Hey again! I just posted an hour ago, but I'm writing again. I'm at my friend's house and my sister's playing N64 and my friend's watching and I'm over here on the sofa typing away… and I think I know what's going to happen, and maybe this will even be the last chapter, or the next to last chapter, because the entire point is for them to defeat Naraku, and they've almost found him by now… so let's just see what happens, 'kay?
Yeah, I kind of forgot to put up a disclaimer in the last chapter. I'm not good at remembering to do that. So, for this chapter and for the last one, I don't own Inu or any of those characters. I do own Takinoshi and Raori, though, and that miko they met that I never thought to give a name to. Yeah. So keep away from them! They're mine! All mine! GRR!
Raori and Kouga kept both eyes open as they passed through the range. Naraku's scent was becoming more and more evident, and soon it was so strong that they knew they were in the right place. Now it was only a matter of finding Naraku before he found them.
They walked silently, using their ears, their noses, and their eyes to search for the half-demon. They were growing closer – they could smell his scent getting stronger. They trekked onwards, keeping a lookout, knowing they were very, very close to what could be the biggest fight of their lives.
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Takinoshi paused and sniffed the air. They were deep inside the mountain range, and he could smell that they were getting closer not only to Raori and Kouga, but to Naraku. All three scents were strong, and he judged by his nose that they were no more than an hour's walk behind their friends.
He glanced back at the others, who had stopped for a moment. Kagura and Sesshomaru were still fine, as it took almost no effort for them to travel at high speeds, but Kirara and Inuyasha were starting to tire.
"We will go a little slower from here on in," Takinoshi informed them. He turned back to the path and led them on foot, looking out for danger. He wasn't at all tired – like Sesshomaru, leaping through the sky took no effort on his part, and he prided himself on his endurance.
They moved onward, hoping beyond hope that they weren't too late. The only comfort was that none of them could smell any blood yet. That meant the battle probably hadn't started, and they still had a chance to catch up before it began.
Inuyasha shared a glance with Kagome. He could tell she was nervous, and worrying about Kouga and Raori wasn't making things any better. He gave her a slight smile and she returned it, feeling a little better.
Despite the fact that he could be a total loser and insensitive at times, Inuyasha always seemed to make her feel better when the situation looked otherwise hopeless. Even now, trekking after their friends towards a fight that could get them all killed, he had the ability to cheer her up with one small smile.
Sango looked at the two and felt a sigh escape her. She envied that connection between them, that they could share a smile and understand one another, that they had that love to depend on.
Kohaku heard her sigh and glanced up at her. Sango looked down at him and gave him a reassuring smile, putting an arm around his shoulders. She remembered the innocent little boy he had once been, before Naraku was dragged into their lives, and how nervous he had been when he set out on his first hunt. He'd grown so much since then, been through so much. She'd thought she'd never get to see that innocent little boy again, and it had nearly broken her heart; but then Sesshomaru brought him back, something she was still eternally grateful for.
I won't let Naraku take you away from me again, Kohaku, she thought with a fierce determination in her eyes.
Kohaku smiled back at her, gripping his sickle tightly in his hand. I don't know if I can do it, he thought sadly. Face Naraku, after all I know he's done to me and to Sango… but I have to try. For her.
Miroku watched the two siblings exchange silent glances and smiled to himself. Ever since they had been reunited, Sango had been much happier. He was grateful to Sesshomaru for giving that happiness to her, and wouldn't have had it any other way. Deep down inside him, he knew that he loved Sango. He only wished he had the courage to tell her. If we do defeat Naraku, he promised himself, I will. I'll tell her. He couldn't do it until Naraku was gone – if they didn't defeat him in time, and Miroku was sucked into the Wind Tunnel, he didn't want to make it any harder on Sango than it already had to be. It would only be more painful for her if he told her and then was taken away from her so unfairly.
Sesshomaru was trying his hardest to pay attention to the world around him; he knew that if he let his guard down while in such dangerous territory, Naraku could attack and he wouldn't realize until it was too late.
But he couldn't concentrate on anything other than Raori.
She was out there, possibly already in a fight for her life, and he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't deny it – ever since he'd learned where she was going, there wasn't a period in time for more than ten minutes in which his thoughts didn't turn back to her. He was worried – or, at least, that was what he assumed the feeling was that was gnawing painfully at his gut.
He didn't know what had happened to him, and he wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. Raori had changed him. He didn't know how she did it, or why, but he was affected by her. The feeling reminded him of his fondness for Rin, but… it was different. It was deeper, in a way. It was more than just wanting to protect her, although that came to mind, as well – it was wanting her to be content, wanting what was best for her, even if that meant that it was someone else standing by her side.
Takinoshi looked over them all, noting the looks they shared and guessing the connections between them. The two exterminators were siblings, that much was obvious, and he could tell by the look on the monk's face that he was in love with the elder of the two. From the looks the half-demon shared with the miko, it was obvious they were in love. Sesshomaru was, as always, stoic and difficult to read, but Takinoshi could tell just by looking at him that his thoughts were in turmoil.
Raori, the dark taiyoukai realized. He is in love with Raori. That is the reason for his distraction.
Kagura had noticed it, too, and was smirking to herself. For the famous cold-hearted Lord of the West to have fallen in love… that would be news, indeed. Just his luck, she thought with an inward sigh. The one time the heartless Sesshomaru falls in love, it's with a demon heading for her death. What'll happen if we arrive too late for Raori? He'll lock his heart up in a fresh ice cube and go back to being the Sesshomaru we all know and hate. We can't have that, now can we?
She glanced over at him, and despite the look of uncaring iciness on his face, his fists were clenched as he walked as a sign of his anxiety. Don't worry, Sesshomaru, she thought, speeding up slightly. We'll make it in time. Naraku won't get his hands on her.
Takinoshi glanced at her, and then meaningfully back at Sesshomaru, who was so engrossed in his thoughts he hadn't noticed. At once, she realized Takinoshi had also seen through the demon lord's façade. Kagura smirked slightly and sped up a little more. Takinoshi matched her speed, causing the others to speed up, as well. They had no time to waste.
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Raori and Kouga exchanged a glance as they emerged from the forests into a wide clearing in which Naraku's scent was the strongest it had been. "He's here," Kouga murmured quietly.
They tensed as the clearing darkened slightly – not because the sun had dimmed, but because the intense evil and hate inside their enemy was coming closer and snuffing out the light around them. They couldn't see him yet, but both knew that he was there, and they stood back to back, eyes open, waiting and watching for Naraku to make the first move.
It came suddenly, and even with the help of the two shards in his legs, Kouga barely got out of the way in time to avoid the attack. Miasma-covered tentacles arched up out of the ground where he'd just been standing, and his eyes widened as the ground melted away under the intense power of the poison.
Raori had leaped away the second she felt the ground shake, and stood next to Kouga, watching grimly as the tentacles snuck back into the ground again.
Just as quickly as they had disappeared, they appeared again, slashing out at the two demons as they darted out of the way and to another part of the clearing again. The tentacles retraced once more, and the clearing was again bathed in silence.
Three is the magic number, or so the saying goes; and Naraku's third attack was the worst they had seen. The tentacles slashed at them from the ground, and once again they darted away, but more arms arched up from the ground all around them. Raori grabbed Kouga's arm and yanked him out of the way of another slash and landed on the ground out of the tentacles' range.
Naraku himself appeared then, smirking at them. "Kukuku," he hissed. "You really think you can defeat me?"
Raori and Kouga glanced at one another and let the faintest of smiles pass between them. They knew they might not succeed, but nothing could stop them from trying.
They leaped forward in unison, avoiding Naraku's attacks, and began to slash down the tentacles, moving away before the miasma could affect them. It was difficult for Kouga, as his favorite way to attack involved contact with his enemy, and he couldn't very well punch or kick a tentacle covered in deadly poison, but the sword he had at his waist came in handy. (A/N: Have you ever noticed that? Kouga's got a sword, but never once have I actually seen him use it. Sorry, just a thought… back to the story!)
Raori used her claws to slash the arms to the ground with whips of flame. Naraku lashed out powerfully and they were forced to retreat, slightly winded. The evil hanyou wasn't even breathing hard – this would be harder than she'd expected, Raori thought with a sinking feeling.
Naraku laughed evilly. "Kukuku," he snickered at them. "This day will be the last you see, fools."
They tensed as a giant wave of tentacles arched towards them. They crouched slightly, ready to leap over the attack, when a very familiar voice rang out.
"Wind Scar!"
Raori smiled slightly in relief, watching as the wave was sent crumbling to the ground under the power of Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha landed next to them, smirking at Naraku, who had a look of surprise on his face almost as priceless as the one on Kouga's.
"What took you so long, mutt-face?" Kouga smirked when he'd gotten over his surprise.
"Just waitin' for a chance to make my grand entrance," Inuyasha replied, sneering at Naraku.
Before Naraku could retort, the others strode up – Kagome, Kirara, Shippo, Kohaku, Sango, Miroku, and Sesshomaru. Naraku glared at them, overcoming his surprise at their sudden appearance and acknowledging the fact that he'd have to fight the entire group of bakas, as always.
"You're a fool, Sesshomaru," he hissed at the taiyoukai as Sesshomaru moved to stand beside Inuyasha. "All you will achieve is your own death alongside your worthless half-brother."
Sesshomaru didn't back down an inch. "If it is in a fight with you, then so be it," he shot back.
Inuyasha glanced at him in surprise. Usually Sesshomaru would take advantage of any opportunity to throw a few insults at Inuyasha for being such an insignificant half-breed, but this time the taiyoukai didn't insult his brother and instead stood proudly alongside him.
Raori glanced at Sesshomaru and gave him a slight smile. He returned it, to her surprise, and the two turned to face Naraku again, feeling much more confident now that they had one another.
Naraku snarled at them and sent another wave of tentacles, determined to bring them down once and for all.
He didn't anticipate the attack that struck him powerfully from behind, and stumbled slightly, withdrawing the tentacles to turn and stare at his attacker.
Kagura smirked slightly, landing on the ground and putting away her feather, holding her fan in one hand.
"Traitor!" Naraku yelled at her.
"Bastard!" she shouted back at him defiantly.
Naraku gritted his teeth and started to call her heart up in his hand, determined to destroy her then and there, but another attack from the side forced him to stop and lift his defenses to protect himself. His eyes met the angry, cold ones of Takinoshi.
"How many of you are there?" Naraku growled, backing away and slashing at the dark youkai, who dodged out of the way and landed on Raori's other side. She glanced at him thankfully and he nodded to her in response. The two turned back to Naraku as Kagura joined their side, bringing the numbers to eleven against one.
Naraku looked them over, and they saw with satisfaction the dimmest light of fear in his gaze. He hadn't seen this coming, they realized – for them to overcome the feuds they had amongst one another and join up against him like this. They could tell by his expression that he didn't like what he saw, and that he feared what they could do to him when they gathered together as one.
The evil hanyou gritted his teeth as he sized them all up. This was a much larger and stronger assembly than he had anticipated. Inuyasha had gone and made some friends. He wouldn't have expected to see Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Kouga all side by side as allies. That had come as a bit of a surprise. And the taiyoukai he'd stolen a shard from, Takinoshi, had shown his face outside the mountains. That was something he hadn't counted on. It was unfortunate, as he seemed to remember hearing from some source or another that Takinoshi was powerful, when he was motivated. And this new demon – Raori, was that her name? He hadn't heard of her, but she looked to be strong, and she was certainly determined to be rid of him.
It mattered not; they would all be destroyed soon anyway.
Angrily, he sent a powerful wave at them, cursing darkly under his breath.
They split up, spreading throughout the clearing to surround him. Naraku turned to follow the demons with his eyes, ignoring the humans – other than destroying his tentacles, he knew they couldn't hurt him, and with the wasp insects now buzzing about in the air, the monk couldn't use the Wind Tunnel. His attention was on Raori, Kouga, Takinoshi, Kagura, and Sesshomaru, as well as Inuyasha, who was trying to find an opening with which to use his Cutting Wind.
The minutes wore on and became an hour, and still they had not broken through the hundreds of tentacles to Naraku himself. Shippo and Kirara were protecting Kagome as she sent off arrow after arrow towards Naraku, but she only ever managed to destroy more tentacles as they rose to block her path.
Finally, realizing she could never strike Naraku himself, she set to work clearing a path through the waves. Her arrows disintegrated tentacles in a straight line towards Naraku. Once they realized what she was up to, both Kagura and Sesshomaru moved to help, using a combination of their powers – poisonous wind-blades – to strike down the miasma and help clear a path.
Meanwhile, Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku were using what knowledge they held from the times they had trained together in the night. They swept through the seemingly neverending forests of tentacles, destroying as they went, turning and striking out with their backs to each other, moving in unison and watching out for one another.
Takinoshi fought alongside Raori. Both had realized that it was nearly impossible to reach Naraku, what with the thickness of the tentacles, and moved throughout the battlefield, using their strength not in attack, but defense. Whenever one of their allies was in danger, they moved to protect them. At one point, when Inuyasha paused to take a moment of rest, Naraku attacked him, and his eyes widened slightly as the tentacles turned and shot at him swiftly, but before he could even raise Tetsusaiga, Raori had flashed across his vision and left them in tatters. She paused a moment and met his gaze with an encouraging smile before moving on to strike down an attack that was threatening Kagome.
Takinoshi paused at the edge of the battle, and Raori moved to stand beside him. "We'll never get anywhere if things keep going as they are," she said under her breath to him.
Takinoshi nodded, turning his eyes on Kagome. "The miko has the right idea," he noted, "in clearing a path to Naraku. We must do so, and give her a chance to get a shot in. Her purification abilities are quite possibly the only thing that can subdue him."
Raori nodded. "You're right. I will go speak to Kouga and Inuyasha to tell them to distract Naraku. Help cut down a path to Naraku."
Takinoshi nodded. "Tell the monk and the two taiji-ya. We need someone to protect the miko," he said, and blurred out of sight, moving to fight alongside Sesshomaru and Kagura in striking down the tentacles towards Naraku. Raori observed the fight for a moment before darting down toward Kouga and Inuyasha.
"We are attempting to clear a path to allow the miko a shot at Naraku," she said quietly to them as the paused to listen and catch their breath. "Attack Naraku and draw his attention with all your strength."
They nodded, moving around to Naraku's other side and working together, Koura clearing an area and giving Inuyasha room to use the Cutting Wind and make Naraku turn and face them.
Raori turned and approached Miroku, who slashed down a tentacle with his staff and turned to face her. "We must give the miko a clear shot," she said under her breath as Sango and Kohaku turned to listen. "Inuyasha and Kouga are working to distract Naraku. Two of you, go and help him, and one of you go and protect the miko."
They split up. Miroku moved to stand before Kagome, who gave him a grateful smile and notched her very last arrow onto her bow to wait for a shot.
Kouga, Inuyasha, Sango, and Kohaku successfully gained Naraku's attention, and he turned towards them. Raori moved and helped the other three demons cut down a path, moving silently and swiftly, attempting to fight without attracting Naraku's attention once more. They slowly managed to clear a sort of path, until they could just glimpse Naraku's pelt through the thinned web of tentacles.
Kagome took a deep breath, drawing the arrow on her bow and aiming, feeling her heart pounding painfully in her chest. This was it – this was her chance. This was the blow that would determine whether they could defeat the evil that had tainted their lives. This was their chance to finally defeat Naraku.
The hanyou tensed, seeming to realize his life was in danger, and turned slightly towards her. Growling, the angered Inuyasha made one last attempt to turn Naraku away from her again, using the Cutting Wind and giving it his all. Naraku turned back to him, striking him to the ground with yet another wave of tentacles, and then quickly turned back to Kagome to see her cock her arrow towards him and ready herself to let the shot loose.
"Not so fast," he hissed, and sent a massive attack straight at Inuyasha, who was on the ground and unable to defend himself.
Kagome gasped, immediately knowing there was nothing she could do – her shot might hit Naraku, but it wouldn't stop him from destroying Inuyasha. Quickly, she turned her shot away from Naraku and shot it towards Inuyasha, purifying the tentacles and saving his life.
Naraku snickered. "Foolish miko," he laughed at her. "You could have destroyed me, but no – you chose to save the worthless Inuyasha."
"I love him," she choked out, tears rising to her eyes.
"Love," Naraku snorted in disgust. "Your love will be the death of you all, miko."
Kagome gritted her teeth and glared at him, feeling a tear streak down her cheek. My last arrow, she thought sadly. I could've killed Naraku… I could've destroyed him for good… but I wouldn't. I couldn't let Inuyasha die. No matter what he says, I couldn't do it. We'll find a way to do it, but… I love Inuyasha. We'll do it together.
Naraku shook his head at her, sneering. "Even at the end, you have thrown away all your hopes and futures all for love. You are more foolish than I thought."
Kagome felt herself start to shake. "No," she said suddenly, glaring at Naraku.
The evil hanyou raised an eyebrow, but didn't speak.
"No," she repeated, her voice strengthening as she stood proud and tall, facing him down. "I am not a fool. I am fighting for the ones I love. They are worth more to me than anything. Even if it means letting you live a little longer, I won't abandon them. We'll fight you, and we'll destroy you, Naraku. But we'll do it together."
Naraku laughed, and the sound of his voice rang through the clearing. "Kukukuku… and how do you propose to do that, miko? Your last hope is gone. You have nothing."
"They have me."
They all turned around, eyes flashing towards the edge of the forest. Standing there, as proud and tall as Kagome had been a moment ago, was Kikyo. Her eyes shone with the light of determination and strength as she stepped from the woods and approached Kagome, never removing her glare from Naraku.
"Your evil has tainted this world long enough, Naraku," she said quietly, her voice cold.
"And what can you do about it?" he shot back, narrowing his eyes at her.
Kikyo reached into her sleeve and drew out a single arrow. Kagome's eyes widened as the dead priestess offered it to her. "Take it," Kikyo said quietly. "It contains the last of my power. With our combined force, you can subdue him. Use it well."
"Kikyo…" Kagome said softly, taking the arrow. "Thank you."
Kikyo smiled at her, and in her eyes was something Kagome had not seen before – kindness. "Destroy him," she ordered, "and rid the world of the wickedness that is Naraku." She hesitated for a moment before raising her hands. A strange glowing light emanated from the space between them.
Kagome drew back slightly. It looks like she's holding… a soul, she realized.
Kikyo held her hands out to Kagome. "Take it. It is the part of your soul that has resided within me. It is time for me to return where I belong. Take what is rightfully yours."
Kagome closed her eyes and the light shifted to her body, sinking inside her with a slight flash.
Kikyo's image began to fade, and she glanced over at Inuyasha, who looked torn between the two – he loved Kagome, that he knew, but he had made a promise.
"No, Inuyasha," Kikyo said softly, and with those two words, he understood her. Kikyo had admitted to his love for Kagome, and was asking him to remain with the girl and stay where he would be happiest. She knew that this was what he wanted. Inuyasha gave her a kind look and she turned back to Kagome, her business in the world of the living finished.
"It is time," she said softly, and was gone.
Naraku, who had watched the entire exchange in a sort of shocked silence, immediately turned on Kagome and lifted up all his remaining tentacles, angling them towards her. Miroku's eyes widened – there wasn't a chance in the world he could save her from all that.
At once, Sesshomaru and Takinoshi were in front of her, protecting her from Naraku's malice.
Kagome sighed, and took a split second to reflect on what had happened, on all they had gone through – that she could depend on these demons, who looked down on humans with cold scorn, to protect her. That what had started out as a normal life for her, going off to high school as though she was the most normal girl in the world, had become a life in a feudal era fighting demons and retrieving shards of a jewel of power. What had happened? How had it all come to pass? How had she gained such wonderful friends?
I'll do it for them, she thought with a confident smile. For all of them, I will defeat Naraku. Nothing can stop me. I won't let him ruin any more innocent lives!
Naraku's eyes widened as the arrow loosed itself from her bow, but not even a solid concrete wall could have blunted the force of that shaft. It was fueled with the desperation, with the hope and love and purity, of Kagome's very soul. He drew back slightly, his eyes filled with a terrible light, and opened his mouth to scream.
The arrow struck true, and Kagome's eyes lit up with joy as a brilliant light flooded the clearing. Naraku fell, first to his knees, and then to the grass, sprawled on the ground as he struggled to remain alive against the power of purification in Kagome's arrow.
"No," they heard him gasp out, and Kagome watched him struggle to his knees once more. "No."
Her heart sank as he lurched upright, eyes dull and empty, but still alive. "No," he repeated, staring into her own wide, shocked eyes. "Do you… not yet… understand? You cannot… you cannot destroy me… I will always… return to haunt you. I am… not just a man… I am darkness itself… I will never be truly defeated."
They watched with a horror in their gazes as he managed to stand on both feet again. His body was destroyed and he was shaking horribly – the arrow had pierced his heart perfectly, and by rights he shouldn't have still been alive, but he didn't fall again, didn't go down, didn't disappear from the face of the earth as they had all imagined. He was still there, still somehow existent, and it seemed as though no matter how hard they fought, he was right – he would find some way to return.
In the intense silence that rang through the clearing at that moment, two sounds echoed.
One was the horrible kukuku of Naraku's slow laughter, painfully loud in their ears.
The other was a softer, gentler sound, barely heard but so much more significant.
Tenseiga was pulsing.