burned as he kept them shut in the darkness. He slowly began to rock with Kagome in arms as he whispered wake up repeatedly. His chest began to burn as he thought about Naraku, the hanyou that managed so much pain. He growled as claws slowly extended and his fangs slightly grew. He gently set Kagome on her back after removing the dagger. His vision bled red as his head snapped towards the battle.
Sango pressed her katana harder against Naraku's throat as she landed on his chest with her knees. He laughed before his eyes narrowed at the human that tried to slay him. He could smell the hatred that poured from her pores as she struggled to tear open his throat. With a slight growl of her own she added as much weight as she could manage against the sword without losing balance. Naraku smirked at her and she scowled back.
"How's your brother?" Naraku asked, knowing that would make her lose concentration.
"I won't fall for tricks, he's free of you," Sango growled.
"Too bad the monk didn't die of his curse," Naraku taunted. Sango growled in anger as her mind remained on spilling his blood.
Naraku easily pushed Sango away from himself using his tentacles. Sango was about throw her Hiraikotsu when she heard Kagura yell her attack. Sango quickly launched Hiraikotsu and rolled out of the way. Kirara picked Sango off the ground and watched as Naraku turned around. The wind blades tore his kimono and threw him in the air. Hiraikotsu then struck him in the back sending him to the ground. Kagura then turned her attention to the mourning hanyou.
Kagura tilted her head and looked away in fear of tears that threatened to spill. Naraku pulled himself up from the ground and glared at his incarnation. He held his hand out as if to summon her heart to him. Kagura threw her head back a lightly laughed as she watched him. He growled and then sneered at her as she stopped her mirth.
"Kagome freed me from you," Kagura answered.
"She was my pet," Naraku growled.
"It was a deal that was made and we both came through," Kagura said as she raised her fan again.
Sango prepared another swing with Hiraikotsu when they heard growling. Neither one of them wanted to look away, knowing that one slip could make a difference. The growling grew into snarls and that's when Sango's eyes widened in fear. Kagura also chanced a glanced and watched as Inuyasha charged. Naraku looked over and only had a chance to block as Inuyasha hurtled himself at the hanyou.
Sango ran over to Kagome's body to avoid the collision that landed in her spot. Kanna was standing over Kagome with her mirror.
"What is she doing?" Sango hissed.
"Her soul refuses to move on," Kanna softly whispered. Sango's anger diminished as she watched the mirror continue to glow.
"Her soul still won't fit into the mirror," Kagura said as she watched Kanna.
Kanna had only displayed emotion one time within her short life. It was the time that Kagura was made and learned life's lesson. Kagura had only been alive a month or two when she first crossed Naraku. Her heart had been squeezed to the point of unconsciousness. When she woke she found Kanna tending to her fever with concern in her eyes. And now she watched desperation pass in the little girl's eyes as she concentrated on the Miko youkai.
"I have all, but the sealed," Kanna softly said.
"The sealed?" Kagura questioned with confusion.
"Kikyo's portion and the Souls of the Tama," Sango answered.
Naraku wildly dodged as Inuyasha kept attacking without any delay. No matter how much miasma he used, the hanyou would not slow. Naraku landed only to be knocked to his back. Quickly grabbing the wrists he struggled as he tried to keep the deadly claws at bay. Inuyasha growled in rage as Naraku used his feet to kick the hanyou away.
"Won't don't you just die?" Naraku coldly asked as if offering a choice. Inuyasha growled at the hanyou and began to charge at him. Naraku sidestepped most of the attacks, escaping with a few gashes.
"Why can't you just join your bitch in hell?" Naraku yelled in rage as he felt his now gashed face. Inuyasha stood still and faced Naraku as his red eyes bore into Naraku. Naraku narrowed his eyes and watched as blue pupils appeared in the red abyss.
"Her names Kagome…not bitch," Inuyasha growled as he charged again.
'He should be a mindless creature,' Naraku frantically thought.
'This is for all the pain,' Inuyasha thought as he fought.
"You can't win," Naraku taunted.
Sango, Kagura, and Kanna watched as the Shikon no Tama began to float above Kagome's heart and then to her forehead where it stayed. Four small orbs came out of the jewel and began to glow in front of the three.
"It is the Arami Tama and they are in perfect balance," Sango whispered in awe.
Friendship had begun to glow brighter as Kagura watched the soul. Wisdom had chosen its place in front of Kanna as she watched the Tama. Courage began to comfort Sango as she sadly watched her friend's body. The last of the souls had stayed above Kagome's heart, knowing that love would always be with her. Kikyo's portion of the soul rose into the air and the four souls twisted into the air and into the soul. They could only watch as the soul floated down to Kagome's body where it floated.
"It's time to wake little one," a soft and comforting voice whispered into the sleeping woman's ear.
"You must hurry," another voice calmly said.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes and squinted when the light hit her eyes. She looked sat up and noticed a hand offered to her. Looking up she stared into the eyes of Kikyo. Her eyes widened and she was about to back up and run when she suddenly calmed down. Kagome reached out and took the hand and stood to face her previous incarnation. That's when she noticed that they both wore the traditional Miko garbs. Kikyo smiled and Kagome could only look in confusion.
"I'm sorry," Kagome shamefully said as she remembered what she did.
"I know," Kikyo softly whispered as she hugged the girl.
"I'm a monster," Kagome cried as she cried and clutched onto the Miko.
"We're not monsters, we're just humans that were misguided," Kikyo softly whispered to her.
"I didn't want to do it, even though it felt like I wanted to" Kagome cried.
"Don't worry. All will be right," Kikyo assured as she held Kagome's hand. They then turned to face another Miko dressed in ancient armor with a lotus petals on her forehead.
"Midoriko?" Kagome questioned.
"Yes. We are dead and the last soul is in need of help," Midoriko said as she watched Kagome's expression.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered.
"Your love saved him and gave him the ability to fight," Midoriko said.
"His soul is connected to the Tama?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, and he is going to lose against Naraku without help," Kikyo answered.
"How can we help?" Kagome asked with determination.
"The jewel comes in contact and gathers souls that are the same to it, Inuyasha is the courage that is need to fight. Kikyo is the friendship that is helped gather Inuyasha and I am the wisdom that balances everything," Midoriko explained.
"You are the love that kept the courage going," Kikyo said with a faint smile.
"It's time to join and fight," Midoriko said.
"How?" Kagome asked as she watched Midoriko take her and Kikyo's hands.
"We must live," Midoriko whispered, as everything became a bright white. Warmth began to spread around Kagome as she felt the air move again.
Naraku turned his attention to the ki that was rapidly gathering above the dead Miko-youkai's body. He watched as the orbs became one. With a feral growl he realized what was going to happen. Inuyasha turned around to watch a white orb come flying towards him and rapid speed. Inuyasha smiled when he smelt the faint trace of Kagome's soul.
Sango had put Kagome's body on Kirara and began to travel towards Kaede's village. Kanna was with Kagura upon her feather watching the battle that took place. Kagura knew this distance was safe and would wait until she could spit upon Naraku's corpse.