Chapter 53: The Final Battle Part 3
Kaori watched with anticipation for the arrow to strike. But since Inuyasha had halted his battle to watch the arrow, Naraku knew something was up. He saw the arrow head towards him and jumped out of the way. Almost everyone sighed out of defeat. All now knew there was no chance of winning. But they would not give up. The only way they would truly lose was when they all died. And, to everyone's unfortunate knowledge, they knew, at this rate, it was possible.
Kaori sighed in defeat louder than anyone else did and looked back at Sesshomaru to find him standing up. He looked like he was in some pain, but he didn't let him stop him. Grabbing Tokijin from nearby, he limped towards Naraku. But Kaori gripped his shirt, halting him from going any farther.
"Sesshomaru, we've failed. Let's leave, before we all die," Kaori begged.
"I rather die than let this bastard live. I said I would kill him or die trying, and I will not break my word," Sesshomaru hissed, pulling his arm from her grasp. "Leave with Joo-yun and find safety. I don't want you around here any longer. You'll only get in the way."
Kaori hung her head in shame. He had a point. She was only causing him more injuries and getting in the way. And when she tried to help, it never did any good.
She nodded and turned to run to Miroku who still held Joo-yun. She took the child into her arms and looked back at Sesshomaru one last time before darting into the woods. She was going to listen to Sesshomaru. Well, sort of.
Joo-yun had stopped crying some time ago and looked around. They were near the well.
"Mama, where are we going?" Joo-yun asked.
"We are going to the well. Papa wants you to be protected, so I must listen to him," Kaori said with a smile. She found the well and set Joo-yun on the edge of it. "You need to go to Yori and stay with her until Papa comes to get you."
"Mama, aren't you coming?" Joo-yun asked almost innocently. Kaori shook her head no. Joo-yun understood what her mama was about to do. "No mama! Papa wants you to be protected! Papa loves you! I love you!"
"I love you too, Joo-yun. I love you with all my heart," Kaori said, tears edging her eyes. She pulled her daughter into a hug. "That's why you need to return. To be protected. And I need this, so just go and live with Yori until papa or I return."
Kaori released Joo-yun and Joo-yun found her mother holding Tenseiga. She reached out to it, but Kaori put a hand out to stop her. "I won't leave without you, mama!"
"Good bye, Joo-yun. I love you," Kaori said, a tear trickling down her face as she pushed Joo-yun backwards. The child tried to stable herself so that she didn't fall, but miserably failed and fell down, landing in the present. She cried, but decided to listen to her mama. She climbed out of the well and to Yori's house to stay protected.
Kaori closed her eyes as she saw Joo-yun disappear. Wiping her eyes miserably, she turned and rushed back to Sesshomaru, only stopping once to pick up some stray arrows. Perhaps they would come in handy...
Sesshomaru fought Naraku miserably, his anger his motivation. He never usually let his anger show, but at this moment, he didn't really care. He was going to kill Naraku or he would never forgive himself.
His eyes closed as he was hit against the ground for the fifth time since Kaori left.
"Looks like Kaori is your only power, Sesshomaru. It's unfortunate that you sent her away, leaving you to die a long, miserable death. Slow and painful, as I wish," Naraku crackled and was almost hit by Kagome's purified arrow. He hissed at her, but Inuyasha used his Wind Scar, causing Naraku to jumped away. This was angering Naraku even more.
"Kaori isn't my only power. Anger is as well, Naraku. You should have known this," Sesshomaru sat, sitting up from the ground. He ran his finger across his lip and looked to find a lot of blood drenching it. He hissed and looked back up at Naraku. No one ever made him bleed this much before. Perhaps this was his end. He sent a prayer to Kaori before standing up again. He just hoped she had gotten to safety.
A purified arrow whipped through the air, missing Naraku and hitting the trunk of the tree he was recently residing on. Sesshomaru almost complimented Kagome on her better archery, but she was slightly preoccupied with Kagura. Well, then, how did she shoot the arrow? His question was answered when another one whipped from the trees, aiming at Naraku again. It sliced his robe, but no damage sustained, once again.
"Kaori, I told you to leave!" Sesshomaru growled loudly.
"I couldn't just let you die," Kaori said, walking out with a container of arrows on her shoulder and a bow in one hand. She walked calmly, as if the enemy had been destroyed, but sure enough, the enemy was still alive, and angrier than ever.
"Is Joo-yun safe?" Sesshomaru asked slightly calmer.
"I sent her back. She should be over at Yori's house by now," Kaori said, walking next to Sesshomaru. "Let Inuyasha handle him for a little while. Those injuries need to be taken care of."
"They're nothing," Sesshomaru hissed, looking away.
"If you continue to bleed, you'll be too weak to even protect yourself. Just let me bandage your arm," Kaori said, leading him softly over to the trees. Sesshomaru refused to sit down and rest while Kaori bandaged his arm and wiped the blood off his lip quickly. "Much better."
"Appearance isn't the most important thing in a battle. It's strength and power and strategy," Sesshomaru hissed and watched Inuyasha hit Naraku against a tree. But it didn't keep Naraku weak for long. He pushed off the tree and leaped over Inuyasha, giving Naraku the advantage and sliced his back. Inuyasha cried out in pain, but attempted to kick Naraku away. Naraku was already gone by the time Inuyasha cried out.
Kaori looked around. It was such an ugly sight. Blood was littering the ground everywhere, whether Inuyasha's, Miroku's or Sesshomaru. Miroku was protecting Sango from blows from Kohaku with his body, bleeding more than Sesshomaru and Inuyasha... combined.
"Sesshomaru, let's work together. With our powers combined, we have a better chance of killing him," Kaori said looking up to Sesshomaru with hope. He finally looked down at her and nodded slightly.
"Under one condition," he said almost silently. Kaori tilted her head slightly and was pulled into a kiss. "That if we both survive this, we will have a hell of a time in that field."
Kaori laughed and nodded. "Promise me one thing, Sesshomaru, before you continue to fight," Kaori said with some sadness in her eyes.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"If one of us was to die, whether I was to die, or you, that we shall never love another person the same way. Promise me that if I should die in this battle, you will never love another like you loved me," Kaori told him.
"Kaori, I will never love again if you die," Sesshomaru said, holding her head with both hands.
"Don't say that. Joo-yen needs love," Kaori said with a smile.
"And promise me, Kaori. If I am to die today, you will not love another like you loved me," Sesshomaru said.
"I would never. I will never forget you. Sesshomaru, I love you," Kaori said, giving Sesshomaru a kiss. "Now let's kill this bastard."
Sesshomaru smiled and released her. They both went separate ways, Sesshomaru armed with his claws and poison. Kaori was armed with her bows and arrows.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called out. He had hit the ground for the last time that day. He was knocked out, his eyes closed and bleeding badly. Naraku chuckled in the distance, but the laughter stopped when Kaori shot Naraku's arm with an arrow. He hissed and pulled the arrow out, letting it hit the ground without a sound.
"You bitch. You never do listen, do you? I told you once not to be mean, and you didn't listen. Then your dear husband tells you to leave and save yourself, and you still don't listen. How pathetic, just like all he half-breeds in the world," Naraku hissed at Kaori.
"They're called half-demons, bastard!" Sesshomaru yelled, almost slashing Naraku with his claws. But Naraku jumped out of the way and landed in front of Kaori. But this time she didn't fret. She purified an arrow and stuck it into his arm. He was infuriated and slapped her to the ground. Her head hit the ground and she was knocked out. Naraku kicked her once and turned around to face Sesshomaru. "You don't touch her! No one but I touch her!"
"Well little you can do now, Sesshomaru. She's far from your protection now. She is all mine!" Naraku boasted nearly to the world. Sesshomaru hissed. Kaori couldn't run; she was knocked out. He couldn't try to get her away; Naraku was standing between him and Kaori. This was very bad.