HeavensNightingale-Pretty name, anyway, Thank you.
Jewelclaw Lady of Wind-Hmm, sounds like you are a definite fan of InuYasha. Oh, is the ice lord going to save our little species confused bunny? (Smiles.) I believe you shall have your answer.
Suuki-Aldrea- (Nods) Have at it. Umm, just tape record it for me, and no souvenirs for me please and Thank you. (Nods to your request.) Update on it's way.
Rena Moon-Of course, I have all these near death escapes, now one does border on the line...hmm what to do? Anyway, (smirks) yes, why does that sound familiar?
Unspoiled Rini-(Laughs gently) K, I'll update soon.
Queen Diamond-Ah ello', well then I shall soothe some of your anticipation.
SailorVeggie-K, you have my word.
Firehedgehog-(Tilts head.) We'll see. :D
Jessica-You've migrated..which means you are trying to draw my attention back to Holiday Fun, huh? No worries, I will finish that story as well, I just got to follow my inspiration..wherever it goes.
Flame Ivy Moon-Okay, that's fine, school's a higher priority anyway. Thanks, and I try.
Raine of Darkness-Nope, didn't die, just mentally exhausted.
BIG THANKS to everyone who reviewed, and no ownership.
The creases from his pace upon the grass floor, had hardly a second to imprint before carrying further into his alighted direction. Sesshomaru had his fangs bared lightly, as he flew across the area into the section where his nose drew him to go. His mind was working quickly as he came upon Usagi held within the dark hanyou's grasp. "Naraku." He growled out, his one claw resting on the hilt of tokijin.
Naraku laughed at the reaction of the Inu lord, but his eyes slitted as the rest of the group caught up to the tension filled space. His gaze fell on the disgusted, but struggling priestess Kikyo, who held Kaede in her grasp. "Kikyo, fooled again." He hissed out. Kikyo straightened her glare level with him.
"Release her Naraku, and I'll give you back the jewel." Kikyo responded, one hand shifting from beneath Kaede to show Naraku. Kaede who was fading in his sister's arms, gasped, and reached to take away the offer. InuYasha stepped up beside her, Kagome resting on his back, he gave a fiery gaze to his arch-enemy. Kouga, Kagura, InuTashio, and Hiten stayed back guarding the children that followed.
Naraku sneered at the growing group, catching his eyes on the ones revived from life. A smirk grew upon his lips as Sesshomaru stepped forward threateningly, and he realized another power of Usagi's. "So, Bioijin-ko, you have the ability to bring life back to the dead." He purred aloud, aggravating the youkai lord, and Usagi by resting his head upon her shoulder. Naraku smirked wider as he felt the power thrumming beneath him, one of his hand's left their perch around her caught arm, instead sneaking around her waist. "However, you disobeyed me Bioijin-ko, and that must be punished." He added with a small gaze of lust toward her.
The group grew tense as Naraku continued to ignore them, and flaunt his easy control of the situation. Kagome hugged InuYasha from behind, worried about the tigress. InuYasha feh'd gently and unwound her from his shoulders. He placed her beside the silent monk, and demon slayer, drawing Tetsusaiga he turned angrily to Naraku. "I always knew you were weak Naraku, but to cower behind a female is going beyond what I thought." InuYasha crowed, leaping toward the distracted hanyou, Tetsusaiga whistling through the air as he brought it down to call on the wind scar. However, his blade was blocked by a glowing Tenseiga.
"Fool." Sesshomaru ground out, pushing back his younger sibling. "He is drawing power from her." He pointed out with a sneer, and placed Tenseiga back within it's sheath. The group stunted at the comment, and sure enough they saw Naraku leeching energy from the caught demoness. They had reacted to the immediate situation of Kaede's injury that they rushed after Naraku without plan. Without the ability to act, the group stood upon a pendulum of anxiety.
Usagi stood painfully within the grasp of Naraku, staring sadly at Kaede, feeling the dying life force. She gazed down, her eyes aligned on the clawed hand that had lengthened it's nails with a shard embedded in them. One nail laid precariously upon the Ginzuishou, and he was slowly shoving his nail into it. Usagi, wanting to show no weakness or pain faulted for a moment, her face bleached white at the strain, a small whimper escaped her lips.
The whimper that fell from her lips, echoed in the ears of the tense ones, and made them snap. However, it wasn't InuYasha who reacted first, no, instead, a powerful arrow was heading toward Naraku, along with the familiar blade of tokijin. At the sight of the arrow, Naraku growled looking toward Kagome, only for everyone to note it was Kikyo who fired the arrow. He let Usagi go from one of his arms, and wheeled both of them out of the way. "Foolish Kikyo." Naraku scolded, missing the silent blade coming near his unoccupied arm. Drawing his powers, he lashed out a limb toward the living dead priestess, impaling her as the others cried out in shock.
Usagi blanched angrily as Naraku pulled back his bloody limp. Whatever fatigue, and fear she was implored by vanished and she called upon the last of her reserves to summon her demon half. She wrenched away just in time to see Sesshomaru slice through both of Naraku outstretched limbs, who had been aiming to slay InuYasha.
Naraku laughed and pulled back his flesh quickly flying toward him and reattaching. Leaping backwards, quickly avoiding the furious strikes of a depress InuYasha, and a discontented Sesshomaru, he vanished from the sites. His voice leaving a lasting impression, as his message entered all of them. "I may have failed in retrieving the tigress, but you now have two deaths on your hands." He cackled out, and his wasps appeared in front of the last visible part of his baboon pelt. InuYasha, Kouga, and Sesshomaru sliced through the wearisome insects, yearning for revenge. Yet, as the last wasp fell at their feet the baboon pelted one was no where to be seen.
Meanwhile Usagi stumbled toward the sister priestesses, the leeched energy swamping her moments, and she fell to her knees beside them. Laying a tired hand on her ginzuishou, she raised her other above the other two. Kikyo coughed, blood leaking out the corner of her mouth, one hand grasping her sister's, she turned her amber eyes and struggled to form words. Usagi could read the apology in the eyes of the misguided Kikyo, and she smiled compassionately. "I'll give you your second chance." Usagi whispered promisingly, pushing off the call for sleep. Kikyo, acknowledged the forgiveness, still struggling to speak, her hand tightening around Kaede's. The clenching awoke the olden priestess, who had been focusing on easing the pain of her breathing. Kaede turned to her sister with a smile and understanding dawned between them before they both turned pleadingly to Usagi.
"No." Kikyo croaked out at the same time as Kaede.
"You cannot." Kaede ordered lightly, fighting for the breath to coherent her thoughts. Usagi either didn't hear or didn't care, for she gave her familiar compassionate smile before the weak light of the ginzuishou speared from her and enveloped the trio. The pulsing power drew the other's attention, and they realized to late the consequences of Usagi's actions.
As they light spread from the concentrated healing, covering all of our heroes. The light then pulled back to the dome it had originated from, still hiding the forms of Kaede, Kikyo, and Usagi. Sango glanced down as she felt someone hug her around her waist, tears of happiness flooded her eyes as she noticed Kohaku's head resting just beneath her shoulder. Miroku smiled softly at the tender scene, before clutching his right hand in pain. Casting a scarce look at his wind tunnel, he noticed that it had been visibly shrunk at least half it size. He knew only Naraku could remove it or his death, but he enjoyed that he was given more time. Kanna blinked away the spots of life, drawing her first real breath, laying a hand over her beating heart. She could feel the soul warming her from within and she walked toward her amazed sister Kagura. The rest noticed old scars and new wounds fading from their presence. Sesshomaru was left with the surprise as the return weight of his left arm, and his eyes strained toward the hidden three.
Finally the weaken light faded away, leaving the amassed ones shocked. Where there once laid three bodies, now whispered nothing. For not one hair was to be seen of Kaede, Kagome, and Usagi. Sesshomaru felt a tightening, both in the region of his heart, and his throat. Unsure of his condition of these new reactions, his world was brought to a stop as the familiar cry of, "Lord Sesshomaru." drew his attention to little Rin. Whose eyes were stained red, she yelled for his guidance while kneeling where Usagi was last seen. Beside her was Shiori, both leaning against each other crying for their lost mother figure. His feet lead him to the two girls, and without knowing why gathered the two in his strong arms, leading them away from the accursed spot.
InuYasha sat staring at the space were blood still stained the grass. His eyes visibly replaying where he couldn't protect Kikyo from the hit from Naraku, and then that image being overlaid with Kagome as well. He raised one of his claws to his chest, and made a shallow cut across his abdomen. Kagome gasped as she noticed the action rushing toward him in haste. The blood dripped down his chest in a silent promise to avenge Kikyo's fall, and to protect Kagome at all cost. As Kagome tried to patch the cut, he drew the worried future priestess to him, and kissed her harshly.
Kagome squealed in surprised, but didn't get the chance to respond, as InuYasha pulled back. He stared into her eyes, a dark promise in them, and she nodded. She hugged him, as he lifted her into his arms, and nodded to his normal group. Sango held Kohaku close to her as she, Miroku, Shippo and Kohaku mounted Kirara. "Come, I owe Naraku a death." InuYasha claimed quietly, and sprinted in the direction that Naraku had left toward.
Kagura wrapped a shocked arm around Kanna, absently vacant toward the disappearance of her friend. "Usagi." She whispered quietly, withholding the tears that rested on her eyelids, instead focusing on Kanna's grief and drawing enough power to summon her feather. Unable to flow through the grief, Hiten scooped her up, along with Kouga picking up Kanna. Placing away their emotions they took off toward Naraku's castle.
Jaken walked toward his stony lord, his eyes visibly misty, for only knowing the blonde demoness all of a couple days. InuTashio also walked toward his silent son, taking Shiori from him to comfort the small girl. Sesshomaru held the crying Rin with confusion, and buried misunderstood hurt. His stance, mannerisms, and eyes revealed nothing, as he was always scripted as, but Jaken didn't miss the sharper stance of his lord. A growl escaped his throat as his nose caught on the vile stench of Naraku, and with a whisper of his speed he raced toward Naraku's hideout.
Far away, three bodies appeared in a very familiar room, with very familiar people.
Ah, I think I'll forgo my comments on this one, if you don't mind. Don't worry, nobody is dead yet...Some things have been righted, and it seems that the fall of evil or its rise balances on the edge. I wonder about the questions sure to come. Please review,
Much Care,
WolfchildBlazer.