Hello. Sigh...if this chapter seems rushedplease forgive me. Sorry for the long update too. This chapter has been revised two times, but well...you tell me what you think...

Disclaimer: Me: I don't own Inuyasha...(tightens grip on gun) now didthose lawyers go...

Lawyers:(crouchingbehind the sofa) We are so sueing!

Chapter Seventeen: Midoriko's Target

Inuyasha charged into the room to see Naraku standing over two bodies. He knew one of them was Kiyoshi, but he was shielding the other one from view. He sniffed the air and froze. The second one smelled of blood, tears, and the faint sweet scent of flowers. It was familiar…then he knew it that dreadful moment, it was his daughter who was dead on the floor. His chest tightened and his mind raced with denial. No, he thought. Kai couldn't be dead!

His grip on the Tessaiga slipped and the blade hit the floor with a clatter. The discarded blade shrank to its useless size. He clenched his fists, his claws impaling his palms.

"Naraku!" He growled with such hatred. His head was lowered veiling his eyes from Naraku. "Why?"

"I believe the question is, why not?" He replied his voice slick as grease. "You brought this upon her you know. Half-demons aren't suppose to have families. It's unfortunate that your daughter must pay the price for your existence. But-." He shrugged. "You'll have to live with the guilt, not me." Naraku noticed a change in his adversary, but didn't flinch.

Inuyasha looked on at Naraku, with the scariest pair of red eyes that he couldn't even begin to imagine. Purple lines appeared on his face and his fangs grew longer and thickened. His claws extended beyond their normal length. Naraku was no longer staring at a half-demon, but a full demon with a rage that made the fires of hell seem like little sparks.

Inuyasha had turned into a full-demon through his rage, a mindless murder, which was ironically similar to the dark side of Kai. There wasn't any thing that could save Inuyasha from his madness now.

Golden eyes flickered opened with a gasp. The room was still spinning and the sick feeling of having no stomach awakened Kai. She couldn't move; her body was paralyzed. She was detached, feeling no pain. Her vision was still clouded, but through the mist she saw her father and his sword…on the ground!

She knew what that meant. He didn't have the blade to suppress his demon blood. Forgetting that her body refused to move, she tried to roll forward. Nothing happened. She had to reach her father and return his sword before he was killed, or worse…his human side would disappear. Kai feel pain in her right foot. She couldn't move to assess her injuries, but slowly her pain returned. Her nerves were on fire. It was beyond any pain she had ever experienced. Silently she prayed for release, but nothing came. She began wonder why she wasn't dead. Then a thought struck her. Perhaps this was Hell.

Her right hand twitched its own accord. It wasn't much but it was movement. Kai felt like screaming and demanding her body to move. But to avail. She was about to give up hope, when her attention drifted to a fight in front of her.

Naraku and Inuyasha began to fight. The converted half-demon slashed wildly that Naraku's left, then his right, missing both times. Naraku chuckled as he gently sidestepped his numerous attacks. The tax was mounting of the other demon's body, but he wasn't hindered at all. He would wear his flesh away before he finished fighting. His craving for blood blinded his common sense.

The Jewel glinted in Naraku's pocket. If Inuyasha had been himself he would have lunged for it instead to dove from his neck. He clasped his flesh drilling his lethal claws in. Naraku exhaled and stared at the Inuyasha in shock. The demon slipped his claws out and readied another attack. Naraku seized the opportunity to punch Inuyasha in the gut sent him flying into the wall. After what seemed like a long time he slowly got to his feet. His eyes still blazing red.

Naraku grabbed the Jewel and black light circled around his wound and was healed. He grinned. The Jewel was very useful. He rammed it back into his pocket and ran at Inuyasha with a sword.

Seeing him approach his swung out his arm and knocked the sword away. Naraku followed up the defense and punched Inuyasha in the face. Inuyasha rammed his left hand through Naraku's chest, his claws sticking out the back. Naraku then clutched the other demon's throat. Inuyasha pulled his hand back through the hole and Naraku froze. As powerful as he was, that was a serious wound. He felt the Jewel grow hot in his pocket and burn through the cloth. The small black orb fell to the floor and rolled out of his reach. It distracted him, giving Inuyasha the opportunity he needed.

The next thing Naraku knew he was laying on the ground, with claws through his hand. Blood pooled on the ground beside him. By now the floor was nearly completely covered with blood from Naraku, Kai, and Kiyoshi.

Inuyasha withdrew his claws. He froze. Another person entered the room. He swung around to see two women with long black hair carrying bows. "Inuyasha!" Dimly he registered the shorter of the two calling him. Tears welled in her beautiful brown eyes. "Inuyasha!" She ran forward, ignoring the fact he was a full-demon. He raised his claws to meet her halfway, but stopped. He picked up her scent, which was so familiar. Suddenly, he had flashbacks of the last time he smelt her scent in his full-demon form. She was his mate.

Kagome noticed he lowered his claws and sped up. Her body slammed into him while enough force to push him backwards, with her on top. He blinked confused and rubbed the back of his head. "Wench!" He shouted, his golden eyes glaring at his wife. "That hurt!"

"Inuyasha," She sighed in relief. "You're back to normal."

"Back to normal?" He asked confused. He looked around feeling sick at the sight of all the blood. He saw Naraku standing up, clenching the Jewel with a malevolent grin.

"You failed to kill me Inuyasha." He said mockingly. Movement behind him drew his attention. He squeezed the Jewel and Miroku and Kohaku appeared, possessed. "Now you must fight your friends." Kohaku threw his chained sickle at Inuyasha who ducked it.

"Damn it," Inuyasha said. "Kagome, get the Tessaiga!" He called back to her. She nodded and ran out to grab the blade. She passed by Kai. Her heart felt like splitting, as she forced herself not to look at her fallen daughter. She grasped the hilt and then she felt a staff connect solidly across her back. Kagome cried out in pain, but continued with her mission to retrieve Inuyasha's sword. Miroku lunged in another attack, knocking Kagome to the ground. She crawled desperately to Inuyasha who was preoccupied with Kohaku. Miroku had grabbed her ankle and stopped her. She blindly kicked him with her free leg.

"Inuyasha!" She cried out. She didn't want to hurt Miroku, but she had to. One lucky aimed kick smashed his nose. He suddenly stopped completely. Kagome felt horrible. His nose was broken and bleeding wildly.

Inuyasha appeared and relieved Kagome of the sword and continued to fight. Sango appeared wobbling, leaning on her weapon for support. (I can never remember how it's spelled, so bare with me…)

The other woman still stood in the entrance watching the fight with amusement. Her attention was drawn to Kai. The girl was slowly moving. With a grin, she thought. She really is my reincarnation.

Kai felt the numbness replace her feeling. She still felt detached as she struggled to sit up. Naraku noticed her and gasped.

"But you're supposed to be dead."

"Do you really think I can die that easy?" She demanded. She was surprised her voice was stronger than she imagined. It resonated in her bones giving her the strength to stand out straight. She wobbled but stared down Naraku in defiance. "Nothing can kill me. Especially not you." Her condescending tone matched his.

Naraku stared at her. His grip on the Jewel tightened. He brought it to his chest, right over his black heart. Suddenly, out of nowhere Kohaku's sickle came at the back of Kai's head. "Ha!" He said as the flying blade went straight for Kai's neck. The girl looked backwards. She panicked. It was going straight for her neck and she skidded backwards. The whirling blade narrowly missed its target. Long black strands of Kai's hair felt to the ground. Kohaku's weapon hacked off half her hair. Kai stared stunned at the newly cropped ends of her hair. She thankful it wasn't her neck, but her hair…

Her eyes opened wide as she held a particular strand of her newly cut hair. It was silver. Kai knew what that meant. Lifting a shaking hand she felt the unmistakable texture of her beloved dog-ears. Looking at her hands she noticed her hands had long black claws. She was back to normal.

She looked back at Naraku. He was staring at her with an odd expression. Kai smelt his scent wavering between his foul one and Katsuo's shady one. She smelt something else too. Pure fear.

"What the hell?" He shouted. Kai had transformed in front of him without her apparently noticing. He pressed Jewel closer to his chest. Kai noticed his soul grew dependent on the Jewel.

"How pathetic." She said. "You are nothing without the Jewel." She saw Midoriko ready her bow in the back. Kai knew, with a rush of anger, that she was using Kai as a distraction, bait. She growled. The stronger miko winked and released an arrow. Bright pink light filled the room. Everyone stopped to watch the shooting star. Naraku froze. His body was paralyzed. The arrow was heading straight for his back. He tried to move again, but couldn't.

"Help me!" He cried, his voice a blend of his and Katsuo's. They knew death awaited them both. The arrow burned straight through the flesh on his back. Before anyone realized what just happened the arrow exited through his chest. The Jewel was knocked from his grip. The arrow pushed it out and forced it forward.

Naraku fell to his knees and looked out at the cursed arrow as it buried itself in Kai's chest. With a bright flash of pink light, she staggered backwards. Midoriko's arrow had shot through its target and hit Kai embedding the Jewel in her chest. The world went blank for Kai as she fell backwards. Everyone stared in horror as the scene played out as if in slow motion. She hit the floor with a thud. Her eyes were wide open with black tears trickling down her pale cheeks. The light from the Jewel glowed a bright pink. It was purified and Naraku was dead.

Miroku and Kohaku collapsed on the ground; the spell was broken. In the depths of the cave Kasumi saw the cursed metal shackle on her wrist fall to the ground with a clatter. Naraku was truly dead.

Everyone crowded around Kai. Midoriko closed her eyes and her body slowly faded leaving her bow behind. Her ghost returned to the Jewel, to Kai, where it belonged…

Sorry if this sucks. It's probably the worst way possible to end this story, but I'm afraid my writing is just one disappointment after another. Hopefully the last cahpter will be better...then again I don't think it could get worse...Oh listen to me moan in self-pity. Just review...hell, flame me if you want, just for the love of all that is good...give me some feedback!

SMR