Kira the Mizu Ryuu: I'm TRYING to update quicker! It's just that I have to balance work right now with other stuff, so I don't have as much time as I used to…cries…
Kaiyou87: I love that title! "The ruler of cliff-hangers" (Thanking you profoundly for bestowing that title on me).
The Silver Maiden: UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED! Sheesh, kudos on all of those "UPDATE" I got impatient just writing these four! Lol.
Winged moon: glad to see you're still sticking around!
Sesshomarubride: I'm updating later than usual, sorry. (:S) But I hope this chapter makes up for it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The night was darkly eerie, and the howling wind was very strong. The moon provided the only light, and now, the eclipse would begin, leaving the whole world in utter darkness. For Naraku, that was an omen of how the world would be once his wish was made—and he shivered with anticipation.
What was that noise?
Looking down below, he growled fiercely when he saw his army battling that of the Lord of the Western Lands. So, Sesshormau didn't want to submit to his rule? It didn't matter. All those against him were as good as dead…and he'd never really liked Sesshomaru to begin with anyway.
"Miko." Waiting until she had walked to the entrance and stood next to him, Naraku continued. "Do you see what is going on down there?"
The silent miko stood emotionlessly before turning to him and speaking. "Yes, that is the army of my husband, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands. They are fighting your men, master."
"Listen to me miko, and listen to me good. You are no longer the wife of Sesshomaru. You are no longer the Lady of the Western Lands. Do you understand this?" There was silence for a period, and he tensed, realizing that she was fighting his cursed necklace. If only she knew the power she really had was more than enough to break the cursed necklace—but then again—it was to his advantage that she was ignorant in that aspect.
Finally there was a: "Yes, Master."
Following the direction of her gaze, Naraku growled even fiercer, seeing the hanyou and youkai lord staring up at her from the battle field. Claws chewing into the flesh of her arm, Naraku turned her to look at him. "You will not remember Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, or any of the people you used to love. You will not remember your life before I placed the necklace around your neck. The only thing you will know is me. That I am your master; and that you are my miko."
"Yes master."
"And, if any of the friends from your past try to stop us, you will kill them." A claw trailed down her cheek softly enough as to not hurt her porcelain skin.
"It will be as you wish."
…
Seeing Naraku lead Kagome away from the entrance, Inuyasha sliced a snake demon with Tetsusaiga, before rushing towards the little path that led up Hellmount to the cave. The hanyou knew that Naraku was a strong enemy, but the thought that none of them had shards anymore seemed to even things out between the two hanyous. But his thoughts were interrupted when he rounded the corner and stopped rapidly, causing dust to rise. His eyes laid on the figure, back lit by the moon, who was blocking his way.
"Kikyou?"
There was a bolt of lightning followed by a clap of thunder. "Hello Inuyasha."
"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked in an uncertain voice. He'd seen Sango's brainwashed brother, Kohaku, fighting, but he hadn't seen Kikyou. For some unknown reason he kept Tetsusaiga unsheathed, in his tightly clenched hand.
Voice as sweet as honey, Kikyou took a step towards the shocked hanyou. Even in death her beauty was ethereal. The priestess walked with unfailing grace, and her hair swayed from side to side, tickling her waist. "I'm here to stop you from making the biggest mistake in your life."
Eyebrows nearly touching in deep confusion, Inuyasha's grip on Tetsusaiga slackened somewhat. What is she talking about? "And what would that be?"
"I'm here to stop you from trying to stop Naraku of course, silly." As if sensing his shock, Kikyou smiled sweetly. That was the same smile she would give Inuyasha, many years ago, when he would say something that was funny. That was the smile that had caused him to fall in love with her when she was alive. "Listen to me, Inuyasha. Naraku won't be as bad a ruler as everyone thinks. No. Don't speak, my beloved hanyou, just listen to me."
Inuyasha wanted to lash out and tell her that Naraku would never make a good ruler. And Inuyasha would have done exactly that if it had been anyone else but Kikyou speaking. So he stayed silent, watching as the moonbeams played with her hair.
"Naraku's plans are to unite the whole world—under Japan." Her voice was melodical, but she stopped for a moment, as if looking for the right words to say. "Of course he's a little rough in the way he does things, but we need a strong king to govern over us. You know how mortals, youkai and hanyou alike are these days. If you give them an inch they'll go a mile."
He still couldn't believe that Kikyou was saying this. The hanyou shook his head. "And what do you get out of forming an alliance with Naraku?"
"I thought you would have figured that out already." Seeming genuinely surprised that he hadn't, Kikyou shook her head, as a teacher scolding a student. "When Naraku has complete control over the Shikon No Tama, I will live once more. I will be able to feel the breeze against my skin—a small privilege I have been denied for too far long." Her eyes hardened momentarily and once again thunder and lightning dominated the midnight black sky. She then blinked, looking at Inuyasha as if she'd been gifted with an epiphany from on-high. "And I know that if you pledge your allegiance to Naraku now, he will spare you. And he'll give you a position in his army. We could be together…as we always should have."
"Feh. Have you forgotten that it was because of Naraku that we were separated in the first place?"
Kikyou's eyes narrowed and she looked as if he'd hit her. Resuming a defensive position, she spat out, "Times change, Inuyasha. You either flow the direction the current takes you—or drown while trying to swim against it." Sighing, she relaxed somewhat. "Think about it Inuyasha—would it really be so hard to serve Naraku?"
Suddenly, another question entered Inuyasha's mind. "What about Kagome?"
At the mention of her reincarnation, Kikyou's eyes hardened even more. Inuyasha raised his eyebrow as her scent was mixed with anger, hatred, resentment and jealousy when Kagome's name was mentioned. But to Kikyou's credit, her voice didn't betray her feelings. Instead, it sounded cool an indifferent, as if she couldn't care less about her reincarnation. "She'll be the most to benefit from this arrangement. Naraku wants her as his Queen."
At this Inuyasha's eyes widened before narrowing. "Kagome would never go over to Naraku's side no matter what she could get out of it. She—she—" His voice faltered and he lowered his head a fraction. The hanyou's hair fell into his eyes, masking the hurt they revealed. "—she loves Sesshomaru." Pride for Kagome caused him to raise his chin once more. "She's pure, innocent, with a heart unlike one I've ever seen before. The Shikon No Tama realized this."
At that comment all hell broke loose, and the angelic façade disappeared. Kikyou's eyes glowed with hatred, as did her now desperately shrilly voice. "Are you saying that she's everything that I AM NOT? I AM THE ORIGINAL! She is nothing else but a reincarnation! The Shikon No Tama is confused! It wants me! I'm the Guardian of the Shikon No Tama!"
"You're dead."
That soft-spoken comment caused Kikyou to look at Inuyasha for some minutes in deathly silence before she pulled out her bow and an arrow. Her voice was emotionless. "If you aren't with us, I will kill you. You were right about the difference between my reincarnation and myself. I'm not pure enough to have to have a spell placed on me to kill those I love if it means I will benefit from it."
That comment caused the hanyou's eyes to narrow. Spell? What the hell had Naraku done to Kagome? "I don't want to hurt you, Kikyou. Just leave."
"Oh no, Inuyasha. I failed at killing you so many years ago—I won't let that happen again."
His heart seemed to be tearing in two. "Please Kikyou. I don't want your death on my hands."
"As you already eloquently put it, my love," Her eyes filled with intense hatred. "I am dead."
That hurt, but it was sadly the truth. "Please Kikyou, don't make me do this. I know that somewhere deep inside of you there has to be the woman I knew."
"Goodbye Inuyasha." She told him, readying to shoot. "See you in Hell--." But all breath left the priestess as she felt Tetsusaiga swiftly pierce her, and she looked into Inuyasha's pain-stricken eyes. Dropping the bow and arrow, she started gasping for air. Her whole body throbbed with pain and tears fell down her pale face.
Tears wet Inuyasha's cheeks as he took Tetsusaiga out of the woman he had once loved, and held her in his arms as she gasped for breath. Holding her close to his heart, his voice was choked when he could finally whisper. "I'm sorry, Kikyou."
She looked up at him, and for a moment, he saw the woman he'd fallen in love with so many years ago. Her voice was raspy, she wouldn't last much longer. "Don't—Inuyasha. I must have been destined to spend eternity alone in Hell." And with that, her eyes closed.
Throwing his head back, Inuyasha howled in pain.
…
"MIROKU!" Running towards the fallen monk, Sango gathered him in her arms. Her tears bathed his face as she looked at him. He was in pain, in desperate pain. "Oh Miroku! What were you thinking of when you did that?"
Opening his eyes slowly, a weak smile appeared on his face. Miroku's fingers reverently touched her cheek as he whispered, "My darling Sango."
"Don't you give me that look, Miroku." Sango ordered, sniffling loudly. "You're going to get better—despite your obvious death wish." It was s hard to pretend that seeing him like this was tearing her apart! And he'd called her 'his darling Sango'. Her eyes filled with fresh tears as she cradled his head on her lap. Please don't leave me, Miroku.
…
Kaede looked up at the moon, and she shivered. Holding onto the hands of the children, she closed her eyes. The fight between good and evil was once more going to begin. Kagome, you must be strong. Opening her eyes once more, the old woman's heart lurched. The eclipse had begun.
…
"Yes, yes." Watching as the eclipse began, Naraku smiled, running his claws softly through the miko's soft locks. She would make a fine Queen for his kingdom. Since love didn't reside in his body, he didn't have anyone else whom he thought deserved that title. His eyes went back up towards the circular hole in the ceiling of the roof. They were in the inner cave, watching as that Shikon No Tama grew in brilliancy. Soon he would have his miko make the wish. Soon the world would be forever his.
Sniff. He growled before looking in the direction of the entrance to the cave. There stood Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands. Feigning a smile, Naraku continued caressing the miko's hair, sensing the anger emanating from the youkai. "Welcome, welcome, Sesshomaru. Have you come to pledge your allegiance to me?" Hearing the menacing growl coming from Sesshomaru, his false smile turned into an evil smirk. "I thought not. What a pity, actually. My Queen must be most disappointed. Aren't you?"
The miko shook her head. "Yes, master."
If Naraku knew how to laugh, he would have when he saw the horror written over Sesshomaru's face. "Yes, you see, my Queen has a kind heart. Something I will do my best to change."
Taking a step towards them, Sesshomaru ignored Naraku, concentrating his energy on his wife. "What's wrong Kagome? Why do you have a different scent? Kagome? Are you okay?"
Naraku raised an eyebrow. He would enjoy this immensely. "Miko, do you know this man?" He saw her shake her head firmly. "Does he look any bit familiar?" Once again she shook her head, that blank expression on her face. Turning to Sesshomaru, Naraku's crimson eyes glowed. "I think its time you die. Don't you agree my miko?"
"If it is as you desire, master."
"Yes, it is." He ran a claw down her chest, sensing the anger building up in their youkai observer. "And my desire is for you, my miko, to do the honors." Naraku gave her the sword he'd been holding since he'd seen Sesshomaru's army below. "Kill Sesshomaru."
"Yes master." Taking the sword, the miko charged on a horrified Lord Sesshomaru.
If only her miko powers hadn't been transferred to the Shikon No Tama to hurry the uniting process; he would have locked watching her purify Sesshomaru to death. Naraku smirked pure evil and easily blended into the shadows of the cave knowing very well that the Lord of the Western lands wouldn't raise a hand to hurt Kagome. Naraku would be much entertained tonight, as he watched the miko kill the man that she loved.
…
Dodging the blows, Sesshomaru spoke several times to Kagome, trying to bring back the wife that he loved. But the only answer he ever got was the sword attacking with more ferocity. He hadn't unsheathed his sword, he didn't want some unfortunate accident happening. He didn't want to know that he had hurt the woman he loved.
Her scent had changed. It wasn't his wife's. It still had traces of Kagome, but it reeked of evil, of Naraku. If that beast had placed his hands on Kagome, Sesshomaru would… Ouch. Dodging the blow a little too late, Sesshomaru kept his face emotionless, despite the fact that she had cut a long slice down his left arm. Thank Kami that he was right handed.
"Kagome, please, come back to me. Fight Kagome. Fight Naraku like you've never before." For a second he saw fear cross over her eyes, before they returned to their emotionless form. But that second was enough to give him hope and encourage him on. His Kagome was buried up inside of there somewhere.
…
Stop it! Stop it! Don't hurt him! But no matter how many times she struggled with herself, no matter how many time she tried to drop the sword, she couldn't. Kagome realized the horror that Kohoku must have gone through when he slaughtered his family when under a spell much like her own. But I'm NOT going to kill Sesshomaru! I have to fight this thing!
The cave was getting blacker by the second, and her heart lurched as she realized that the moon had almost disappeared from the sky. Soon she would have to make the wish. Soon she would doom everyone to the worst of all fates.
Suddenly tentacles grabbed Sesshomaru and he howled in pain as they began squeezing him. She didn't look around. She knew that it was Naraku. Kagome wanted to run to Sesshomaru. She wanted to help him. But she couldn't even get herself to look sympathetic to his situation. I'm so sorry! Sesshomaru!
Naraku's voice cut into her internal pleading. "It is time. Go."
I will not! I will not make your wish! I have to stop my feet! Stop you blasted feet! Stop moving towards the Shikon No Tama! "Yes master." I can't fight this. I NEED to fight this!
Sesshomaru's voice caught her attention—although her exterior self didn't show it as she continued walking towards the Shikon No Tama. "Don't do it, Kagome! Don't! I know you're hearing me! I know you're still alive and listening! Fight it! Fight it!"
Palms upraised, she watched as the Shikon No Tama floated towards her and hovered inches over her palms. The moon has disappeared compeletly.
…
Kaede hugged the children to her, closing her eyes. She prayed to all that was holy to be with Kagome. The evil hour was at hand.
…
"I…love…you…"
Eyes widening, Sango held his dying body closer to hers. "I love you too—Miroku. And I am bearing your child."
"I know." He whispered, gasping for breath, before his eyes closed forever.
"No, Miroku." Her voice was an agonized whisper as she tried shaking him, trying to awaken him. "No!"
…
He felt it.
Letting go of Kikyou's body, Inuyasha gave her one last longing look before looking up in the direction of the cave. This was it. It was happening. He hurried towards the cave.
…
Hidden deep in the forest, Fusako felt it as well. The evil was all around, almost suffocating. She shivered once more. What was happening?
…
I'm sorry Sesshomaru. I'm so sorry. I've been trying but it's just too powerful for me. Inside she was crying in pain, while she remained emotionless on the exterior.
Sesshomaru's groans of pain were heard, and inside she cringed, knowing that Naraku was slowly squeezing him to death. His voice was raspy as he spoke. "I love you Kagome."
"DO IT NOW!" Naraku ordered.
DON'T HURT HIM! "My wish, oh Shikon No Tama, you must grant. I wish for my lord, Naraku, to rule over the world forever. I wish for all of his heart's desire to come true." Inside she was sobbing uncontrollably at how she'd given the world into Naraku's evil claws. I wish he was dead! I wish he would never be a threat to us or our children again! I wish all those demons from hell would go to hell and stay there! I wish that everyone I loved were okay and lived long and happy lives. I wish—I wish—I wish that this was a world that my pups would be able to grow up safely and happily in. But it was all too late. The Shikon No Tama had lost its solid form, and had become a cloud of light that rushed towards Naraku.
…
The hanyou had entered the cave, but Naraku ignored him. Letting go of the youkai lord, Naraku closed his eyes and outstretched his arms as the light encircled him. He smiled as it bathed him in its light. He was going to be the ruler of the world. He was going to have the miko as his Queen. He was…burning.
Opening his eyes in fear, Naraku watched as his body began to disappear. The Shikon No Tama wasn't granting him his wish—it was purifying him!
Howling in pain, he turned to look at the miko—who was looking at him emotionlessly—still under the effects of the necklace. She couldn't have made a different wish. He'd heard her himself! But then, he watched as she began to shine. Her power was shinning through. The necklace broke, and she crumpled in an unconscious heap to the ground.
Then, with a howl of agonized pain, he disappeared.
