Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)

Authors Beginning Note: The movie War of the Worlds was my inspiration for the last half of this fic. So yay War of the Worlds!

>A forewarning This chapter does get gory graphic, so if you're not into that, I highly advise you to skip the part after the scene with Kouga and the wolf clan, and if you do skip it, inform me in a review, and I'll give you a…er…a less descriptive 411 version of it.

Shout it outs!

Rayame325: Thanks for the encouragement! I really appreciate it.

Things flowed more freely after a nice relaxing cat nap in the sun and an enjoyable evening at the movies. Though...my inspiration made my story a bit twisted...eep.

Flamesofhtemoon: I was actually conteplating them to be snobbish, but decided against it, just becasue that would cause more conflict than I think would be necessarry and its good to come across a happy ending type of story too.

I'm greatful to hear that you're able to follow my story line so well. I worry about that, b/c I know that I'll understand it but I have to wonder if others do, after all they can't see it the way I do. So I appreciate it!

MoonKitii: Bad Naraku is about to be worse in this chapter. I'm talking like demonic terrible two's. (insert dark suspenseful music here)

Chapter 71

Immortality born of a Child

She pounded the ground and a hails storm of razor leaves erupted, slicing both foes into many unrecognizable pieces. She huffed deeply. She knew she was wearing out. Her movement were getting slower. It wasn't just her either. It seemed that Kouga was the only one who had strength to keep going as determinedly as he did.

"Ayame look out!" She turned as a weapon-like appendage was aimed right at her. She fell forcefully, with the body of another on top of her. She felt warm liquid run across her and quickly sat up.

"Kouga!" He grasped his shoulder, blood draining out quickly. He had taken the hit for her. Instantly, the other four wolves moved in for tighter protection.

"We're not gonna make it like this." Ginta said.

"I don't want to hear it." Kouga gritted his teeth and tried to stand up. He fell onto his knees.

"Don't even think that. If you give up, than you really are a dead man walkin. We didn't come here to get slaughtered or to give up when it seemed too hard so don't give me that crap!" Ginta smiled.

"Right boss." He and Hakkaku said together.

"What are we going to do about your shoulder? You can't fight in the shape your in! Not until we stop the bleeding, I…" A monk slowly stumbled their way. Mariko went to strike.

"Wait! stop!" She hesitated. He coughed weakly and took a moment to compose himself.

"I am already dieing. If you wish me dead, all you have to do it wait." He leaned heavily on a worn smooth staff.

"What do you want old man?" Kouga growled.

"I know I am dieing and I have lived a long life but you have much left to live for. I merely wish to spend my last minutes on this planet helping, instead of killing. I can heal your shoulder and give you rest. If only for a little bit." He took to a fit of coughing. Kouga thought this over and nodded. Their situation wasn't going to improve any. Some things had to be risked.

"All right. What is it you need us to do?"

He sat down heavily next to Kouga.

"I need you to relax and for them to carry on for just a little bit longer." He placed his hands on Kouga's shoulder not waiting for any reply. A soft hum vibrated from his finger tips.

"I'll be Fine Ayame. You help the others." Ayame hesitated but slowly left, guarding him and protecting the others to her fullest capabilities. A sudden barrier surprised them. Their attacks met their enemies, and that was the last thing to get in or out.

"If you would come closer, I may be able to make it smaller and have it up longer." They followed the aged monks suggestion and sat, marveling at Kouga's shoulder.

"It will be stiff, but you will still be able to use it. Just don't injure it too badly."

"Thank you. What is your name?"

"Yasuo. I am Monk Yasuo." He said before falling asleep. His body was still and calm. The barrier held for hours, enough for the wolves to at least take shifts to sleep and replenish their energy. Relaxing completely was impossible, especially seeing too many attempting to break the barrier or coming at them.

Many a time they wondered if they monk would wake up, but he never did. It was a sad parting when the barrier fell and his body was forced to be left behind as they had to meet their next challenges in battle.

Kagome pressed her hands against her ears in pain. The whispers were harsh and venomous.

"Get out."

"Evil Miko Witch."

"You shouldn't be in places you don't belong."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

She took a step into something wet, like dipping your feet into a shallow lake. She heard the ripples echo forever.

"Go away!"

"Little girls shouldn't go in places they don't belong."

The smell is what hit her first. Like tangy metal and acid. It made her dizzy.

"Be gone!"

"If you treasure your life, you should leave now, while I have pity."

"Go away or die!"

A light shone in the darkness, like the moon on a lake at night. Only the water was red. Kagome screamed.

"Depart from this place."

"I never want to see you."

"Run, little girl, run."

Bones and half rotten corpses could be seen just under the lake of blood. Only as shadows in the darkness.

She cried.

"Run away!"

"Die."

"You too shall join them soon enough."

I'm trapped…in a nightmare…I don't know how to get out…Inuyasha…someone…please save me…

Only a path of stone and rotted wood lead to the source of light.

She started running as fast as her legs could dark her. She stumbled and her face was splatterd with red syrup. A cold fleshy hand would reach out to her. She would scream and stumble back up to her feet. She felt her mind reel as if she were going insane.

"Not that way."

"You'll never escape."

"See the many I have killed."

"Don't think I would hesitate for you."

The closer she got, the louder a new noise became. A loud wailing cry that hurt her to hear. She just wanted it to stop. Her energy was being sapped right out of her and she felt wobbly.

"Get out!"

"Leave me alone!"

"Don't look!"

"Don't touch it!"

She pushed herself past the last slippery stone, feeling as if slime covered her competlely. She all but collapsed in front of the lone malicious purple cradle that appeared before her.

"A baby?" She looked into the blankets and at the pale skinned child of black hair and dark eyes. She looked at its bottle horrified. Dried bones and hair floated in a syrum of thick crimson. It took a sip and spit it out. Wailing as if the stuff was acid that had burned his tongue.

"Are you-Are you the heart of Naraku?" She trembled.

"Leave it alone!"

"Put it back!"

"Don't touch it!"

She picked it up and coddled him. His cries became small whimpers as he snuggled closely into a place where he felt safe and warm at last.

Kagome felt herself drop and landed upon harsh ground.

"Where am I?" A loud raging voice met her ears. She couldn't escape it.

"Kagome! Move or you'll get killed!" Sango cried in horror. Arms wrapped in red cloth scooped her up and she felt the wind blow her hair. She shook and trembled, clinging to the very body that she felt safe in, just as the infant in her arms did.

"Kagome. Kagome. Kagome!" It finally registered that Inuyasha was right in front of her, having set her down. She was in hysterics and couldn't stop shaking.

"Blood. There was-dead. All of them. Dead. Blood. Flesh. Bottle." Her eyes were dialated. Inuyasha didn't know what to do as he felt fear creep into his heart.

"Inuyasha. If we don't do something, she'll go insane. She might even die!" Sango said just as fearful. Shippo hid in Kirara's fur. Miroku felt at a hopeless loss. Kirara roared, getting Miroku's attention long enough to discover a dangerous occurrence.

"Naraku's disappeared." He whispered. A dark laugh surrounded them and Kagome shook even more.

"Foolish Girl. She doesn't even know what she has done!" He cried with glee that sent shiveres down all of their spines. The baby in Kagome's arms started screaming again and Inuyasha's ear flattened.

"Naraku. What did you do to her." Inuyasha growled with every fiber of his body. His look was dark and the thought of tearing him into pieces was a very tantalizing one in deed.

"The question is what she did to me."

"Than tell us. What did she do?" Miroku ventured. His knuckles were white as he gripped his staff dangerously.

"Finally! I am rid of the last fiber of humanity in my body. I am now immortal. A full fledged demon. The strongest being alive, all thanks to that girl!" He laughed loudly. Dread ran through their bodies as they looked at the child in Kagome's hands. The child looked innocent of any crimes, its innocence seemingly not yet lost.

The realization that they were against the equivalence of a god hit them.

"Kami above save us." Miroku said. Inuyasha growled.

"This don't change a thing. I'll kill him if it's the last thing I do."

"But what about Kagome!" Shippo cried. He shook her shoulders and wept like the newborn in her cold arms. Inuyasha curbed his anger as he looked inter her lusterliouse eyes.

"Do you think You two can cover for a bit?" Sango and Miroku both nodded painfully. Should Naraku attack, it would be their jobs to face him. And if they didn't, they would probably loose Kagome forever.