"The End to the Feudal Fairy Tale"
Chapter 15
Author's Notes: I just realized that it has been a month since I updated again! I'm so, so, sorry everyone! I didn't notice that the time had passed so quickly. So, where were we? Yes, they're all set for the final battle! Plan gone out the window? Naraku even more powerful? All players assembled? Check! On with the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. And I don't care if you're giving her away free, I DON'T want Kikyou! mutters Cold, undead man stealer! All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. This story is mine though, so please respect it.
"It is time that you gave me what is rightfully mine."
"What happened to him?" Kagome whispered.
"I don't know." Miroku held tightly to the beads wrapped around his right hand.
"I'm scared Kagome." Shippo curled closer to her neck.
Sango stood in shock. Her plan had been utterly shattered.
Inuyasha growled low and dug his nails into his palms. "Naraku."
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Kagome blinked back her terror. Before her now stood Naraku, instantly recognizable, yet monstrously changed. Long black tendrils snaked their way out from his back, twitching with anticipation. Contorted, scaly arms, six in total, jutted out from Naraku's sides. His pale skin had grayed considerably and, she gulped, his face was no longer human. It looked as though someone had stretched it out, pulling the top into several pairs of horns. Lines of purple adorned his cheeks and four dark sockets held glowing, furious red eyes.
Her hands shaking slightly, Kagome managed to pull the bowstring back. Naraku continued to grin as the group stood frozen momentarily. "Naraku!" Kagome yelled, releasing her arrow. It flew, turning pink as it went, cutting through the air. She held her breath as it connected.
The sky brightened, then dimmed. "Oh? Just what were you trying to do there I wonder?" said Naraku.
"It didn't work?" Sango gasped.
"Why didn't it break the barrier? My arrows should be able to hurt him!"
"Dammit! He's got a new trick." Inuyasha growled, cracking his knuckles. He moved forward, blocking Kagome.
"Not so fast, Inuyasha." One of his scaly arms wriggled free and gestured to his side. "You may want to rethink your actions."
From out of nowhere, two smaller figures walked into existence.
"Kohaku!" Sango held a hand to her heart.
"The Tetsusaiga." Kagome whispered.
"He wants to dangle our victory in front of us, eh? Conniving bastard." Inuyasha spat, "Well, then, we'll just take it from him!" Inuyasha charged in, only to be repelled by a very large barrier.
"What the hell?" He landed in a crouch, skidding along the dirt.
"Tsk, tsk, Inuyasha. My power has grown, and now my barrier will not even let you get close." He smirked coldly, eyes blazing. "But try and suffer Inuyasha. I have waited far too long for your miserable death."
Suddenly, Kagome caught movement out of the corner of her eye. "Inuyasha!"
He turned. "Wench! Get back!"
Watching Naraku, the group had lost trap of the beast, Mouryoumaru. He now lunged down from above, focusing on Kagome. She started to move as the blade came down, but Kirara reacted faster, snatching her away while the others scattered. That was all the encouragement the group needed to start fighting back.
Setting Kagome unceremoniously on the ground, Kirara continued to run, picking up Sango on the way. Together, they flew high into the air, boomerang ready. Below her, Miroku raced toward Mouryoumaru, a few paper charms in hand. Kagome stood to join them.
"Stay there Kagome-chan! We can handle this!" Sango yelled.
"Keep an eye on Inuyasha for us!" Miroku smiled. "And don't worry."
Her heart fell. Her friends were yet again rushing into mortal danger without her. She was a good fighter too. Why couldn't she help?
"Shit!"
Kagome spun on her heels in time to see Inuyasha slapped backwards by one of Naraku's whip-like appendages. He flew back and hit the ground with a dull thud. Kagome bit her lip. It was going to be hard for Inuyasha not to transform in a battle as serious as this without Tetsusaiga. Miroku was right; she was needed here. Holding Shippo tight against her chest, she watched nervously.
vvvvvvvvvv
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango released her trusted weapon at the monster. It whizzed through the dark air, cutting it crisply spinning right through Mouryoumaru's arm. The boomerang swung around to meet Sango in the air. She surveyed her attack. It had gone through, but the hole was closing up. "Can nothing hurt this creature?" she shouted.
Slinging a charm, Miroku watched anxiously. The charm connected, but after a moment, slipped off, completely ineffective. "It's not truly a demon. I don't know what to do with this thing." he muttered, turning left to avoid a slashing arm.
"Miroku!"
He looked up to see her panicked face. She was focused on the air above him. Following her gaze, he watched as her boomerang slicing through the creature's arm yet again. This time, the arm was damaged enough to fall off. It was currently on its way to the very spot that Miroku currently occupied. Without hesitation, he pulled off the prayer beads and cried out, "kazanna!" The fallen arm was sucked into his cursed hand.
Mouryoumaru roared. His right side bubbled and a new arm struck out as Sango. It connected. With a sharp intake of breath, Sango found herself hurtling in the air. She closed her eyes tight with the pain, and stretched her arms and legs wide to slow her fall. A buzzing sound filled her ears. A moment later, she felt something brush against her outstretched hand. Fur met her touch and Sango grasped it instinctively, pulling herself onto Kirara's waiting back.
She patted the fire cat gently. "Good girl."
"Sango?" Miroku narrowly avoided being stomped into monk goo.
"I'm okay-" she huffed.
Sighing with relief, Miroku darted into a run again. "I think I have an idea! Look!"
Clearing the little dots from her vision, Sango struggled to stare at Mouryoumaru. She paled, "Saimyoushou!"
"Yes, ignore them! Look!" It was difficult to stare past the buzzing poison bugs, but she managed. The creature seemed- shorter. "It must not be able to generate more flesh." she said softly. She understood.
"Ready?"
"But what about the Saimyoushou? If you absorb them-"
"Never mind them, I'll be fine. Ready?" Miroku's face was steeled with determination.
"Whenever you are!" she yelled in reply. There was no arguing with Miroku when he looked like that. Sango mutely prayed for his safety before urging Kirara into a dive, targeting the base of the left wing. The flesh looked thinner there. "Maybe if we do this in parts, we can weaken it so that Miroku won't be poisoned. Kirara!" Pulling around a wide swipe from the creature, Kirara resumed her dive.
Racing to catch up with the flying duo, Miroku did his best to distract Mouryoumaru. "Come on big guy, over here!" Sure enough, an axe-shaped hand crashed down into the grass just behind him. "Close call." he huffed.
"Hiraikotsu!"
Raising his arm over his head, Miroku again pulled the cloth and beads from his hand. "Kazanna!" Sango collected her boomerang in time to watch as Miroku absorbed the wing and several Saimyoushou along with it. It was impossible to see the effect though as she had to avoid being slammed ground ward by two angry fists the size of huts.
vvvvvvvvvv
Kohaku waited patiently behind Naraku. He was fairly occupied fighting Inuyasha at the moment, but that didn't mean that he wasn't watching his back. Nervously, he shifted the blade in his hand. When the opportunity presented itself, he'd have to be ready to strike. If he could just hit the baby, maybe he could do it. Warily, Kohaku turned his attention to his sister, Sango. She had just dodged another hit from the creature, Mouryoumaru. He could only hope that she'd be okay and that she would forgive him.
vvvvvvvvvv
Continuing to watch, Kagome grimaced. Sango and Miroku were having a tough fight, though they hid it well. Inuyasha still hadn't managed to land a hit though. Each time he lunged forward, the barrier repelled him. This wasn't getting them anywhere. To top it off, she couldn't help. No matter how hard she concentrated, Kagome couldn't seem to find any weak points on Naraku. There was no way to get inside the barrier and take the Tetsusaiga. Staring ahead, she noticed something. "Kanna?" What was she doing here with that strange baby?
She thought out loud, "Well, the stone the baby carries conceals demonic energy. That would explain how he got here without us noticing." Kagome tapped her finger lightly against her chin. "That baby is tied to Naraku's humanity, I just know it! But how? Well, it's the only incarnation that can't fight. But what does that have to do with anything? It doesn't matter anyway, we can't get at it." She grumbled with frustration.
"Kagome? You're scaring me." Shippo shivered.
"Sorry Shippo-chan!" Kagome gulped. She'd completely forgotten she was holding him.
vvvvvvvvvv
"Where are you going, priestess?" Sesshoumaru gazed icily at the stirring woman.
"Do you see what I do?" she calmly replied.
Turning his eyes back to the fight below, Sesshoumaru scoffed. "My foolish brother is beating his head against a wall and the others are locked into a battle that they cannot win."
"Look closer."
Frowning, he complied. "The monk is absorbing too much poison." He noted airily. "The slayer is in pain. The wolf will not last long. Naraku is toying with their lives."
"And my reincarnation?"
"She does not appear to be participating."
"Which is why I must now interfere." Kikyou picked her bow up and, with resolve, reached back for an arrow.
"Just what is it that you desire, priestess?"
She paused, as if to consider the question before resuming her walk. Quietly, Sesshoumaru followed. Whatever the priestess was up to, his mission remained the same. The Tetsusaiga, the fang of his father, would be reclaimed.
vvvvvvvvvv
Kouga landed a kick, forcing Kagura's feather into a downward spiral. "It's better if you keep your eyes on your opponent." he scoffed. "You ain't so tough when you're on the ground!"
Her feather disappeared as it approached the dirt. Landing slowly and with astonishing grace, Kagura eyed the wolf prince warily. "It is better if you do not underestimate your enemy." She swung her fan coolly, sending waves of cutting winds forward. Inwardly, she grimaced, if only she could keep a closer eye on Naraku and Mouryoumaru, maybe then she'd have a chance.
He dodged, leaping to the left and tumbling back to his feet. A small hut shattered behind him. Kagura immediately attacked again, but with many more blades. As he moved, one connected with his leg. Kouga winced and rolled heavily to a stop. "Damn." Without his jewel shards, he couldn't keep up. Still, she and the creature had ruthlessly slaughtered his tribe. He would fight until his body crumbled if it meant avenging his pack.
With a grunt, he got to his feet and promptly stumbled. Kouga shifted his weight uneasily. Pain shot through his right leg. It felt like a twisted ankle; he must have landed too forcefully on it after that last injury. Luckily, Kagura seemed once again distracted.
Kagura spared a glance over her shoulder. Just what was Naraku playing at? Without the sword, there was no way that Inuyasha could touch him. Even the priestess seemed powerless to break it. Why not simply kill them and take the shard then? She frowned. Pride. Her eyes widened. It looked like he was trying to poise an attack on the girl while Inuyasha was busy. She had to do something. If the girl died, Naraku would win. Turning back to the wolf, Kagura scowled as he stood again. Didn't he know when to quit? An idea struck her.
"You are a fool to continue." she called.
"Oh yeah? Well you're the fool!"
"Idiot. Your remaining time could be much better spent."
"Huh?" Kouga stared up puzzled. Just what was she implying?
"You really are dumb." Kagura whispered, pointing carefully to her left.
Keeping one cautious eye on the wind witch, Kouga looked where she'd indicated. Inuyasha was being smashed into the ground by several black tendrils. Nothing unusual there. The monk and the slayer were swarming around the monstrous creature, striking fruitlessly. Kagome was standing back, bent down and talking to the little fox. This had to be a trick- His thoughts froze. A single tendril was snaking its way along the ground, looping away from the others and heading straight for-
"Kagome!" He yelped, running heedless of Kagura and his throbbing leg.
vvvvvvvvvv
Kagome absently held Shippo tighter as Inuyasha was lashed into the ground yet again. Silently, she prayed that he wouldn't transform. "Kagome- you're squeezing too tight!" Shippo squeaked, clamoring out of her vice-grip hug.
"Sorry!" she blinked and set Shippo onto the dark grass below.
"Inuyasha-" Shippo hid behind her leg. "Is he gonna be alright?"
"Sure he will." Kagome coaxed. "He's invincible, remember? It'll be alright." Holding her tears back, she patted the little fox gently on the head. Bending down, she continued, "Do you remember your mission, Shippo-chan?"
"Huh?"
"You're going to protect Kaede and Rin-chan, right?" She tapped his nose lightly.
"Kagome-"
"Nope, no complaints, you promised." she chided.
"Oh, okay." Straightening up, he puffed out his chest. "I'll keep them safe! But you have to promise too!"
"Shippo-chan?"
"Promise me that when it's over, you'll come back."
"Of course, Shippo-chan!" Kagome smiled brightly.
"Promise?" his eyes were wide, but set with determination. It almost made her cry.
"I promise."
Once the child was out of sight, Kagome found that she could no longer hold the tears back. They fell freely now as choked sobs fought their way out. "I've gotta do something." she whispered. There just had to be a way to help Inuyasha, but she couldn't even scratch Naraku, let alone fight him. Kagome blinked hard, a dull glow from her skirt pocket pulled her gaze down. "Wait. I've got the shard, I can feel it here. Why isn't he going after it?" Kagome let her eyes trail up to meet Naraku's, shivering slightly at the coldness there. Why was he leaving her alone when she couldn't attack and she possessed the last pure shard? She stared deeper, trying to uncover something, anything-
All the while, Naraku's tendril snaked along the ground, waiting for the right moment.
"Kagome!" The deadly attack drew nearer and Kouga forced himself to dive forward.
She broke the stare. "Kouga-ku-" Kagome felt herself knocked back by the force of Kouga's charge. He pulled her tight against his own body before they rolled into the dirt.
"Wha-"
"Don't talk." Kouga grumbled. "Move!" He cringed as a wave of pain rushed over him. "Naraku, that bastard."
Kagome stood, quivering a little. "Kouga-kun, what happened to you?"
"I said move!" He rolled her back to the ground to avoid another attack from the lone tentacle, ending up covering her with his body. Leaning back, he ground out, "Naraku's targeting you too, he'll kill you if you're not careful-"
"Kouga-kun!" His words were cut short as the tendril crashed through his chest. Kagome just stared up at him, watching his eyes roll back. Suddenly all of his weight was on her and she could scarcely move. "Kouga-kun, kouga-kun, kouga-kun-" she repeated, panicking.
"Kagome! Dammit! I'll fucking tear you apart!" Apparently, Inuyasha had caught on. On top of that, he was still controlled enough to construct small sentences, and that was a good sign.
She wriggled free of Kouga's limp body, her eyes wide. "Please be alive, please be alive-" Laying him down cautiously, Kagome for a pulse. She waited, pleading with her mind; Kouga had to be okay. There. After a few seconds, she found his pulse, weak, but still there. He was still alive. "This is the second time you've nearly died, this time was my fault too, I didn't- I couldn't-" she sniffled, looking away.
"Inuyasha?" She saw him then, standing up a few yards before her. He was bleeding from a large gash across his chest; his eyes tinged with red. Swallowing hard as her stomach lurched, Kagome quickly pulled a hand to her mouth to hold back the nausea.
"What's the matter, Inuyasha?" Naraku coolly taunted, "Do you not care for my little game?"
Inuyasha just growled.
"Please Inuyasha! Don't transform! You have to fight it!" Kagome yelled.
"I know, wench! Besides, I don't need to be a fucking demon to kill this bastard!" He put a hand to his gash and drew blood under his claws. Swinging forward he released several red blades.
They bounced harmlessly off of the barrier.
"It seems that this dog cannot learn any new tricks. Perhaps we should put him down?" With an evil cackle, Naraku sent four of his tentacles at Inuyasha, each from a different direction. The jewel shard in Kagome's pocket flickered.
vvvvvvvvvv
"Miroku, you've got to stop this! It's killing you! There's nothing to heal you here! This won't be like Mt. Hakurei, you'll die!" Sango pleaded from overhead, narrowly missing another of Mouryoumaru's strikes.
"Then let me finish this!" Miroku clenched his teeth as he fought for consciousness. He was kneeling now, supporting his right arm with his left and breathing hard. Miroku forced a smile. He probably wouldn't survive at this rate; he'd already taken in more of the insects then he'd thought possible. "I've got to do this."
"No! I don't care, you can't!" pleaded Sango.
He was going to do it.
"Please!" She forced Kirara to fly at Miroku as fast as she could.
The winds began to swirl and Mouryoumaru grumbled angrily.
Kirara started to pull away. "No Kirara! Keep going! We'll make it!"
"Kazanna!"
The tug of the winds was strong, but Kirara was far enough away to stay in the air. Sango grabbed her fur. "Why? Why won't you listen to me? Either of you!" Her eyes watered uncontrollably. "I can't just watch him die!"
"Sango-chan?" Kagome hissed, hearing her friend's wail. She turned in time to watch as Miroku sucked in the rest of Mouryoumaru, along with everything else in the area. "Saimyoushou-"
There was a cacophonous roar as the last part of the monster was absorbed, but Miroku wasn't closing the void.
"Miroku!" Shrieked Sango. Kirara finally complied and arced around, landing swiftly behind Miroku. "You've got to close the kazanna!" she begged, grabbing his shoulders roughly.
"I- can't-" he tried.
"You can! And you will, I'll help you!"
"But you'll be-"
"No. I'll be fine!" she replied, failing to put any cheer in her voice.
Slowly, Sango reached forward and took his left hand; it was still holding the beads and his other arm firmly. "Now, on three. One-" she held his outstretched arm with her other hand. "Two-" Miroku lifted his left hand, grasping the cloth as well. "Three!" In a whirl of motion, the cloth and beads settled around his cursed palm and the winds ceased.
"We did it! You see!" She hugged him from behind.
"Miroku?" Sango's face fell. He wasn't responding. Moving to see his face, she blanched. He was deathly pale and his hands had turned cold. "Miroku?" she rasped.
"S-san-go-" he wheezed.
"I told you that was too much! I told you! I tried- I tried to-"
"I kn-ow."
"But I-"
"Shh." Miroku forced himself to stay awake through sheer will. He had to let her know now. "San-go. I- I- love yo- u. P- pleas- se, li-ve. Fo- for me-"
"Miroku!" she pulled his hand to her face. "Please don't say that. You're not going to- You can't! I'm going to be your wife, remember? I need you!" Sango felt her face grow hot, but she didn't care. What did it matter if Miroku wasn't with her anymore?
"San-go-" His eyes slid closed and he slumped over.
"No." she whispered in disbelief. "You can't be-" She cried; cried in front of her mortal enemy and her friends without shame. He killed Miroku. It was all his fault. "Damn you Naraku!"
vvvvvvvvvv
Kagome fell to her knees. Not Miroku; he couldn't be. "Sango-chan-" She watched as the slayer rose to her feet and grabbed her boomerang. Sango's bangs hid her eyes as she walked towards Kagome. Her steps grew faster and Kagome stared, wide-eyed as her friend broke into a run at Naraku.
"Damn you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, successfully interrupting the battle between Inuyasha and Naraku.
"Oh, she looks a bit upset, wouldn't you say?" Naraku mirthlessly grinned. "Boy!"
Kohaku gulped mutely. Now he was supposed to attack his sister? When she'd just lost someone else important to her?
"Boy? I gave you an order!"
"Yes milord." Kohaku stared ahead, playing the role of the puppet. Maybe he could- His mind raced, he had one chance and he was going to have to take it.
"Kohaku?" Some of the rage drained out of Sango's features and she slowed her approach, stopping just shy of the barrier a hundred yards away from Kagome. "Kohaku!"
"Now, destroy her."
"Yes milord." Kohaku started to spin his chain overhead. He had to wait for just the right moment. Naraku was watching him now, but his eyes were moving to Sango. Good.
There was a thud. Sango dropped her boomerang. Her tears were obvious to the world now. "If you must kill me, then please, kill me!" she wailed. "I can't take it anymore! You say to live, but I can't live without you!"
Kagome froze, horrified. She loved him that much? What if- What if the same thing happened to Inuyasha? Could she go on living? She bowed her head; she understood her friend's plight. An icy chill rolled down her spine.
"Oh? How sad. Let me put you out of your misery; I will even allow your own brother destroy you."
Kagome couldn't watch anymore. Where was Inuyasha?
"Now you should know better than that, Inuyasha!" Suddenly, several of Naraku's tentacles reached around to his flank and grasped something that howled.
"Inuyasha!" she gasped.
"Fool. You thought you could sneak up on me?"
A snarling Inuyasha was lifted off of the ground by four tentacles, now constricting around his body. A snapping sound made Kagome flinch. She stared again, his eyes were still golden and there were no stripes on his cheeks. If he hadn't changed, then there was still hope.
A clang of metal made Kagome turn her head. It all happened in slow motion. Kohaku's blade swung forward, then back as he turned. The weapon darted out for the child in Kanna's arms. She stood still, unprotected inside the barrier. Naraku dropped Inuyasha to the ground in order to focus his attention on the events behind him. The tentacles reached for Kohaku, two were sliced clean in mid-air but the others did not falter. Kagome watched the terrified and determined face on Kohaku as the tendrils pierced his body. The blade stopped short of Kanna and Kohaku's body crashed to the ground.
Time finally caught up and Kagome thought that she should run, but her legs wouldn't move. She wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't flow. She wanted to shout to Inuyasha, but her voice had gone. Instead, Kagome sat entirely stiff, blankly watching Naraku collect Kohaku's shard and Sango slumping to the ground in a heap. Inuyasha had gotten up for some reason, but her mind couldn't make sense of anything that was going on. It had to be some kind of nightmare.
"So you tried to betray me? Useless." he chortled. "And you-" He regenerated his two tendrils. "Kagura, I knew you were a traitor, but you have proved that you no longer serve a purpose. To openly attack your master, really." Pulling something small and red from the void that surrounded him, Naraku clenched it tightly. Kagome wearily tilted her head back and followed Kagura's body as it shook and crashed to the ground, motionless.
Inuyasha was distantly aware of Kagome's fear. He tried to force the demon blood down, but it surged with every blow he took. Nothing was hurting Naraku, he'd failed his friends, he'd failed Kagome. All he could do was growl an apology.
The smell of death and destruction surrounded her and she trembled. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. Kagome was left helpless to watch as Inuyasha could control himself no longer. The familiar streaks of purple were tracing their way along his face, his teeth growing longer, claws becoming sharper, eyes bleeding red.
In her prone state, Kagome was vaguely aware that Naraku's attacks were aimed at her. Inuyasha kept running and slashing in their wake, blocking the deadly strikes with his body. Each time, he howled in pain, but continued his assault.
"Yes, Inuyasha. That's it. I want you to suffer as long as you can."
The jewel shard at her hip had nearly dimmed to black.
vvvvvvvvvv
"How much longer do you intend to watch?" said Sesshoumaru.
Kikyou returned his stare for a moment before speaking. "I must wait for the right moment."
"I see." He replied, expression unchanged.
Kikyou would have smiled, but every movement was becoming taxing for her body of clay. She had to wait. Wait for Naraku to finish killing Inuyasha and go for the shard. Then, Naraku would meet his end and her revenge would be complete.
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A/N: Please don't kill me for ending it there! I promised you two chapters and this is the first of them! It's all boiled down to this point where Kagome, Kikyou, and Inuyasha are the pivotal characters. To remind you, the plan was to meet with Naraku elsewhere, try a trade with a false shard (on her neck), then when exchanging, grab the Tetsusaiga so that no matter what, Naraku wouldn't have the last shard…it didn't exactly go as planned at all. So why invest the time in the planning? Because that's what I think the group would have done. Anyhow, look forward to the final chapter, I promise a conclusion and perhaps, surprises? Please review! Let me know that you're still interested!