Isolated Souls
Inuyasha stared up longingly at the moon. It had been a couple of weeks since he and his friends had parted, and he now wondered, with much grief, what they were all doing, before giving a deep sigh.
He knew that he had been acting irresponsibly, and that there was no excuse for the way that he had treated Kagome. She had waited for him for ten years, and he could hardly believe that he had gone and betrayed her trust, and her love.
But he sighed again, knowing that once again it was the new moon, and he was once again human. Every vibe in him told him, screamed at him, that something big was about to happen.
He sat on the branch of his favorite tree, and he looked over at the spot where Aerith had crouched there with him. His eyes softened as he saw her there again, smiling at him. And then he saw once again what he had seen at the well. She was crouching there, and then he came down, and…
Nothing.
He sighed, closing his eyes as he bowed his head, folding his hands into his wide habit sleeves. He once again went through his friends' leave in his mind, and all he knew was that this big event was, it involved them, all of them.
And then he heard a strange, familiar sound. At first it was in indistinguishable, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. He sat there, eyes half open for a moment, before lifting his head to the sky, his left ear twitching. Then he realized that someone was whispering something, but he couldn't quite make out the words. He looked over at the apparition of Aerith, who just smiled wider before disappearing.
"Aerith…"
In the deep valley not too far from the well, Sesshomaru stood, staring up at the full moon, his eyes narrowed more than usual. He thought about everything that had happened, and all he could think about when it came to this was that he could have done something to prevent them from splitting up. It wasn't that Sesshomaru liked those little maggots, it was that he knew something was going to happen, and he would need them all together.
Rin was sleeping nearby beneath a tree, its foliage reaching down from its lower branches to brush her nose. She rubbed at her eyes tiredly. And as he watched her sleep, his eyes softening slightly at her, he wondered what would become of them all now.
"Cane you hear it?"
Sesshomaru stood there for a moment, surprised, before turning around to face a young man. He was very youthful, though the western lord inspected that he was younger than he appeared. His hair, spiky, was of an incredibly pure blonde shade. He was dressed in a pair of baggy, purple pants and a sleeveless shirt. He wore a silver plate on his left shoulder. Standing there, the young man was also staring up at the moon, bright and round.
"Hear what?" said Sesshomaru quietly. The man looked at him as he spoke.
"Her prayer…for us all. She's praying for us all…" He turned to Sesshomaru, his eyes somewhat misty, and the demon got the impression that he was someone not of this world, though he doubted he was from Kagome's either.
"Who are you?" Sesshomaru demanded softly, his eyebrows drawing together as a strong wind blew, blowing his hair to the side and into the left part of his face. His tail, thrown over his shoulder, tickled his jaw.
"Many have named me Cloud," replied the young man calmly. "Her calling…" He stood with such sureness that Sesshomaru felt himself ease a little, but then suddenly became alert.
"What the hell are you talking about!" Cloud gave a dry chuckle. "What's so funny! What do you mean?"
"She's calling…"
"Who! For who!" As Cloud spoke, another voice seemed to echo with his words. He tilted his head back a little, and the moon caught a strange glow in his eyes.
"She's calling for you…you and your brother, and his friends. The Destroyer is about to fulfill his destiny…"
Sango sat out on her porch, her thirteen kids yelling and screaming around her. They played in the brisk night air, and Sango smiled as she watched them. The children, so innocent and so carefree, they were her world, and the only ones she had left now.
She remembered the things she said, and knew she shouldn't have. She wanted so much to just go back and change it all. But she knew to do that would be in itself would be a mistake.
She became alert and tense as she craned her neck to see an approaching figure further down the path. Standing up, she ushered the kids inside, promising them snacks, and closed the shoji door behind them, standing there, staring at it for a moment. She snapped out of her trance, turning at the sound of a familiar voice.
"Sango, can we talk?"
Her sight fell upon Miroku, the monk looking up at her expectantly, pleading in his eyes. Her sight softened at this fallen man, and knew that he had had the same regrets as she had. She gulped, and then answered him in a low tone.
"I'm not sure I want to talk to you after all the things you said to me…" She paused before continuing. "And all the things I said and did to you…"
"Well," he said slowly, taking a couple of steps closer, but then his voice became harsh. "You must mean all the guys you fucked! Ten of those kids in there aren't even mine! How do you think that I feel!"
"But, the things said…"
"Yes," he interrupted with a nod. "There was many things said that shouldn't have been. But I am glad not that they were, cause now we know the truth, and despite what happens, that is better than living in the sheltered lies. Besides, I am here now, despite everything, ain't I?"
"I am in no mood to talk about that! So if you came to talk about what happened, then you can leave!" Miroku's patience finally snapped.
"Fine! Then I will!"
Sango watched Miroku, her mouth slightly open in her shock and her hurt. She knew that the things he said were true, and that what she had said was a mistake, but it wasn't until a moment after the monk had left that they both turned to the sky, as they both heard it…
Carrying the little kitsune in her arms tightly, Kagome headed back to Kaede's house in the small village where Momo had grown up. She stopped on the hill where Kikyo had died, and looked at the tiny village. She and Shippo had had to go out and get some fresh air.
All Kagome could think about was how different her life could have been, had she not waited for Inuyasha, or better yet, if she had gone with him. What a fool she was to not have. But as she became angry at the half demon, she gave a sigh.
"Hey, Kagome," said Shippo, looking up at her. She looked down at him curiously. "Why did you wait for Inuyasha all those years?" She wasn't too sure how to answer his question. Why had she?
"I am not sure," she whispered softly back. There was silence between them for a while, but then Shippo's voice peaked up out of the quiet.
"Hey, Kagome," he said slowly.
"What is it, Shippo?" she asked softly as fresh tears came to her eyes.
"What do you think is going to happen not that we've all split up? what if Naraku attacks?" She looked back down at the little kitsune, and he looked back innocently.
"I don't know what is going to happen, Shippo. Wait…" She broke off, turning around to the cliffs and the moon and stars that lay beyond them. "Do you hear that?"
Mirai stood in an old abandoned place that had once been home to a famous kind of people. But all those people were gone now, their magic and their secrets going with them. He stood a little behind a column, peering around it to watch Aerith as she kneeled on top of am alter, set far above the water; rising platforms reaching from the platform in which he stood, to where she prayed.
He couldn't make out her words, but he knew that she was praying for them. She was trying to draw them all together. And he could sense the others' presence. He knew that there would be much arguing and fighting, but he had a feeling that it had nothing to do with what had happened within the last ten years or so. He gave a sigh.
"Why have you brought us here?"
He turned to where he knew that the members of the split group were coming. He could sense Kagome and Shippo, and he could sense his grandfather and someone he couldn't quite make out. Inuyasha was also there.
He turned back to Aerith, and gave a chuckle to match his smile. With a small shake of his head, almost dreading the reunion, he turned as if to go down the staircase when he sensed a presence that shouldn't have been there.
"Shit!" he cursed.
Looking back for a split moment at the kneeling young woman, he hesitated before turning to the staircase, up it, and into the next room to find the others.
Sesshomaru watched Aerith from above. He noticed that Inuyasha was nowhere in sight, though the western lord could sense him. It wasn't long before he picked up on the others' presences as well. Cloud stood beside him, also watching the young woman. Rin had been forced back to Kaede. Sesshomaru could barely believe how much she had grown.
On the other side, on another platform out looking the altar, he could make out the demon slayer and the monk, standing side by side before they turned back the way they came, doubtlessly trying to find a way down. The height was too far to leap. To the left Kagome and Shippo were coming down a long hall, and they would find themselves watching the altar as well.
Sesshomaru's eyes flickered at the approach of his grandson, but did not acknowledge it by turning to him. Instead, the demon stood there, looking up at the altar, and the woman he once loved. Mirai stopped a few feet from them, and Cloud turned calmly to the youth as he spoke.
"So you hear her too," he said slowly with a nod. He walked up to stand beside his grandfather, not looking at the full demon or the warrior who watched them silently.
"Yes," replied Sesshomaru with a nod. "It would seem that we are not the only ones that she has called here tonight…"
"You!"
They turned in their surprise to the infuriated Cloud, who had now drawn a long, wide sword from where it had been strapped to his back. Sesshomaru wondered how this puny little human, could lift such a thing. He guessed that it weighed more than Sango's boomerang.
"Who's that?" asked Mirai, jutting his thumb in Cloud's direction.
"His name is Cloud," replied Sesshomaru. "What's going on?"
"Him!" snarled Cloud, nodding his head in Mirai's direction. Sesshomaru looked at the youth sternly, but Mirai only took a step backwards, raising his hands, and his eyebrows rose as he spoke.
"Hey, I didn't do anything, I swear!"
"He's the one that I spoke of!" snapped Cloud, and both demons turned to him. "He is the Destroyer! Aerith knows this! And now…"
"Don't speak foolishness," snapped Sesshomaru. "Come, now—"
"Don't tell me to do anything!" said Cloud defiantly, taking a step backwards.
"Oh," said Mirai, turning to Sesshomaru as he began to panic a little. "Right!" Yo, Sesshomaru, someone else is coming!"
"What?" snapped Sesshomaru softly. "Who?"
"I don't know," admitted Mirai. "But they weren't on the guest list."
Inuyasha ran down the hall at full speed, anxious to get to where he could hear the voice in his head coming from. Aerith was calling to them, to him. He didn't care at the moment about Kikyo or Kagome or the Destroyer. All he cared about was getting to her. He feared his vision would come true, and he knew that he couldn't let it, no matter what.
He then suddenly stopped, having realized that he had passed right by someone. He looked back to the person who was leaning against the wall, watching him. His mouth parted in his surprise.
"Nice to see you again, Inuyasha," said Kikyo softly. She took a step forward, but then stopped as he took one back.
"Kikyo," he said hurriedly, glancing back at the hallway and the curved staircase that would lead him to Aerith, and then back to the woman in front of him. "I have no time for this! Aerith, she's—"
"Aerith!" Kikyo spat, her mouth twisting in her utter disgust. "You're still effectuated with her!"
"Kikyo," said Inuyasha seriously. "Now's not the time! So you best just leave!"
"What are you going to do?" she taunted. "Kill me?"
His anger aroused in him, Inuyasha made as if to remove Tetsaiga, but then stopped. Could he kill her? For good? No, he knew that he couldn't do it. What was he to do?
Taking it out, the sword his father had kept in his tomb became its true form. He remembered the battle he and his brother had had for this weapon, not long after he had met up with Kagome. His father's tomb, strangely enough, had been kept in Inuyasha's right eye, where it was hidden from his brother for so many years.
He braced himself, but then shook his head in his own doubt. How could he do such a thing? He dropped his arm with the sword still in his hand, and straightened, still shaking hie head.
"No! I won't fight you, Kikyo." Kikyo notched an arrow to her bow in the time it took Inuyasha to blink.
"What's the matter, Inuyasha?" asked the priestess tauntingly. "You don't feel like joining me in hell? You're going there soon anyway. Come with me, Inuyasha…"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Inuyasha snapped.
"Don't you know? We have some visitors, Inuyasha, other than me coming here today…you and your friends were not the only ones called…"
"You fucking bitch!" snapped Inuyasha, baring his teeth. "I don't want to do this Kikyo, but I have to go!"
He regretfully raised Tetsiaga again, and took stance for a moment. He took a sharp turn to the right as an arrow went whizzing past his face. He watched it, and then Kikyo before rolling to the side. Running to the far wall, Inuyasha ran up it, and twisted, turning around to land behind the priestess. Dropping his weapon, he grabbed Kikyo by the forearms; making her lower her arms and drop the bow and arrow notched to it.
Whipping her around, he stared into her eyes. His eyes were soft and miserable as he looked at her shocked face. There was pain there and disbelief, and he had to gulp before he could stop himself from shaking.
"Inuyasha," she said softly in fear. There were tears in her eyes, and her long, black hair had come loose from where it had been tied at the nape of her neck.
He was reminded once again of the woman, this same woman, he loved sixty years ago, and then fell in love with again. And as he looked at her, he not only saw Kikyo, but Kagome, her reincarnation as well.
"Forgive me," he whispered softly, taking her into his tight embrace.
Pulling back, tears were flowing down his cheeks as well, and he was shaking terribly as he turned to go down the hallway. He stopped a few feet, and turning around, plunged his right arm into her left shoulder.
Mirai smirked at the spiky-headed warrior. Sesshomaru had gone to meet up with the Kagome and Shippo, leaving them to find Sango and Miroku. But that was not about to happen. Cloud was in no mood to cooperate. He had already drawn the buster sword where they stood on the street, and Mirai too had drawn his own weapon, a katana.
"So," said Mirai slowly with a nod. "You found out the truth about me, have you?" He smirked, and gave a light chuckle.
"That's right," Cloud retorted. "I know all about you, Senshi Mirai. Tell me, did your daddy tell you to destroy this world for him?"
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you," said Mirai softly, no longer smiling. His brows were narrowed, and his teeth bared. "I am the son of the greatest demons, while you are nothing but a mere human with something little more than an oversized stick."
"That's where you're wrong!"
Cloud upraised his wide, long blade, setting his feet. Mirai, katana in left hand, shrugged at this. Cloud, angered by the youth's cool exterior, charged at him. Steel clashed against steel as their weapons met. Grunting, they fought to push the other back. Cloud then dropped, and swung around to the demon's side, slashing out with his weapon.
Stepping back from the slash, Mirai appeared as if to trip and fall back, but suddenly lunged forward with such precision that Cloud did not have time to move. The blade caught the older warrior on his right shoulder.
Stifling a groan, Cloud fell to one knee, right hand holding the buster sword on the floor, and the other clutching his shoulder. His eyes were closed tightly, and there were lines around his mouth and eyes, and on his forehead, teeth bared.
But as Mirai turned away as if to leave, he turned back as a glow surrounded him. His eyes went wide as he saw that the light was coming from Cloud himself. The warrior got to his feet, and then he was nothing but a blur as he rushed the stunned Mirai, sword poised in front of him. The sword met flesh, and blood surrounded them, seeming to hover in the air.
Mirai fell back, and lay there for a moment, hand still clasping weapon. He shakily got to his feet with a grunt, and put his right hand to his other side, pulling it away, covered in blood. He looked up at the man that stood over him. Getting unsteadily to his feet, he smirked at Cloud.
"Not bad," said Mirai. He stopped and glanced to the side over his left shoulder before turning back the spiky-haired young man. "The guests have arrived."
Yuri met the demon slayer and the monk as they headed down the hall, weapons drawn. They had been searching for quite some time for a way to the altar. They came to a sudden stop.
"Step aside!" Miroku demanded.
"We have no time to deal with you now!" snapped Sango. She tightened her hold on her boomerang, setting her feet.
"There is no time for anything, and yet time for everything," Yuri commented softly. Her eyes had a weird, distant look to them.
"What the hell are you talking about?" snapped Miroku, brandishing his staff at her. Yuri looked directly at him as she spoke, her eyes digging into his.
"The legend is coming true," she commented softly. "The 'Destroyer' will rise up from the death of the 'Cursed Barer'. Naraku is planning on being the one in control behind Mirai when he starts to fulfill his destiny…the only relief is when all the pain vanishes, and the end becomes the beginning."
"What does that mean?" Sango asked calmly.
"I am not entirely sure," Yuri admitted. "But we better reach Aerith before he does, or this legend really will come true."
Sesshomaru walked calmly down the hall, Kagome and Shippo following some distance behind him, wary. He had seen the demon Naraku walk in from a distance, and he had felt the presence of another man, but where he was and who he was, Sesshomaru knew not.
He wasn't even sure if this person was a demon or a human, and if he was even alive. He seemed to be emanating no aura, but Sesshomaru shuddered whenever he became more aware of the man's presence.
"Hey, wait up!" whined Shippo.
Sesshomaru had sped up into a run now, and he couldn't slow down. The feeling that something big was going to happen became more real as he drew nearer to the other side of the hall. As he entered the room in the center of the city, he leaped up the steps five at a time. He ran along the hall, and leaped down the second, shorter staircase. Leaping down the steps, he came to the platforms that rose up to the altar, and who was up there with Aerith.
"Mirai!" he called in his low, stern voice up to the altar.
Mirai, who had drawn his sword, now stood before the young, kneeling woman, sword poised. He turned to Sesshomaru as he landed beside him. Sesshomaru was taken aback to see that instead of Mirai, it was Cloud.
"Cloud?" he said softly in disbelief.
The man shook his head, and lowered the weapon. He seemed confused, as if unsure of what he had been about to do. But then Mirai was beside them, sword raised as he swung it. Grabbing his wrist firmly, Sesshomaru crushed it in his hand, making the young demon yell out in pain as the hand twitched and dropped the katana.
"What are you doing!" snapped Mirai, tears in his disbelieving eyes.
"I won't let you destroy us all!" said Sesshomaru defiantly. "There is more to you than bringing about all our deaths! I know it…"
Hand still clutching the shattered wrist, Sesshomaru looked to the young woman. Aerith's eyes opened slowly, and she gave them a small smile. Sesshomaru could feel his feelings overtake him.
There was understanding in her eyes, and Sesshomaru felt terrible about what he had put her through, and he knew that if he could just say something…
"Aerith," was all he managed to say softly.
He released a small gasp as his eyes went wide as he saw the unexpected visitor fall from above, gray hair billowing out behind him; long sword positioned downwards. The three of them could only watch in shock and bewilderment as the sword slid easily through Aerith's back to nudge out of her stomach. Her eyes went wider, and it was at that moment that Inuyasha appeared at Sesshomaru's side.
His eyes went wide as well as her head tilted back, her pink ribbon coming undone, and the Cursed Jewel going with it. Inuyasha and Cloud rushed forward, but it was the demon that caught her as the man pulled his weapon free. Taking the over part of his kimono to reveal the white beneath, Inuyasha pressed it against Aerith's stomach. She halted him with her hand feebly as he tried to wrap it around her middle.
"Let it be," she whispered.
"Aerith…" Cloud's head dropped as his body shook terribly as the sobs that filled him racked his body.
"Aerith," said Inuyasha, croaking back tears.
"Shh," she said softly, pressing her fingers against the half-demon's lips. "Please, don't talk. This is the way it was meant to be. I finally understand the legend. The Destroyer doesn't demolish the world, but the one in pursuit of doing so. Cloud, please forgive me. I, I, never want to hurt you, and there is nothing for you to be sorry for. Please, don't let him…"
Her body went limp and her hand dropped to her side, her eyes half closed. Tears began to fall freely from Inuyasha's eyes as he drew Aerith's lifeless body close to his. He shook horribly as he lost control. The man let out a cold, deep laugh.
Cloud rose angrily to his feet, unstable as he picked up the buster sword. With an anguished yell, he rushed the sinister-looking man. The gray haired man, seven and a half foot long sword in hand, only smirked.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud snarled. Naraku appeared behind the man Cloud had named.
"Naraku!" Inuyasha scowled through his tears. "I'll kill you once and for all!" He lay Aerith's body down, and took up Tetsiaga instead.
Rushing blindly in his rage towards them, he fell back as Sephiroth rushed into his way. Cloud grunted as he too fell, except that he had been cast over the edge, and into the water below, buster sword falling with him. Sesshomaru watched him, unable to do anything. Sephiroth let out an insane laugh, and smirked.
"You are all pathetic!"
But then, as he began to laugh again, he went flying off to the side, hitting his back against the side. Sephiroth just lay there; seemingly unconscious. Standing there in his place was Yuri. She turned to them. There was a short, awkward silence between them.
"You!" snapped Naraku softly. Yuri turned towards him. "I thought I told you to take care of the others!"
And it was at this time that the others, Kagome, Shippo, Sango, and Miroku had arrived, having met up half way. Naraku moved as if to something, and the four left on the platform before the rising ones braced their weapons. But then the demon let out a struggled gurgle, and he split apart, his body dispersing into the tiniest of bits. And in his place stood Sephiroth. Yuri released her blades, and braced herself as well, leaning towards the side, one foot in front of her and the other to the back.
"Stop!" demanded Sesshomaru, stepping in front of her. Yuri peered at him in bewilderment and shock, but he did not turn to her. "Yuri, I will deal with him. All of you, leave now!"
"No!" All eyes went to the half demon, who, through the use of Tetsaiga, raised himself to his feet. The blade of the sword became red. "He's mine!"
Sesshomaru walked steadily over to his brother, and looked down at him. Their faces were expressionless, but to them an understatement and trust filled in with their loathing bond.
"I will be of assistance," he said calmly. "I too, lost Aerith to his blade. Between us, we can defeat him…"
"So," said Sephiroth slowly, turning to the pair. "The brothers are coming together at last. You really think that the two of you can defeat me?" His eyebrows rose at this in his humor as he chuckles beneath his breath.
"Shut your god-damn mouth!" snapped Inuyasha. "We'll soon shut you up for good!"
Together they rushed the sinister man. Sesshomaru leaped into the air to Sephiroth's left, and Inuyasha to the right. The sound of steel against steel rang all around them as Tetsaiga met the man's long blade. He darted to the side as Sesshomaru struck at him with his out raised claws. Sephiroth then darted forwards, striking Sesshomaru across the chest.
A long gash revealed itself from his torn shirt, and blood poured out onto the altar, and poured over its sides and into the water below. It was at that moment that Inuyasha struck out in his anger, catching the sinister man in the arm, but the man quickly retaliated, making the demon go flying, a cut from his left should to his right side.
Yuri, no longer being able to stand it, rushed him, blades upraised. She struck out at him again and again, but Sephiroth darted easily enough around. The blades were knocked aside, and Sephiroth's blade was plunged in to the young demon girl's stomach. Yuri's eyes went wide, and all Sesshomaru could do was watch in horror as she squirmed and yelled in pain as Sephiroth raised her up. She looked down at him fearfully, and let out one last anguished yell as he then twisted the blade, cutting the demon girl in half as he did so.
Sesshomaru became enraged and went into berserker as he rushed the sinister man, no longer caring if he died or not, or even if what he was doing was sensible. Tears flowed down his cheeks, when he remembered what Aerith had said.
"Mirai!" The shocked kid looked from his mother's split body to his grandfather, eyes wide in disbelief. "Only you can kill him! Use your power!"
Mirai stood there for a moment, unsure and trembling. But he then gulped and nodded his head solemnly. He then concentrated as he began to release his power like he had done when Inuyasha and them had first met him. his eyes became oval and red as they emitted light that surrounded them. a wind gathered, blowing up all around them, making everyone shield their eyes. Sephiroth was letting out another insane laugh as the light seemed to fill him.
"I will end all of this!" said Mirai, holding his hands out to either side, his voice echoing all around them, sure and commanding. "For us all, and those after us!"
There was a blinding white light that consumed everything, and then nothing…
FINISH