Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters from the show. (Still can't find that blasted jewel, so…they still belong to Rumiko Takahashi). Although I do own Serena and Iokji!
darkflame1516: I've decided to finish this story.
Shippo: YAY!
Inu-Yasha: Dork.
darkflame1516: If I get enough reviews, I'll make the sequel.
Kagome: Promise?
darkflame1516: I swear. Now, let's continue opening the chapter as we normally do. Kagome, if you please?
Kagome: Sit boy!
Inu-Yasha: slams into ground
ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT! After this one of course! I know this one is short, but I wanted to get it out to you, and also, 16 probably won't be much longer. It's the end though, so bear with me. Now, if you read, please REVIEW!
Also, my anonymous reviews have been turned on, so…
I would prefer if you left signed reviews, but I want reviews more, so…
darkflame1516: On with the show!
Chapter 15 – The Final Blow
Serena opened her eyes slowly and gazed in confusion at the sky above her. Where…where am I? She sat up fast, her head spinning with the effort and looked around in a daze. She spotted a startling sight and her memory rushed back to her. Iokji was taunting her friends, who were all crowded around a collapsed Inu-Yasha. Serena knew he was about to attack and tried to think of a way to help. How can I stop Iokji? He's too far away from me to attack him. Damn! This is all my fault. If I had never jumped into the well, I would never have been possessed! A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped, craning her neck to look up. Koga stood over her, looking down at her with concerned eyes.
"Are you…" He started to say, but Serena shook her head.
"There's no time. Help him," she said and Koga took off, running towards Inu-Yasha. Her gaze followed him and she saw Iokji also beginning to run. He'll never make it in time! Iokji is too close! Serena's attention snapped to the sword at her side. Time seemed to slow as Naraku's words repeated in her brain. The blade of Inu-Yasha's sword can destroy you completely, Iokji. Use caution or he shall end your eternal existence. She grabbed Tetsusaiga with her hand and yanked it from the ground. She hefted it into the air, ignoring the metal biting into her skin, and balanced it in her hand.
"It's not up to Inu-Yasha anymore. I'm gonna end your eternal existence, you vile demon!" She shouted as Iokji raised his fist high over the wounded half-demon.
"Prepare to die, Inu-Yasssha!" He shouted. Same to you! Serena thought as she reared back. She flung the sword, tip first, and prayed that it would strike its mark. Please hit!
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She defeated him? But how? Kagura thought as she watched the battle ending, in shock that Serena was about to kill Iokji. Naraku wants me to understand that to cross him means to die. I know that now. He will kill me without a second thought if I give him a reason. And he doesn't even need a reason to dispose of me. She plucked a feather, flying into the air, already knowing how the fight would end, and headed back to Naraku. He may kill me if I try to escape, but that does not mean I cannot help someone else kill him.
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Inu-Yasha looked up as Iokji's body jerked forward. He grinned as he saw his blade come through the front of the snake demon's chest. Take that, Naraku! He thought. Iokji staggered, grabbing at the sword.
"Nooo! How can thisss be?" He turned to face Serena, a satisfied smile stretched across her face, her long, blonde hair whipping around her face as she stood up.
"Surprised?" She asked. "Now you'll know never to mess with me. At least, if you were gonna survive, you'd know."
"I will not let a little child defeat me!" Iokji screamed, collapsing to his knees.
"Looks like I already did," she replied, grinning wider. Miroku, Kagome, Sango, and Shippo looked at her in surprise as Iokji groaned and fell face-forward, black blood seeping into the ground around him. They rushed toward her, all shouting in joy and shock.
"How did you know to do that?" Miroku and Sango asked in unison.
"You killed him!" Shippo cheered, jumping up and down in circles around her.
"I'm so glad you're all right!" Kagome shouted as she wrapped Serena in a huge bear hug, tears streaming down her face. "I thought you were dead."
"Well," Serena said, twisting out of her cousin's tight grip. "From what I heard while I was possessed, most humans would have died under Iokji's influence."
"So why didn't you?" Serena whirled around to find Koga staring at her.
"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head.
"It doesn't matter. She saved us all," Inu-Yasha said, staggering toward the group.
"But none of you would've been in danger if it wasn't for me," she protested, but he waved away her protests.
"No. This isn't you fault. This is all because of Naraku. Let the blame fall where it should; with him." Then he fell to his knees and all but Serena and Koga rushed to his side.
"Let's get him back to Kaede's. We need to bandage his wound," Kagome said and Koga rushed over to help her get Inu-Yasha to his feet.
Serena sighed as they headed back to the village, Inu-Yasha balanced between Kagome and Koga, Shippo hopping along beside them, and Sango and Miroku walking in front of her, subtly holding hands so that only Serena noticed. I don't care what he says; this is still my fault. Then she eyed Sango and Miroku. God, I missed a LOT while I was possessed, didn't I?
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Okay, how'd u like it? PLEASE REVIEW! R&R Chapter 16 – New Beginnings, the LAST chapter!
