Disclaimer: We do not own Inuyasha;
After a few days rest, the team sets out to finish their journey. They are well prepared for what's waiting for them.
Inuyasha had seemed happier than he had for years. His brother and cousin had finally apologized to him for their childlike mistake. He had a woman that will love him forever and a new family that had accepted him for who he was. He looked at the group surrounding the well house. Listening to the chatter and the laughter emanating from them. One voice had reached his ears.
"Inuyasha are you going to get moving or stand there all day gawking." yelled Rin grinning.
"Yeah yeah don't get your kimono in a bunch." Replied Inuyasha smiling back
Together friends and family gathered around the time well and jumped through.
Kikyo walked through the forest pleased with her self. A smirk playing across her cold features. In her possession the complete Jewel of Four Souls. The object of her undoing. Pleased was an understatement of the feeling coursing in her veins. She continued on her path when she came to a halt.
She turned around slowly. The eyes that were boring holes into her back watching her. They never wavered. If she wasn't cold inside already she would have shivered. Kikyo knew who it was before they showed themselves. She said the name as if it contained the foulest bile on her tongue.
"Naraku…."
The figure seeped from the shadows. Gone was the baboon pelt. In his full grace he stood before her. His red eyes never leaving hers. His long black hair in a half ponytail on the top of his head; unable to keep the wind from having its way with it.
Minutes passed as the staring went on. He took a step closer to her. She was unmoving. A pulse came from the jewel around her neck. He visibly flinched as he felt the power radiated from the orb. All the hair stood up on end as the power flowed over his skin. Kikyo let out a gasp as it also went over her frozen skin.
"Give me the jewel." Was all Naraku said with a slight chuckle.
Kikyo just smirked at him as she gained her composure once more. She fingered the jewel around her neck. It sent swirls of opalescent pink and purple swirling. Naraku watched transfixed. His one goal, his one wish was within his grasp. All that stood in his way, the one person he hated more in this world with every fiber of his very being.
"I said give it to me, Witch, or I will enjoy taking it from you by force. And I will enjoy watching you bleed to death."
A sneer formed on his lips as he pictured the very things he was planning on doing to her and all of them deadly. Kikyo was undaunted. She scoffed at him as she pulled her bow from over her shoulder and knocked an arrow, but didn't point it at him yet. The next line she spoke was pure salt over an already infected wound.
"Did you know they are here? They are seeking for this." She fingered the jewel again to emphasize her point.
"Who? Don't speak in riddles to me woman. I don't have time for these games."
He took another step closer to her. She pulled the arrow up and aimed a faint glow growing to its tip. Naraku was already calling forth his venom wasps and his poison mist preparing for the coming fight. A cruel smile was his answer.
"Your daughters." Was all she said as she let the arrow fly.
The truth hadn't met his ears. His mind was on one thing. The jewel. His freedom rested on it. In order for him to be at peace he needed it. For the curse to end; to see them again.
The arrow was aimed for his heart. It never hit. The wasps formed an impenetrable shield. The poison surged through the woods surrounding him. He let out a maniacal laugh as his presence was hidden from her view completely.
Kikyo knocked another arrow and it pulsed to life with her power once again. It was too late. She couldn't get a lock on him at all. The poison was coming for her. She let the arrow fly blindly into the approaching fog. She turned around as fast as she could. Three wasps dove at her. She purified two of them. The third got her in the shoulder as she ran.
She ran as fast as she could. She summoned her soul stealers. The demons fought off as many of the gaining wasps to let their mistress get away. The fog tracked its way towards her. Gaining speed as it went. Naraku, still nowhere to be found.
Kikyo stopped in a familiar clearing. The clearing where the new group had met up for the first time. It was near Keade's village. That meant that Inuyasha would be there. A smile cracked her face as a thought entered her mind. She headed in that direction.
Kikyo never made it to the edge of the clearing. A vine of the thickest wood grabbed her around the ankle and hauled her back into the center and threw her down hard against the packed earth. A muffled cry of pain left her lips. Dirt and fouler things filling her mouth. She was about to stand when she was hoisted up from another of the vines. This one contracted around her waist trying to crush the air form her lungs.
For the first time in ages she was scared for her life. If you could call her alive to begin with. A speckle of blood leaked from parched lips. She was turned in mid air to face her assailant. She was so close to her freedom. A growl was all she could muster from her throat. Frustration written on her face.
Naraku out right laughed at her. His ruby jewels met her lifeless orbs. She struggled against his hold. He laughed even more. Enjoying this moment to the fullest. His revenge and freedom all in one day. He felt like dancing.
"What is the matter Kikyo…too much fun for you to handle?" He shook her with his tentacle.
Her hair fell from its binding. Teeth grinded together before biting her tongue. Dark crimson made a pathway down her upside down cheek. Kikyo was fully scared now. Her bow and arrows were at the edge of the clearing where she had dropped them when he grabbed her. She cursed her clumsiness. The jewel dangled in view from her porcelain neck. It caught his attention.
Kikyo noticed his attention was no longer on her. For that split second she moved to grab for it to keep it from him. She meant to swallow it. He saw her hand wrap around it and move to her mouth. Before she could even open it, he threw her with as much force as he could muster.
Kikyo was air born. Her back made contact with a nearby tree. The God tree. It felt as if she split in two. She crumpled to the ground. The object of both their desires clutched in her hand. In a vice like grip she tried to stand to face him. Her feet failed. The grip never faltered. Naraku walked with a steady pace to her. She tried once more. Naraku watched with fascination her determination. Even facing death she defied him. Denied him what was his. His right, his freedom…his family.
A feral growl left his mouth. A tentacle shot out from under her with his command. It pinned her to the tree with back breaking force. Ebony waves flowed around her head like night. Blood spurted from her mouth as she gasped out in pain. Pain. So much pain. Her hand never letting go. She was so close to winning. Defeating him. She could still win. She just had to get free.
Kikyo mustered all her power. She focused and fed off of the jewel. Purifying energy burst from all around her person. The vine shattered and disappeared into nothingness from the blast. Eyes glowed as she looked onto the vile being before her. The center of her hatred.
"You will never have it you disgusting demon!"
With that she made a bow and arrow of pure energy. Startled Naraku was only able to form a partial shield of his wasps. The bright force hit his shield, but got through. Most of the power was absorbed as he took the shot on his left shoulder and right leg. He knelt on the ground. Blood pooling around his knee. He grabbed his arm willing his healing to take affect. What was the point in having so many demons in you if you couldn't use them to their fullest advantage? He had time. A lot of time to learn how. He would show her. Show her just what she had done to him.
Kikyo had another one aimed and ready to finish him. The poison filled the clearing in a whirlwind. She went blind. It was too thick for her to get his exact placement once again. Aggravated she fired anyways. The arrow didn't even penetrate the wall. She covered her mouth and nose with the sleeve of her haori. The poison filling her lungs. It reacted with the hit she had received earlier from the wasp. She didn't have enough energy to summon her demons. Not enough strength to pull another of her energy arrows. She fell to her knees.
Naraku's mirthful chuckle caught her ears. She grimaced. The crimson gaze washed over her darkness. The battle for dominance was unending. Finally, feeling to weak to look, Kikyo lowered her gaze. The bass of his voice echoed to the very depths of her bones.
"Give me the jewel."
She shook her head. Unable to talk she did the last thing she could. She swiftly brought the jewel to her lips. A fist came from the depths of the fog and punched her square in the jaw. It sent her sprawling further into the mist. She coughed, involuntarily inhaling the poison. It soaked into her lungs. Naraku descended upon her with a vulture like grace. Her limbs went weak. She still defied him. She tried one last time. He grabbed her by the throat.
"Your defiance is not becoming of you Kikyo." He said with as much glee and malice he could inhabit.
Without another sound he choked her. His claws digging into the freezing flesh. Her skin refusing to take in warmth even throughout the battle.
The air was all she felt. She closed her eyes. More pain was to come. With the thought crossing her mind, she hit hardness. Kikyo went face first into the bark less face of the God Tree. Her nose broke in two. Liquid copper oozed from the hole. Her pale features were marred by the maroon hue. She slid from the surface down to the warm earth. Her blood staining the greatness of the tree's trunk. Her hand fell limp as was her smile.
The jewel rolled away from her as if to say it was free once again. It's glee matching that of Naraku. The same thought going through his mind. He looked at her. Her body laying there lifeless like a rag doll. Then she took a breath. He growled. He bent down and grabbed the fallen jewel. Steadily he strode towards her.
Broken she tried to collect herself to stand. He shot out a vine. It went through her breastplate into her frosted heart. A gurgle was his reply to the deed. He sighed and continued to look at her. He placed the jewel around his neck. It pulsed as if to say hello.
Kikyo watched him approach. There was no more fight in her against him. The battle within to stay alive was her new focus. She gathered all her will to speak to him one last time. Naraku stood 2 feet away from her. Happiness etched his eyes as he watched her.
"You….will always…be…nothing more..th..then…a..a..d.demon…" a hoarse whisper made its way from her once beautiful mouth.
A genuine smile of contentment was her only reply. Her eyes grew in size as she beheld his wish. Everything she strived for, gone in that one instant. Her will leaving her.
"I call on the spirit of the jewel to answer my one wish." His baritone reverberated throughout the clearing.
The jewel's light exploded around him. Naraku was engulfed by pink and purple soul energy. No harm was done. The warmth was all he felt. Kikyo couldn't hear the rest of what was said. She spit blood from her mouth as she still tried to breathe. Her shirt soon becoming the same red as her hakama.
"What is your wish Naraku?" a voice breathed hotly into his mind.
"I wish to be human once more to be with my family." He replied with all the love and happiness he had kept inside for years.
"Done." The word caressed his very soul.
A shudder ran through his body as he was lifted into the air. He was surrounded by a brilliant light. Kikyo watched in horror as her adversary changed. Changed back into the man she tried to forget.
Naraku's hair fell from the half ponytail. It flowed around him in tidal waves. His eyes were shut as he let the magic consume him. The energy went into every pore, every crevice, changing him back to the man he was. His features aged to that of a forty year old man. The hair shortened and was swooped up to the top of his head into one ponytail. He wore the same kimono and hakama, but the man in them was changed.
The power released him. He was set down softly on the ground. The jewel went back to its normal pink and purple glow around his neck. He opened his eyes and looked right at Kikyo. She was shaking her head no vigorously. He approached her like you would a scared animal. His voice was the same just a tad bit deeper. It had also aged along with him.
"Kikyo, listen to me. I do not hate you. We are even now. I hope that you will also find peace."
Spittle of blood was all he got in reply as her eyes refused to return to normal size. Her defeat never reaching her full understanding. Naraku stood from his spot and looked around him. The only signs of the battle were the blood on the tree and dirt. He straightened himself out. His new goal reaching his mind. With that, he thought back to her words before the struggle began. Shock registering on his face.
He put a hand to his head as he closed his eyes. A grin to make the Cheshire cat envious, sprung to life on his lips. The laugh was filled with ever encompassing joy. Without another word he walked from the clearing heading towards the one place he knew where to find them. The one person he had to see first after such a long time. Naraku was going to see his mother.
Kikyo watched him leave with a slight jump to his step. She still hated him with everything she had. She could feel the rest of her life force leaving her just as he did. He left her to die alone. Another cough raked across her lungs causing blood to leak from her mouth and wound.
She could hear voices approaching. One in particular caught her attention. Evil was the only thing in her smile. She waited for the group to arrive.
"You…will…n..not defeat me…Naraku….I…still..have..something for you…"
An:
Lady Shard: Uh oh you left a cliffhanger
Lady Fiona: Yup. Aren't I mean?
Lady Shard: Yeah
Lady Fiona: deadpanned. You know you weren't suppose to agree with me.
Lady Shard: shrugs. You didn't update in like three weeks
Lady Fiona: I know I know. Well with the Fourth of July weekend and then the new
Harry potter book coming out I didn't have time. Don't forget we're writing
three different stories at a time. Including the sequel to this one "Sasha's
Story.
Lady Shard: True we have been working hard.
Lady Fiona: Yeah and we need a lot of help from our readers on our crossover. Harry
Potter and Naruto
Lady Shard: We do?
Lady Fiona: Yeah I don't know about you but I know very little Japanese phrases like
Baka or owari. We need help to make this a funny story. Also those who
help us will be given credit.
Lady Shard: Yeah that sounds cool they can either email us or use our website found on
Our profiler's page.
Lady Fiona: sniffle
Lady Shard: sweat drops. What's wrong?
Lady Fiona: One more chapter after this.
Lady Shard: Your kidding me!
Lady Fiona: Nope I'm not pouts; starts crying
Lady Shard: There there; we have other stories to write remember.
Lady Fiona: grabs Iruka plushie yeah your right. Gets eager to start their crossover
and the sequel
Lady Shard: Don't forget to read, review, and drop a Japanese word or two
Lady Fiona: Oh and don't forget to drop the meaning of it too
Lady Shard: sweat drops; like they were going to forget.
Lady Fiona: giggles I know but I can be an airhead at times and forget.
Lady Fiona and Shard: Please Read And Review!