Chapter 51: The Final Battle Part 1
Sesshomaru stood outside his hut. The sun glowed on him, making his silver hair shimmer. Kaori was dressing Joo-yun and guess what? It was the middle of the day!
'Always late. I bet he would miss his own funeral,' Sesshomaru thought angrily.
"Joo-yun, stay still!" Kaori exclaimed in the hut.
"I hate this dress," Joo-yun whined.
"Yes, but we're going to meet with guests, so wear it!" Kaori demanded.
Some rustling was heard inside and Sesshomaru sighed. Yes, it was always trouble to get their daughter into a dress. She preferred her kimonos, especially the one Sesshomaru got her that had the dogs on it. Kaori had nearly kicked him out of the hut for an entire day for it, for it was supposed to be for a much older person, but Joo-yun always used it when she played dress up with her doll. And when some of the village girls her age came over, they also played with her. But only Joo-yun wore that kimono.
Finally Kaori and Joo-yun came out, Kaori and Joo-yun growling. "Having a nice day?" Sesshomaru asked sarcastically. Kaori whacked him across the head angrily and he rubbed the sore spot for a while. "Hey, just a joke."
"I'm not in the mood," Kaori growled.
"I can make-" Sesshomaru started, but Kaori glared at him, her eyes almost slits and he shut up. She was in a really bad mood.
Inuyasha was finally seen jumping down the path with Kagome on his back. Kagome waved at Kaori, who waved back happily. Sango and Miroku flew down it on Kirara, with Shippo surprisingly running behind them all. He had grown slightly, with longer hair and slightly bigger, but he was still the small fox demon Sesshomaru had remembered. Just where had he been all the times he had seen Inuyasha's friends?
"Kaori!" Kagome exclaimed, giving Kaori a hug. "Oh, it's been too long!"
"Yes, I agree," Kaori said, returning the hug.
"Is this the little Joo-yun I remember?" Kagome asked. "Last time I saw her, she was just a little baby in a crib."
"What does dat mean?" Joo-yun spat. She was still sleeping in a crib. It made her feel secure.
"She's an angry one," Kagome said with a weary smile.
"She's just having a bad day," Kaori said, then bent low to Joo-yun. "Smile or I'm taking your doll away."
Joo-yun smiled sweetly, then turn to her mother and stuck her tongue out. Sesshomaru just shook his head. It was surprising that she was his daughter.
"So are we going?" Inuyasha asked.
"Why were you late?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.
"Blame her. She slept in," Inuyasha yelled, pointing to Kagome.
"Do what I do. Shake her awake or stick your tongue down her throat. That always wakes them," Sesshomaru said, turning and starting to walk away. Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru disgusted and then at Kagome. She also looked the same at Sesshomaru. Kaori blushed and ran after Sesshomaru. A loud "OW" was heard and then Kaori returning, wiping her hands off, like she had finished something.
"Men," Kaori sighed under her breath, causing Kagome to laugh.
They started walking, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in front of everyone, followed by Sango and Miroku. Then came Kagome, Kaori and the children, Shippo and Joo-yun. Kirara protected the end.
Shippo and Joo-yun played around a little with little games like Tag or I Spy With My Little Eye, games their parents taught them. But they both knew not to run ahead of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, or stall long enough to be behind Kirara.
Sango and Miroku chatted quietly, and Miroku's hand sometimes found its way to Sango's bottom, but she didn't seem to notice. It would just linger there for a small time, then return to his side. Kagome and Kaori chatted quietly, but Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were silent. They didn't look at each other, or talk to each other, but just walked at a pace everyone could keep up with, looking around for any sign of Naraku.
But neither noticed that he was following them, jumping silently tree to tree, watching Sesshomaru and Kaori. And only until Kaori sensed his ominous aura, did she stop and say Sesshomaru's name.
"He's here," Kaori said almost silently. Sesshomaru stopped and turned around to look at her. She looked at the trees, trying to find him. She took Joo-yun's hand and walked so that she stood next to Sesshomaru. If Naraku was to take Joo-yun or Kaori, he was going to have to be noticed by Sesshomaru first. She caught a flash of purple and black in the trees and pointed to it, just before it vanished. Sesshomaru saw it too, and drew Tokijin. This was the battle he was waiting for. The day he was going to take revenge on Rin and Kaori.
"Hey, Sesshomaru. Look," Miroku said, pointing up the path. Sesshomaru lost track of Naraku and glared at Miroku, but then noticed the scent. Rin! He looked up the path and saw her standing there, a knife in each hand. "Isn't that your small girl who travels with you?"
"Hey, it is. It's Rin!" Kagome said, ready to walk up to her, but Inuyasha put an arm out to stop her.
"She's possessed Kagome. That isn't the same girl who used to follow Sesshomaru around. She's eviler and deadlier. Don't get near her," Inuyasha said.
Something just then came to mind. When Kagura had visited him in the earlier years with Kaori. When she had told him that Inuyasha and Kagome revived Rin. "Inuyasha, did you ever see Rin without my presence?" Sesshomaru ordered.
"How could I? She was around you all the time!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"She lied," Sesshomaru hissed. It was no wonder. Kagura wasn't one to be trusted.
"She has a jewel shard in her back! Like Kohaku!" Kagome exclaimed. Oh, this really wasn't good... The Poisonous Insects flew from the trees, buzzing loudly.
"The Poisonous Insects!" Miroku exclaimed. "I can't use my Wind Tunnel!"
"Kohaku, go after that woman," Naraku's voice was heard saying. Kohaku jumped from a tree and headed towards Sango. Miroku jumped in the way and took the attack from his sword. It was just a flesh wound on his arm, but it still bled. Kirara growled into the trees and a crackle was heard. "Now, Rin, kill Inuyasha."
Rin's eyes turned purple, like Kohaku's. She ran towards Inuyasha, who easily missed her attack. Sesshomaru ran into the forest to find the hive for the Poisonous Insects. Now Kaori, Joo-yun, and Shippo were the only ones not preoccupied.
A hiss was heard from the trees and then Naraku landed in front of Kaori. She shrieked and backed away and Shippo jumped up in front of her.
"Fox Fire!" He exclaimed, and a little flame showed. It would enlarge in a short while, but Naraku just threw the demon into a tree.
"Distractions," he hissed. "Now, what about that one?"
He was looking at Joo-yun who glared angrily at Naraku. "Why you hurt Shippo?" She asked angrily.
"Quiet!" Kaori ordered in a cry. She looked back at Naraku. He was still angry.
"She'll be dealt with soon enough. Just tell her, if she interferes with us, Kaori, she will meet the same fate as Shippo," Naraku said, smiling at Kaori.
"You bastard," Kaori growled.
"Naraku, prepare to die!" Kagome exclaimed, releasing her arrow. Naraku jumped out of the way and the arrow hit a tree, just barely missing Kaori.
"Nuisance," Naraku his. "Kill her."
Kagura landed in front of Kagome and knocked her aside with her fan. Kagome cried out and Inuyasha watched as she hit a tree. "Kagome!"
He tripped Rin and ran to Kagome's side. Sesshomaru didn't even notice. He was a little preoccupied with finding the hive. If he found it, the bugs would die and then the monk could easily kill Naraku. He found it connected to a tree and quickly killed it, but the bugs that were still alive were still buzzing around. He had to kill those! He ran towards a huge bunch of them, slaying them with his claws.
Inuyasha felt Sesshomaru run past him while he helped Kagome up. "Are you all right?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome nodded.
"My arm is might be broken, though," Kagome said. Inuyasha growled at Kagura while she chuckled.
"Love is a useless bond," she crackled and swung her fan, her Dance of Blades heading towards them. Inuyasha picked Kagome up and quickly ran out of the way.
Naraku finally got Kaori against a tree. She had run, but he had grabbed her and flung her against the tree. She had winced in pain, but he didn't care. He was going to get her now. With or without everyone watching. He needed her to become pregnant with his genes, for he had heard her daughter would be the most powerful one. Joo-yun punched his leg, infuriating Naraku, and he kicked her away. Sesshomaru caught her almost immediately and set her down lightly.
"How dare you kick my daughter!" Sesshomaru growled, his eyes red.
"If you transform, you'll only kill you wife as well when you try to kill me. Not a good idea, Sesshomaru. Plus, you will be a little preoccupied," Naraku crackled, looking at Rin jumping up to stab him. But Sesshomaru grabbed her ankle before she touched him and hung her upside down, grabbing the knife from her hand. She struggled with him and kicked, screamed and cried, but he didn't release her. He would have thrown her into a tree, except she started to cry. It froze him there, and Kagura changed her attack from Inuyasha to Sesshomaru, sending him hitting a tree. The blow and impact hit his head and he blacked out for a moment.
"Sesshomaru!" Kaori exclaimed, watching him hit the tree.
"Why cry out for someone who has cheated on you? You must know this. That child of his is not yours. What, did he come home one day and tell you he had impregnated someone and pass you the child, telling you that you two would be taking care of her?" Naraku laughed.
"Don't talk of something you have no idea of," Kaori growled, and kicked his head and ran to Sesshomaru's side. But she tripped on Kohaku's leg that he extended to trip her.
"You can't go to that man. Naraku still needs to impregnate you," Kohaku said with an evil smile.
"What in hell?" Kaori asked, quickly leaping to her feet as Kagura's attack missed Inuyasha again and almost hit her. Sesshomaru came to as Kaori skidded into the dirt. He helped her up and she held onto him for dear life. "He wants to impregnate me..."
"Naraku, do you really think you will get away with that?" Sesshomaru spat. "Do you even think that you'll get even close to? You probably don't even have the genes to do so!"
"And you are one to talk. You ran to another woman for a child. That child you saved isn't even hers, so I still have a chance!" Naraku crackled. Sesshomaru almost smiled. How glad he was that Joo-yun had no scent of Kaori. She only had his.
Kaori collapsed and blacked out. Sesshomaru set her down against a tree and growled at Naraku. "This fight is between you and me. You don't need to get Kaori involved," Sesshomaru growled.
"Tell me something, why do you think I tried to side with you when we first met?" Naraku asked, his head high.
"What in the world are you talking about?" Sesshomaru asked.
"That day, when I gave you the human arm and tried to become allied with you. I had my reasons. If you would have killed Inuyasha, perhaps everything would have gone according to plan. When you met with Kaori, I would first meet her, and I would be the father of her child. And a powerful one at that. Her child would be more powerful than any demon in the world. When mixed with demon blood and her powers, no one would be able to stop that child. And then they would rule this world with evil and I would have already had the Sacred Jewel in my possession. But you had to fail your job and ruin everything! So, every time I met up with you, I hoped to find Kaori, but no. Instead, when I heard you had a human with you, it was a stupid human girl. But she was still important to you. So, I tested you. Your love, you promises. And you are very trustworthy. But you would not return to my side. You were out to kill me instead. But Kagura also changed everything. You have never tried to kill her directly. No, just me. You even had an actual conversation with her, but still, you would not join forces with her. Because of her connection with me. But, when Kaori joined your life, I followed you everywhere. Whether in person, or my insects. But once a month, or more, I lost you. But now I understand that is part of her powers. And now, my son or daughter will hold those powers, to rule both the present and the past!"
Sesshomaru was ready to lash out at him only halfway through Naraku's explanation. How dare he! He was just a pawn in Naraku's plan. But he hadn't followed. He wasn't exactly one to follow plans. And how happy he was about that. He looked back at Kaori, who was still knocked out.
"Naraku, you had this all planned, yes. But I see you never put into account the power of love, or the idea that perhaps I would not play into someone's trap or ideas. You left out the simplest details, or thought of other options. You have a one track mind, hoping everything will go according to your plans. And now, I ask you, Naraku. Do your plans involve you dying today?" Sesshomaru asked with a smile. "Because, Naraku, you will. Whether with my last breath or even with Inuyasha's strength, you will die for the suffering, death, and evil you have caused this world!"
Sesshomaru inserted Tenseiga into the ground, letting his Dragon Strike try to strike Naraku, but Naraku moved out of the way too fast. Sesshomaru growled, his eyes burning red. He was so close, that if Inuyasha said the wrong comment, he was going to transform. But he realized he hadn't been hearing a word from Inuyasha, or anyone else.
"Kaori?" Kagome's voice was heard behind him.
"Sesshomaru, we'll look after Kaori and your daughter, if that is all right with you," Inuyasha said, standing behind Sesshomaru.
"Have Kagome look after them. I need your assistance to kill this bastard," Sesshomaru growled, watching Naraku leap to a tree for some rest.
"I think I'm better with protecting them," Inuyasha argued.
"I need your help. Without it, he's going to get away, and you really don't want that, do you!" Sesshomaru snapped, glaring at Inuyasha. Inuyasha nodded and stood next to Sesshomaru.
"Let's get this bastard," Inuyasha said calmly. Sesshomaru smiled and nodded. Sesshomaru was going to leave the Tenseiga there run after Naraku, but remembered Joo-yun.
"Inuyasha, I'll follow you. Just go get him," Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha was off, following Naraku. Sesshomaru took the Tenseiga and gave it Joo-yun, who was now kneeling next to Kaori. "I need you to hold onto this and stay with Mama. Protect her, like she had protected you. I need you to promise me this, Joo-yun."
Joo-yun nodded and accepted the sword. "I'll protect her Papa!" Joo-yun exclaimed.
Sesshomaru smiled. "That's my girl," he said, ruffling her hair. And then he kissed her cheek and Kaori's lips. He then turned away and followed after Inuyasha. This could be his last time seeing Kaori and Joo-yun. He could die with this battle with Naraku. He got serious. It wasn't time to think about that. He needed to kill Naraku, or die trying!