Update: Chapter edited.
Disclaimer: Inu and Co aren't mine, Julia is…and Wakana, I can't believe I kept forgetting Wakana in the disclaimer…I love her how could I forget her…oh right sorry…so yeah…
A/N: First off, let me say wow. I've gotten some really great reviews from you guys and I am just completely floored. This was my first fic and I am blown away by all of the positive feed back. Thank you all so much. I only hope you like how it ends. Okay, so now onto the last chapter…that title makes you nervous doesn't it?
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Chapter Fifteen: It Can't End Like This…
Naraku smiled as he watched the little band leave the protection of Sesshoumaru's barrier through Kana's mirror. He knew they would live through his trap, and now he would not only have the shards, but they would lead him to something even more powerful.
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Sesshoumaru had not been able to think of anything except that confounded human woman. More precisely, about the fact that she was now gone. It did not help that Rin had come crying to him the moment they had all left. He amazed himself by not turning the small girl away, but by picking her up and carrying her to her room where she cried herself to sleep in his arms.
Upon exiting her room, Sesshoumaru found the little ninja boy waiting outside the door with a concerned look on his face.
"Is she going to be alright?" he asked in a strong voice, but there was still a kind of shyness there, like he was still not quite comfortable around Sesshoumaru.
"She will be fine," he answered. "She will overcome the loss in time." The boy nodded and then turned and walked down the hallway towards his own room.
It was nearing the middle of the day and Sesshoumaru had been sitting in his study since then trying to work, but was still having no luck. It was then that the thought struck him. Since when do I, Sesshoumaru, ever give up? If he wanted something he would take it. It was not too late - he would make her see that what Akago had shown her was wrong. He quickly donned his armor and weapons out of habit when leaving the protection of his shield. Nobody defeats this Sesshoumaru! he thought as he morphed into a ball of energy and took off after them.
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Miroku had called Hatchi just as soon as they had left the barrier, so they were now all seated comfortably atop the tanuki. Julia had insisted that everyone did not need to come, but as it was only Rin and Kohaku had stayed behind. And Sesshoumaru, Kagome thought glumly. To her knowledge the two had not spoken in the last few days. However, at this point she didn't even know if it would have mattered.
The trip to the well was a quiet one punctuated only by Hatchi telling Miroku that he owed him for all the help he was giving him. Julia sat near Hatchi's head, with Kouga at her side, and never once looked back towards the castle. The rest of them sat a little ways back as there really wasn't all that much room where Julia was sitting. Kagome had taken that to mean Julia really did not want to talk, so she had left her alone.
Sometime around noon the well came into view and Hatchi descended to the ground. With a pop and a poof of smoke Hatchi transformed into his usual tanuki self and the rest of them found themselves standing on the ground. After they approached the well Julia stood by it for a moment before turning to the rest of them.
"Well, this is it," she said with a smile as she began to remove the Jewel shard from around her neck. "You're sure I can go back without it?" she asked Kagome.
"Yes," replied Kagome, "it worked that way once before when Inu Yasha sent me through it with out my shards," she explained, and glanced over at Inu Yasha to see a semi-sheepish look on his face.
"Okay," Julia said as she handed the shard to Kagome. She placed her hand on her throat where the shard normally rested and looked wistfully at it for a moment. She smiled again and then looked at everyone. "Just don't want to break my legs. That can kind of put a damper on a girl's day." Kagome and the others smiled. "Man, I'm going to miss you guys." Julia gave each of them a hug, even Inu Yasha, which seemed to surprise him, and climbed up onto the lip of the well.
It was then that Kagome sensed something familiar, but could not tell precisely what it was. It was coming closer at incredible speeds. No! she thought, but before she could get a warning out it was too late. It all happened so fast. Julia was about to jump in the well when she was suddenly snatched out of the air. Everyone turned at once to see Naraku standing there with Julia clutched in one of his many arms.
The presence she felt must have been the almost completed Jewel of Four Souls, but if that was the case then Naraku's shielding must be nearly invincible.
"Naraku!" Inu Yasha yelled, sword already drawn. "Let her go! She doesn't have a shard anymore. Your battle is with us!" Naraku only laughed.
"She still has a purpose, half-breed," he said with a smile. "She will be my guide in this new world," he said, gesturing towards the well. Kagome's blood ran cold. How does he know? "Though Akago failed in taking control of this pitiful human," he said as he shook Julia in the air, "he did catch glimpses of a place far different from ours. He simply couldn't determine how to get there."
"That was why you let us take her back so easily!" Miroku shouted, finally putting it all together.
"I knew if I was patient long enough you would show me the way," Naraku confirmed. "Now give me the shards and we'll end this. I'll even be merciful and give you all swift deaths."
"That is not going to happen, Naraku," another voice stated as a ball of light appeared before them. A moment later Sesshoumaru stood in its place. Kagome inwardly cheered. With Sesshoumaru they had a chance, but Naraku still held Julia. A fact that meant no one would attack Naraku at full strength. Somehow they needed to first free Julia, but how?
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Julia had struggled to free herself from Naraku's clutches, but was having no luck, especially when he continued to shake her. She kicked herself when Naraku explained how he knew about the future. Akago had seen her visions while he had her trapped in darkness. She really was being worthless to these guys. Then having Sesshoumaru appear and see her hanging in midair…Man I just can't get a break can I? she thought helplessly to herself. Oh, this is ridiculous. I need to get out of here! she told herself with a little more heart.
"Sesshoumaru, I see you've decided to join in your brother's fate," Naraku goaded.
"They're going to kick your sorry butt back to hell, you jerk!" Julia yelled at him as she whacked at the arm holding her with her backpack. Probably not the best idea as he held her suspended above him.
"Kagura, hold this," Naraku commanded as he tossed Julia behind him. She thought for sure she was going to hit the ground and break just about every bone in her body when she landed on something soft. Opening her eyes she saw Kagura standing above her. She scrambled to her knees to find that she was floating on one of the wind demoness's feathers a short distance from Naraku.
Naraku looked so smug, like there was no doubt in his mind that he was going to win. She could see her friends were anxious to start the battle, but something was holding them back. Me, she thought with a wave of guilt. They don't want to hurt me. Damn Naraku to whatever hell is the worst. She looked back at Kagura to see the demoness watching her master with great interest.
"Kagura," Julia said in a low voice. The wind demoness did not acknowledge her, but she knew she had to have heard her. "Kagura, Naraku is going to win this fight unless you do something." Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly at her words. "My friends don't want to hurt me, and as long as I am here they won't attack him at full strength." A blast directed at her friends punctuated her words. They were only on the defensive. Not one of them had tried to attack Naraku directly. "Kagura,-"
"What would you have me do?" she asked, cutting her off, "If I move on him I am as good as dead. He holds my heart - if I do not obey him he will kill me." Julia saw a hint of fear and anger in Kagura's eyes.
"But, if you don't, you'll never be free," Julia coaxed as another blast was sent towards her friends. "You don't have to do anything other than get me out of here." Kagura looked down at her. "Once I am out of the way they'll take him out."
"But…" she trailed off and looked back at Naraku.
"He is distracted right now," she explained trying to make her point, "just get us as far away as possible." Kagura looked at her once more, confusion in her eyes. Julia thought she may have done it, but then her eyes hardened again.
"No, I will do as I am ordered. This is not worth risking my life over," she said flatly and then looked back at Naraku. Damn, thought Julia, looks like I have to do this the hard way.
She swept out her leg, knocked Kagura's feet out from under her, and then jumped out of the feather. Thankfully they were not that far off the ground. Once her feet made contact she took off at a full blown run. It didn't take Kagura long to give chase and she would be on her in a matter of seconds. It was now or never.
"SESSHOUMARU! INU YASHA! DO IT NOW!" she yelled out to them as she continued to run. The last thing she remembered was Naraku crying out in confusion and a bright light surrounding the area. Then there was darkness.
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Sesshoumaru heard her call and saw her run with Kagura in hot pursuit. She had gotten away, but was it far enough? This, however, would be the best chance they would get. Naraku had been distracted by her, and Julia must have known that.
"Inu Yasha," he called, and signaled for him to unleash Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack. His brother hesitated for a moment and then the sword flared red. He, too, knew that this was it.
"Let's end this," Inu Yasha said as he charged forward. Sesshoumaru followed, Tokijin glowing brightly. They would indeed end this. Together, they let their attacks fly. The shield held for only a moment and then it was completely obliterated.
They could hear Naraku scream in anger and pain. He tried to escape, but part of Sesshoumaru's attack had been to bind him there while the gales from Tetsusaiga tore him to pieces. Not a pleasant way to go, but it was nothing more than he deserved. When the wind and light finally died away they approached to find nothing more that a pile of tattered bandages and the almost completed Jewel.
"It's gone," breathed out the monk as he looked at the hand where his wind tunnel used to reside. The demon hunter immediately wrapped her arms around him and he swung her about like they were not standing in the middle of a battle field.
"Where is Julia?" Kagome asked quietly as she retrieved the Jewel, halting all merriment. Sesshoumaru looked the rubble-strewn battle field over. There was no sign of her. He let his sense of smell tell him what his eyes could not, but scorched earth was all that filled his senses. No, he thought, even if she is dead I can revive her, but without a body for her soul to return to there is no way…
"What's that?" the fox kit squeaked. All eyes, including his own, followed the kit's little outstretched hand. In an instant Sesshoumaru was there and on his knees. It was Julia's pack, and it was not in the best of shape. He scanned the area, but saw no sign of her. The others caught up and he heard one of the girls gasp at the sight of the bag.
His insides were on fire, he felt as though he could not breathe. His mind reeled with the idea that she might in fact be gone. He clutched the bag in his hands and looked in wonder at the small droplet of water that landed on his thumb. Not since his mother had died had he shed tears for another, not even when his father passed away. She can't be gone, he told himself.
"She's gone?" the small fox kit asked, sorrow in his voice.
"No," replied Kagome, "she can't be, she just can't." The girl broke down into tears and he heard Inu Yasha move to comfort her. He stood then, still holding her bag, and turned to walk away. His job here was done; the fate of the jewel was up to his brother.
"Oh man, being buried alive is not fun," he heard a voice from behind him. The others gasped and he turned to see Julia pulling herself from a pile of debris. "You guys think you could give me a hand?" He was by her side before she even finished her request. He knelt down and finished pulling her from the rubble only to embrace her a moment later.
"We thought you had perished," he said hoarsely into her ear, still not believing that he was holding her.
"Not possible," she said softly back. He released her and was held by her eyes. They were same as when they first met. There was no anger, no pain, only her fierce determination. "It takes more than a couple of measly energy blasts to do me in." She smiled and his heart felt a hundred times lighter. It seemed as though she was back to her old self. But, it did not last. A moment later her smile faded and she looked away from him.
"Julia!" yelled the fox kit as he leapt into her arms stifling any further conversation. He was followed by the others and Sesshoumaru stepped away to let others be with her.
"I'm fine, really," she said as the demon hunter helped her to her feet. Other than being covered in dirt, she did indeed look like she was in one piece, though she was a little unsteady. They helped her over to the well where she sat upon its lip. "Well, I guess I got to see Naraku defeated after all," she said to those around her, but her eyes merely slid over Sesshoumaru who had chosen to stand back a ways. "So did you get it Kagome? The Jewel?" The girl nodded and produced the almost completed jewel from her pocket along with her bottle of shards and Julia's pendent.
"I guess it is time for me to give these up as well," said the wolf as he knelt and ceremoniously removed each shard from his leg. With a sigh he set them gently into Kagome's hand.
"Thank you, Kouga." she said as she hugged him. Much to the dismay of Inu Yasha, Sesshoumaru noted. How childish to be jealous, he thought and then saw the wolf glance over at Julia and receive a smile in return. Perhaps not that silly he corrected himself.
Kagome emptied the bottle of shards into her hand and then cupped them. She closed her eyes and appeared to be concentrating on something. A moment later her hands were surrounded by a soft pink glow. When she opened her hands a whole Jewel lay where its pieces had been but a moment earlier.
"Inu Yasha," she called softly, "I think this is yours." She held the jewel out to him, but he did not immediately take it. What will you do with it little brother?
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Inu Yasha stared at the Jewel in Kagome's outstretched hand. It had been the object of his desires to begin with, but he no longer wanted what the Jewel could give him. He walked forward and folded Kagome's fingers around the Jewel.
"No," he said, looking her in the eyes. "Kagome…you make the wish." Kagome smiled at him and then jumped into his arms. He held her, not wanting to let go. Then she placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him.
"I should have done this a long time ago," she said quietly as she reached up and removed the prayer beads from his neck. A thought that she could still not trust him after all this time flared into his head, but she quickly extinguished it. "It's just that this was the only way to save you sometimes." She placed the beads in his hands and then took a step back. He grinned at her as she did so and stuffed the beads into his jacket. There was a time when he could think of nothing more than strangling the old woman who had cursed him with them, but he realized that that curse had been more of a blessing.
"End the battle within you," he heard Kagome say in a clear, but soft voice, as she held the Jewel in front of her. "Free Midoriko's soul and vanquish the demons." The jewel floated out of her hands and into the air. It almost seemed as though it had shattered all over again, but once the light faded a figure stood facing Kagome. Immediately, Kirara walked over to join it.
"It has been a long time, my friend," a serene voice said calmly. Kirara seemed almost to smile. "Your selfless wish has finally freed my soul and brought my century-long battle to a close. Thank you, Kagome," Midoriko said as she bowed to her. "But now, it is time for you and your friend to go home. The magic that joins your time to this one will fade along with the power of the Jewel. I will use the last of that power to send you to your proper time." Inu Yasha was speechless. Kagome would have to leave.
"What if I chose to stay?" asked Kagome.
"I'm sorry, but that is not possible. You must be where you belong in order to maintain a balance." Kagome turned to Inu Yasha, tears in her eyes. Inu Yasha thought he might be on the verge of tears himself. She rushed to him and threw her arms about him. He held onto her tightly, not wanting to let go, but knowing at the same time that he must. However, knowing that she would have stayed with him only made what he had to do harder.
"I don't want to leave you," she said softly into his chest.
"But, you have to," he said gently, "Midoriko is right…this is not your time. Would you really be happy abandoning your family and friends to stay here, or living a double life if you could?"
"But…" she tried to speak, but she didn't appear to be able to get any words out.
"Kagome, I love you, you know that," he whispered in her ear. She choked back a sob and then looked at him. "I will always love you. Remember that." He kissed her, a kiss he hoped conveyed his feelings better than any silly words could.
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Sesshoumaru stood watching in utter confusion as the figure emerged from the Jewel. Who was she and what was she talking about? Julia and Kagome could not 'stay in this time'? What did that mean? He looked to Julia for answers, but she seemed hell bent on ignoring him. But he would not be satisfied with that. Since his brother seemed otherwise occupied he turned towards the monk and the demon hunter.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
"This is the priestess Midoriko," Miroku explained, then he proceeded to quickly explain the origins of the Jewel. "Lady Julia and Kagome are from a time five hundred years into our future," he continued. What? "And that is where they must now return." What!? Kagome and Inu Yasha had apparently finished their good-byes and she came over to her other friends to say her farewells. The small fox kit immediately jumped into her arms and begged her not to leave.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked Julia while the others were busy.
"I told you, I always keep my promises," she said without turning her face towards him. "It's not like this changes anything, anyway."
"I care for you, Julia," he said suddenly, his heart beating more fiercely than it ever had, "It does not matter to me that you are human."
"But you would always be wishing that I wasn't," she replied, and then finally looked at him.
"You don't think that I can change?" he asked in a slightly louder voice, not caring if anyone overheard. She did something then that surprised him. She stood and reached up to brush the hair out of his eyes and then cupped his face.
"I guess we'll never know," she said quietly with a sad smile. She slowly dropped her hand and then went to say good bye to the others, leaving him standing there watching her. She smiled at them all and hugged each in turn, and ended with giving the wolf a punch in the arm. She is leaving me. This wonderful, fascinating, special person is leaving me.
"Kagome, it is time," Midoriko called as she stroked Kirara's head. Kagome nodded and grabbed Julia's hand. "Good-bye again, dear friend," he heard Midoriko say to Kirara. Then, closing her eyes and turning her face skyward, she held her arms out as if to enfold the two girls. The girls were cloaked in a brilliant pink light. Kagome waved to her friends once more, as did Julia, and he thought she spared a special glace at him - a glance of true affection.
The light began to blind them and almost as soon as it did it faded and they found themselves standing in the clearing minus their visitors from the future. The fire cat sniffed the air in the area where the priestess had stood, and then walked slowly back to the demon hunter. I guess we will never know, he thought sadly as he stared at the empty space she used to occupy. He could hear the kit crying in the background as a hand was laid on his shoulder. It was Inu Yasha.
"You know, brother," he said rather more cheerfully than he thought was appropriate for the moment, "five hundred years isn't that long, is it?" A smile crept onto Sesshoumaru's lips. Maybe we will know, he thought as he looked towards the well.
Maybe we will.
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Julia stood in the shower of her little apartment wishing the water was just a little hotter. Those springs in the past had spoiled her. She smiled briefly at the thought. After the light had faded she and Kagome had found themselves standing in the dark well house that had begun to journey for both of them. She had walked Kagome to her house where she was introduced to her family. Kagome quickly summed up the end of her journey, and explained how Julia had come to be part of it. She seemed cheerful enough, but Julia knew that she was hurting.
She knew Kagome was because she was too. Julia had almost lost herself in that instant when Sesshoumaru embraced her after she was buried. It was like all had been forgiven and forgotten. But, that ever present whisper had returned. 'Only human.' She knew she had to go, but even now she could hear Sesshoumaru's voice. 'I care about you…you don't think I can change?'
"I guess we'll never know," Julia repeated to herself. "It's not like I could have stayed anyway."
But for Kagome, it wasn't just Inu Yasha. She had to leave behind a whole second life that she had grown to love. They had said their good-byes and Julia gave Kagome her phone number with the promise of homework help, or just someone to talk to if she needed it. Kagome hugged her and told her that she would definitely keep in touch, especially if Julia was any good at math. Not to mention the free English lessons Julia could give her.
She stepped out of the shower and tried to dry off as best she could without her muscles screaming at her. Once she got all the dirt off from being buried earlier that day she had been surprised to see that she wasn't black and blue all over. She put on her terrycloth robe and wiped away some of the steam from the mirror. She poked at the edges of the remnants of the bruise on her face.
"A couple of more days and some cover up should do the trick to hide that little souvenir from the past," she said to herself with a sigh. She flipped off the bathroom light and walked by the table where she had placed the small amount of mail that had accumulated, mostly for the last resident of the apartment, and where the answering machine sat. The number twelve kept blinking at her, but she just didn't feel like dealing with the messages right now. They could wait.
She kicked something as she continued by and noticed her little back pack sitting at the base of the table. She picked it up and examined it. The poor thing looked like it had been to hell and back. She dumped out its contents onto the sofa and then walked into the kitchen. She had to forget about the past. There was nothing that could change it. She squeezed the little leather bag one more time and then placed it in the garbage can under the sink.
"But," she said to herself as she flicked the light off in the kitchen and headed to bed, "that really was one hell of an adventure."
fin
A/N: Well it has been fun and I hope you enj…just kidding. Did I mention there is an Epilogue…continue for the fluffy goodness, or don't the choice is up to you.
