Chapter 66

Off Somewhere:

"Damn! They survived! I will just have to take care of them myself.", said Leiko, the evil witch, to herself.

Inuyasha and his group finally came to the entrance of the Shrine of Antiquity. It was at the base of a very active volcano. As they walked through the entrance, Kaori suddenly doubled over and, for the first time, Kagome sensed the sacred jewel.

"The jewel ... I think it wants freed.", Kagome said.

"If that's what it wants, let's free it.", Inuyasha said, as he had Kaori lay down. Kagome pointed to where the jewel was shining, in the same area that it had been released from her own body so many years ago. As carefully as he could, Inuyasha sliced his daughter with his claw to give the jewel and exit. As if on cue, the jewel popped out and hovered in mid-air.

"I think it wants us to follow it.", Miroku said, curiously looking at the shiny orb.

The group got up and, with Kaori on Inuyasha's back, the group followed the orb as it headed up the mountain path. Yasha was unsure about the mountain that rumbled under their feet.

"Is this really safe?", he asked.

"If you're not comfortable with it, then go back to the entrance and wait.", said his father, impatiently. The orb suddenly took a turn down a hidden path, a path the group would not have noticed on their own.

"I wonder where it is leading us.", mused Miroku as Kirara mewed her agreement.

That's when Inuyasha saw it. A cave. A cave near the midway point of the mountain. He pointed it out to the group. Sure enough the orb began heading in that direction. Inuyasha sniffed the air and ordered everybody to run. Grabbing Kagome, he hopped out of the way as Kirara took Miroku, Yasha and Kouga too safety as a lightening bolt hit the area.

"Ha Ha Ha Ha! So you dodged my lightening did you?", cackled the old witch, "You won't be so lucky next time."

"Who the hell are you, witch?", demanded Inuyasha, but Miroku knew.

"She's Leiko, a mountain witch that had placed the curse on Kagome when she was pregnant with Kaori.", Miroku informed Inuyasha.

"And I saw her in the town talking with Naraku's spirit.", Yasha added.

"So you're helping Naraku. What's in it for you?", demanded Inuyasha.

"Not that it's your business, but your souls are in it for me. After your deaths, I get to corrupt your souls. Especially Kagome's and Kaori's souls. Theirs are the purest I have ever seen.", replied the old witch.

"I don't feel like listening to anymore of this shit!", yelled Kouga, as he pulled out the Goraishi and attacked, "GORAISHI!", but the attack missed as the witch disappeared.

"You missed me, wolf! Want to try again?", the witch taunted.

By this time, Inuyasha had Tessaiga drawn and at the ready, but Kagome stopped him.

"She's a witch, Inuyasha. Your sword will have no effect on her.", she advised, as Inuyasha huffed. Kagome raised her hands and set off a spell,

"SHINPISHUGISHA", Kagome yelled as a fire bolt hit the witch and threw her back. Recovering quickly, the witch commented,

"I see Tamae has taught you well. But I can still destroy you. KOROSU!", the witch chanted and Inuyasha used Tessaiga to block the magic wave that sped towards them. As he had hoped, Tessaiga's protective barrier held off the spell.

Kagome sent a spell wave towards the witch, "KAKOKU NA ITAMI". It hit Leiko squarely and caused her extreme pain. Seeing the witch having problems getting up, Inuyasha readied Tessaiga,

"WIND SCAR!", he screamed, as the destructive force headed towards the witch. "Did I get her?", Inuyasha wondered aloud.

"YOU BASTARDS! I AM NOT PLAYING WITH YOU ANYMORE!", screamed the witch as she hovered above the cloud of dust left by the wind scar. She screamed out her most destructive spell, "SHI O MOTARASU FUHAI"

Kagome knew the spell and urged everybody to run from the approaching blast. As the group ran, Inuyasha noticed that Kaori stayed behind,

"KAORI! GET OUTTA THERE!", Inuyasha screamed, as he ran to her, knowing he wouldn't make it in time. Kagome watched in shock as Kaori simply raised her hands as a bright light engulfed the blast, reversing it and sending it back at the witch.

"OH NO! what did she do to my spell? ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!", Leiko screamed as she disappeared into a cloud of dust.

Inuyasha went to his daughter, as the others joined him. "What did you do?", he asked.

"I don't know.", she replied, as she pointed to the jewel hovering over her head, "The jewel told me to do that."

"It appears the shikon jewel has decided that Kaori is it's owner.", Miroku commented, "And, come to think of it, I've never seen it's light shine this pure, even in Kagome's possession."

Inuyasha agreed and so did Kouga, "Kaori's soul must be purer than Kagome's, if that's even possible.", commented Kouga.

The jewel began to go forward once again, heading into the cave. As they entered, they saw a bubbling hot spring that smelled strongly of sulfur. Kouga, Kaori, Inuyasha and Yasha all head their noses as the strong smell. The jewel hovered over the spring.

"Kouga, throw the orb into the spring.", Kagome urged the demon. Doing as he was told, Kouga threw the orb, now glowing a fierce purple from the miasma inside, into the spring. The spring hissed and bubbled like a rolling boil. Afterwards, a small door appeared and a glowing object greeted them,

"I am the keeper of the Shrine of Antiquity. Who have you banished to antiquity?"

"It is the spirit of pure evil. The one named Naraku.", Kagome said, bowing to the keeper.

"His evil will reign no more for their is no escape from antiquity. His spirit shall wander forever in the desolate world.", the keeper replied.

As the group looked in the spring, they could see Naraku, desperately looking for a way out of his entrapment.

"Now leave this place. For whenever a newcomer arrives the mountain always explodes. Leave, while you still can.", the keeper advised, as it disappeared behind the door.

Then, the ground started rumbling even more, as the mountain prepared to explode. Kagome climbed on Inuyasha's back as Kaori climbed on Kouga's and the others on Kirara as they ran out of there. Getting beyond the entrance, they watched from afar as the lava spewed from the mountain peak. Kaori noticed that the jewel stayed right with her the whole time,

"Look Papa, mama, the jewel is still here.", she said.

"Great!", groaned Inuyasha, "Now we have the problem of protecting that thing again."

"Don't worry, Inuyasha. I have a spell that I can use to disguise the jewel.", Kagome said, as she held her hand out to the jewel, "KAKUSU!", Kagome chanted, as the jewel turned into a sapphire and landed in Kaori's hands.

"There,", Kagome said, proudly, "That takes care of that!"

"Hey, I wanted to get my shards back.", complained Kouga.

"Forget it, Kouga. I'm not breaking it.", reprimanded Kagome.

"DAMN!", was all Kouga could respond.

The group headed home, stopping at Kouga's den to drop him off. Jiro came out and introduced himself and then thanked Kaori for saving him,

"I'll never forget it, Kaori.", and then he turned to Inuyasha, "May I call on Kaori sometime?"

"Uhhhhhh ...", Inuyasha was at a loss for words as Kagome jumped in, "Certainly, Jiro. We'd love to have you visit."

"Hey, wait ...", Inuyasha started, but Kagome shushed him.

"Thank you. Thank you very much.", Jiro responded excitedly, bowing to Kagome and Inuyasha as he smiled a bright smile to Kaori, "I'll see you sometime, ok?"

"Sure. I'd like that.", responded Kaori, blushing.

They left the wolves den and headed home and finally arrived, tired and hungry. Shiori excitedly greeted Yasha and Sango greeted Miroku with a long hug and kiss as the kids greeted their parents. It was nearly winter and still alot of work to get done. The group retired to their homes for meals and rest before starting their fall work. The winter would bring a grandchild to Miroku and Sango and challenges for both families.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A/N: I want to thank everybody for reading and for all your reviews. The next chapter will be up shortly!