Hitori ni Sasenai
By Lady Mac (battle scene in this chapter mostly by Crystal56)
warning: I think I'm in some alternate state of consciousness brought on by DDR, really cold water, some chocolate, and a freaking good Indian buffet downtown – I beat the wait staff!
A/N: Okay, don't kno if youze alls reads The Onion, but if it's in your area you should pick it up and read one o tha columnzes. In one I got recently the H-dog was all goin' on 'bout some wack-ass seminizar and this office geranium he raised from the dead by hollerin at it and feedin it root beer and Skittles. It's really hilarious, cuz the guy has this real clean-cut, boring name and picture and he works in Accounts Receiving, but the whole column is written in this amazing ghetto-speak, except for the quotes from other people (such as those to whom he related his geranium story while they were all skipping the productivity seminar). It was cool 'cuz at the end he wanted them to figure out what the point of the story was, and they guessed things like "believe in yourself" usw. (erg… I might be using that expression a lot, so "usw." stands for "und so weiter," which is German for "and so forth.") But the real message was that the H-dog is the shiznit, y'all.
we now return you to your regularly scheduled author's note
Ha-HA! I got the GW complete song collection! I'm totally addicted to "Mind Education!" It's the shiznit, y'all. OOH! I also got "Grip!" and I shiver with happiness every time I hear the opening! (swoons) I love INUYASHA! But y'all knew that. But it totally rocks! Wai, wai! And so does "Hey Ya!" …I like it again.
On a not-so-happy note, Animerica will no longer be available by subscription! Sad… but they're replacing the remainder of my subscription with their new mag, Shoujo Beat, which sounds kinda coolio.
OMG! Guess what! As I write this (which is actually before I've finished the chapter because I'm outsourcing the central events XD), I HAVE NO HOMEWORK! I know! And it's not even May yet! AP's are coming up, but I'm not scared and I HAVE NO HOMEWORK! I mean, sure it comes at the price of being totally insane since the last time I updated (an English paper, an independent research project that will determine whether or not I graduate with honors (min. 20 pages), and AP calc practice exams that I got a C on the MULTIPLE CHOICE that be 11 out of 27 – this from the girl who is 7th in her class of 256 and going to a university next year that costs more than twice as much as the premiere state university (UW-madtown) where most of my (really smart) friends are going, though the free response was hella easier than I was expecting graph the function? Are we in Algebra, or what? – though I concede the function was like g(x) equals the definite integral of f(x) and something about a semicircle), but I hope you enjoy this chapter nonetheless. It has been a LONG TIME COMING. Huge mucho thank-u's to CRYSTAL56 – BFF, gurlio! Luvs ya! Xsmooch!X
Also: sorry this update took so ding-dong long! I had no idea how to go about writing the action scene, so I kinda outsourced to the chicka mentioned above. And she's got a lot of other stories, and I'm an overachiever which means I know that the indefinite integral from zero to two of ythe square root of four minus x-squared is pi, and that the derivative of e to the x is e to the x.
I feel like whining about calculus. If you don't care, skip on down to the disclaimer. OMG! And I thought chemistry was hard. Fangs and some other AP Chem-ers came up with this: AP Chem >>x, where x is everything else, including nailing jell-o to a banana. (FYI: >> denotes "is much greater than".) The new inequality is thus: AP Calc >> AP Chem >>x, where x is everything else, including nailing jell-o to a banana and making actors shut up backstage (which is nigh impossible). Didja see me bustin out the SAT words there? Tru dat.
Disclaimer: I haven't any character named herein, except in fan arts which are themselves illegal … shouldn't have mentioned that. But I DO have a really hot Polish boyfriend ( I think so, anyhow) who wears slim-cut black jeans a lot, and STILL hasn't washed the pink shirt he got in NYC. But he's the god of the theater and he got me backstage at THE MAJESTIC (!), so I'll let the shirt thing go. Oh yeah … Inuyasha's not mine, y'all. Someday … when my boyfriend rules the world, he shall give him to ME and I shall be his sole possessor! BWA-HA-HA! But until then … yeah. Takahashi-san and all that good stuff…
MORE AMAZING HUGE PROPS TO CRYSTAL56!
Author's Note: OMFG, this took a hella long time, and that author's note you just read is over two months old. BUT IT'S DONE! And the peasants rejoiced.
I'm really beat. No more author's note. Enjoy the chapter! 2000 words in this one! Five pages in MS Works…
Disclaimer: No own, no sue. Gotcha.
Chapter 14
Naraku
"Kagome!" called the voice from the top of the well, just as her foot touched down in the Sengoku Jidai. She looked up just in time to see Shippou launch himself at her, but Inuyasha pushed her out of the way and intercepted the kitsune with a firm bonk on the skull.
"Nani shiten da yo?" he demanded angrily. "Haven't I told you not to do that?"
"Calm down, Inuyasha!" Kagome said, picking up Shippou. "Honestly! I'm not made of glass, and you're gonna have a heart attack if your blood pressure doesn't go down."
"Feh," he snorted. "I won't have you being reckless like that, especially with a pup on the way."
"Catching Shippou is not reckless, baka!"
He scooped her up in his arms and hopped out of the well. She squirmed impatiently, so he set her down with a sigh. "Why won't you let me take care of you?"
"You're not taking care, you're stifling me!" she said, letting Shippou down and straightening her blue uniform. "Give me some credit! I know better than you what's best for me." He pouted a little, and she sighed and touched his cheek gently. "Come on. You know I'd never let the baby get hurt."
He looked away sheepishly. "I know."
She kissed him gently. "Come on. Let's go home."
Inuyasha smiled. "Silly girl," he said, taking her hand as they walked. "My home has always been right here."
"In the forest?" she joked.
"You know what I mean, wench."
She laughed, and he smiled. She knew exactly what he meant.
The walk to the village was warm and pleasant, and as they drew close, they saw Miroku running towards them. "Inuyasha! Kagome-sama! Thank Kami you're back!"
"What is it?" Kagome could sense the monk's worry.
"Rin and Jaken just showed up again," he panted. "Sesshoumaru's not with them."
"What?" Inuyasha exclaimed, then took off at a sprint for the village. He found the imp and the girl with Sango, Kaede, Kirara and Shippou in the village square.
"A man approached us in the night," Jaken was saying. "At least, we thought he was human. He asked where to find Inuyasha, and Sesshoumaru-sama told him that he had left, he did not know where to."
"Who was it?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Naraku," the imp hissed, and Rin ran to Kagome as she and Miroku appeared. "He attacked us. Rin and I escaped, but we do not know what became of Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Stupid bastard," Inuyasha growled, and his knuckles popped as he flexed his fist. "How did he not know it was Naraku? Is he that fucking stupid?"
"The scent was disguised," Jaken said, "and his appearance was greatly altered. I think it may have something to do with the Shikon no Tama."
Inuyasha growled again, and Kagome touched his shoulder. "If Naraku was looking for you, that means he's probably going to show up here as soon as he figures it out."
Inuyasha nodded. "And if he says he's looking for me, it means he's looking for you and the jewel."
A sudden loud crash in the direction of Goshinboku drew their attention, and Inuyasha's nose twitched angrily. "Son of a bitch!"
"Speak of the youkai," Miroku said bitterly.
"Get to safety, Kagome!" Inuyasha said.
"I won't leave you!" she insisted. "It's probably me he's after, anyhow."
"Damn," he swore, knowing she was right. The jewel she carried was probably the target. "Fine. Rin, Jaken, and Shippou, stay here with Kaede. We'll take care of this guy." He scooped Kagome up and took off at a fast sprint towards the disturbance, with Miroku and Sango close behind on Kirara.
The horrible, gelatinous beast suddenly came into view. "That is one ugly…" Miroku began, then stopped as one of Naraku's enormous tentacles shot past them, reducing several houses on the outskirts of the village to splinters.
"Son of a bitch!" Inuyasha yelled, finishing Miroku's sentence for him.
"The village!" Kagome cried.
Sango hefted her enormous weapon off her back. "Hiraikotsu!" she cried, heaving it at the tentacle. It sliced easily through, and the huge appendage fell heavily to the ground.
"I think he's more interested in us than the village," Kagome said as Naraku came forward towards the group. "And he's a little fast!"
"Run!" Miroku yelled and Inuyasha made a quick turn, sprinting ahead of the group with Kagome.
"Sort of a bad time to be pregnant, I guess," Kagome said dryly.
"This is no time to joke!" Inuyasha growled, glaring down at her.
"I know, but … how are we going to defeat that thing? It's ugly!"
"Yeah, he's sure gotten uglier," Inuyasha said. "But you know what they say, the uglier they are, the more fun it is to defeat them!"
"This isn't going to be easy, Inuyasha," Miroku warned, catching up as they slowed.
Inuyasha snorted. "Into the forest! We have to keep him away from the village!"
The trees whizzed past as Inuyasha ran, trying to create as much distance between them and the village as he could. They finally reached the clearing where the bone-eater's well was, and Inuyasha set Kagome down quickly before turning to face the direction that Naraku was approaching from. "Kagome, I need you to listen very carefully," he said, quivering with anticipation as he gripped the hilt of his sword. "If things get ugly – if your life or safety is in any form of danger – I want you to go through that well and stay there until I come for you."
"What! Inuyasha, no! I couldn't– "
He turned to face her, and his visage was full of pain. "Kagome, I mean it! I can't lose you! If I … don't make it, at least you'll still have our pup; a piece of me will live on. But if he gets you … I'll have nothing. You understand? I need you to promise me!"
Tears clouded her eyes, but she nodded. "I will. I promise."
Kirara landed heavily beside them on the grass. "He's here," Miroku said.
Naraku was a sight to behold. His previously attractive form had completely disappeared, leaving only a horrifying monster. Kagome was overcome by the jyaki emanating from his body, and he had spawned so many tentacles that for a moment she considered just going back to her own time. Surely they would never defeat such a strong foe!
Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga and stepped protectively in front of her. "Naraku …"
"Baka hanyou," the beast laughed in its deep, sinister voice. "You think that little fang will be enough to defeat me?"
"You baka hanyou!" Inuyasha growled, rage flashing in his amber eyes. "I am so fucking fed up with you!"
"The jewel did this to him," Kagome breathed. "He has it within him somewhere."
The beast's eyes narrowed. "The miko's power is intact? How can this be?" He shot a tentacle at the couple, but Sango's Hiraikotsu cut it off just before it reached them. Instead it flew past, crashing into the well.
"Fuck!" Inuyasha cried.
"Indeed," the beast growled. "How is it that tainted miko such as this one still retains her powers?" Another tentacle shot out, whipping towards Kagome.
An arrow, glowing with miko energy, shot suddenly out of the woods. It struck Naraku's tentacle, slicing it in half and shattering it moments before it reached her.
"What?" she cried, looking quickly around the clearing for the source of her unexpected salvation.
"KIKYOU!" Naraku boomed, malice in his evil voice. Kagome spun around, and saw Kikyou rushing toward them, with Sesshoumaru close behind.
"Kikyou! Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Are you all right, otouto?" Sesshoumaru asked, glancing at Naraku.
"Are you?" Inuyasha retorted.
"Hmph," he replied. "You need not worry over this Sesshoumaru."
Kikyou nocked another arrow into her bow. "It's time to end this, Naraku!"
A huge tentacle whipped suddenly through the clearing, throwing Inuyasha backwards with such force that the tattered well couldn't stop his flight.
Kagome felt as if she could have died. "Inuyasha!"
He let out a cry of pain as his motion was stopped by a tree. He groaned and pried himself up, Tetsusaiga still locked in his fist. Sesshoumaru was at his side in a moment.
"Are you all right?" he asked, helping his brother up.
"Are you?" Inuyasha countered, shaking the dirt and stones from his face. "Sounds to me like you got yourself beat up pretty nicely. At least that's what Rin said."
"I have recovered sufficiently. That Kikyou found me in the woods and tended to my wounds, " Sesshoumaru explained, nodding in the direction of the fight. Kagome sat on the ground, shaking, but between her and her foe was another figure in red and white, aiming an arrow confidently at their adversary.
"Why would Kikyou protect her?" Inuyasha asked. "They've always been rivals. Even more so now, I would have thought…"
"The miko knows the value of an unborn pup," Sesshoumaru said seriously, striding back towards the fight, Taikokajin drawn and ready. "This, and the girl's status as your mate is a sure sign of where your affections truly lie."
Inuyasha said nothing to his brother, but jumped suddenly at Naraku. "Kaze no– !"
"Omae wo korosu!" the beast yelled, swatting the descending hanyou away before he could finish the attack.
Inuyasha landed hard on the dirt and lay still. "Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed. "No! INUYASHA!"
A deep scream cut through the clearing, and four heads turned in time to see Naraku take a direct hit from one of Kikyou's arrows. He roared in pain and moved to attack again.
Inuyasha blinked confusedly, rolling over. "What? Why didn't it work?"
"The jewel!" Kagome called to him. "We'll have to coordinate our attack, otherwise we won't hurt him."
"Well, what the hell are we gonna do?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Kagome," Kikyou hissed. "Take my bow and quiver."
"What?" she whispered. "But how … he'll attack you!"
"He won't," she said solemnly. "Onigumo's heart still beats within him – he cannot hurt me."
A tentacle smashed to the ground. Inuyasha dodged just in time, and the force of the impact sent him flying. He managed to regain his equilibrium in the air, and landed roughly near the two miko. "That's it, you bastard!" he cried. "BAKURYUUHAA!"
The attack exploded out of Tetsusaiga, and Kagome released a glowing arrow just in time to be carried along with it. The wave sent Naraku reeling, and the arrow hit in an explosion of light so bright that they all had to look away.
The heat faded, and Kagome slowly looked around. There was absolutely no sign of Naraku, save for the bright pink glow where he had been. "Inuyasha, look."
He looked. "Wow."
Slowly, carefully, she walked to the jewel and picked it up. The moment her fingers touched it, she felt the entire clearing become cleaner, as the great evil was finally purged from it.
Inuyasha gently touched her shoulder. "Should we see if this is all?"
She nodded and pulled it out from under her shirt as everyone else crowded around. Miroku and Sango were holding each other tightly, and Sango looked as if she was about to cry. Kagome looked at her. "If this is the whole jewel, then that means that Kohaku …" She trailed off, afraid to say it.
Sango just nodded solemnly, and Inuyasha looked at Miroku. "How's your hand, monk?"
Miroku flexed his fingers nervously. "I'm afraid to find out."
Kagome looked up at her hanyou, and he nodded solemnly. Slowly she brought the two pieces together. It glowed brightly, and when it subsided, a perfect pink sphere was between her fingers.
Inuyasha let out a harsh breath, and Sango stifled a sob as Miroku held her to his chest. Sesshoumaru and Kikyou made no sound, but both turned away and walked silently in separate directions.
"M – matte!" Inuyasha called, unsure of which one to follow. Kagome gripped his arm tightly.
Sesshoumaru stopped. "We have done what we set out to do," he said. "I will return to my home with Rin and Jaken. And as for Kikyou … well, she will do as she sees fit." By this time the miko in question had already disappeared, and Sesshoumaru leapt in the direction of the village, quickly going out of sight.
"Inuyasha."
He turned, and saw Kagome looking at him. "Kagome?"
She took his hand. "Let's go home."
-----#&#-----
Wow. That was long. R&R please!
P.S. If you've seen Howl's Moving Castle, check out my new fic Starlight that has been occupying my mind for the past two or three weeks! It was the first in the category. Chapter four is in the works.