Chapter 19-Inuyahsa VS Tsubaki

They eventually made their way through the flood of dead demon bodies in order to meet Shinn along with Kagome and the others. "Report!" said Inuyasha as he came within a few feet of Shinn who turned and saluted before speaking.

"General Inuyasha sir we have successfully taken the castle and have begun searching the rooms for any remaining troops lingering around trying to stop us. We have also been looking for Tsubaki, but so far I must regrettably say that we have not found her yet," said Shinn waiting for Inuyasha's response.

Inuyasha responded with a nod of understanding. "It's alright Shinn. You didn't find her because she is on the lower levels beneath the castle waiting for me. That was why I ordered that area to be untouched till I arrived," said Inuyasha who saw Shinn's surprised faces as well as Kagome's and the others when they heard this.

"Why would she do that sir?" said Shinn curiously.

"It's quite simple my trusty Lieutenant...she's expecting me," said Inuyasha in a calm,yet with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

Shinn was shocked at what he heard as were Kagome and the others though in all honesty they should have. It seemed only natural in a way that the two would face off against (in a cliché sort of way) each other. "Do you want support sir?" said Shinn who was hoping to a degree that Inuyasha would say yes.

Inuyasha stayed quiet for a moment as he pondered this for a moment. "No. There will be no support for this fight," said Inuyasha in a flat and commanding voice.

Shinn sadly closed his eyes and nodded knowing somewhere in the back of his mind this was to be expected from Inuyasha. Since Shinn had known Inuyasha he had seen the half-demon general had fought most of the battles with against some pretty tough warriors almost nearly by himself so his troops would be spared a potential chance of dying an unwanted death. "I understand aswell asrespect it sir and I will tell the others," said Shinn who walked off to inform the others who did not hear them talk.

"Inuyasha are you crazy? Tsubaki will kill you if you fight her alone. At least take Kagome or Kikyo with you to give you the edge you need," said Shippo who approached Inuyasha and was clearly worried nearly out of his mind.

Inuyasha looked over to the little fox demon and gave a small smile before kneeling down and patting Shippo on the head. "I have so much to teach you about what it means to be fighting personal battles. Perhaps another time though. Sesshomorru...make sure they don't follow no matter what. If by small chance I die I want Sango, Kilala, and Kohaku to be taken to our home in the Western Lands for protection. Understand?" said Inuyasha calmly yet serious at the same time.

Sesshomorru looked over at Inuyasha who had the eyes of someone who was tired and possibly on his last legs for fighting. "Of course Inuyasha...my little brother. From what you told me about her earlier she and her brother would be good trainers for some of the troops in training back at the castle," said Sesshomorru who saw his little brother's expression change into a small yet noticeably evil smile.

"Among other qualities which I won't say right now," said Inuyasha who could see his smile increasing in size when he said that causing everyone's face around him go some shade of red...some were noticeably redder then others.

"Inuyasha I don't think we need any more further information about you, Sango and what you do alone together," said Kagome who had Shippo's ears covered as to make sure he didn't hear her or what she was implying between the half-demon and the slayer.

Inuyasha chuckled sinisterly when he saw their reddened face. "Another time perhaps, but if you'll excuse me I have some personal unfinished business to attend too," said Inuyasha who left his brother and old friends as he headed for the door that would take him to the stairs downward to face Tsubaki...for the last time.

(Moments later beneath the castle)

Inuyasha found Tsubaki had no demon soldiers as guards to prevent his advancement down the stairs to face her. He was somewhat surprised by this because it was not her style to face a strong opponent without some sort of edge. In past experiences with Tsubaki she would use such hidden edges at a moment when her enemies thought they had the upper hand. In this case Inuyasha had partially assumed that she would have had demon soldiers here to try and weaken him if not kill him, but their was nothing in front of him except the endless steps that led downward to the black pit that Tsubaki herself had sent him into in order to break his will to her command. He was now beginning to wonder if saying "no" to support was not the smartest thing to do. Finally, after what felt like hours of never ending moment of walking he exited the dark staircase and saw the familiarly large room with the large black pit and the slim dark robed wearing for dark priestess Tsubaki who was staring at the pit with the simplest of smiles on her face. Inuyasha walked carefully behind her knowing she knew he was there because she had the all seeing glass orb next to her and obviously knew of his approach. "So Inuyasha my former general...you have returned to me. How does it feel to walk away from the power I gave you and still walk like you did before? Do you not remember what it was like to fight for me? For your ideals? Does this room not look familiar to you as the place where your ideals were first born?" said Tsubaki who finally turned to face him and staring at him with that same smile she had.

"I could never forget Tsubaki. I could never forget all the people I killed, the lives I destroyed, and all the pain I caused. How can someone forget something like that? You knew the pit was going to destroy me yet you didn't tell me. Why?" said Inuyasha as he drew his sword as if to give her a reason to answer him truthfully.

"Because had you known what I knew you would have done what you did a few days ago sooner. Besides I have others that were just as strong as you were Inuyasha. You were a second field test in an experiment of trial and error. The general before you was a full blooded demon who was the first who went into the black pit and for a time he was strong and dependable, but right before I recruited you and Kohaku I noticed he was becoming less efficient in his work as well as getting slower in his fighting. It was then I learned that the black pit's powers were only temporary to those who went into it and came back out stronger. But like anyone who was raised to be holy...or unholy for that matter I realized that I should continue and study this pits potential until I could find away to keep its potency while preventing it from eventually killing those that it granted power. By that time I decided that I would need a new general and use the one I had to unknowingly find the replacement. So I used my glass orb that you see before me to look for potential candidates and that is when I discovered you and your companions fighting Naraku," said Tsubaki has her smile increased greatly at the fight she had witnessed.

"You chose me for a reason and it wasn't over the fact that I killed Naraku, Kagura, and Kanna with my Tetsuigia. Why me?" said Inuyasha who showed more teeth as he let out a low growl.

"Because when I saw you fight I saw the fire in your eyes, the strength you possessed, and your endurance that none of the others had that made you were the one. It was the way you fought with Naraku that made me suspect that half-demons could possibly use this pit in order to become stronger. However, I was unsure of this and I couldn't just get any half-demon lying around. I needed you for this experiment because there were no other half-demons around that could survive the black pits potency like you did. When thegeneral you killed was bringing you back I tested a weaker demon in putting him into the pit and he was consumed and destroyed by the awesome power behind it. The demon had no purpose for living in life except to serve others and not have others serve him. You though as much as I hate to admit it...but are almost one of kind Inuyasha. Almost one of a kind because you know what it means to be both a saint and sinner regardless of your past history with others. That is why I chose you. I believed that you would be the perfect half-demon that could embrace the pits power without any problems. I watch you fight like the devil when you went on your campaigns to the North, South, East, and Western lands. You lasted much longer then the general before you Inuyasha and you did not once lose your stride when it came to fighting efficiently," said Tsubaki who had an air of anger in her voice this time when she spoke.

"But my betrayal to you proved your belief wrong didn't it? Otherwise you would never have used General Gore to replace my position by your side," said Inuyasha who was starting to understand everything she was saying.

Tsubaki smiled and the air of anger she had from before was no longer their, but Inuyasha was sure that it was probably buried beneath this apparent mask she now had on her face. "Yes and no. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that you were no longer in the infirmary with Kaede and Totosai in an attempt to heal yourself. I had previously suspected that Tenseiga's energy blast of healing energy caused you to start thinking outside the boundaries of your loyalty to me and that of your friends. Your betrayal just confirmed what I had believed the moment I saw your bleeding body in the infirmary. By that time General Gore like you was already strong so I put him in the pit to make him as strong as you and if I had to keep going through demon generals after demon generals then so be it, but I would rule all that was Japan even if I had to make all demons extinct," said Tsubaki whose newly grown smile became the definition of the term psychotic in what Inuyasha's mind believed would be fitting for the former dark priestess.

"You...animal! You have a lot of nerve to even try such a thing on demons let alone half-demons. This just gives me all the more reason to cut your guts out and stuff down your throat so I can watch you gag on your own organs," said a seriously angry Inuyasha who was nearly yelling and growling fiercely at Tsubaki whose smile left when Inuyasha made the threat to her, but still kept a small smirk.

"Did I upset you? I'm sorry I thought by telling you the truth that you so desperately wanted to know it would calm you by giving you the answers you seek. My mistake I suppose, but enough talk about what was done and who did what...let us end this now," said Tsubaki who summoned dark energy into her hand.

"Yes let's finish this for I grow increasingly angry of your very voice being heard in my demon ears," said Inuyasha creating a large scowl on Tsubaki's face making Inuyasha mentally smirk inside at making her angry.

Almost instantly Tsubaki moved with unnatural speed that only a demon could possess and then launched her attack on Inuyasha by shooting dark energy orbs. Inuyasha moved with his own demonic speed and dodged left and right as he moved to dodge the dark blast of energy Tsubaki was shooting at him. "You can't dodge me forever," said Tsubaki who then ate her own words as she moved out of striking distance of Inuyasha's deadly Tetsuigia.

"I could say same thing about you Tsubaki with all the dodging you're doing against me and my sword. Your greatest weakness Tsubaki is not being able take punishment from your opponent despite your incredible power," said Inuyasha who felt he could mess with Tsubaki's mind by eroding her will to fight him and breaking her concentration.

"WEAKNESS! YOU INUYASHA ARE THE BIGGEST LIVING WEAKNESS THAT EVER LIVED!" yelled Tsubaki who was clearly offended by Inuyasha's words to her.

Inuyasha easily dodged another energy orb that was several feet from his moving body as Tsubaki's attacks were becoming more irrational by the second. Inuyasha knew that even though the attacks were irrational the orbs themselves were far from harmless and there was a slim chance that he could still be hit by the energy. "This from someone who can't even stand the site of old age much less her death? Please! You've had this coming for a long time!" said Inuyasha with a small grin on his face while his words it seemed had infuriated Tsubaki even further.

In moment of sheer rage and irrationality Tsubaki aimed her dark orbed energy in all directions causing an explosion around her of immense proportions shaking the upper half of he castle violently. "What the hell was that?" said Shinn looking around as did everyone else except Sesshomorru who deep down had wondered who of the two forces below generated such power.

"I believe it was one of the two combatants who generated that attack down below us in the inner depths of the castle. Of which one them who created it however, I am unsure," said Sesshomorru.

"Maybe we should get out of here before the castle collapses," said Shippo nervously.

"We can't leave Inuyasha here by himself," said Kagome worriedly.

"As much as I would like to agree with you young priestess the little fox demon is right and we must leave here. ALL TROOPS ABDANDONE THE CASTLE!" Shinn yelled at the end as the army of demon soldiers ran out of the castle and into the giant courtyard and the abandoned homes that were at a safe distance from the castle and waited in silence.

(Back underground)

The smoke from the derby was everywhere as Tsubaki was breathing heavily as she found herself exhausted from unleashing such a extremelypowerful attack. Inuyasha was just as exhausted though he had wounds to show for it. The blasts that naturally did hit him took their toll on his body as most of his body was exposed and bleeding heavily covering most of his body like a second skin. "I got to admit Tsubaki when you want to hit someone you don't just find a way...you make a way," said Inuyasha who despite himself was smiling.

Tsubaki in her own right was shocked that Inuyasha was not dead despite the wounds he had been suffering after the attack. In fact it was probably sheer luck in her mind that he was even standing and not passed out from his heavily bleeding wounds that covered over 80 of his body. "What are you? Why don't you die?" said Tsubaki she said exhausted, but still just as angry as ever.

"Simple. First...I'm a half-demon whose got a lot of experience in life and death situations. Second...I can't die because I'm fighting for something that's worth living for," said Inuyasha who was suddenly seeing two Tsubaki's and not one.

"What...what is worth fighting to live for? Tell me," said Tsubaki whose voice was that of a plea rather then demand.

"Heheheheheh. You want to know? I tell you. What I fight for that's worth living is...the next generation of life," said Inuyasha who now saw four Tsubaki's that soon began to multiply into eight.

"I don't understand. This power that sustains me is what I fight for yet I feel as if I have suffered the same wounds that show on you, but you laugh as if they are nothing. How can you possibly ignore such pain?" said Tsubaki who had blood running out and down her mouth as she realized she could no longer feed of her power to keep her in this world.

"Because I have felt worse pain in my life that is beyond physical comprehension and this is nothing more to me then minor flesh wound. Is it true that the power you were releasing at me sustains you?" said Inuyasha who to a degree was giving a half truth half lie speech at this point, but Tsubaki didn't know that.

"Yes and I keep calling upon it to sustain me because I don't want to die," said Tsubaki as her body started to collapse under its own weight and she was now on her knees in intense pain.

"Everyone dies Tsubaki and no can stop it. Not even me or my mate and she's human. Yet we live life to the fullest and are without regret what we do because we knew the consequences of our actions. My mate and I knew that one daywe would die and our offspring would carry on our legacy. You however, havecaused too much pain and have no offspring of your own. When you die Tsubaki you will not have anyone to pass on what you know and your legacy...will die with you," said Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha I don't want to die without someone to carry on my legacy. I'm...I'm too afraid," said Tsubaki who was now lying completely on the rocky floor as more blood left her body.

(A/N: In case your wondering she overtaxed on her powers and is paying for it.)

Inuyasha walked over to her using his sword as a crutch and had a look of pity in his eyes as he looked at Tsubaki's dying life. "If you want...I'll stay with you till you die...out of respect of course," said Inuyasha and saw Tsubaki look at him with tears in her eyes as she gave a gentle nod of the head to indicate she wanted him too.

"Thank you," said Tsubaki in a gentle voice as if she were an innocent child begin taken care of by noble hero who knew nothing of darkness and only that of light.

(A/N: A little mushy, but what can i say I'm not going to have the hero be a villain...again!)

Carefully Inuyasha scooped up the upper half of Tsubaki with his left arm and held and soothed her until she died with tear lines running down her face. She had a small yet, honest smile on her face as if she finallyfound peace at last. Inuyasha could help, but smile gently at her now dead form as he saw the peaceful smile that graced her dead body. However, it was short lived as the structure above him started to shake and everything around him started to crumble. "Damn! I got to get out of here before were both buried under here," said Inuyasha as he made his way up the step one step at a time with Tsubaki still in his arms with Tetsuigia as a crutch.

Inuyasha's vision had stabilized when he held Tsubaki in his arms, but when he was holding her now while going up the steps he found he was only able to go up the steps using his sense of feel as he motioned his body to rise to the next step despite the intense pain he was feeling. After all he had a mate to get back to and he would be damned if he broke his deal with Sango to come back alive. As Inuyasha struggled to get to the top of the stairway he thought if Sango could take the loss of him not being their when he would be needed most. For when Kohaku became older and they would celebrate his birthday with great anticipation, for when he and Sango finally had children...or at least one child to see grow up as they grow old and watch as their offspring continues the journey to be the best that they set out to do when they was struggling to live in a harsh world.

As his vision blurred even further he finally made his way up the stairs and headed for the nearest exit he could find as more derby fell from the ceiling. At one point near the door his legs gave out and he was on his knees still holding Tsubaki in one arm while grasping Tetsuigia with another. Using all the strength he had left inside him that was buried deep down inside himself he rose from the ground and left the castle just as it started to finally cave in on itself with a force that sent Inuyasha flying out into the courtyard where he was immediate picked up by a soldier. "Sir are you all right?" said a voice Inuyasha barely recognized as Ryoushin.

"Yes Ryoushin I...I am alive, but...I do not feel so good," said Inuyasha who still carried Tsubaki in his left arm.

"It's all right sir your alive and that's what counts," said Ryoushin who was a little puzzled as to why Inuyasha carried Tsubaki in left arm carefully lowered Inuyasha down on the ground and pried Tsubaki from his left arm.

"Ryoushin I want you to give Tsubaki a proper burial near the wreckage of thecastle somewhere. Do you understand?" said Inuyasha as Kagome and the others came over and looked to see Tsubaki's dead body in Ryoushin's arms.

"But sir she's the enemy. She deserves to be cut down and fed to mindless demons," said Ryoushin only to have his protest be cut short by an extremely angry look by Inuyasha who gave a very threatening growl as blood oozed down his face from his head wound.

"Are you defying Ryoushin? Because if you are...then I WILL slice you up and feed you to those mindless demons you speaking of. Tsubaki may have been my enemy, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to have her spirit rest in peace. I ask that you do this for me Ryoushin as well as for Tsubaki...so her fear of death does not come to pass as the way she described her fear to me," said Inuyasha as Shinn and Sesshomorru of all people helped him and allowed him to put away Tetsuigia in its sheath.

"What do we do now sir that there is no one left to fight?" said Shinn curiously at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha thought for a moment about what to say before he addressed his men. "There is always left to fight they just haven't appeared yet. However, let us not worry about this now for I am tired and weary of battle. Let's go to Kaede's village so I may heal their and see my mate and my second-in-command once more. I miss their faces and I wish to see them again," said Inuyasha in a nearly faint whisper that was barely even readable as he suddenly passed out from his wounds and exhaustion.

"GENERAL! GENERAL!" yelled a frantic Shinn as saw Inuyasha's breathing becoming dangerously shallow as they now all hurried to Kaede's village to save Inuyasha's fading life.

(A/N: Will Inuyasha die from his wounds? Will he perish and face that darkness that is greater then death itself? Review first then will talk. HAHAHAHA!)