Chapter 14: Oh Misery, My Love,...
"Shhh... shhh. Poor baby," Shina cooed, "I'm so sorry Kagome. I really am. It breaks my heart. But look on the bright side love, maybe this way he'll appreciate you more. And hope to God he learns his lesson this time, huh?" She laughed sweetly. "The big oaf. You'd think after his first experience with this exact trauma he'd have shaped up. Men," she shook her head disapprovingly, "they never change." Shina didn't look at all abashed about what she planned to do. The confident sweetness still clung to her like perfume and her innocence was pristine. "So babe," she got down to business, "where do you want it?" She held up one sai.
Kagome couldn't even cry. Her face was frozen in the pained sympathy she shed for Inuyasha. None of her anxiety was leaking out of her eyes, curling the muscles of her mouth, or rattling her knees together.
"Inuyasha... Inu..ysaha," she tried to call his attention but her voice was near nothing.
"There's no one to save you, Kagome," Shina said seriously, but not sinisterly, "that's what Kikyo found out too late." Shina's eyes were sincere, calm. It was as if she were just trying to get Kagome to face the facts and accept the truth. Nothing about her was deceiving or tainted with malice. "You don't belong here, Kagome. You know that. You have known it for awhile. You're life is in the future. For your time, the past is the past. There's nothing here for you, love. Only death. So you must also know that something like this would happen. I'm just sorry that I had to be the one to punish you. But really hon, you did it to yourself. You have known all along. I just got short changed because you're such hot stuff that no one else could get you first. Isn't that right?" She sounded like she were trying to boost Kagome's spirit. "Ah, Kagome," she laughed sadly, "it's been fun. I'm real sorry babe. The best I can do for you is make it quick," a tear dripped down Shina's cheek, quickly followed by another one, "and painless."
Shina lifted her hand-sized trident and brought it over Kagome's chest. Kagome felt her heart blaze like fire. It was beating so fast she could barely breath enough to stay conscious. Spit gurgled in the back of her throat because she couldn't even swallow. Inuyasha still stood in her visual range. He was fighting Waruimaru with Koga, Sango, Miroku, and even Shippo. They had all left her. They had all found a place where they fit. Miroku and Sango riding Kiara around Waruimaru, Inuyasha taking his own stand on one side, Koga dashing through like Speed Racer. And watching all of them working separately, but together, Kagome realized the truth. Shina is right.
At that instant, Kagome felt a deep sense of enlightenment and peace settle over her like a comforting blanket. Her fear, resentment, jealousy... it was all gone. Shina's sai was freeing her. Layer after layer of tissue that it slipped through was another step closer to absolution. Hopelessness, regret, hate... they clouded her eyes and tainted her heart. But it didn't matter now. Shina was going to set her free... forever.
So as the blood seeped out of the deep puncture wound and stained her pure white school clothes, Kagome didn't utter a peep. She didn't try to call desperately for help, gag on her own saliva, shudder a dying breath for a young life cut tragically short, or even gulp at the pain. The sudden stabbing, throbbing, aching anguish was just the embodiment of all that she had penned up inside of her. And soon... it'll be all gone. All gone...
Just when Shina was getting really deep in her rich red flesh, Kagome saw something long, thin, shiny, and cream-colored swoop down over her.
Twang!
Shina's sai clattered to the ground on the other side of the room, blood glistening on its smooth golden surface. Kagome's lackadaisical eyes shifted to discover Bankotsu standing beside her and panting... as though he had run over here. His face was set in anger. Kagome suddenly realized her muscles were free of their deadlock, but her body was weak. Her knees gave out under her and she slumped forward, her eyes fluttering closed. But he wouldn't let her go down. Her face fell into the nook of his neck and she felt his arm hold her up around her back. All she wanted to do was rest.
She opened her tired eyes. One was blinded by the wall of Bankotsu that was propping her up, but the other worked fine. Bankotsu was talking, she could feel the vibrations in his chest rattling up inside his voice box, saying words her blood deprived brain wasn't even interested in interpreting. But her eye could see one thing worth thinking about. He was standing there, across the room, still fighting his pointless battle with Waruimaru. Inuyasha...
Bankotsu knew he had gotten there too late. If Kikyo hadn't had told him to go, he probably would have let the girl die where she was standing. She certainly didn't seem too keen on living. So here she was, leaning against him, and bleeding all over him, no doubt. The wound looked deep, even by a cursory glance he guessed it wasn't superficial. He glared at Shina.
"Beat it," he warned. Shina bowed politely and simply walked away. Huh. She thinks she's killed her. She might be right by the looks of her. Poor kid. Bankotsu shook her so her head lolled back. Her eyes were glazed over and her mouth agape. Blood was spattered everywhere on her neck, shoulders, and down her chest. He glared in disgust. What a waste.
A deep rumbling chuckle greeted him as a tall figure lurked in the shadows. The laugh was eerie, but mysteriously quiet. Then he appeared before them, as if by apparition: Naraku. He was condescendingly smirking at him and Kagome.
"My, my," he doted, "I didn't think you had it in you," he smiled, "either of you." His eyes slid over to the young feminine half demon, then back to Bankotsu. "After all you're time as a roaming murderer, a few days with a priestess could make you change your ways. Bankotsu, you truly are pathetic. You let that woman manipulate and control you."
"Ya, well at least I don't look like you yet," he offered a witty reply. "How do you manage to retain your dignity with those worms hanging out of your ass?" Bankotsu cast a look of mock curiosity.
"She'll never be able to love you back, you know." Naraku's eyes were cool and clear. "She will never be able to devote herself completely to you because of her all-consuming obsession with Inuyasha."
"What do you want?" Bankotsu sounded irritated.
"Give Kagome to me," he said simply.
"Um, let me think about it." Bankotsu paused for emphasis. "No."
The girl was doll-like in his arms. More blood started trickling out of the side of her mouth as her milky eyes stared into space. Bankotsu felt ever so slightly perturbed at the sogginess of his shirt. She's going quickly.
"Oh my, Bankotsu," Naraku mocked, "does Kikyo know you're over here with her reincarnation? I hear she's the type to hold a grudge."
"You're so annoying!" Bankotsu glared. "Shut up," Bankotsu's voice calmed.
At first Naraku seemed taken aback. His eyes shown with something of brief surprise. He'd never been called annoying before. Then he just cackled.
Bankotsu checked Kagome's heart beat. It was still going, but it was weak. The girl was barely hanging on to life. Bankotsu squatted down to lay her out on the floor. Hopefully she would hold on.
Kagome's eyes fluttered open. Her lenses were glassy and she looked almost dead. Her skin was slowly washing out to a sallow milky color. Her lips twitched. Bankotsu leaned in closer to hear what she was about to say.
"Why–why did...d-you save... me?" Her voice cracked.
"God," he sighed, "you really are Kikyo's reincarnation."
Her brow furrowed and she looked confused in her battered state. Her eyes slowly wandered past the man at her side to see a hazy figure lurking behind him. Naraku... He wasn't approaching like he was going to attack, more like he was observing her too. She didn't even bother to glare at him.
"Just look at him," Naraku's cold voice commented, "he's such a miserable fool, that Inuyasha." Kagome tried to pick him out in the crowd fighting in the distant end of the room. "He hasn't even picked up your scent yet, Kagome," Naraku gently mocked, "and your blood is all over the floor. If I do remember correctly," he smiled, "Kikyo had it the same way when she died."
"And you would remember, wouldn't you, Naraku," an icy voice hissed behind him. Naraku barely bothered to look over his shoulder. Kikyo slowly walked up behind him and came to stand beside the kneeling Bankotsu. The evil mastermind greeted the dead priestess with a smile.
"Well it sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do," Bankotsu stood up with a stretch. "You'll excuse me if I don't stay for the pleasantries." He lifted his great sword to his shoulder and started prancing back toward the big ball of destructive warfare on the far side of the great room. Kikyo smiled as he left.
"Humans are such foolish creatures," Naraku snickered, "He left you knowing you were badly injured. It doesn't appear, in the least that, he cares in the least if you live or die. And here you fell in love with him." Naraku laughed. "You had a man who really did love you and after one fight forsook him completely for a man who really would betray you if given a good enough reason."
Kikyo took Bankotsu's place beside the fallen girl. She put two fingers to the deep puncture in her chest. A crackling light fizzled the tender flesh and sealed the wound. Kagome's dreary dazed eyes watched her.
"Do you know what irony is Naraku?" Kikyo didn't take her eyes from the woman she was tending. "It's funny that you are so self-assured that you can kill me at anytime because you think that I am weak and overconfident. And it goes without saying, I think the same of you... So we have a nice stand off. Both of us are convinced we will be able to fell the other for the exact same reason."
"Enchantingly paradoxical, Kikyo," Naraku complimented, "as always. But I don't believe your quandaries will help you this time."
"What you believe does not concern me," she said frigidly, "leave us."
"I'm merely here to see her off, unlike any of her friends, I actually care if she lives or dies... Is that so horrible Kikyo?" He snickered.
Kikyo turned swiftly on her heels and glared daggers at Naraku. A snarling smile curled up one side of his deceptive lips. Kikyo's eyes narrowed and the anger twisted and flared inside her. That smile... She could see it as clear as though it were happening before her again. "Fool! I had no desire whatsoever to become human. But I'll take the sacred jewel nonetheless, thanks..."
"Go to hell, Naraku," she said calmly.
"KAGOME!" Inuyasha's voice roared over the rumbling atmosphere he was bounding out of. He was hurdling toward them. Bankotsu who stood opposite him, turned to watch the half demon suddenly discover the sweet scent of her blood off his clothes and playfully drifting through the stagnant atmosphere. It may have also had something to do with him briefly mentioning her condition... Koga's head turned too. He sniffed the air and his eyes bugged out. A whirlwind twisted violently behind him to catch up with Inuyasha. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo also seemed suddenly concerned.
Naraku and Kikyo just stood there and watched the herd of them run like in a marathon toward them. Kagome's head slowly tilted to the side to watch him bounding toward her. Inuyasha...
Bankotsu watched with dismay as they all stampeded out of there and only he was left with Waruimaru, the ninja, and Shina. After the chaos cleared, he was back on top and rattling all three using the Akagawa.
Inuyasha arrived first. He bounded in and stopped short of Naraku and Kikyo. Anxiety flashed on his eyes, but then he axed the Tetsaiga down at Naraku. The villian didn't even bother to smile as he disappeared and then reappeared on Kikyo's other side. Inuyasha sent a windscar at him to make sure he was at least a little further away, despite the fact that he'd been standing there since Inuyasha first noticed Kagome's blood scent.
Koga dashed in with full force, dust kicking up behind him. He rushed forward to reach Kagome's side when he was instantly repelled. He fell on his butt three feet away as steam wafted off his body.
"What the?" He glared angrily. Inuyasha looked dumbfounded too. Koga had been rebuffed only a step from where he was standing. Inuyasha tried his luck. He felt his body confounded with purifying energy and he recoiled.
"Kikyo," he breathed. "What are you doing?"
Her stony glare barely acknowledged him. She proceeded to look back down at Kagome.
"Kikyo!" he repeated with more shock. "What is this? Revenge? What do you want Kikyo?" Inuyasha's eyes were pained as the fresh scar from seeing her with Bankotsu reopened. He grit his teeth, his small fangs showing at the sides of his mouth. "Don't–," he began, "don't tell me you did this?" His eyes stared at the wet blood on Kikyo's right hand down to the dark scabbed swollen spot on Kagome's chest. Kikyo didn't respond.
"You bitch! Let us see her right now!" Koga was pissed. He had stomped to his feet and stood before her. But she was safely inside her barrier and payed no heed to his worthless threat.
"Kagome!" Shippo's voice cried from above as he threw himself off Kiara's back to land by her side. But the young fox demon hit the purifying barrier with a horrible zap and he shot back onto the ground. His little body was still smoking as he wheezed in breaths.
Kikyo's eyes suddenly narrowed. She turned her head to look at someone. Inuyasha's eye twitched in anger as he decided to follow her gaze. It was then that he saw Naraku.
"Bravo, Kikyo," the dark voice applauded, "maybe I do give you too little credit in your, shall we say, current 'condition'? But I still do have quite a bit of consolation." Then a deep flood of morbid purple miasma burst out of the corners of the room.
"Naraku's miasma!" Sango cried above all their heads.
Inuyasha was stunned at its potency and ubiquitousness. It was quickly conquering all visibility and burning at his flesh even before the purple fumes managed to reach him.
Naraku's hideous cackle sounded throughout the room.
"Or maybe I give you too much credit, Kikyo. Either way, you were right. Our overconfidence is matched. And even though I may not be able to kill you and you can't touch me, I still always win. And to your credit, you still never cease to amaze me with how easily you'll screw over the men you love." Naraku laughed in the mist.
On the other side of the room, Bankotsu looked fleetingly at the cumulus miasma. Waruimaru had some sort of talisman he fished out of his robes just for this. Bankotsu scowled at him and ran away from the enclosing poison.
Inside her barrier, Kikyo slowly drew an arrow. She knocked it into her bow and pulled back slowly.
"Just try it," Naraku sneered. "My miasma is a thousand times more powerful than it was before. Your arrow will simply disintegrate."
Kikyo focused hard, summed a lot of energy into the arrow, and released. It rocketed out of her barrier and speared through the noxious air.
Naraku watched curiously from the shadows. He was perfectly safe in his barrier. And the arrow wasn't even heading for him. His brow furrowed. That's not even the sacred arrow. She's not trying to purify my poison. What is she up to?
Bankotsu stood in the center of the room with Koga and Inuyasha. All three were evading the gas for as long as possible, but time was swiftly running out as it swirled dangerously around them, teasing them.
"Dammit!" Koga hissed.
"Any suggestions?" Inuyasha growled.
"Inuyasha!" Sango's voice cried above him. She, Kiara, Shippo, and Miroku were just above them. "Come on!" She called. Inuyasha looked up anxiously. Koga looked too.
"Come on, let's go," he looked at Koga.
The Akagawa pulsed at Bankotsu's waist. He looked quizzically down at it. It started beating, fast, very fast. He pulled it out. Pulse. Pulse. Pulse. Pulsepulsepulsepulpu...
"Wait! What the hell is that?"
Bankotsu looked up at the sound of Inuyasha's voice. Something was coming at them. It was tearing a path through the miasma. Then a flash. An arrow..
It shot straight at Bankotsu. His eyes widened as it rushed at him.
Pulse!
He lifted the living sword. It felt like it would have acted even if he hadn't picked it up first.
But then, through the arrow's wake, a cylindrical cut in the miasma, Bankotsu saw her standing there. Her bow still vibrated with the power of the arrow. Her deep eyes were focused.
He lowered the desperately beating sword. He could almost hear Tokunishitoru scream 'NO!' Then...
"Uahh..."
The arrow sunk into his left shoulder and lifted him off his feet. He went sailing into the purple gaseous void behind him. His body flew with the force of the arrow until he hit a column.
Smack!
"Ah.."
His body would have fallen forward if not for the arrow propping him up. His shoulders slumped and the Akagawa hung limply in his hand. His body sagged just above the ground. His head drooped and lolled to the side.
Bankotsu felt a powerful sleep calling him. His whole body felt completely drained. He exhaled, his consciousness swiftly fading. Kikyo...
Inuyasha's mouth was agape. Sango gasped and Miroku blinked.
What?
Naraku's eyes were wide.
Why?
Kagome lugged her heavy body up onto her side and looked up at Kikyo. The woman's hands were shaking and her legs weak. She'd never seen Kikyo looking this bad before. The priestess's knees shook and she almost collapsed, but held her footing. Energy was sifting off her and out lining her in an eerie pink light. She stood to her full height, held her head high, and stared out at the man she had sealed. Kagome blinked and gazed up at her.
"Kikyo..." she whispered hoarsely. The light glowed on the priestess's hard eyes. Kagome reached out to her, but Kikyo refused to look at her.
Across the room, Koga looked wearily over where the arrow had come from. Did she mean to do that? Yes, she must have. The dead woman has finally lost it. He looked over at the awe struck half demon beside him.
"Come on, mutt," he grabbed his arm, "or you'll be next." Inuyasha's head jerked over to him. His stare was intense. He shrugged off Koga's grasp and jumped up to Miroku and Sango. Koga followed.
"How do we clear the miasma?" Sango despaired.
"Kagome is wounded and Kikyo is holding her captive so we can't rely on her sacred arrow to save us this time," Miroku sounded resolved. "So there's only one other way now."
"What's that?" Koga pondered.
"Wind tunnel!"
The evil gas syphoned like a twister into Miroku's open hand. He grit his teeth at the infiltrating poison as it started weeding through his veins. It was like sucking up a whole nest of Saimyosho.
"No, Miroku!" Sango yelled at him.
Miroku ignored her cries and continued to suck in the toxin. His head started getting light. He shook it off and kept the black hole open. Slowly, the room started to clear. Miroku swayed as he shut the hole in his hand off. His tired lids sealed off his eyes and he fell unconscious on Sango's back.
"Miroku!" Sango gasped. "Miroku are you alright! Say something!" The monk's breathing was shallow and his heart beat slow. Shippo's young face screwed up in worry as he checked him.
Sango couldn't believe her eyes. She landed Kiara and grabbed the monk in her arms. "Don't you die on me, Miroku! You can't! Don't leave me!"
"Come on, snap out of it Miroku!" Inuyasha slapped him across the face. The monk's head lolled on his neck and he was as lifeless as a doll in his love's arms. Tears started running down Sango's cheeks. She sniffled and buried her face in his kimono. Inuyasha held a pained look on his face. He stood up and glared at Naraku.
"You bastard," his voice was low and feral. Sango appeared beside him. Her tear-stained face was contorted in hate and agony. Koga looked on with respect at the infuriated woman. She deserved her revenge, so he sought to go get his. He snuck into the shadows. Don't worry Kagome, I'll save you.
Naraku chuckled malevolently. A twisted smile slithered across his lips.
"You should be grateful," he added salt in the wound, "I did it just for him. This way he won't have to be sucked into his own wind tunnel."
"Die Naraku!" Sango hurled her weapon at him with all the force she could muster. The weapon spun so fast it was a blur in the air. Naraku expected it, but didn't move out of the way or even lift his barrier. He stood and watched until he was split in two. His torso fell to the floor and then he simply reassembled himself.
As Naraku pulled himself together, his gaze seemed to focus on something beyond Inuyasha. Risking a glance, the half demon turned back to see the ninja walking up to them, dagger drawn.
"You again," he hissed. "Go away! We're busy!" He hurled a windscar at him. This is bad. It's only me and Sango left. I have to get to Kagome quick. The ninja didn't jump out of the way this time. Huh? Inuyasha turned and payed more attention. The fissures of energy blared through the floor, but didn't touch the slippery man. As the air cleared, he was standing between them and creeping forward just as stealthily as before. Impossible... Inuyasha ripped another one across the room with the same result, except he was getting closer with that bloody dagger. Then he bolted forward. The inhuman speed was astounding. The dagger found its way to his chest and burst through his bones.
Inuyasha could hardly scream his downfall. His footing slipped and he crashed to the floor. The ninja peered down on him.
"Inuyasha!" Sango cried. "You!" She screamed in a fit of fury. The ninja looked over at her. She lifted her weapon, but he was too fast. Suddenly a searing blaze of pain ripped across he collar. Sango wailed and fell back. The ninja held his dagger steady. It was stained with black and red blood, the blood of mortals and immortals. He looked down indifferently at them.
"Good work, Tadao," a creaking old voice announced pleasantly behind them, "I think that will do for now, thank you." The ninja nodded to his superior and walked away. The old man stooped down next to the passed out Miroku and lowered his staff on the monk's hand. Miroku's hand twitched and his face flinched.
Then a great blowing noise thundered out of Miroku's hand. The miasma was pouring back into the room. Somehow Waruimaru had managed to reverse the flow of the wind tunnel. The fumes erupted out of his hand like a volcano and melted the ground they touched. Except this time, Sango and Inuyasha were helpless to get away. Kiara roared as the pungent acid air polluted her nose, throat, and lungs. Inuyasha hacked on the burning poison.
What's going on? Naraku glared at his own vapors as they steamed out of Miroku's hand. My miasma is different for some reason. It's affecting me too. He lifted a sleeve to his face. It's destroying everything it touches. Even my barrier is being dissolved. Heh. Another of his tricks.
Nearby, Kikyo looked over her shoulder at Kagome. The girl had slowly regained full consciousness, though she was still weak. If at any point during her recovery, she had been subjected to Naraku's miasma, she would have easily succumb, despite her normal immunity to it. Kagome watched the dull poison eat slowly away at Kikyo's barrier. If she didn't do something fast, they would all die in here.
"It's as I feared then," Kikyo suddenly spoke. Kagome looked up at her.
"Huh?" Kagome sat up on her palms. Kikyo looked down at her.
"Waruimaru is capable of some of the most powerful and heinous sorcery known to our kind."
"He is?" Kagome looked seriously up at Kikyo.
"And he has played his game very well. He has used us all."
"What do you mean, Kikyo? What can we do? Just tell me what to do. We have to stop him!"
"Waruimaru has put a spell on the miasma. It will brainwash all who inhale it's poison. No one will be able to survive this. We will be as mindless slaves to carry out his bidding on this world."
Kagome gasped.
Naraku stared at the women. He heard Kikyo's words. He had to admit that even he was surprised by the old man's cunning. So he gathered the strongest beings of a wide range of abilities together in order to assure his safety forever. Naraku's gaze fell on Bankotsu pinned to the mighty wooden column. The youth's obsidian braid and bangs blew softly in the miasma's breeze. His eyes were peaceful and his mind drifting through the restful land of sleep. Some miasma billowed around his feet and brushed across his clothes. What was that? It doesn't even effect him.
One brow perked on Naraku's sly countenance. So that's why she sealed him. It seems that he alone will survive this. And he'll be safe forever because not even Waruimaru can remove her spell. Only she can. How clever, Kikyo. You think he'll be happier dreaming than in hell with you. How typical.
The barrier around Kikyo and Kagome was quickly fading. Naraku played with the idea of what to do next. Then a strange shadow caught his eye on the other side of Kikyo. It was Koga. Hate was boiling in his eyes. He plans to kill Kikyo. Naraku growled irritation. The fool plans to kill Kikyo as his last revenge before he dies. The miasma is getting to him. How frustrating. Naraku called his servant via telepathy. Hakudoushi. Come out and kill Waruimaru.
Kagome's eyes darted about apprehensively as the barrier started closing in. Kikyo pulled out another arrow.
"Kagome," she said her name, "can you fire an arrow?"
"I can try," the girl sounded confident.
"Stand up."
Kagome tried to get to her feet, but Kikyo had to drag her up. Kikyo recoiled in pain as the fracture in her leg splintered further.
"Kikyo! Are you alright?"
"Never mind that now. Our one chance is to hit Waruimaru's talisman. It's the only thing protecting him from the poison. Without it, he'll have to break the spell."
"Alright," Kagome nodded at the near impossible task. She picked up her bow and shakily drew an arrow. Kikyo drew back on her own.
"Wait until the barrier disappears. If you don't your arrow will be less effective."
"What about Inuyasha and the others? Will they be ok?" Kagome finally revealed her pent up worry.
"This is our best chance. If you care for the lives of your friends, you will wait."
Waruimaru stood on the other side of the room, through the misty atmosphere and watched them. He waved like a neighbor and grinned evilly. He pulled the small necklace with the talisman over his head and hid the it in the folds of his clothes over his heart.
Kagome glimpsed a scowl grace Kikyo's countenance.
"What's wrong Kikyo? There's something you're not telling me."
"Just focus on this now."
That's when Kagome saw him. Koga was sneaking up on all fours on Kikyo. His eyes were glazed over, the miasma had dissolved some of the skin off his face so his muscle showed, and he was foaming at the mouth. The sheer ferocity of him made her scream to her counterpart. He looked like a zombie.
"Focus!" Kikyo yelled.
To Kagome's pure horror, more of her corrupted friends started stumbling toward her out of the creepy purple mist. They all had patches of skin missing and all their mouths hung open with bits of saliva running out. Especially Inuyasha. He looked rabid. Inuyasha... Kagome felt her heart skipping excitedly and her breaths come rapidly. I have to hold on to free them. I have to... to wait for the barrier to fall to give us all our best opportunity of survival. But as she looked at them, it appeared that they too were merely waiting for the barrier to fall.
"Kikyo..." Kagome sounded scared. "They're closing in all around us!"
"Stay focused!" Kikyo's voice was authoritative. Kagome gulped and tried to hold her shaky clammy hands steady as her slowly deteriorating friends scratched at the barrier, pawing it for weaknesses.
The barrier fell with a cracking noise. It busted apart. Kagome shrieked as Inuyasha approached with hunger in his eyes and Koga uttered a low guttural growl. The miasma flooded in too, scratching and clawing for them just as much as her friends.
"Kikyo!" She felt the hair rising on her arms and neck.
A ripping noise sheared out from the side and a huge bristly brown tentacle rammed into Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku. Koga snarled and leapt at them. Kagome flinched. He was suddenly plucked out of the air by another gnarled appendage and smacked against the wall. Did... did Naraku just save us?
Kikyo let her arrow fly, shortly followed by Kagome's. Waruimaru didn't even move. A shattering noise meant they had successfully hit their target. Both arrows landed in the old man's flesh. Now he sported a total of three sacred arrows in his old wrinkly chest.
As though instantly, the miasma cleared.
"Thank you for that, girls," Waruimaru smiled pleasantly, "I'm sure you're friends will too, not to mention Narak—" the old man stopped. A strange light flashed off his chest. Then it disappeared and Waruimaru fell face forward onto the ground. Behind him, stood a small boy in a white kimono hold a long sharp spear. Hakudoushi. He laughed down at the old man. Waruimaru's face turned on its side to look at his assailant. "That's quite rude you know," the old man sounded weak, "my dear boy, where are your manners?"
"Don't tell me you've been fighting this old geezer this whole time?" Hakudoushi looked disappointedly at all the people in the room. "What a joke."
Waruimaru chortled cheerfully. Hakudoushi scowled severely at him.
"Why my young man," he smiled, "you are quite the comedian."
"You think so," Hakudoushi said angrily before wacking on the head with the butt end of his spear. The old man went suddenly silent.
Naraku appeared beside Hakudoushi and stretched out a slender tentacle and removed a small glass ball from the inside of his robes.
Meanwhile, Kikyo left Kagome in the scattered mess of her unconscious friends. They were all fine, and since the miasma was gone, they were all improving. But Kagome just watched Kikyo fumble her way across the room on her bad leg. She was making her way through the debris and leaning heavily on her bow. She stopped when she reached the pillar holding Bankotsu. She reached up, stretching out her bad leg, and standing on her toes. Finally her pains were rewarded when her hand slipped over the arrow lodged in his shoulder. Kikyo squeezed her hand around it and it disappeared. She slunk back on her bad leg and waited for him to fall.
Bankotsu's body shifted forward and then slumped down into her arms. She settled down on the floor hugging his head against her and resting her chin on top of his head. She brushed his bangs out of his eyes and rubbed her hand across his cheek.
Kikyo felt the anxiety eating away at her nerves. The sealing arrow was only meant for demons. She'd never used it on a human before. She relied on the Akagawa's demonic power to make it work, but it was still so risky. The fact that he had lived through the miasma without any sign of damage was good, but it was possible that he simply wouldn't wake up. She had made sure the arrow was as powerful as she could make it.
His body was heavy and lifeless, even though still warm. She waited, and waited. Please wake up, Bankotsu. Kikyo batted away despair, and comforted herself by gently nuzzling her face against his. Bankotsu... you wouldn't let me kill you, would you? No. She answered herself. So wake up... She waited longer. Bankotsu...
His eyes slowly fluttered open and it didn't take him long to realize where he was. The Akagawa was still in his hand. He shifted in her arms for a more comfortable position on his back. He grinned up at her. She blinked down at him.
"Don't stop," he prompted, "it feels nice." Relief flooded her eyes and a smile shakily broke her features. "I can pretend to be asleep again," he offered. She curled over and hugged him tightly. He was surprised. "Kikyo?" Finally her grip loosened. "You ok?"
"Are you?"
"Of course," he wore a genuine expression.
She smiled.
The first thing to catch Inuyasha's dreary eyes when he awoke from the strange spell was Bankotsu laying in Kikyo's arms. His mouth twitched and his brow furrowed in pain. He stood up, a growl congealing on his lips. But then a soft touch reached and grabbed his hand. He shot a glare down at the perpetrator, only to discover Kagome. An understanding smile graced her features and she seemed to see through him.
"Don't do it Inuyasha," her voice was quiet, "I know he's a jerk, but look," Kagome could see them sitting so contentedly together, "he's good to her."
"What she sees in him is completely beyond me," a eavesdropping voice squeaked by them. Suddenly Shippo appeared. Kagome didn't seem to mind.
"Honestly, I don't have any idea how he did it," Kagome commented, "but he can't be all bad if she likes him so much."
"He-can't-be-all-bad," Inuyasha mocked, "just look at him. He's tricked her somehow. How can she possibly... How could she? Something is wrong." Inuyasha's voice was in disbelief.
"Isn't it obvious, Inuyasha? She dumped you," Shippo stated, "she probably got sick of you hanging around Kagome all the time or something."
"But she..." Inuyasha's voice drifted off.
"... betrayed you? Yeah, she did." Koga elbowed Inuyasha in the side.
Bankotsu stood up and stretched. Kikyo got up beside him and noticed the others starting to come to. Inuyasha was grumbling about something and Koga seemed equally irritated. Even Sango and Miroku were bickering with them. Kagome looked lost in the feud. A big 'save me' sign was stamped across her forehead.
Bankotsu laughed at them. Then he noticed Naraku escaping with the orb.
"Oh crap," he sobered up. He swung the sword down and a blurred mass of energy wavered over to the selfish half demon. Naraku turned in time to see the river swarming at him, and barely lifted his barrier. Unlucky for him though, Kikyo's arrow was quick to pop his bubble. The energy smashed down on him and rearranged his body particles. The orb broke into a million pieces.
The sword pulsed in his hands. Bankotsu peered curiously at it. His eyes widened. The sword began to sift into mere particles, starting at the tip. The mighty Akagawa was disintegrating until nothing but the hilt was left.
"Thank you," Tokunishitoru's voice sounded relieved. The red eye slowly closed and the hilt lost its luster. The dust particles floated through the air looping into the shape of a dragon, then it was gone completely.
The room was quiet. Bankotsu looked disappointedly at the sword hilt.
"Ah, damn," he sighed, "did you see that?"
"He did it!" A young voice squeaked from where Kagome was, as the little fox demon looked on.
"The Orb of Douou is gone," Miroku marveled.
Apparently everyone was alright in Kagome's corner. Their skin had gone back to normal and everyone was looking better.
"Naraku, you bastard!" Inuyasha made his presence known. Naraku's face was barely recognizable as it was the only remaining piece of his body and the rest of him was swirling together. Inuyasha picked up his sword and lunged forward
"He's mine mutt face!" Koga sprinted ahead of him causing Inuyasha to catch his sword before he cut through the wind scar.
"Dammit Koga!" he cursed.
Kagome was glad to see things go somewhat back to normal. Waruimaru wasn't moving on the ground and she hoped that they could let Shina and Tadao go. But maybe they could get Naraku.
"Kohaku!" Kagome heard Sango scream to her brother. The lad had been lingering around the area, but hadn't acted until now. He slung his weapon at Koga, catching the wolf around a leg with the chain. Koga crashed to the ground at the large double-door entrance. He growled as he threw the chain off him. Then a strange feeling loomed behind him. The hair on the back of his neck rose as he glanced behind him to see the source of the foreboding power.
Sesshomaru stood in the open doorway. Koga recognized him immediately. He stood regally and calmly watched the procession before him.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha growled.
The elder brother ignored him. But something did seem to perk the stoic demon's attention. Shina ran across the back of the room with Naraku's baby in her arms. Sesshomaru watched Naraku's face go pale. Shina ran over to Waruimaru and knelt down beside him. The old man suddenly got up. He brushed off his clothes and looked around at the stunned audience. His eyes caught on Sesshomaru.
"If it isn't the first son of the dog general," Waruimaru sounded very pleased. Nothing about his countenance would suggest he was stabbed through the back and had three sacred arrows skewered through his chest. Waruimaru drew an aside to Shina and held the baby in his own arms. "You'll have to excuse me," he apologized, "it's been quite a while." He looked down at the baby briefly, then back up to Sesshomaru. "You're father would be very proud."
Sesshomaru refused to reveal his reaction. He just stared. Shina and Tadao stood at both of Waruimaru's sides.
"You look just like him," Waruimaru kept on, "he was a great man, rest his soul. Poor Inuyasha never got to meet him," his old eyes traced over to the half demon, "but I think he would have approved of you."
"Would you shut up," Inuyasha said like he couldn't believe how long the geezer had been going on. Waruimaru frowned.
"He was classy. Too bad you didn't get the chance any for it to rub off on you."
"If you want to die, you could just say so," Inuyasha snarled and leapt forward.
It was on. Bankotsu watched with utter delight flickering in his eyes as the battle resumed. With nothing left of his sword, he shrugged, dropped the dull hilt, and jumped into the action. He threw swift punches at Waruimaru and the occasional kick, but the sorcerer was virtually untouchable. Even Koga couldn't get a hit in on him. The old man was better at guarding the baby than Naraku, but that wasn't necessarily what Bankotsu was aiming for. Shina and Tadao were constantly surprising everyone too. Shina would freeze people and Tadao would sneak up undetected.
Inuyasha screamed his blasting intent and the windscar surged toward Waruimaru and the baby. Shina stood back and waited at the edge of the strike zone so she could finish her job on Kagome. But as the sneaking half demon stood at the ready, a hand pushed her from behind and she staggered into a fatal fall. She tried to scamper out of the way of Inuyasha's oncoming blast, but she wasn't fast enough. And to her dismay, Waruimaru wasn't close enough with his staff to save her. She screamed. The blast subsided and she lay with a large scar splitting her abdomen in two. Her eyes were blank and her body limp.
Inuyasha was in shock. Waruimaru looked sadly down at the young woman. The deep red stained her beautiful white-blond hair. Tadao rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. He delicately scooped a hand under her head and propped her up. She didn't respond. Glistening tears trickled at the sides of his eyes and red veins laced into the interior of his eyes.
Tadao shook with grief and cradled her in his arms. If there was any time in his life he could have screamed, now was it. But, nothing would thunder out of his lungs or echo through his desolate voice box. He found himself, as always, restrained. Then he picked her up and ran out of there. Inuyasha looked on, a regretful face depressing his rage.
Kikyo watched him race away. She saw the tragedy unfurl, but was too late to do anything.
Bankotsu kept on his assault. Waruimaru got a one minute time out, but that was it. Others like Koga were unwilling to observe such an offering and kept the old man going. And soon enough the bustling ball of brutality resumed. Eventually, Bankotsu lost his sense of discrimination and just started throwing a fist here or there. It didn't really matter because everything was far too busy for anyone to notice, and he did find it quite enjoyable.
Bankotsu had just landed a nice right hook on Waruimaru when a sickly warm feeling gushed up his back. He twisted his torso until he was shocked to find his blood pouring down his white clothes. He gasped and his feet gave out under him. He crashed onto his back and a blazing sensation drove him to wince and bite down hard. When he opened his eyes again, the blood was leaking through the front of his uniform too. It flowered out from one long diagonal slash across his torso. He blinked and looked above him to see a smug pale face looking down at him. Hakudoushi. The kid was holding his spear and grinning malevolently.
"Can't get up? That's too bad. Human flesh is so fragile, so worthless," he savored every word, "so weak. You didn't actually expect to live after what you did, did you? Naraku doesn't like traitors, didn't you know?"
Bankotsu chuckled sarcastically.
Hakudoushi stiffened. An awful delighted smile slipped across his lips. He turned marginally and looked behind him. Bankotsu followed his gaze with a disconcerted stare. Kikyo stood just behind the small white child. Her face was dull and indifferent as she stared down at him. Her eyes were focused and dark.
"Heh. Kikyo. Looks like you got here too late, as usual." The kid's horrible smirk dared her to make a move. "Just go ahead and try it. There's nothing you can do now. You can't save him and you can't kill me. As we speak Naraku and his heart are safely out of the grounds. So go ahead, take your best shot. What do you possibly hope to accomplish? Go sulk in your misery. You're worthless and incompetent, and you don't even know it."
Kikyo slowly stretched out a hand to Hakudoushi. He watched her with a cocky bemused smile. Her slender fingers gripped his face. He wore a vapid expression, then his eyes seized with panic. He blinked rapidly and his eyes rolled back in his head and his mouth fell agape. A strange blue light illuminated his face, then Kikyo's fingers closed on a streaming blue tailed ball of light. She drew his soul from his head and Hakudoushi's lifeless hand dropped his spear. Kikyo's face flared anger as she suddenly smashed her fingers together and the exposed half of the soul burst like glass. Small pieces showered the ground, then vaporized. The remaining broken soul bled it's misty essence into the room. Hakudoushi's fell blankly to his knees before his body slopped to the side and dropped to the floor with a sick crumple.
Bankotsu's eyes were wide as he watched the child fall.
"HOLY SHIT, KIKYO!" Bankotsu's eyes darted up to her.
A disgusted glare tugged at her face as she eyed the fallen incarnation. Then her eyes fell back on him. He didn't know what to say so he just gawked at her. She fell to her knees beside him and gently touched the saturated red of his kimono. She grimaced and then unfolded the wet cloth revealing a gnaw-edged gash ripping across his chest.
Bankotsu watched her face as she exposed the wound. The light left her eyes and she looked grave. A small hand landed on the center of the ruffled flesh and he winced as she started cauterizing it.
"Kikyo," he lifted a hand to her purifying fingers. She didn't react, but kept burning the oozing muscle and bone. "Kikyo," he repeated softly, "it's ok. It happens, remember?" Her eyes looked pained as he smiled at her.
Someone approached from behind her and Kikyo's pain ridden eyes shifted angrily to the side. Bankotsu recognized the tall handsome demon to be Inuyasha's brother.
"You're wasting your time. You can't save him, priestess. An inane murderer has no chance at salvation." His voice was cold and cutting.
"Do you think your soul will fare any better, demon?" Kikyo turned marginally on her heels with acid in her voice and anger dancing in her eyes.
"Yeah," Bankotsu looked at Sesshomaru, "I tried that line on her earlier too and it went just as well." Bankotsu offered his sympathy to the demon lord.
Sesshomaru ignored Bankotsu and just stared condescendingly at Kikyo. It was clear she wanted him to leave, so he demurely walked on.
When Bankotsu looked back, Kikyo was staring at him again. She seemed so calm and sad, like she was used to this kind of thing, but still refused to accept it. She sighed.
"It's was fun playing hero with you, Kikyo," he smiled. "Too bad it had to end so soon."
She offered a weak smile and wiped some blood off his face.
"I am fond of you," her eyes were forlorn.
"I know," he lost his playfulness. A comfortable silence passed between them. "Don't follow me," he suddenly spoke. She perked up. "I know that look in your eye," he looked at her.
"I don't belong here either," she said somberly.
"If you really believed that you would have died that night, instead of run away into those bandits."
"I'm not running anymore."
"Yes you are," he sneered, "just in a metaphorical sense this time, you sneaky girl."
"Hell is my prison, Bankotsu. It's where I am destined to be. It always has been." Her eyes were soft and reflective. "I think I'm finally ok with that."
"Please don't," he pleaded, "don't, Kikyo. Just wait." He chocked on some blood. "Wait... wait... wait." Bankotsu swallowed hard.
"I've waited so long," her eyes longed.
"I know," he chocked. His breathing was labored and blood spurted out of the sides of his mouth. "Will you wait? Will you wait for me... because I asked you to?"
Her eyes wavered. Pain swelled in her face. She lowered her face down to his and nestled a gentle kiss on his lips. She sat back up.
"That's what I like about you, K-Kikyo," he whistled through a smile, but then his chest seized in a coughing fit. He hacked up blood. Kikyo did her best to comfort him, but he was dying.
Bankotsu lurched in her arms and spat up more blood. Then his body relaxed. She brushed his sweaty bangs out of his face and looked at the small smudged cross on his forehead. His face was peaceful. His body calmed. He isn't...
Bankotsu?
"I'm so sorry, my dear," a soothing voice cooed above her. Waruimaru peered down at her. "I never foresaw this for you. I really did want you to be with him for as long as you both would have it. But perhaps I can help you there," he rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. She held Bankotsu in her arms and looked up at the old man. "Give me your life Kikyo," he held up a small bottle. "And I can promise you that you will see him again." Kikyo's hollow eyes looked up at the old man's offer. "You and I both know if you wait too long you will have less of a chance to find him. You may never find him again. This is your best shot. If you wait you may as well never see him again, even in a million years. After all," he smiled, "hell is not to be underestimated." She looked away. "Look at the positives, Kikyo. I only need the death of one priestess, and the killing force of one. If you provide your life, Kagome can live on."
"You seek the sacred place?" Her voice was unfeeling.
"Why, yes," he smiled politely, "I wish to rest there. But you don't. Let's help each other."
Kikyo placed Bankotsu's body gently back down on the ground. His eyes were closed as in sleep. She stood up before the ancient being. Her blank eyes stared through him.
A sinister smile hid in his innocent complexion. He uncorked the bottle and held the open mouth toward her. A small vacuum sucked at her, but didn't ruffle her clothes or disturb her long obsidian hair. It sucked at her spiritual power. Kikyo stepped forward and stretched out her hands before her. Pink light exploded out of her palms. Waruimaru staggered back at the power. But he stepped back up and tried to capture the purity.
The energy bit at Waruimaru's very being. It was so strong that he felt himself being purified. But it wouldn't matter in a moment. He would have all he needed for a clean easy way into heaven. With this last bit of energy, he would have absolution.
Kikyo's hands stretched out and cupped over Waruimaru's hands on the bottle. He flinched at the sheer power flowing through her. How can she have so much power left? The bottle started overflowing with liquified energy. Waruimaru's hands shook, spilling more of it.
The intensity heightened as the remaining souls started slipping out of her. She closed her eyes and felt them start leaving her one by one. The air around her whipped up and around. Her power was disturbing the very atmosphere.
Waruimaru smiled victoriously. Yes.. Yes... Yes! Her souls are leaving her. She'll die very soon.
"Kikyo!" Inuyasha screamed over the mounting energy. Her face slowly turned to look at him, a blank expression masking her feelings. The souls started pouring out of her.
No!
"Inuyasha!" A voice wailed behind him. Kagome! The ninja had come back. His mask was torn off and his face was contorted with insanity and malice. He held his dirty dagger to her neck and held her hostage. Koga charged to the rescue but Tadao just dug the dagger closer to her artery. She screamed.
Kikyo saw Inuyasha make his choice. He turned on her and went to Kagome. She smiled. Now you understand. Kikyo blasted the rest of her energy at the old man. He staggered back and the arrows lodged in his chest disappeared completely from the power of her purification.
Waruimaru glanced fleetingly for where they could have gone, then cursed. Kikyo barely stood on two feet. Her shoulders sagged and her hair clouded her eyes.
"What? How could this happen?" Waruimaru strained to discover what could have happened.
Meanwhile, Tadao held Kagome hostage, putting everyone on edge. Watching all the worried faces, Tadao felt guilty. Inuyasha's face strained with agony at the thought of losing her. Shippo and Sango looked equally desperate and Koga looked infuriated.
Tadao stifled the nauseating pain shuffling through his guts and clogging his throat. Shina was dead. His dream was dead. It was burning him alive and no one cared. Shina was gone. And she was the only thing that ever mattered. He could feel the fire ravaging through his lungs and scorching his nostrils. The fire of hate. It was more powerful than anything he'd ever experienced. Loss. It was soul sucking and eviscerating. Even now, with the soft tenderized flesh of the young innocent miko strapped against him, he could only feel the horrible screams of Shina's last breaths echoing in his heart. Kagome's life was bound to nothing but his dagger. He was... the greatest ninja in the world, infallible at his trade. He was the perfect killer.
Tadao swallowed hard and edged the knife into Kagome's delicate neck. Inuyasha whirled out his sword and waved it threateningly. Tadao inclined his eyebrows. So what? What are you going to do? You can't do anything. You're helpless. YOU'RE ALL HELPLESS! HOW DOES IT FEEL? TELL ME! Tadao's countenance flashed pure rage.
Koga charged forward. Tadao shoved the knife along the slender circumference of Kagome's neck and stopped at the center. The lustrous red fluid dripped a single line down Kagome's neck, hugging the slick tender pale skin and slipping beneath the brutalized folds of her school uniform. Koga abruptly stopped his initiative. His eyes blazing with fear and frustration. Kagome whimpered and closed her eyes, arching her neck back, as a single tear massaged into the desperate sweat layering her skin. Her body shook helplessly with fright and her muscles twitched compulsively.
Tadao was composed. All were at his control. He was in control. He had say over life or death.
But why? Why couldn't he save her? The power, the sheer power, was not in his control. He was helpless as she had fallen into the mutilating saws of energy that had dissevered her. And the other half demon, the same that was at his mercy this very instant, was responsible for her annihilation. His sweet love. His joy. The one he kept breathing for. The only one who understood him when he was born mute. His baby was no more.
Tadao felt his eyes start drowning in salty baths of tears. Thinking about her, not thinking about her, it felt like razors searing through his heart. The emotions flooding out of him would leave an emptiness that could never be filled again. Everything he had ever done, he had done for her. What could he do now?
Kagome choked on her own saliva as the greasy dagger precariously pressed against her voice box. Tadao looked at the meshed sweaty hair of the young lass. Her eyes were wide with the emptiness of desperation. Inuyasha's eyes told the same story. Koga snarled with a maddened heat of strangled fury. Sango cried the too familiar song of loss. Miroku's mouth drooped and his eyes yearned for reconciliation. Shippo wailed grief. Tadao looked at every single one of them. And just beyond the group. The blood spattered mercenary looked expressionless. The dead priestess grasped on to determination, but not for life... it was something else. And then Waruimaru. Surprise. That's all he had. And after looking at all of them, he realized something... They'll never understand.
Tadao shoved Kagome back into Inuyasha's arms and lifted the dagger to himself. He drove it deep into his own heart and fell forward dead.
"Uh!" Sango gasped.
No one could say anything for a moment.
"He took his own life!"
"He was overcome by grief at the loss of his own partner," Miroku suspected. Kagome turned, weakly dabbing her pale fingers to the open slit across her neck, and viewed his corpse. He was merely a dark shadow. That's all he'd ever been. He'd never had a real existence of his own. How tragic.
"How horrible," Kagome pitied him. She turned to discover Waruimaru attacking Kikyo. She gasped. "Oh no! Kikyo's in trouble!"
Waruimaru threatened and cursed at Kikyo. He tried desperately in any way to provoke her, but the woman was as lifeless as a doll. He snarled.
"I'm disappointed. Without your love to save you, you are nothing, Kikyo, just the shell of a woman." Kikyo didn't respond, but barely held her footing. "Goodbye, Kikyo."
Kagome fired an arrow down at the evil human. Kikyo glimpsed the arrow coming down at him. NO!
Kikyo abruptly stepped forward and shoved Waruimaru out of the way. The old man was stunned she could even walk.
Kagome gasped.
"What is she doing!"
The arrow hit Kikyo in the chest and she crumpled to the ground. Her head fell back and landed on something soft. She struggled for consciousness against the suffocating fatigue.
"Dammit, Kikyo," a weak cracking voice muttered, "you're just pissing everyone off today aren't you?"
Kikyo's eyes bugged as she realized who was speaking. She forced herself up. It can't be... There he was, peeking at her through blood stained eye lids: Bankotsu.
"You're alive," she breathed with what was left of her voice.
"I was trying to be indiscreet," he smiled. She dragged her body over next to him.
"I was sure you were gone," she breathed.
"Don't count me out yet," he smiled. Bankotsu looked up at the ceiling. His brow furrowed. "Hey... Isn't that Sesshomaru?" Kikyo looked up. The demon plummeted down from the air. His sword was drawn, his posture ready. Waruimaru looked up. He gasped as his bottle of purity broke in his hands.
Noooo!
Sesshomaru's sword claimed his old dried up life.
Author's note: Heeeeeeeeeeey everyone! I'm sorry this took so long, but I've been on vacation for like five weeks now. I was pleased to get five reviews on the last chapter, but I'd say there was quite a misrepresentation when considering how many hits I saw. Anyway, one chapter left on this one! And don't worry, I won't take nearly as long to update it. Promise. :)