Darkness Destroyed
Naraku's Hidden Lair
Kagura entered the room behind Naraku and tried to remain as calm as possible. Since it was her intervention that led Inuyasha and the others to the stone demon, she knew Naraku might punish her once more. She had hoped they'd be successful in destroying Naraku's heart and freeing her, but as it stood – she was still his slave. "Naraku…"
Without turning around, Naraku answered, "Kagura…it seems Hakudoshi has died."
Kagura knew quite well to what he referred and narrowed her eyes in hatred. You're the one who made it so he would die, though.
Chuckling low, Naraku turned to face his detachment. "Such foolishness, it seems he thought he could take my place."
Kagura was unimpressed. So…he noticed everything, huh? She too had caught onto Hakudoshi's change in behavior and how he dealt with Naraku's orders, but she didn't care in the slightest. The only thing she craved was her own freedom. Knowing of Hakudoshi's death, the wind mistress knew her betrayal probably wasn't a secret anymore either. Next is…my turn then?
Looking into her eyes, Naraku smirked. "Kagura…I shall set you free."
Gasping, Kagura wasn't sure she'd heard right. What? Catching her composure, Kagura looked back at her 'master'. "You'd actually give me my freedom?" It seemed too good to be true.
"That's right, Kagura. You wanted to be separated from me, didn't you?" Pausing he added, "Which is exactly why you wanted me out of the way and searched for the location of my heart."
Gritting her teeth, Kagura knew the jig was up. "You know that much, but would still give me freedom?" Raising his hand, Naraku revealed Kagura's heart pulsing bright red.
T-That's my heart! She instantly recognized the living organ.
"I'll return it to you." He said.
"What?"
"If this heart is returned to your body, Kagura, you will no longer be tied to anybody. You will be free." He answered for her as hear heart disappeared from his grasp.
Gasping and shaking slightly, Kagura put a hand to her chest. My heart…has returned! Before she could even finish her thoughts of joy Naraku's hand extended into three long branches that struck her through her chest, slamming her back into the wall.
He quickly pulled them free and Kagura struggled to stay on her feet. "Don't worry…I avoided your precious heart."
The wind user glared at him. "Y-you bastard…" Raising her fan, Kagura sent out her blades of wind towards Naraku and called out one of her feathers to quickly escape through the tunnels out into the open night air.
The attack bounced harmlessly off Naraku's barrier and he simply watched her flee his presence. "Go wherever you want." He encouraged out loud. Do you best to entertain me. During the short time you have left before your time runs out.
He could sense her traveling far away and smirked in enjoyment. Naturally all you feel is despair and agony. That is…the freedom you wished for, Kagura…
Village
Inuyasha had been gone a long time and Kagome was beginning to fear Kikyo had convinced him to go to hell with her. During the first time the miko had attempted to flee the world of the living and take the hanyou with her, Kagome had interfered and released Inuyasha from Kikyo's sorcery. Now she wondered if she'd done the wrong thing. In all fairness Kikyo had been with him first, but Kagome wasn't sure whatever they had back then was the same. The way Inuyasha stared at Kikyo and how he was always concerned for her safety reminded Kagome of their relationship.
He always got worried for her when she was in danger, even if he didn't openly admit it, but Kagome also knew you couldn't love two people. One was always an infatuation. Kagome used to think it was because of what she was, Kikyo's reincarnation, but looks aside, Kagome knew she was her own person. She had discovered quite suddenly after catching Inuyasha in one of his more…tender moments with Kikyo that she too had fallen in love with him.
She also realized his heart already belonged to another, but try as she might, she couldn't shake the pure love and devotion she felt for him. Even her friends back at home couldn't understand how she could repeatedly turn down Hojo-kun for some violent, two-timing, inconsiderate guy like Inuyasha.
The wolf youkai, Kouga, who would do anything she asked him to and would protect her at all costs, didn't seem to measure up either. Maybe I'm just a sucker for punishment…
Once when she'd been captured by Naraku's detachment, the envy she felt for Kikyo ended up being the only darkness she had in her heart. Emotions whether good or bad, were what made humans unique. Kagome's feelings, in her opinion, only showed how much she loved Inuyasha.
She wasn't sure if he truly understood why she fought to stay by his side and she wasn't going to tell him. What worried her most was how she would feel after he left this world. He felt he owed his life to Kikyo and Kagome wouldn't argue that even if in the end, Naraku was the only guilty one.
One thing was for sure, though, when the time came, Kagome was going to be heart broken. Just as she thought this, she heard movement in the other room where her friends had been relaxing.
"K-Kikyo-sama!" Miroku gasped.
Kagome's eyes shot wide open. Kikyo's here? Why? Throwing her covers off, she stood up and listened intently.
"Naraku's heart is his only weakness." Inuyasha's voice sounded. "Should he show up for the shard before we can hunt him down, Kikyo has another plan…"
Inuyasha explained Kikyo's idea, as opposed to it as he was, and when he was finished, his friends shared their opinions.
"We could always use Kazaana." Miroku suggested.
"But Naraku's saimyoushou would be in the way." Sango added.
"This is the only way to rid him completely from this realm." Kikyo finally said. Looking at the opening leading to the other room, she added. "Do you understand, Kagome?"
Everyone gasped and Kagome herself, her back to the wall, stiffened. "Y-yeah…I got it."
Inuyasha looked over too, but couldn't say anything. Kagome…
Field of Flowers
Sitting in a large field of white and blue flowers, Kagura tried to move her body but Naraku's shouki had already worked its way throughout her whole body and she knew she wouldn't last long. It sure is quite…no one is here…
Feeling the wind blow past her, she closed her eyes in sorrow and joy. I am free but will it end here? Will I die alone? Holding a hand over her wound, Kagura began to think. Is this the freedom I was seeking? Behind her Naraku's shouki could be seen escaping out the gaping hole, rising into the air as a purple steaming gas.
Hearing movement, Kagura could feel her heart skip a beat as someone stopped mere feet from her weakened form. S-Sesshoumaru!
Looking down at her, Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "I came…following Naraku's scent."
Letting out a weak scoff, Kagura looked away. "Heh, did I disappoint you then?"
Pausing a moment, Sesshoumaru answered. "I knew it was you."
Eyes going wide, Kagura looked back up at the tall, silver haired dog demon. "I…see…" A smile played on her lips and inside she thought. So, you came to me knowingly huh?
Seeing the wound on her back, Sesshoumaru reached for Tenseiga…
Ba-dum.
Stopping, Sesshoumaru looked down at his inherited sword. Tenseiga…can't save her… Looking back down at the wind mistress, Sesshoumaru felt a strange sense of sorrow, as foreign as it was to him. "You…leaving?"
Kagura nodded and looked up into the blue clear sky. "Yeah…soon…" She could feel herself fading and before the dog demon, her body beginning to dissolve completely. In the end…I got to see you…I'm glad.
Sesshoumaru watched her body dance on the wind currents that rose high into the sky and as the last of her body disappeared, he could've sworn her heard her voice say, "I am…the wind. I am as free as the wind."
Staying a moment more, Sesshoumaru could tell that if Naraku was prepared to dispatch of his detachment, their usefulness had ended and he was going to make his move. Inuyasha's woman, that is where he will go.
Village
Kagome kept to herself as much as possible. Everyone was a little uneasy with Kikyo constantly in their presence. They decided they would head out the next day to start up the search of Naraku's heart. Kagome though wanted to get in one much needed hot bath before they left and decided to have Sango accompany her. The taijiya was more than happy to oblige and actually looked forward to using those scented hair-cleaning liquids from Kagome's world.
"We're leaving!" Sango announced.
As they exited the hut, Inuyasha was instantly there – arms crossed. "Don't think you're going alone."
Kagome huffed as Kikyo walked up and stood by his side. "Sango's coming with me, so I'll be fine. Besides don't you think you have other obligations?"
"W-what?" Inuyasha was shocked and raised a fist. "Just what is your problem?"
"My problem is you thinking that you're the only one who can protect me. Well here's news for you: You're NOT! So deal with it!" Kagome shouted back. She didn't mean to start an argument, but with him being so pushy it just pushed her to far.
"Now you listen here, woman…"
"Osuwari!"
The beads of subjugation lit up and Inuyasha's body tensed – preparing for the painful hit, but it never came. Opening one of his clenched eyes, he looked over and saw Kikyo remove her hand from the necklace. One glare from Kikyo and Kagome was fuming her way to the forest – Sango right behind her.
That girl… Kikyo though with growing anger.
Inuyasha was simply speechless.
Forest
Sesshoumaru had left Rin and Jaken when he left after Kagura and began working his way back to them. The little human girl was probably annoying Jaken right at that moment.
As he took another step, Totosai appeared and lowered down on his three-eyes cow. "What do you want?" Sesshoumaru asked evenly.
The blacksmith youkai scoffed. "I only came because I couldn't avoid it. Tenseiga called to me."
"Tenseiga?"
"Don't play dumb, Sesshoumaru. You can tell that Tenseiga is agitated." The craftsman crossed his arms. "It seems that something that was lacking in your heart…has been born."
"…."
"I knew it was you…"
"I see…""Well what happened doesn't matter." Totosai shrugged. What is important is that Tenseiga caught your change of heart. Most likely it was due to your pure feelings of sadness…for someone else's sake. "Now hand over Tenseiga."
Narrowing his eyes, Sesshoumaru glared at his father's old servant. "What?"
"The time has come to re-forge it…as a weapon."
Hot Springs
Sinking lower into the water, Kagome tried to relax as much as possible and forget about Inuyasha for a while. Sango stepped into the water and looked worriedly over at her friend. "Kagome-chan, do you think Kikyo will just leave and hunt after Naraku alone like she has been?"
Kagome sank deeper into the steaming water. "Inuyasha…won't let her." Staring into the reflective surface, the miko saw her nightmare replay. Inuyasha embracing Kikyo and finally they kiss each other. "If she's near, Inuyasha can keep her safe. For that reason, he'll beg to have her stay."
"Yeah, that sounds like him, that idiot." Sango huffed. Her tone made Kagome look up in curiosity. "Why do after someone as cold and careless as Kikyo when he has you? Stupid idiot."
The way her friend for defensive for her made Kagome smile. "Sango-chan…" Just as Kagome's worries began to alleviate, the bushes behind Kagome began to rustle and she rushed up to the other side of the pool where Sango was already hefting her trusty Hiraikotsu.
Thinking it was a monster, Kagome was surprised when a very familiar youkai came walking through. "Of course she's nearby! You think I wouldn't know when my own woman is around?" Kouga shouted behind him. As he looked over, finally noticing there were others present, he froze and his face turned bright red upon seeing Kagome…
"Ahhh!" Kagome's scream rang out through the forest and Inuyasha – the hanyou having an argument with Kikyo before heading off to stay close to protect Kagome – came barreling in with Tessaiga drawn. "What is it? Kagome, are you all right?" When he saw both Sango and Kagome hiding bashfully behind Hiraikotsu, bare and glistening, then he saw Kouga barely able to stand, well let's just say he didn't take it well at all.
Inuyasha's brow twitched once...twice... "Wimpy wolf, how perverted can you get?"
Kouga growled and tried to compose himself, but his face was still bright red. "Me? Who's the one spying on them?"
Inuyasha swung Tessaiga threateningly. "I wasn't spying! I was protecting the last shard from Naraku!"
Pointing at Kagome, Kouga shouted back, "Oh, so you're saying you don't care about Kagome?"
"Of course I care! More than you ever will!"
"Ha! You got a strange way of showing it!"
Both boys stopped when they looked over and saw the girls had gathered up their belongings…and left.
"Well I just came to tell my sweet Kagome that she wouldn't have to worry about that brat, Hakudoshi, anymore. I took care of him." Kouga announced proudly.
Everyone in the room gasped. "Bullshit! No way he'd be defeated by someone like you!" Inuyasha scoffed.
"It's true." Ginta backs up. "We were there."
Hakkaku nodded. "With Goraishi, Kouga's unstoppable."
"Goraishi?" Kagome questioned.
Smirking, Kouga brought out the four-pronged claw weapon of his ancestors. "With this, I'll teat Naraku to pieces."
"Naraku will not be defeated by that. Besides, Naraku allowed Hakudoshi to be killed. It's the only explanation." Kikyo entered the conversation suddenly from her spot on Inuyasha's side.
Kouga brought up his weapon and glared at the miko. "You smell of grave soil and bones. Just like Naraku's shichinintai. How do we know you're not one of his detachments?"
"Kikyo isn't on Naraku's side!" Inuyasha cut in with a growl. "She's been fighting him as hard as any of us!"
Kouga noticed Kagome's downtrodden expression upon Inuyasha's words and frowned. "What is it with you and her?" The wolf leader recalled Goraishi. "I thought you already claimed Kagome as your woman. Or what? Have you finally given up and admitted she belongs to me?"
"Hell no! Touch Kagome even once and I'll slice you in…!" The hanyou stood up and put his hand on Tessaiga's hilt just to emphasize his point.
"Yes, he has." Kagome interrupted.
"Eh?" Both Kouga and Inuyasha exclaimed.
Looking up, Kagome put on a weak smile. "He has given up. But – I'm sorry, Kouga-kun. I don't belong to you either." Her eyes brimming, Kagome stood up and left the hut.
Miroku, from across the group, could see Kikyo smirk upon her departure.
"K-Kagome!" Inuyasha called out.
"Let her go, Inuyasha." Kikyo held onto his haori with one hand.
The hanyou paused and looked down into Kikyo's expression.
Kouga growled and raised a fist. "What the fuck? One's not good enough for you? How dare you hurt Kagome this way! I should kill you where you stand!"
"Kouga." Miroku raised a hand. "Perhaps we should take this outside." The monk nodded once and led the wolf youkai out of the hut.
Once outside, they could see Kagome sitting near the village well, her knees up to her chest with her head hidden in the crook of her arms. Yet even from this distance, Kouga could smell her tears. "Ok monk, you got my attention. Speak."
"Kikyo-sama was a powerful miko who once protected the Shikon no Tama 50 years ago. Back then, it seems, she and Inuyasha were together to a point."
"Hmph, she doesn't look 50 to me."
"That's because Naraku killed her in order to obtain the jewel."
"Eh?" Kouga crossed his arms. "That explains a lot."
"Before she died, she sealed Inuyasha away where he was released by Kikyo's reincarnation – Kagome."
"Kagome isn't anything like that bitch! What gives?" Kouga wanted to rush to his woman's side, but knew there was more to this tale he needed to hear.
"Naraku tricked Kikyo and Inuyasha into hating each other in order to defile the jewel." Sango came out of the hut next, the air too tense for her – or Kirara and Shippo for that matter. Both demons joined Kagome silently in her moment of grief. "Once Kikyo was revived Inuyasha choose her and Kagome decided to stay with him despite that."
Kouga was shocked and felt bad for Kagome even more. Kagome…I'll make Inuyasha pay for hurting you.
Kagome knew she shouldn't get openly upset, especially with Shippo present, but her worst fears were playing out. Inuyasha was moving away from her, towards Kikyo, and Kagome was going to have to accept the fact that he didn't need her by his side anymore.
Tightening the hold she had around her knees, she tried to collect herself enough to stand up and brush it off like she always did.
Gasping, Kagome felt as if something icy had brushed against her body and her eyes shot open. A disturbing air blew and the girl stood up wondering what could have given her such a chill. Barely hearing Kouga complaining to Miroku and Sango, she opened her senses and looked around carefully.
Shippo, recognizing that look, got worried. "Kagome?"
There! She could see it! The aura of the almost completed Shikon jewel. But that meant…! "Naraku!"
Through his invisible barrier, Naraku's tentacles shot out towards Kagome and wrapped painfully around her – their thorns digging mercilessly into her skin.
"Kagome!" Kouga and the others jumped into action and came rushing towards the materializing Naraku. "How'd the hell he get this close without me smelling it!"
Kagome cried out and grit her teeth as she was slowly pulled up to Naraku's face. "His barrier…it's…gotten stronger."
"So it has." Naraku chuckled. "And with the last shards in my possession, no one will be able to stop me."
Inuyasha and Kikyo had just come out of the hut and the others were still out of range. More of Naraku's tentacles wrapped around Kagome and already his shouki was making Kagome close to passing out. From behind one of the huts, a chain went whizzing by Naraku's face and his tentacles were cut up into pieces.
Kagome fell towards the ground only to be caught by Kouga. "I got you!" He exclaimed and bounded a little ways from Naraku before settling down. "Kagome, are you alright?" Looking at her, there were puncture wounds all over her body and her clothes began to soak with her own blood. But with his sense of smell, Kouga could tell Naraku's shouki was poisoning her from the inside.
Despite this, Kagome nodded weakly. "I-I'll be ok. But he got the shard…"
"Who cares about that! You're hurt!" Kouga stopped her.
Gasping, Kagome looked up shocked. Usually Inuyasha was always worried about the shard. Now here was Kouga, in a similar situation, worried more for her.
"Kohaku!" Sango exclaimed as her brother pulled back his chain and caught the sickle by the handle.
Naraku smirked. "Oh? So they are all here…" Kouga with his two shards, Kohaku with his one, and now the dark lord had the miko's last shard. "Kohaku, it seems you've regained your memory."
Kohaku nodded. "I won't be your slave anymore! For what you did to me and my family and comrades…I will send you to hell!" Running forward, Kohaku twirled his chain and threw his weapon towards Naraku.
Naraku laughed and sent three of his glowing pink tentacles towards the boy.
"Kohaku, no! Hiraikotsu!" Sango threw her youkai-bone boomerang and Naraku's tentacles were cut in the middle.
Jumping up, Kohaku aimed his attack at the jewel in hopes of getting it away from the monster.
Naraku simply erected his barrier and deflected the attack. "Such pitiful attacks won't work on me."
"Yeah well try this one for size! Kazu no Kizu!" Inuyasha released his red Tessaiga and aimed it for Naraku's barrier. The red hued shield shattered under the blast and right behind that Kouga raised Goraishi.
"I'll be the one to destroy you!" He swung the claws in a wide arc and part of Naraku's armor blasted into pieces.
"I'll take those back now…" Naraku raised his hand and caught Kouga by the throat using the other hand to jam into one of his shins. The wolf leader cried out and swung his weapon again just to get away.
"D-damn it!" He landed on his injured leg and rolled to a stop.
"K-Kouga-kun! Kagome exclaimed.
"Keh! That's what he gets for interfering!" Inuyasha scoffed and rushed at Naraku. "Naraku! You'll pay for what you've done!" He said and began swinging for another Kazu no Kizu.
This time, Naraku raised the new defiled shard, his fingers covered with Kouga's blood, and narrowed his eyes. As Kazu no Kizu reached him, it veered and flew over him…right towards…
"Kohaku!" Sango cried out.
Not being able to move out of the way in time, the blast hit him straight on and he was blown back, the shard flying free of his body.
"NOOO!" Jumping onto the transformed Kirara, she bounded over Naraku and flew to her brother's side. Miroku rushed underneath her in order to give her cover.
Naraku smirked as another shard came to be in his possession. "One more…"
Kagome could see his aura increase tenfold and the color of the jewel get even darker. How…how can we defeat him?
Sango cushioned her brother's head in her lap and felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Kohaku…why did you have to fight him? Now you're…its all my fault. I was supposed to protect you that day."
Kohaku could feel his blood drain out the back but shook his head, having been prepared for this for a long time. "No Aneue, it wasn't your fault and you've always protected me. I may have not been able to help much, but now I can see Father and everyone…knowing I…." Closing his eyes, his body dissolved into nothing but dust and Sango looked down in sorrow at the mere clothes that were left.
"Kohaku…"
Kouga struggled to stand up while Inuyasha merely kept Naraku busy with his repeated attacks. That miko, Kikyo, merely stood with her bow out – watching emotionlessly from the sidelines.
"Inuyasha, you cannot defeat me." Naraku reassembled himself once more, armor and all.
"Maybe he can't, but I will." A new voice, followed by a blue energy attack made Naraku jumped back onto one of the hut's roofs.
Naraku saw the newcomer and growled. The older brother would be harder to deal with than Inuyasha. He fought without feeling and split second decisions.
"What the hell is everyone doing? We outnumber him! Let's go!" Kouga rushed forward and raised up Goraishi one last time. "Take this!"
Sango wiped away her tears and stood up. "Hiraikotsu!"
"Kongousouha!"
Sesshoumaru scoffed and merely swung his sword once. "Dragon Strike!"
Kagome, though weak as she was, stood up and pulled back an arrow. "Naraku, your life ends here!"
The four attacks all hit their mark and dust and debris were thrown high into the air. Thankfully Kaede-baachan had gathered everyone upon Kagome's suggestion in case Naraku came to the party early.
"Did we do it?" Shippo wondered.
Kouga looked around but when the dust cleared, there wasn't any sign of Naraku. "Dammit it!"
Kagome saw the same defiled aura appear behind Kouga and she shouted a warning to the wolf leader. Naraku's tentacle ripped through his other leg and the shard came free as Kouga was thrown into a tree.
"It's all here." Naraku held up the completed jewel. "After so many years of searching, it's all here."
It was at that point, Kikyo pulled back her arrow and shouted, "Naraku!" Her arrow flew and when the dark lord attempted to make a barrier with the jewel, Kikyo's arrow tore through it and struck home. Naraku grunted and watched in horror as the jewel was instantly purified by the miko's power and already his body began to melt under her command.
"K-Kikyo…you bitch!" Naraku still had the jewel so staying was pointless. He would deal with them all with time. Preparing to leave, he was shocked when Sesshoumaru jumped forward, Tenseiga raised. "What?"
"Tenseiga?" Inuyasha gasped.
A fierceness that had been absent in the dog demon amplified in the sword as he brought it down and literally cut open a crescent shape hole in the air itself.
Naraku attempted to flee, but was slowing getting pulled in by a force greater than that of Kazaana. "Sesshoumaru, seal me away and I will come back to destroy your descendants."
"Then try doing it in pieces, Naraku! Kongousouha!" Inuyasha slashed and the deadly shards rammed and pushed the demon lord through the hole where it closed like a lunar eclipse.
After returning his sword, Totosai had explained that Sesshoumaru could open a hole in space itself and send whatever he wanted through it into oblivion. The more he used and mastered the technique, the crescent shape would grow into a full moon circle.
Kikyo came up and picked up the jewel that lay on the floor. "It's over…"
Kouga, unable to use his legs, crawled over to Kagome. "K-Kagome…are you ok?"
Kagome looked over at Inuyasha and saw him staring with a daze at Kikyo. "Y-yeah."
Sango cried into Miroku's chest as the monk himself looked upon his un-cursed hand for the first time in almost 15 years. So much had happened that day and everyone needed to heal. But for some, at least, their revenge had finally been carried out.