Welcome to Chapter 11. This will be the final and longest chapter. I'd like to say thank you to all of my reviewers. You guys mean the most! I hope this story has been satisfying. I have a little quote for you below. The last part is the real part I want you to see, but it doesn't sound good without the rest.
Parting Quote: Who needs action when you've got words? "Plateau" - Nirvana.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, X-Men, or any Marvel related issues, ideas, or creations. I only own my original characters. (Jarato, Jareto, Chariel, & Risha). I do not own Nirvana's song, "Plateau".
An Unexpected Trip
Chapter 11: The Final Battle
The group found themselves in a large black marble room, nearly identical to the entrance hall. Torches were hung on the walls in rusty iron hooks, producing the only light and giving the room an erie glow. Jarato was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?" the little kitsune asked, his eyes bright and searching through the dim light.
"He should be here." said Chariel, confused. "I sense his aura."
Sango gasped and pointed towards the back of the room. Kagome stood their; silent and pale. She ran forward to her friend and shook her shoulders. The schoolgirl gave no response.
"Kagome! Are you ok? Kagome, speak to me!"
The priestess's hand flung out and struck Sango, sending her sprawling to the ground. The demon exterminator stared at the schoolgirl in surprise, clearly caught off guard.
"Kagome, what's wrong with you?" Inuyasha shouted angrily and taking a few paces towards the teenager.
"She's possessed." exclaimed Chariel. "Jarato has possessed her soul! Damn him. We have to knock her out. Then her body will be useless to him. Be careful; we don't want to hurt her. That's exactly what he wants us to do."
"Knock her out? How are we supposed to manage that, without hurting her?" grumbled Inuyasha.
Miroku was the first to act. He ran towards Kagome and struck out at her with his staff. She grabbed the shaft and flung him across the room, as if he was dirty laundry. Sango rushed to his side and helped him up.
"We have to work together on this. We need to distract her long enough to strike." said Logan. "Sango, I need you to throw Hiraikotsu at Kagome. Then, Shippo, run at her like you are going to attack, then use your leaves and multiply to confuse her. Miroku, you and I will attack Kagome. Try to aim a blow to the back of the head. And be careful!"
"Hey, what about me and Chariel!" Inuyasha protested. Chariel just gave Logan a nod.
"You two are far to strong. You risk hurting Kagome. It's better if you just sit this one out."
Inuyasha huffed and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. Chariel smiled and did the same.
"When I count to three, everyone will do just as I told them. One...two...three!"
Sango flung Hiraikotsu at the schoolgirl, it's path closely followed by Shippo. Kagome blocked the giant boomerang and saw Shippo coming. Suddenly, over a hundred little kitsunes surrounded her. She swatted at them with her hands, and the true Shippo jumped on her head and bounced off hard.
Logan saw this as their cue and ran towards Kagome, followed by Miroku. He struck out at the girl, but she grabbed his arm, holding it tight in her hand. She grinned and began to squeeze his arm, attempting to crush it. Then her eyes went blank, her grip loosened and she fell face-first onto the cold floor. Behind her stood the monk, his staff in his hands.
They stepped back as Kagome's body convulsed. Black smoke drifted off of her body and up into the air, taking on the form of Jarato. He gently touched down and faced the group. He frowned.
"You ruined my fun you ignorant monk!" he sneered, jumping up and down like a little child. "Maybe I should have some fun with you!"
The soul stealer's fist collided with the monk's forehead, sending him flying back into the wall. His head snapped back on impact and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Sango gasped and ran to his side.
"Miroku!"
"That'll teach you to laugh at my friends!" piped up the little kitsune with bravado.
He bared his teeth and shrieked, throwing black fire at the little demon. Luckily, Shippo ducked just in time, the flames only hitting the tip his tail. He grabbed his tail and violently blew on it, tears in his eyes. Inuyasha charged at Jarato with the transformed Tetsusaiga, striking out at his back. The blade made a clean slice and blood poured from the wound. Then it slowly healed over and closed.
"Damn it. I forgot about his healing powers."
Jarato burst out into another fit of his high pitched cackles.
"That is only the beginning, little mutt." he reached down and lifted up the flask, holding it to his lips. He tilted back his head, letting the contents poor down his throat.
His body shook and quivered. A line of spikes sprouted from his spine; a single horn protruding from his forehead. His claws curved and became jagged. His skin boiled, as if maggots dwelled beneath the surface. Jarato let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell to his knees, blood pouring from out of his eye sockets and down the rest of his body, staining like tattoos. He looked up at them with blood red eyes, filled with pure hatred. The transformation was complete.
"Brother? Chariel, what are you talking about?" Logan questioned, looking from Jarato to Chariel.
"I am Jareto." he said, ashamed. "I was shunned amongst the wolf demons. They said I was to gentle...to kind to be like them. Yet, the villagers trapped me in the tree, just the same as my brother. I broke out to stop him."
A blue fire consumed the boy. When the flames receded, there stood a tall man with long black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He wore all black, except for a little white necklace around his tanned neck.
"You mean...you two are brothers? Why didn't you tell us this before?" Logan shouted angrily.
"I was afraid you would attack me...and I would be forced to hurt you." he pulled out his katana and faced the demon that was his brother. "It's time to put those souls to rest!"
He lunged at the demon, his sword connecting with Jarato's claws and ricocheting off with a clang. He struck out again slicing off one of the demons spikes. Jarato cried in pain and slashed out, claws tearing down his brothers chest and ripping his shirt in a shower of blood.
Inuyasha lashed out with his katana, slicing through the Soul-stealer's ankle. The bloody part fell to the ground and wriggled. He hanyou smiled. Jarato landed next to his severed limb. The foot flung over to his nub with a strange attraction and began to slowly knit itself back together. Logan sprung into action and stabbed Jarato through the back with his adamantium blades as his body attempted to heal. The demon flung around and slashed Logan across the face.
The mutant and demon were caught in a storm of blood and claws, each injuring and healing again. The demon grabbed Logan's hands, and pushed his metal claws to his chest. Jarato grinned evilly with blood staining his teeth.
"And what do you have without your little claws. Nothing." the demon grinned again, but this time it was Logan's turn to laugh.
"Metal skull." he smashed his head violently against the side of the demon's face, smashing the blood vessels around his eyes. The demon screamed in pain and scratched at the side of his face, drawing even more gore.
Inuyasha laughed and struck with a Windscar. It slammed into Jarato and sent him flying into the cold rock wall. He lay there in a bloody mangled heap. Slowly the flesh once again began to knit itself together. Logan raised his claws to attack again.
"No, Logan! Only my sword can harm him. It is an ancient magic bestowed upon me by my father. Stay back! You will only be hurt if you proceed."
A fully healed Jarato caught Jareto off guard and buried his claws into his back, blood streaming from the wound. He spun around and slashed at his brothers face, slicing off his horn. The demon's hands flew up to the wound and he kicked out at his brother, striking him in the face. The sword flung out of Jareto's hand, falling on the floor beside him. He grabbed a hold of his brother from behind and held his back to his chest.
"Logan! Take the sword and stab through Jarato's heart! Do it now, before he gets away!"
"Chariel...Jareto, I can't. I'll kill you too!"
"Just do it, Logan. It's the only way to save these poor souls. If I must sacrifice myself in doing so, I will!"
Logan took the sword in his hand and walked over to the two struggling bodies. He held up the sword, ready to strike.
"Jareto, I can't do this. I'll kill you."
"Logan...you must."
The mutant plunged the sword into Jarato's chest and it sliced though, passing out of his chest and into Jareto's heart. Both of them gasped as hot blood poured from their mouths and ran down their chests. Jareto's eyes closed and he gasped a final breath.
"Thank...you..."
With those final words, the brothers fell to the floor dead. Crimson regret and guilt pooled around their still warm bodies. Then something happened; something beautiful. The souls of the dead began to rise out of Jarato's body, spiraling into the top of the tower. They spun and danced, moving in a wave of brilliant color. Passing through the ceiling, the souls left; finally at peace.
Shippo ran to Jareto's body, tears welling in his little turquoise eyes. He hugged the bloody body. His little hands reached up to the man's neck and he unclasped the necklace that hung around it. He held it tightly in his hands.
Inuyasha was waking up Kagome. She appeared fine, but was still a little dizzy and had no memory of what had happened. Miroku and Sango were fine, along with Kirara. Logan and Inuyasha carried out the brother's bodies. They buried them under the tree, were they had been held as prisoners for so long. In the bark they carved: Jareto Chariel. They left Jarato's grave blank.
The group started on a day long journey back towards the well. They had recovered the shards from Jarato's dead body. Each had been pressed into different sections of his flesh. They had thrown his body into the hole and left him to rot. Kagome had said a prayer over their former friend, Jareto Chariel.
At the end of the first day traveling, Logan sat down in the forest to think. So much had changed since he first came to the feudal era. Even he had changed quite a bit. His thoughts drifted to Jean. The sound of a cracking stick and footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
"Logan? We're leaving soon." he turned around to see Sango standing in her kimono, no longer dressed as a woman of war. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing." he sighed and turned his head away from her. He didn't want to tell anyone about Jean.
"You can't easily shun me." she sat down besides him and smiled. "I can play the same games as you. Now tell me what troubles you."
"Just someone I really cared about...they died a while back. I haven't gotten over it yet."
"Believe me, I'm not faking empathy. Everyone has lost someone close to them. Only time will heal the pain." she smiled and took Logan's hand, standing up. "Now come on, we've got to get you back home."
They walked through the brush, making their way towards the well. They emerged to see everyone waiting for them. Sango realized she was still holding Logan's hand and blushed, quickly letting go. Logan smiled and approached the well. Kagome gave him a shard and took the rest for herself.
"Well, here we go. Are you guys coming with me? To get the shard I mean."
"Of course we are, Logan!" Kagome said, smiling. She jumped into the well, and the rest followed after her.
They pulled themselves out of the well and onto the cold dirt floor of the shrine. A little boy dressed in a soccer uniform sat on the steps waiting for them. He looked exactly like Kagome, right down to the black hair and facial structure.
"Souta, what are you doing out here?" asked Kagome, clearly not expecting the welcome.
"Grandpa says you have visitors. They are all dressed in black. I think one of them is a demon, like InuYasha."
The group followed the little boy, Souta, into the Higurashi home. In the kitchen around the dining table stood three figures.
"Logan? You're alive...and...what are you wearing?"
He looked over to see Storm, smirking and looking him up and down. Apparently she was amused by his haori. Next to her stood Scott and Kurt. Even though Scott was his rival, he sure was glad to see him. Shippo eyed Kurt from atop the mutant's shoulder. He hoped down and sniffed at the blue creature.
"You're a mutant like Logan. Souta, that's silly. He isn't a demon at all." Kurt smiled.
"This is Storm, Scott, and Kurt." he said, introducing everyone to his old friend's.
"The professor got worried. He sent Scott and Kurt to help me look for you. He picked you up on Cerebro just a few minutes ago and sent us to this location. Who are your friends?" asked Storm.
"Inuyasha, Miroku, Kagome, Sango, and this little guy is Shippo."
"Hey! I'm not little!"
"No...not that little. You proved that in the lair." he fondly ruffled the little kitsune's hair.
"We need to get back. What was the disturbance anyway, Logan?"
"It was Inuyasha. He's...he's a half demon. It's a long story."
Logan walked over towards the door and towards his X-men friends. He looked back upon the strange group, looking them over. Kagome was young, but she was smart and he knew she had many journeys ahead of her. He knew even though Inuyasha pretended not to, he loved the young girl. Shippo may be small, but he'd grow to be a powerful demon one day. Even Miroku and Sango were close to eachother...possibly even love, though like Inuyasha; unwilling to admit it.
"Well, I have to go home now. Thanks for the help. Goodbye." he turned to leave, but felt something tugging on his haori. He looked around and it was Shippo.
"I-I wanna give you something." the little kitsune held out an object wrapped in a left packet. "Don't you open it until you leave! Promise?"
"I promise." The little kitsune jumped up and hugged Logan around the neck. As Logan left the house he could see the little kitsune fighting to hold back tears and be a little warrior.
They boarded the Blackbird in the forest and Logan took a seat in the back. His hand strayed to the packet Shippo had given him. He pulled back the leaves and out fell a white necklace. On the top was carved a little sword on what looked like a jewel. He pulled off all of the leaf wrapping and uncovered a piece of paper.
On the paper was a drawing the kitsune had made. Inuyasha and Kagome stood next to each other. Miroku and Sango were there too. He was drawn next to Miroku, a little crayon Shippo on his shoulder. And beside Logan was Jareto. He felt a little tug at his heart...and he knew he would miss them.
End Chapter
Well, that's all! I hope you guys liked it. It was very fun to write. I loved dreaming up this little story. Now that it is done, I can focus on Believer! I hope you all check that out too. Thanks so much for keeping with the story. Review responses are below.
Dmitri Cassidy: My favorite reviewer! Thanks so much for reading my story...and inspiring it! You've been such a good friend and driving force. Thanks so much for being there.
inuyasha-backlashwave: Thanks for reviewing chapter ten. I'm glad that you find this combination interesting. I hope you liked the ending!
sinnerx2: Thanks for all the reviews. I'm glad you thought the story was original, Jarod. Hopefully, you will remember it and finish it! Haha.
Taeniaea: Thanks for being so enthusiastic towards the chapters! I hope you like how it ends.
CIRE: Make me blush thanks! I'm glad you love the story so much. This chapter was for you. I really hope you liked how it ended. Thanks for all the complements!
invisibleman: I added a little bit of Sango/Logan in there. Just a hint. I hope you liked it and thanks for reading my fic.
Inuyasha's hun: I hope I didn't make you wait to long to read this! Thanks for sticking with my story.
cole atcitty: He didn't meet Rogue. I love her, trust me. I just didn't find it necessary to put her in. I hope you like it though...it is an interesting mix.
I love you all. You guys kept me going. I hope you keep track on my other stories too, including Believer. Thanks so much for sticking with it!
- Katie/Kitsume