Author's Note: First of all, I'm happy to say that I finally updated quite a lengthly chapter for all of you! I think I can honestly say that end of the story will come soon, maybe like, at least two more chapters, maybe three and that's it. But the last chapter is going to be a surprise for all of you! I'm going to make it so good you guys won't believe it! In fact, I had gotten this idea from a reviewer here and I will thank him/her onceI look for their review, because I kinda forgot who it was that told me it... hehe, sorry. Anway, on a sadder note, My story that had started all of this, 'Sing to Me, The Song of The Stars' has been removed by the staff on ff dot net... Why? I sure as hell had no idea... But I... was... pissed. And still am for that matter. I worked too damn hard on that story and I don't know why they removed it. Gah, I deal with it later, just please read and review so I will be in a better mood! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Keep the Courage and Determination, Deep in Your Heart pt II
There's something you can't give up. There's something you want to protect. There's a time when you must take a stand, no matter what kind of pain awaits. In order to stop the sadness, in order to stop the hate… Inuyasha must take his stand. And so, with his newfound power to save the ones he loves most, he will stop at nothing to attain it forever more.
The moon, a shaking heart in an unsteady mirror, is invisible to Inuyasha's world, and he felt himself losing track of time once more.
The night wore on and on forever it seemed. Inuyasha stood his ground with numb feet that still felt the slight sharp pebbles pricking them. He was dead nervous.
The hanyou narrowed his deep violet eyes in wonder and fear, looking into nothingness for answers. He had slowly been realizing… was he, right at this point in time, staring death in the face? Inuyasha breathed gradually through clenched teeth and gripped the hilt of his sword, the fabric on the handle ripped and weathered. He knew Tetsusaiga wouldn't transform for him tonight… he just needed its reassurance that it was there, safe in his palm.
Violence increases everyday, regardless of all our strengths. It all will grow in people's angered hearts each passing day. It was something that is going to live on forever, no matter how wrong it seemed.
Inuyasha shook his head; he didn't want that, no one could possibly want that. Except this evil being that stood just before him and his mate.
Kagome didn't take her eyes off of Taisuke as she spoke in a soft and comforting voice to Inuyasha, "It'll be ok. We're in this together, no matter what." She reminded him. Out of all their journeys together, they stand side by side here and now, they've never felt so much of this feeling, that this is what they're suppose to do, this is what they're mean to do, is fight for good.
Taisuke looked back at them with dull interest. He still had Reina's ice powers left, as well as his own. On second thought, he did not need his sword now after all. His powers alone would be enough to help him win. The demon lord gazed at Kagome with continuingly, his dull interest now turning into wonderment. The time when he was choking her, he could have killed her then, why did he stop?
'She has unique powers like no one else.' He reminded himself. However, could they really be of use to him? Was she really as powerful as he thought she was?
Taisuke looked back at his sword that still gave off the same electrical energy from time to time. 'Possibly…'
Yes, that's right. He had to know if she was in possession of theses strange and unique powers. He had to find out before he could kill her, nevertheless, how would he know for sure?
Taisuke saw her bow and arrow that was aimed nowhere but straight in the direction of his chest. 'She is a priestess.' He remembered the purifying powers that came from the arrow when she had shot it at him when he was right in front of her before… What would he do now? Now that she is standing before him, weapon ready, with her mate fighting along side her? Taisuke began to think about this once more. He'd have to get Kagome to himself for him to make her prove her powers. But how would he do that?...
Inuyasha let go of his sword's handle steadily. 'All right, it's only us two against him.' He stole a quick glance down at his older half brother and what he could see of Rin from farther beyond Taisuke. He inwardly sighed sharply, 'There's no way they're going to be up and fighting with us soon. I only have my remaining strength to rely on at this point, and that's not enough to beat him.' Miroku and the children were at the top of the cliff, watching them, he knew. Inuyasha could practically feel their eyes on him. They would help, Inuyasha was sure of this. But did Taisuke know? Could he see them as well as he could?
Taisuke took a step forward to them, and they jumped somewhat. "Let's get this over with Inuyasha." He said as if he was supposed to be somewhere soon.
Inuyasha instantly scoffed, 'The nerve of this bastard.' "Shut up! Don't say that like you don't have all the damn time in the world to fight me! I'll finish this right now!" He shouted and Kagome fired her arrow on cue.
Miroku watched attentively at what was going on down below him and the kids. None of them spoke as of yet and so he glanced at the kids next to him carefully, "You guys ready?" He asked in a clear voice and they nodded to him. Sanae's nod was the only one of the three that appeared as if she wasn't too sure, and that was completely understandable. Miroku smiled at her, "It's ok, we're all together on this, so don't worry yourself." He noticed Taikan just now look to see that the monk was talking to Sanae. Taikan smiled with encouragement and put a hand on the girl's shoulder for comfort and she gladly smiled to him for it.
Miroku was amazed by their actions. His own children were close, but not like these two were, and at such a young age too. And sure, they fought often, very often, but now that they were fighting a world threat with their parents, it really was showing how much they care for each other as brother and sister. He was so happy for them. And another reason he couldn't stop smiling, was because he saw both Inuyasha and Kagome in both of them that it was ridiculous. How they looked, the way they acted, and how they thought. It was truly amazing to him.
Asoka saddened his eyes and looked at Taisuke whom took a step toward Kagome and Inuyasha. 'I hope we all get through this… We can win… I know we can… We have to.' He glanced at Sanae who now looked a little bit braver than a minute ago and he smiled to himself. 'When this is all over, I'll tell her…' But then he looked down and sighed depressingly, 'I wonder if I'm too young to like her like I do.'
Taikan glared at Taisuke and grit his teeth of which had fangs with dull edges any longer. He absolutely loathed the demon that stood before his parents now. He especially loathed Taisuke's servant, Reina, the one who froze his mother. The feeling
Taikan had tears in his eyes, "No! What have you done to my Mother?" He shouted at Reina…
Taikan growled and reluctantly let few tears slide down his cheek as he saw Kagome's scared face. He never ever wanted her to be scared like that again.
Just as Taikan was about to run and attempt to attack Reina, Inuyasha stopped him, "Don't come any closer Taikan! This is between her and me so don't interfere…"
He had wanted so badly to interfere. To save his mother, he would do anything.
Kagome was truly everything to him. She was his guide, his special person to go to for certain advice that Inuyasha would probably wouldn't understand. She was always concerned for him, always. That time, when he really wanted his sword, she said not until he turned thirteen. And he never realized he loved her for that, at least not as much as he did now. 'She was only worried for me.'
Taikan sighed and hoped that this problem for him and everyone else with Taisuke would be finally over soon, once and for all. Taikan looked at his mother and father meaningfully. If the gods would bring his parents back to him safely, he could deal with any problem.
As Kagome fired her arrow, she was well aware that she only had a few more left, five, maybe six… hopefully enough to survive this thing and win. She wasn't sure.
Inuyahsa gripped his sword in his hands again, he was about to wield it and perform windscar, but had just remembered that he was still human. "Damn it!" He cursed the night sky and could only watch if Kagome's arrow would take damage on Taisuke. Apart of his heart unwillingly doubted this. Last time when she shot him, she was right in front of him, and yet he lived without a scratch.
They could only wait.
The arrow flew dead on to Taisuke's heart, but he still stood with confidence. Once the purity arrow met him with arm's reach, he'd done what Inuyasha and Kagome feared most at the time… he merely caught it between his fingers, and the arrow instantly lost its pure aura.
Kagome shook her head once, "No, it can't be." She whispered and moved her hand to get another arrow.
"Wait, Kagome." Inuyasha said softly to her, and she looked back at him confused, but slowly took her hand away from her arrows. "What for Inuyasha?" What could he possibly be thinking? A guy like Inuyasha almost never thought before he acted, and that was nearly all the time.
"Hold on, just wait a moment." He replied, but did not look at her just yet.
Inuyasha clenched his fists, 'Rin has the two orbs that I gave her, and the other one is still missing somewhere near where she is right now. But then if that's so, they should be glowing, right?' He didn't want that right now. If his theory was true, then Taisuke would sense where they are faster than Inuyasha would, mainly because he's closer to the orbs than the hanyou was.
Taisuke took another step toward them, as he did so he looked at Sesshoumaru who was a few yards away from him, "You're brother was a foolish one Inuyasha… He knew how much power I possessed and yet he practically walked straight into his own demise." He murmured and turned back to look at Inuyasha and Kagome. They looked so alarmed at what he would do next. They had no idea what to be expecting.
Taisuke smirked, "Just as you both are now."
And in one blink of an eye, Taisuke appeared standing right in front of Inuyasha. The hanyou nearly had a heart attack and he actually lost his breath for a second, feeling as though he got punched in the stomach from such a surprise move.
Lord Taisuke, being twice the size Inuyasha will ever be, drove his hand around the hanyou's throat and held him off the ground, his feet dangling right away.
Kagome gasped and straight away got an arrow ready, "Let him go!" She shouted and fired her arrow at him. At the same time, her heart sank. This moment reminded her of when he held Miroku in front of her, and how angry she immediately became.
Kagome got another arrow ready, "Put him down!" She was about to fire it, but suddenly Taisuke held Miroku in front of him, as a shield.
Kagome instantly froze and slowly lowered her weapon slightly in shock; she made a sad and scared expression, "You… you monster. How dare you do that?" She whispered and looked at him now in raging disgust. "You know, that's something Naraku would do. In fact, he's done it before. You're a coward, just like he was." She spat with without a trace of fear in her voice.
Kagome felt the familiar blood boiling rage she felt before when Taisuke had done that to her. If she was faster with her arrow that time, she would have shot Miroku dead on, and there would have been nothing anyone could do. That scared her to death and thanked the gods that the situation didn't come to that.
She could hear Inuyasha choking from still being in shock and because he had no air when she shot her purity arrow toward Taisuke's chest. She had tried to get the precisely right aim the best she could without harming Inuyasha in any way, and she hoped that that's what she did.
And at the same exact time that her arrow made contact with Taisuke's chest, there was another attack to his back from someone else. With those two powers combined into one now, the last thing Kagome saw was Taisuke's worried expression and the paling look on Inuyasha's face, his dull eyes staring back at her, before a bright white light took over hers and everyone else's sight, along with it, came complete silence.
Sango couldn't go back to sleep after what she had discovered not too long ago.
Sango suddenly noticed how dark outside it was.
The stars provided some light yes, but that was all. 'No, it can't be.' Sango leaned her head out more to try and find it.
…'N-No, where is it?" …A whimper escaping her lips once, she turned away from the window at once and stormed out of her room. She quickly made her way in the living area and out of the entrance to Kaede's hut.
… "Where is it? Where is the moon?" She asked herself aloud as her heart sank.
Sango gave up and sunk to her knees. Crying many tears, she didn't hear Kaede come out and hurry over to the poor girl. "Oh dear child, what's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
… "I-Inuyasha is human Lady Kaede. His demonic powers a-are of no use and so cannot protect t-the others, I fear something happened to Miroku."
Kaede had comforted her for a long while, at the same time trying not to wake the children whom now still slept soundly, dreaming their own dreams of happiness she hoped.
How was this poor demon exterminator supposed to cope? She couldn't help it. She couldn't help but worry about the one man she would ever love in this world.
Sango sighed and blinked. Sitting up slowly, she placed a slender hand ion her forehead and groaned. She felt her back was a little sore from laying on it wrong she thought. 'Just great, this is the last thing I need.' She rolled her eyes and gradually stood up.
Being pregnant three times before, you'd think she would be used to this by now. Well, in a way she was, but the back pain wasn't anything she wanted to jump for joy. Curiosity kept sinking into her heart mind as it did often, about if the baby now would be a boy or a girl. Sango smiled lightly, it truly mattered not to her if it was a boy or a girl. As long as it was healthy, she'd be happy.
Now walking to her window once more, she noticed the skies were a dark blue. Her heart raced with happiness. 'The night… it's going to be over soon." She felt tears of happiness brim her eyes and she gladly welcomed them. 'Finally, It won't be long now until Inuyasha is his demon self again… Everyone, please be ok.'
The blinding light finally subsided, but the silence still lingered.
Kagome unshielded her eyes slowly, moving her arm away from her face. At first, she was bewildered, but then she thought for a moment and it came to her, 'Who else attacked him besides me?' She turned her head to look in the direction of where the other energy attack came from. She slowly felt her lips curve up into a genuine smile when she saw Sesshoumaru standing tall and proud with his arm still out from when he attacked Taisuke.
Kagome saw that the demon lord had attacked Taisuke with his claws that turned into golden whips. Sesshoumaru glared at the back of Taisuke, and he smirked when he saw the claw marks that Rin had given the demon. 'She must have done that when I was still unconscious.'
He stole a quick glance toward Rin and saw that she was moving her arms leisurely and trying desperately to open her eyes. 'She's gong to be all right. I'll assist her as soon as I'm able.' He took a few steps to block Taisuke's view from Rin as she was gradually getting to her feet.
Kagome cried in happiness for a split second and then she whipped her gaze back to see if Inuyasha was ok or not. She knew she had shot her arrow clear from him, so he was all right, she hoped.
The effects of the blast had finally completely faded and Kagome was so happy at what she saw. Inuyasha was ok. He was fine. But Taisuke, to everyone's luck, was not.
Lord Taisuke's clothes on his back were ripped open from Sesshouamru's attack. And he now had five huge gashes across his back that bled red blood and green poison from Sesshoumaru's claws.
Taisuke was seething with raging anger, "You'll pay for that you wretch!" He shouted to Sesshoumaru and squeezed Inuyasha's throat tighter out of madness.
Kagome gasped and took a step forward, her fear of him diminishing completely, "No! Stop it right now!" She clenched her teeth and ran on the way to him with an arrow in her deathly grip. Damn the bow to hell. Kagome was beyond angry and was going to attack this bastard with her bear hands if she had to. And that's exactly what she did.
Inuyasha saw her coming and managed to choke out his pleading words, "No! Kagome!" He coughed and tried to remove Taisuke's hand from his own, but all he could do now was watch Kagome attack Taisuke so foolishly… for him.
Taisuke was still furious about the gashes that Sesshoumaru had given him. He felt his back was burning greatly from the poison and it was taking its toll on him. Before he knew what was going on, at the last second, he heard Kagome's cried and turned his head to look at her instead of Sesshoumaru. When he did, Kagome was already right next to him and she gripped the arrow tighter, squeezing her powers into it and it glowed. And with that, she instantly stabbed him in the chest with her arrow.
Taisuke let out a fierce cry of pain and formed a red energy ball in his palm that wasn't choking Inuyasha. To the hanyou's absolute dismay, he saw Taisuke shoot the energy blast right into Kagome's middle, and she was immediately thrown backwards.
Inuyasha didn't struggle for freedom anymore. All he had strength to do was watch his mate being hurt by Taisuke's attack. He felt his hands loosen and he felt hot tears burn his eyes, begging to be released.
Kagome's body finally seized movement when her back made a painful thud against a large boulder; afterwards, her body slowly fell to the ground. And what made Inuaysha's heart sink, was that she didn't move any longer.
He finally let his tears brim his eyes and tried to look at her the best he could, "Ka-Kagome." He whimpered hopelessly. He felt his world crashing down on him. He couldn't believe he wasn't able to save her from this monster.
Inuyasha growled and turned his dark eyes to glare at Taisuke. And he couldn't believe what he saw next. Taisuke was smirking; his pleasure of Kagome's pain was surpassing his own, because his dreadful smirk still held in place right before Inuyahsa's eyes…That had done it. That had pushed him to the edge.
Before Sesshoumaru made a move, he noticed his younger brother gaining strength. 'What's this?' He wondered, and then he looked up at the dark blue sky, 'Could it be?...' He followed the dark trail till it ended at the distant hills. It was a bright blue Sesshoumaru noticed and he felt his heart soar, 'It won't be long now. Taisuke is surely going to regret what he did.'
Inuyasha's anger grew… and it never stopped. The powers from Kagome's arrow and from Sesshouamru were still taking its effect on Tasiuke and he breathed heavily in pain. Sweat appeared on his face very evidently. Is it possible that someone like him was growing weaker already?
Inuyasha's violet eyes were blazed with fury, "You… I'll kill you." He threatened in a choking whisper as he tried to loosen Taisuke's hold around his neck. He was crying. Kagome could be dead now for all he knew. And now, Inuyasha forgot all about the orbs, all about his pain, all he could think about was Kagome. And each time he thought of her, he thought of the past.
"Kagome, when I'm like this, I can't…I can't protect you, I can't save you, I can't even make you feel safe…not when I'm like this."
The hanyou growled louder and his knuckles turned white at trying to pry Taisuke's hand off of him still. Taisuke looked to be in much pain, but he still struggled to get the arrow out of his chest with his free hand while keeping his other one on Inuyasha from getting free.
Kagome sighed so sadly. Was that truly what he thought? He did not think he was any of these things that Kagome saw in him all along? Those were the things that had drawn her to him in the first place. Was that he always protected her when she needed it, he always saved her from danger, and with him she couldn't feel any safer. So, why was he thinking this way? It didn't make any sense.
Kagome stood behind Inuyasha and wrapped her arms around his middle, both of them looking into the mirror, "Inuyasha, this is what you truly see when you look at your human reflection?" He did not answer her with a nod or anything. Even if he did, she would continue anyway.
She smiled lightly, and it warmed his heart in a way he didn't know how to explain. But he was so glad for it. She continued, "Well… do you want to know what I see?"
Dazzling rays of the sun just about shown over the hills and Inuyasha's growing claws pierced through Taisuke's large hand. Blood trickled down his hand and both Inuaysha's. Throughout all this, he had only Kagome on his mind, 'I remember that time Kagome. I remember it all so clearly, I have not forgotten what you had told me so long ago.'
Kagome continued on with a soothing voice, "I see a warrior. A warrior who fears nothing and cares for the ones he loves most."
Inuyahsa's eyes turned a stunning gold and his hair turned back to shining silver.
"He's strong, courageous, and so determined… He loved his mother so much. And both times of happiness and hardship, she took care of him…" She let tears fall, but her voice did not falter.
It was so long ago. But the feeling of it lived in Inuyasha's heart so freshly, as though it had happened just a moment ago. The hanyou continued piercing Taisuke's hand, and his claws sunk deeper into his skin.
"This appearance of yours, Inuyasha. It is a gift from your mother… a reminder of her, a reminder of how she lived… and of how she had to take care of you when no one else accepted it…She held you Inuyasha, just like I am to you now… As a human… The one thing you despised so much in the past, but have little by little, come to comfort your heart."
Kagome still did not move, and it pained Inuyasha more and more. Taisuke finally pulled the purity arrow from his chest, making a sickening sound of flesh being stabbed. He growled and threw the arrow on the ground. He then turned to Inuyasha and placed his now free hand over the hanyou's face.
The look of realization slowly made itself known in Inuyahsa's eyes. He put his hands over hers that were hugging him around his middle. Kagome whimpered and she cried more, "Inuyasha…" She shook her head against his shoulder, "You're so strong… The strongest person I've ever known."
He turned around to her immediately. All of this was coming to him slowly and he remembered those times when he had saved her from death a lot in the past… He looked down at her, and saw only one truth in her eyes, that he never thought he would ever see.
Inuyasha growled and finally roared as he was transforming entirely. He put his hand on top of Taisuke's that was on his face, and he ripped it away from him. "You'll regret you ever touched Kagome." Inuyasha seethed.
"K-Kagome… do you... love me?" His heart beat so loud he thought the whole world was able to hear it clearly. He never knew he was capable of asking such a question like that so openly and honestly. But he had to know… it was what he saw in her eyes, and he just had to know if it was really meant for him.
Kagome gasped and then shut her eyes tight. She nodded vigorously and cried into his chest, partly out of embarrassment. Inuyahsa's eyes widened as he tightened his gentle hold around her shoulders. He smiled and was slowly recovering from the shock of her confession. He gently put both hands on her shoulders and gently placed his lips against her ear, whispering, "I love you too."
Inuyasha roared so loudly now that it echoed all the way through the entire mountain range, and possibly even farther than that. He breathed very heavily as his is eyes transformed red and blue, his claws and fangs grew longer and sharper, and his senses dulled to that of nothing but to kill anything in his path.
Taisuke widened his eyes, "What are you becoming?" He shouted and tried to free himself of Inuyasha's grip on his arms.
Inuyasha did not respond, he only growled the entire time. He roared again and then slashed Taisuke across the chest over and over.
Immediately, Sesshoumaru ran to Inuyasha and punched him in the face, away from Taisuke. At the same time, Taisuke staggered backwards a few feet and held his hands on his wounds, providing pressure to stop the bleeding. The demon was furious, but couldn't attack now. He had to wait a few minutes before getting some strength back. So, he fell to one knee and breathed profoundly. 'This isn't over,' He reminded himself.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and walked over to Inuyasha who was getting up. Inuyasha stood up steadily and shook his head. Looking at his brother, he growled and flexed his claws. He was about to slash Sesshoumaru, but the demon lord stopped him.
Sesshoumaru closed his hand around Inuyasha's fist and punched him again. Inuyasha spat out blood from the impact and now was breathing raspily. Sesshoumaru grabbed the collar of his haori and shook him, "Don't be a fool Inuyasha. Do you really wish for Kagome to see you like this?... Do you really wish for your children to see you like this?"
It was true; none of Inuyahsa's children had witnessed him as a full demon before. He and Kagome had kept it from them, but now they failed to keep it a scret any longer.
It was that one last question that took any kind of effect on Inuyasha. And for the first time in his life, that he had ever seen Inuyasha transform into full demon like this, Sesshoumaru saw only one thing in his younger brother's demonic eyes…sorrow.