Personal Hell

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed


Three Months Later

Kagome scowled as she watched Naraku flee the area of their battle. He had not retrieved the last shard of the Shikon jewel. Kagome clutched the shard in her fist and glared at his fleeing form. They had just gotten back from the barrier between the living and the dead. Kagome turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru. He held the Tenseiga in his hand and showed no expression on his face. Kagome released a sigh and he looked at her from the corner of his left eye. Inuyasha supported himself on the Tetsusaiga and cautiously watched his brother.

"Thank you for your help Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome softly said as he turned his face to her.

"Naraku has crossed me, and it was my intent to stop him," Sesshoumaru spoke.

"Whether or not you helped, we appreciatethe help," Kagome firmly said as she watched him walk away.

His Mokomoko-sama flowed in the wind as he lifted into the air. Kagome looked to her right and noticed Sango's hand on her shoulder. They both chuckled and Kagome gave her a high-five. They had gotten the last shard of the Tama and pissed off Naraku; it was a small victory, but still a victory.

"Bastard," Inuyasha mumbled as he watched his brother leave.

"Smile Inuyasha," Miroku began, "we have delayed Naraku."

"We still have Kohaku's shard," Inuyasha reminded as Sango tensed.

"It'll be safe for now," Kagome assured Sango with a smile.

"Where did you get that arrow?" Miroku asked Kagome.

Kagome sadly smiled and looked to Inuyasha. Inuyasha had unknowingly been given the arrow by Kikyo. She had disguised herself and gone by the title 'her holiness.' The arrow was coated in the dirt from Onigumo's cave. Kagome had to give the Miko props; she had convinced everyone that she was gone from this world. She soon would be gone from this world if the miasma in her body wasn't properly purified.

"A Miko gave the arrow to Inuyasha for me to use," Kagome answered.

"That arrow packed a punch," Sango spoke using Kagome's slang.

"Yeah, it was powerful," Kagome, agreed. Miroku grinned and slung his arm around her shoulder. Inuyasha began to growl as Kagome nervously smiled.

"The arrow was only powerful because of your dedication," Miroku stated as he ruffled her hair.

Kagome smiled and looked to the rising sun. A new day was beginning and she could feel trouble on the horizon. Kirara transformed and they were off to Kaede's village. She watched the scenery go by as she lost herself in thought. They had so much to do; yet, it seemed simple. She wished that life were a bit simpler.

'We still have to search for Moryomaru and stop him from gaining anymore power,' Kagome thought.

Moryomaru was the embodiment of Naraku's heart in the form of a baby. He was constantly absorbing youkai in an attempt to become more powerful then Naraku. Hakudoushi, Akago's other half had built a puppet for him. Naraku had then allowed Hakudoushi to be destroyed; now they worked to destroy Moryomaru. Kagome wondered what the evil creature was doing now. Kanna had also fled with Moryomaru in order to help him gain more power. A frown creased her forehead as she leaned her head against Inuyasha's shoulder.

'I wonder if Moryomaru will succeed in out powering Naraku,' Kagome thought as she closed her eyes.

She shivered at the thought of something more powerful then Naraku out there. Kagome didn't need a creature like that getting the Shikon no Tama. His form always caused her discomfort since he was naked. Only recently had he put on a pair of hakama. His body was covered in blue markings. The markings formed on his stomach and around his arms, they were like thick stripes. Moryomaru had flesh like spikes sticking out of his wrists, elbows, and shoulders. He could constantly reshape his body into anything he wanted.

"Kagome, what do you plan to do at the village?" Sango called down to Kagome. Kagome raised her head up to Sango from Inuyasha's hair and smiled.

"I plan to try and search for the Tama," Kagome answered. She noticed Miroku frown and Inuyasha scoff.

"You should rest," Miroku advised.

"I can not waste a moment," Kagome seriously said.

"You lost a lot of energy entering the barrier, and now you want to waste more searching for the Tama?" Inuyasha angrily questioned.

"I have to search for that Tama," Kagome claimed.

"You'll work yourself to death!" Inuyasha growled.

'Death,' Kagome wistfully thought.

"Do you want to work yourself to death and leave me alone?" Inuyasha softly question as his grip tightened on her. She was on his back while he ran. Kagome tensed at the words and sighed.

"No, I'll rest," promised Kagome with a sad smile.

"You better," Inuyasha grunted.

Kagome sighed as she walked into her hut. She had explained to the group that she had to rest. A smile touched her lips as she searched for any intruders. Once she was assured that she had her privacy she walked to her room and sat on the futon. Kagome reached into her haori and pulled out the shard of the Tama. She grasped it in her hand and concentrated on it. A small breath left her lips as she fell backwards and focused only on the shard.

She could sense the shards from a certain distance, but she had pondered on a new technique. All the shards were connected and each had a soul within them. Kagome had wondered if she could connect with the souls and try to sense them that way. Her reasoning was that the shards had to have some awareness of each shard. If she were right, then the shard in her grasp would lead her to the other shards.

The shard pulsed and Kagome felt herself drawn into it. She could feel its cries to be complete. Her face went calm as she felt the shard search for itself across Japan. She could feel the pure souls of the Tama becoming weakened from Naraku's taint. Kagome wished that she had taken Kouga's shards when she had the chance. Naraku had stolen his shards at Mount Hakurei. Kagome traveled through the link until she reached a purple void. A soft growl came from her throat as she felt the evil surround her. Kagome scanned the area and smirked in triumph when she found the Tama. It was a dark purple orb that was held in the palm of Naraku's hand.

"Naraku," Kagome hissed as she glared at him. She didn't think he would know of searching for the shards this way.

"Kukuku, I see you've discovered this method of shard hunting," Naraku calmly said as he studied the Miko.

"And I see you're still weak," Kagome taunted. He couldn't hurt her through a link like this. His crimson eyes glared at her form.

"And I see you are still one step behind," Naraku spoke with a cruel laugh.

"No, I am one step closer to destroying you," Kagome responded. Naraku raised his hand to chin and smirked.

"Maybe you should be saying that 'you are one step closer to your revenge'," Naraku stated as he eyes shone in victory. Kagome's face faltered into a frown before she stilled her features.

"Revenge is just a plus when it comes to destroying you," Kagome softly said as she smiled at him.

"Then you better do it fast, because you are still one step behind," Naraku warned with a smile full of malice.

Kagome glared at him as he appeared in front of her. His hand wrapped around her throat and he lifted her into the air. Panic coursed through her being as she felt herself being strangled. Naraku laughed at her weak struggles. Kagome dug her nails into his skin and released her Miko ki. He yelped and dropped her wheezing form.

"I will destroy you," Kagome promised before she was ripped out of that world.

Her eyes snapped open and she noticed the amber orbs peering at her. Kagome sat up and the shard fell to the floor. Inuyasha glared at the shard that was a darker shade of purple. His displeasure showed as Kagome reached out and purified it. Inuyasha turned her face to his and he scowled.

"You promised us that you'd rest!" Inuyasha shouted. Kagome still felt weak from searching for the Tama.

"I needed to find the Tama," Kagome whispered as she lay back down.

"You look dead," Inuyasha mumbled as he sat beside her and tucked her in.

"Kohaku doesn't have a shard," Kagome whispered.

"Is he…dead?" Inuyasha whispered.

"I don't know," Kagome whispered.

"We have to tell Sango," Inuyasha firmly said.

"I know," Kagome whispered as she gazed up at the wooden ceiling. Inuyasha sighed and pushed a black strand of hair behind her ears.

"You should rest," Inuyasha whispered before he left the room.

Kagome slowly closed her eyes. Her mind went blank and this time she did rest. She knew that Naraku would be no easy feat. It would take everything they had to beat him, maybe their lives.

Morning came all to soon for her taste. The sunshine blurred her vision as she walked out of her hut and into the world. Kagome smiled, this time she could feel the Tama calling out to her. She ran and woke the others telling them whatshe sensed. Sango seemed a bit depressed, but her fury fueled her. Miroku had told her about her brother. Kirara transformed and they were off towards the location of the Tama. Kagome had gathered her arrows and bow and watched the village vanish into the distance.

Nervousness griped her stomach as she thought about the upcoming battle. Her attention was drawn back to the Tama as it pulsed. The tainted energy sickened her as she felt her own shard pulse with purity. Naraku stood there in the field, but it was not what they had expected.

Author's Note:

Sorry this chapter is so short, but I just wanted to pave the way for the next chapter. This story is offically finished, save for editing! I'm so proud that I finished it!(does a happy dance) All I need to do is update on time!
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If anybody likes Trigun I'm trying my hand at a Trigun crossover with Inuyasha.