Chapter 22
Inuyasha, Kajin, and Kagome headed back to Naraku's castle, where he was awaiting their arrival. Inuyasha kept looking back at Kajin, making sure he wouldn't deceive them. Kagome noticed this and made an expression that showed she was annoyed by his actions. Kajin was staring at Kagome the whole time on the way to Naraku's castle. Inuyasha was growing jealous by the minute and soon he wouldn't fed up with it any longer. Kagome stopped and the guys did as well. She stared into the woods beside her and something shot through that place Kagome was looking at. A large boomerang almost hit Kajin directly but he had moved away and it missed. Out came Sango and Kilala. Kagome's face lit up and she ran towards her friend. Inuyasha smiled and then another attack was in place. Sacred sutras came flying at Kajin and Inuyasha destroyed them with his claws. Another friend joined them, Miroku. He came out of the woods from where Sango and her two tailed cat Kilala. Shippou was on Miroku's shoulder and Inuyasha realized he wasn't with them when the fight with Naraku began once he rescued Kagome.
"Sango, Miroku, and Kilala you are here. But how?" Kagome asked.
"Shippou told us Naraku was still alive and we didn't waste any time so we came here as fast as we could" Sango explained.
"Aw thank you Shippou for getting everyone!" Kagome hugged the kitsune.
"Hey why are they trying to kill me?" Kajin asked with a bit of a squeaky voice.
"You are the enemy! Shippou told us about you and what you did to our friend Kagome" Sango declared.
"I was but it wasn't my fault. Naraku forced me to kidnap Kagome. I was obligated to and I really didn't want to do it since I'm in love with her" Kajin said.
An awkward silence took over the group and Inuyasha's fists began to tighten and he became angry.
"Uh oh" Sango mumbled.
"This is getting very interesting by the minute. So you aren't our enemy any longer and you are in love with Kagome. This is going to be fun to see when Inuyasha rips you piece by piece" Miroku stated. "I promise I'll give you a proper funeral my good man" Miroku walked over to Kajin and patted his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not going to die by Inuyasha's hand. He's too weak to do that" Kajin blurted out.
"What the hell do you mean by that!" Inuyasha shook his fist in Kajin's face.
"Oh nothing that you need to worry about. I'm not going to kill you and we are wasting time on talking instead of beating Naraku" Kajin insisted.
"He does have a point Inuyasha" Sango agreed and retrieved her weapon.
"Oh before I forget. How careless of me" Miroku murmured and then walked in front of Sango.
Miroku's hand wondered off and found its destination.
'WACK'
"You stupid perverted monk! Keep your damn hand to yourself!" Sango slapped Miroku really hard and sent him to the ground.
"Miroku why did you do that. Please have your mind focused on what we are doing and not in the gutter?" Kagome shook her head.
"Damn it Miroku will you quit with your perverted actions and please do focus. Remember we are trying to kill Naraku. Damn you get on my nerves. No wonder I didn't miss you and your actions" Inuyasha spoke up.
"Let's just move already!" Shippou cried out and then the group moved forward again.
"fools" A deep voice echoed through the woods as the gang raced through them.
"Naraku" Inuyasha mumbled.
"Naraku come out you bastard" Kajin shouted.
"Kajinobou are you defying me. Is it them you choose instead of my evil purposes. You are one pathetic half breed" Naraku implied.
"Kajin is half demon?" Inuyasha thought to himself.
"So what if I'm half demon. Inuyasha is too and he almost killed you" Kajin blurted out.
"What the hell?" Inuyasha said under his breath.
"Kajin..." Kagome began to say and then she felt a hand pushing her away.
Inuyasha's hand was above her breast, pushing her away behind him.
"Kagome stay back" Inuyasha warned. "Kajin I don't know what side you are really on but that last remark really pushed you over the edge" Inuyasha explained.
"Inuyasha he's not the enemy" Kagome implied.
"Kagome you don't understand. He's been deceiving you and I should have listened to my gut back there. He should have been long dead" Inuyasha stuck with his gut.
"Am I the only one confused right now?" Sango asked.
"They are all dumb. They should be fighting instead of talking" Shippou thought to himself.
"You are real pitiful fools. You should focused on more important things!" Naraku shouted and roots burst under the ground and made everyone fall to the ground.
"Damn it" Inuyasha lifted his head from the ground.
He unsheathed the Tetsusaiga but it didn't transform. Inuyasha already knew that wasn't going to happen but he had something in mind. Kagome looked at Inuyasha with a weird expression, knowing that the sword would not transform while he was a full fledged demon.
"Come on Tetsusaiga. Transform for me even though I'm not a half demon at the moment. My father was a full demon and you transformed for him so do the same for me. I need to protect Kagome and the others with your help. Transform Tetsusagia, transform" Inuyasha mumbled to his sword. (weird I know but you get the point)
"What is Inuyasha thinking?" Kagome thought to herself, trying to figure out what he was up to.
The Tetsusaiga began to pulse as if it was talking back to Inuyasha. Kagome and the others were puzzled and didn't know what the hell he was doing. With out delay, one of Naraku's roots came for him and skimmed his arm causing him to loose his grip on the Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha fell to the ground and the sword went sliding the opposite direction of him. Kagome gasped and quickly got up to retrieve the sword for Inuyasha. Out of no where, a root came from under the ground and struck Kagome right in the shoulder. Everything felt like it was going in slow motion. Blood splattered everywhere and Kagome's vision went so blurry she passed out and fell to the ground. Inuyasha's heart began to ache and it felt as if it was being torn right out from his body. Kagome's body was lying on the cold ground and her soul was rumbling inside her trying to get out. I know it's not that big but she is loosing a lot of blood. The blood just kept coming and soon there was a big puddle of blood beneath her. Her hair was being stained by the color and so was her clothes.
Sango rushed over to Kagome and so did the rest besides Kajin and Inuyasha. Both boys where filled with anger and Naraku was just laughing at the scene. Sango shook Kagome twice but nothing. Tears of sorrow fell from the demon slayers eyes and then the kitsune began to cry. Miroku walked over to Inuyasha to see what was going to happen next in this. Kajin was just standing and staring at Naraku. A deep passion of hatred ran through his veins and with out second thoughts, Kajin charged Naraku by himself. Both Inuyasha and Miroku watched the hanyou charge the fearless demon and Naraku acted quickly. Roots broke through the ground everywhere, causing Kajin to leap into the air, escaping each root until he couldn't stay in the air much longer. Kajin landed near Naraku and the fight was on. Naraku chuckled and then gave a smirk.
"What's so damn funny Naraku!" Kajin asked rudely.
"Nothing at all but your stupidity" Naraku replied.
"You are the damn fool Naraku. You hurt Kagome and now you are going to have to deal with my anger" Kajin insisted.
"Is that suppose to scary me Kajinobou?" Naraku asked.
"No, but you are going to have to deal my anger you bastard!" Kajin made the first move.
"Kajin! You can't beat him all alone!" Inuyasha cried out.
"Inuyasha what are we going to do with Kagome?" Miroku asked.
"Put this over her for now and try to stop the bleeding. I'm going to go help Kajin. Join us at any time Miroku" Inuyasha handed the monk the half top of his kimono to cover up Kagome.
Inuyasha leaped to his sword and picked it up. The sword was still in its rusted form and it wouldn't transform for him. Inuyasha wasn't really thinking straight at this point and charged Naraku with the sword untransformed. Miroku turned around to see how Inuyasha was doing once he completed his order.
"What is he crazy?" Miroku exclaimed.
"Inuyasha you really are a fool" Sango added as she whipped the tears away from her eyes.
"Inu...yasha" Kagome whispered as she became conscious.
"Kagome you are all right!" Shippou shouted with glee.
"I survived worse Shippou" Kagome said. "What's going on?" Kagome asked.
"Inuyasha's being foolish and just started to attack Naraku without the Tetsusaiga transformed" Shippou put it simple.
Kagome looked over to the fight and Inuyasha was closing in on Naraku. Kajin was on the ground but not for long.
"Inuyasha what are you thinking?" Kagome thought to herself and sat up.
"Kagome you shouldn't get up" Sango announced.
"I need to stop Inuyasha from attacking..." Kagome's body gave in and she collapsed.
A loud thump came from her fall and Inuyasha looked back.
"Inuyasha don't do it!" She called out and she passed out again.
"I have to! I have to protect you Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted and then the sword pulsed rapidly.
"Sango do you feel that?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, it's coming from Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga" the demon slayer concluded.
"Is it working" Inuyasha thought to himself as he halted before Naraku.
"Keep your attention to me!" Naraku shouted and a root headed right for Inuyasha.
In an instant Tetsusaiga transformed. He slashed the root into two and Naraku's eyes widened quickly. Smiles began to form on everyone besides Naraku. Kajin smirked and punched Naraku dead in the face. Naraku acted fast and struck Kajin right in the gut. The saimyosho flew in and filled the whole. The poison entered his blood stream and he became blue in the face. Inuyasha growled and performed the wind scar. It didn't hit him directly but huge junks of his body splattered everywhere. Miroku ran over and made each piece dissipate from a strike with his staff. Sango joined the fight and threw her Hiraikotsu. Bits and pieces where destroyed, making sure that Naraku would never come back. Shippou was looking after Kagome while the rest fought. Kilala bit into Naraku's roots and tore them right off his body. Naraku took enough damage and began to fight back. Roots swung wildly and missed every blow. All seems good and all but Naraku had something up his sleeve. A large energy ball built up inside his throat and he released it. Everyone was blown away.
"Damn it die!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Inuyasha next time get him with your Backlash wave. That should take care of him and then Sango and I will get busy with the disposal of the corpse" Miroku suggested.
"Got it but that was really unexpected. How the help am I suppose to know when he's going to release one of those blasts?" Inuyasha got back up and helped up Miroku.
"I saw a light coming from his throat before he released it. Just keep your eyes on the throat from time to time" Miroku insisted and began to throw his sacred sutras.
"Sango focus on the roots" the full fledged Inuyasha ordered.
Inuyasha hit Naraku with other blast from the wind scar and managed to take a huge chunk of his body off. With this rate, Naraku will be nothing.
"Kagome you're conscious again!" Shippou cried out.
Kagome smiled and then turned her head towards the fight. Kajin was down again and was staying there, Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku were fighting Naraku and doing some quit of damage. She got up and grabbed her arrows. Shippou tried to convince her to stay low, and rest but nothing helped.
"Kagome stop!" Shippou pulled on her sleeve.
"Let go of my sleeve Shippou. I'm fine now. I some how used the Shikon Jewel to heal my wound" Kagome explained.
"The jewel..." Shippou mumbled and then just let Kagome go.
"Naraku think fast!" Kagome shot an arrow directly at the villain's head and pierced his skull.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha was stunned to see that she had the strength to stand up and put up a fight.
"What does she think she is doing?" Sango cried out.
"She's not bleeding anymore and her clothes aren't stained with her blood!" Miroku pointed out.
"You're right Miroku. It was like she never got that wound" Sango added.
"So the wench is still alive" Naraku pulled out the arrow.
"You bet now die" Kagome screamed and released another arrow.
Naraku's throat began to glow again and that meant he was going to release another energy ball. Inuyasha watched this happen and once the energy ball released, he would use the Backlash Wave. Naraku opened his mouth and the big energy ball shot out and destroyed the tiny arrow once it came in tack with it. Inuyasha leaped out in front of it and the Tetsusaiga was ready to use it's ultimate attack on the demon. Naraku smirked, thinking he was in victory but he was unaware of Inuyasha's true powers. He lifted the sword up and used the technique, Backlash Wave. "BACKLASH WAVE!" Inuyasha shouted and then the sword's power reversed the big energy ball that Naraku created within him. Naraku's eyes went wide and the attack sliced him up into bits and pieces, most of it was disintegrated from the blast. Miroku and Sango moved in and took care of the scraps. Kagome walked over to the piece that had the sacred Shikon Jewel shard in it. Once it was separated from that source, the piece disappeared. There was no way Naraku could regenerate or keep on living. This was the final battle between them and Naraku. Inuyasha's sword transformed back to it's rusty old self and everyone took a deep breath. It was finally over. The villain Naraku they fought so hard to beat, finally was gone and done with. The days they spent, searching for his castle, worrying about the next encounter, wondering if they would live till the end, and now their question was answered. Their wishes came true but one. Kajin was awaken and Shippou was trying to get the poison flushed out of his body.
Kagome rushed over to Kajin and the others followed. Everyone surrounded him but Inuyasha. Kagome's warm smile gave Kajin a warm welcome and not worrying about dying. The poison had spread real fast throughout his body and it was too late for the guy. Remedy's or anything couldn't help him now. Kagome pulled out the Shikon no tama and the last Jewel shard from her pocket. She was ready to use it to when a rough hands was placed on hers. She gasped for a second or two and then stopped her further actions. Inuyasha reddened with jealousy and just stood there with his back towards them. Sango rolled her eyes and Miroku already knew what Kajin was thinking. Kagome didn't understand what he was doing and why he was doing this. Didn't he want to live? Didn't he want to make up for his sins? Didn't he want to move on in life and start over? No, he was choosing death.
"Kajin..." Kagome began but Kajin shushed her.
"Let me go Kagome" Kajin implied. "I have to. It's too late for me anyways. The poison has spread throughout my whole body and there's no hope for me now" Kajin explained.
"Don't you want to live and start over?" Tears of sadness fell from the young priestess's eyes.
"I never told you this, but I am part of Naraku" he said.
"Part of Naraku?" The tears stopped and silence took over the girl.
"Before the first defeat, Naraku released me from his body and kept me posted. He did threaten me but the rest that I had told you was a lie" Kajinobou confessed.
"I knew I didn't like the scent and your actions when we first met" Inuyasha walked over to the scene.
"Forgive me Inuyasha and you too Kagome. I didn't want to hur...t" Kajinobou grabbed a hold of his chest and his grip loosened up. "The pain...the pain...its gone Kagome" Kajin lastly said and then he was gone.
Tears fell from Kagome's eyes onto his face and then in an instant his body turned to ashes and traveled with the incoming wind. Inuyasha stood there with his arms crossed and hands inside his sleeves while they sat there helplessly.
To be continued...