AN: Blink blink Holy crap. Overnight my inbox exploded...the number of reviews on this story doubled! I was so shocked! I was even more shocked when I went into my stats and saw the rest of the info. WAI! I'm so happy! So, a very special thanks to: AnimePunk13, Blackfoxdemon, blood of the shadows, DarkMage6 (As usual .-), SlummyRedDragon, Wind of the Shadows, dragon's kitty, joyfulsoul, Kamira, Katty-kat, miko of fire and ice, and nathan j. Thanks to death! Much obliged to provide you all with yet another chapter.
The Prophecy
By: Demonsaya
5
Inuyasha stared in shock as blood splattered across his face.
The sword hadn't even touched him, due to the demon that had, for lack of a better word, gotten in the way.
Naraku snorted, ripping the sword from Kouga's shoulder.
Kouga staggered back, clutching his wounded shoulder as blood dripped down it. He watched Naraku as the demon tossed away the sword and then glanced at Inuyasha. "Get your act together, dog turd!" He snapped. "Attack the piece of shit!" He dug his feet into the ground and lunged at Naraku, claws at the ready.
Inuyasha brought Tetsusaiga down as hard as he could, but Naraku had put his shield up again, which deflected the blow. "SHIT!" He shouted, then he caught Sesshoumaru's eye. "Oi, Sesshoumaru...remember Sounga..."
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened imperceptibly and darted to Tenseiga. He scooped up Toukijin and put it at his side, reaching for his father's other sword instead.
Inuyasha grinned, realizing his brother had taken the hint. He concentrated for a moment and his sword turned red and he lifted it. "Kouga, if you don't want to be pulped, get the hell out of the way!" He didn't have long to try this idea. "BAKURYUHA!" He shouted. Rather than the normal gold color it would turn it turned bright red.
Sesshoumaru quickly drew his sword as well, sending his own attack towards the demon.
'This is it...' Inuyasha did a full turn and swung the sword again. "KONGOUSHOHA!" He cried, praying, hoping the attack would work.
Naraku reenforced his barier just in time for the first part of the attack to prevent hurting him. Unfortunately, the attack from the red Tetsusaiga had destroyed his barrier, leaving him wide open for Sesshoumaru's attack as well as Inuyasha's final one. He caught both full in his chest.
'So this is what death really feels like...' He thought, as his body began to dissolve.
Inuyasha sniffed the air. Was it possible? Dare he hope that the attack had worked?
Kouga coughed, putting a hand to his rapidly healing shoulder. "Did it hit?"
Sesshoumaru merely turned his back and began to leave the room.
The smoke cleared and Inuyasha stared at the jewel on the floor. He bent down, picking it up and he slowly replaced the last two shards.
Kouga looked at Inuyasha. "So, what are you gonna do now. How are you going to save her?"
Inuyasha looked down at the jewel, then at his rival. "I'm going to go to hell." He said evenly. He paused. "Why the hell did you protect me?" He asked evenly.
"Because, Kagome would cry if you died." He said, simply, walking towards the door.
Inuyasha stood there, looking down at the jewel in his hand for a long moment. Was he really willing to make the sacrifice for her?
The answer came startlingly easy. "Yeah." He said softly. His face twitched and he turned on his heal, walking out of the room.
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Inutaisho tilted his head to the side, pondering slightly. "I seem to have lost him." He said, a small smile playing on his face.
"Lost who?" Kagome glanced towards the person who was keeping her company.
"Inuyasha. His spirit has vanished." He gave the girl a meaningful look. "In the vicinity of the bone-gobbling well."
Kagome's eyes widened in shock. Slowly, tears filled her eyes. It would be a lonely five hundred years while she waited for her favorite hanyou to save her. She looked down at the hellmouth and sighed, tilting her face upwards. A sad smile touched her face and she turned towards Inutaisho. "You'll keep me company till he comes for me, right?"
"Of course." He agreed, smiling faintly.
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Sango and Miroku sat quietly on the field, waiting for Inuyasha to return from his personal mission. Neither of them had followed after him, knowing this was something he had to work out without them. The small fox was curled up on Sango's lap, and Kirara sat on Miroku's.
"Do you think he's okay?" Sango asked idly stroking the kit's hair.
Miroku looked down at his palm. "It's too soon to tell. I don't want to risk taking this thing off if Naraku might not be dead."
"Ne, Miroku-sama...I never realized it before, but Inuyasha must really love Kagome-chan alot. I always thought that he couldn't love her because he always insulted her and argued with her, but maybe he just didn't realize it yet." Sango mused, looking up at the sky. "I wonder if it's not a fruitless effort."
"Perhaps it is...but if I've learned anything while traveling with those two...it's that anything is possible." He reached over, and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. "Like it's possible that maybe you wont hit me for that." He teased softly.
Sango blushed. "You're always so...forceful." She said, exasperated.
"I see you two got comfortable with each other."
Both blinked, and turned around, seeing Inuyasha standing about ten feet behind them. He was wearing a feral grin and looked none the worse for wear. "Inuyasha! Then that means Naraku is-"
"Naraku's gone. He's dead." He reached into his haori, displaying the completed Shikon no Tama. "Only one thing left to do..." He said, looking towards the two of them. "And that's go get Kagome back."
"But Inuyasha...If you go into the hellmouth...how will you get out again?" Sango asked, standing and dusting herself off. "Much less bring Kagome back?"
"Indeed, you should tell us what you're planning."
Inuyasha glanced between his two friends. "The thing will only take people with powers. Those powers...are used to keep the hellmouth closed. On my own, I probably couldn't. That's why I needed the jewel..." He said softly. "It's going to be my collateral."
They stared at him in shock. "What about...what about being a full demon?"
He shook his head. "Don't you guys get it? I can't just sit here and let Kagome be in hell for an eternity! Even if I can't leave...if they let Kagome out...then it's worth it." He said softly, tightening his hand into a fist. "I was the one that was supposed to die, not her." He replaced the jewel into his haori. "Besides...I'm not too big a loss. I don't have any more family. Well, besides Sesshoumaru. Kagome has a family. They'll miss her."
The pair glanced at each other and then back at the hanyou. "Inuyasha..."
"I can't just let her stay there. I'll save her. Don't worry." He gave a brief grin. "I mean, come on, how often do I do something reckless?" He saw the looks on their faces and snorted, taking their inability to speak to head toward the bone-gobbling well and Kagome's time. 'Just wait a little longer Kagome...I'm sorry it's taking me so long...'
If it came down to the choice of being a demon, and being with Kagome...then he'd rather be with Kagome.
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Kagome closed her eyes, pulling a memory of Inuyasha into her mind. She had quickly realized the one that calmed her the most when she was alone was the first time she saw him as a human, when they were sealed into the back room of the shrine. His head had sat in her lap and for the first time, Kagome felt genuinely close to the feral dog demon. That was when he'd said she smelled nice. It was the first nice thing he'd said to her.
She tilted her head back, wishing that it was him that she was holding, rather than the hellmouth. Yet she knew that only time would tell. Inutaisho had hinted that Inuyasha would be coming to her, but five hundred years. It was a long time. She reached out, feeling with her mind, wishing she could hear his voice for just a little while.
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Inuyasha stopped at the well, peering down into it's depths. Last time he'd come through here was the night of his dream. The dream Kagome had as well, he was certain. He grabbed the lip and jumped in, feeling the jerk in his stomach before his feet touched solid ground. He came running out of the well house and stopped abruptly. The land was dark, cracked. He lifted his nose and sniffed carefully. He could smell Kagome's family.
He turned, running to her house, slamming the door open.
"Kagome's not here, Inuyasha..." Her mother said feebly. He could tell by looking at her shielding her son that she was terrified. His eyes moved towards Grandpa, who was unconsious. The woman stood slowly. "Wait, wasn't she with you?"
"Yeah..." Inuyasha agreed. "Before she decided to be an idiot and jump into the hellmouth. Has it been sealed yet here?"
They stared at him like he was crazy. "What did Kagome do!"
Inuyasha didn't have time for this. He closed his eyes, summoning his patience. "Look, the hellmouth is already a good way open if the look of the earth is any indication. If you guys ever want to see your daughter again, take me to it."
"I don't know what you're talking about! Hellmouth!"
Inuyasha looked at the kid. "Where are the quakes coming from?" He asked evenly.
"The park." He said. He looked up at his hero and suddenly realized what he was talking about. "Wait, Kagome's in HELL!" He shouted. "You were supposed to PROTECT HER!"
Inuyasha grabbed the boy's fist. "Look, Kagome made a decision. I couldn't just walk into hell and ask for her back. I had to wait for the hellmouth to open again, so that I could go in to retrieve her. I have collateral to get her back. Don't worry, I'm going to save her."
Souta looked at him, then nodded. "Then I'll take you there." He said, walking towards the door.
"Souta! NO! It's too dangerous!" His mother cried.
"Someone has to show him so he can save Kagome!" He shouted, his face flushed with anger. He glanced towards the demon. "Come on, let's go."
Inuyasha put a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder and followed the boy out of the house.
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AN: Whew. I really wanted to make that one longer. Please stay tuned, I'll hopefully have another chapter up soon...