Aloha:P
Again, I'll just remind everyone, this story is being written under the impression Kagura never died. even though I said nothing after manga 37 would count in my fic.. still just gotta remind you all.
I know thats not what happened in the manga, but that's one thing I have to ignore. The character of
Kagura is just to incredibly... cool (what a bad word to use, eh?) for me to not use her. I just love her so much! (Well not nearly as much as Jako-chan.. Er.. Jakotsu Y.Y)
Just thought I should remind you!
Happy reading!
Chapter 13 - The Battle
--Sengoku Jidai--
It was nearly night when Inuyasha finally reached Kouga's cave. He landed softly on the ground and knelt down, clutching his arm. It was still injured from his last attack on Naraku.
It'd been a hard battle. He'd nearly managed to get a clear attack, but he'd been too slow and Naraku had used that time to attack him. The youkai had snapped his arm right in half. Even now it was still very sore. The bone had fully healed.
More damage had been caused, but he was mostly better.
He stood up and shook his head to clear it.
I cant believe I'm asking this flea bag for help, he thought. I've hit rock bottom. He walked up to the cave entrance and called, "Kouga!"
Immediately the wolf youkai came bounding out of the cave. He wasn't quite as fast as before, having lost all his jewel shards.
"Well, well. Inukkoro…Ready to die?" He asked, grinning maliciously.
"Oh shut up, baka! I'm not here to fight." He yelled.
Kouga leapt at Inuyasha, his fists swinging widely. "Ha! Like I'd believe that!"
Inuyasha immediately grabbed his wrists held them. He used one leg to kick Kouga away from him, so he could grab Tetsusaiga. He stood there, his sword aimed at the wolf demon.
"Listen, Kouga… I am not here to fight. We need to talk." Inuyasha growled, as Ginta and Hakkaku came out of the cave.
"Fine." Kouga said, eyeing the hanyou suspiciously, while rubbing his wrist. "Wait a minute… Where's my Kagome?" He looked around. "And where are all those other humans you hang around with?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and put Tetsusaiga back in it's sheath. Then he turned away, and said, "First of all, she isn't your Kagome, ok? And if you're a good wolf, then maybe I'll tell you." He smiled, and turned back to Kouga, trying not to laugh at the offended look on his face.
"You better have something really important to talk about," Kouga said through gritted teeth, "Cause if you don't, I swear I'll rip you limb from limb." He stood up and walked into the cave.
Good luck, without those jewel shards, Inuyasha thought. He decided to keep his mouth shut and not push Kouga too far. After all, as much as he hated to admit it, he did need his help.
As he walked by the wolves, many of them eyed him suspiciously and growled menacingly. He shook his head and followed Kouga to the back of the cave, Ginta and Hakkaku close behind him.
Kouga sat down on, what looked like, a pile bones. Inuyasha remained standing, and leaned against the wall.
"Let me fill you in on what's happened so far. The jewel's been completed…" Inuyasha started, when Kouga interrupted.
"Wait! That means Naraku's dead, right?"
"Idiot! Kagome has it! And like that idiot would ever die. Even without the jewel he still hangs on to life." Kouga huffed, and looked away.
Inuyasha continued, "We'd thought we'd killed him 'cause Kagome and the others said they saw him die, when he was hit directly by Kagome and Kikyo's arrows. So we took the jewel and left. But then it turns out… He survived somehow."
"You left Kagome by herself with the jewel!" Kouga cried. "How could you put her in such danger? If Naraku still alive, he's going go after her! Stupid mutt!"
Inuyasha's hands shook with anger. "Just shut up, ok! Kagome's fine where she is!"
Kouga looked at Inuyasha, curiously.
"Just listen," Inuyasha said, calming down. "Naraku somehow found Kagome…in her… country. He said he'd kill her and take back the jewel." Inuyasha thought it would be better if he didn't mention the child… Or the prophecy, since he knew so little about it.
"But where's Kagome?" Kouga pressed.
"She's somewhere that Naraku will never be able to get her. Trust me, I care more about her safety than you can imagine." Inuyasha looked down. It had been ten months since the well had been sealed. And it'd been pure luck that it'd happened.
He'd been sitting in Goshinboku, contemplating what to do, when a mysterious monk approached him. The monk had offered to end his worries and seal the well. Inuyasha had immediately questioned the monk, asking how he knew what he wanted. He'd pulled out Tetsusaiga and threatened to kill him if he didn't explain himself.
The monk merely shrugged and said it was just a kind deed he was willing to perform.
Inuyasha decided it was the only solution and agreed. He watched the monk suspiciously as he performed some sort of magic. As soon as he was done he went on his way, continuing down the path.
Inuyasha had looked down the well and then back over to the monk. Or rather where the monk should have been. It had only been a few seconds, though there was no trace of the monk anywhere. He had disappeared…
"You need to understand that if Naraku isn't killed, everyone will die. He has more power than you think, even without the jewel." Inuyasha stated.
"You don't need to tell me. I was going to go after him anyway, cause I didn't know he was dead. I never got my revenge for the death of my pack." Kouga told him.
"So you'll help?" Inuyasha asked, looking at Kouga, who nodded. Ginta and Hakkaku both followed suit.
"But after this is all over you know that we're back to being enemies." Kouga said.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Inuyasha grinned and thought, Not much longer now, Naraku…
------
The next day was spent planning battle strategies and ideas about who else they could ask for help.
"Well, we could ask the fire cats. But we haven't been getting on with them too good lately…" Kouga explained. "Nah, they'd kill us before helping us."
"I think I know someone who might be able to help… It'd be a stretch but…" Inuyasha said.
"Who?" Asked Ginta.
Inuyasha sighed and said, "My brother, Sesshomauru."
Kouga looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "Sesshomauru… I know the name… Hmm… Is he the ruler of the western lands?" Inuyasha nodded and Kouga continued, "Yeah, I remember him. Ginta and Hakakku went on about him. Or more like how afraid they were of him. I met him once and he was really strong. And he's ruthless. He's a killer."
"Yup, that's him." He looked away and continued, "The only problem asking him for help is that he might try and kill me… again…" Inuyasha shook his head and cursed his brother.
"Do you even think it's worth it, then?" Asked Hakkaku.
"Well… Maybe we can lure him into attacking Naraku." Suggested Kouga.
"I don't know. I don't think he'd fall for it… Unless…" Inuyasha trailed off.
"What?" Asked Ginta and Hakkaku.
"If you three," he said, motioning to the three wolf demons, "Somehow lure out Naraku, then I could find Sesshomauru and make it look like I'm trying to steal his sword. But if Naraku shows up, I'm nearly positive he'll forget about me and go after him. Even Sesshomauru wants that bastard dead." At this point he looked around to see what the others thought.
"Look," Inuyasha said, noticing the doubtful look on the wolf demons faces'. "This is our only chance. We don't have anything else. I don't know if it'll work but we have to try!"
After a long pause Kouga answered.
"Alright."
But while the demons had been discussing the plan they hadn't noticed the ever present scent of Naraku.
Kagura smiled wickedly, realizing this was her chance to break free of Naraku's grasp.
I shall bring Lord Sesshomauru to him, she thought devilishly. And then… let the battle begin!
She picked a feather out and transformed it, taking off to begin her search for the demon lord. She would tell him some lies to convince him to find and battle Inuyasha. It would work. Sesshomauru was a very powerful demon. And with Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga, and Naraku being so greatly weakened, it would have to work. By this time tomorrow she would no longer have to worry about Naraku.
Looking back at the wolf demon's cave she smiled, her eyes twinkling with hatred.
You will die Naraku!
But little did the wind sorceress know, someone, too, was watching her.
Naraku sat in his castle, gazing into Kanna's mirror almost carelessly. Once again, Kagura working on more plans of betrayal. He knew not what she was doing at the wolf demon's cave, or what her plans were, but he recognized the familiar expression of arrogance and pleasure. He had seen her wear it before.
For now, he still required Kagura's assistance so he would not end her life.
He sent a copy of himself to fetch and return her him.
Kanna stood for a few more minutes, allowing Naraku to see Kagura being taken back to the castle. She could tell that he was thoroughly enjoying the look of horror and shock on her face. She resisted only for a moment and then complied. As the copy and her older sister entered the castle, Naraku said, "You may leave, Kanna." He no longer required her.
She turned and left the room. As she was walking down the long, dark hallway to the exterior of the castle, she encountered the wind demon making her way towards Naraku's quarters.
The sisters shared a look in which many things were silently passed on to each other.
Kanna understood why Kagura had been where she was, and what she was doing. Kagura discovered she was not walking to her death, only to confinement.
Kanna solemnly nodded at her younger sister and continued on.
While Naraku was dealing with Kagura, Kanna would finish her sister's mission by finding the demon lord, Sesshomauru and luring him to Inuyasha with a tale of fiction.
She would be back to the castle before any one had noticed her absence. She had a façade to keep for there were still many things she needed to before Naraku discovered her betrayal.
In due time, though, she and her sister would have their freedom.
------
So after another few hours of planning, it was decided that they would find Naraku's castle, and Inuyasha would shatter whatever kekkai stood in the way. Then they would split up, Kouga and his tribe to lure Naraku and Inuyasha to go after Sesshomauru.
They had gathered, from travellers, that there was a powerful force gathering to the west. So they travelled westward, the scent of human and youkai blood growing ever stronger.
As they came closer to what they thought to be their destination, they heard of a castle, which had just suddenly appeared over the mountains. They were also told of many people who had ventured into the mountains, where there lay a commonly used path to very fertile farm land, simply vanishing.
"This is it." Inuyasha, stated, looking towards the mountains. "Let's go." He motioned for the wolves to follow, and the group began their journey into the mountains. Very little was said, as they walked, for complete silence was needed as the demons listened for any sounds that would expose Naraku.
They had been walking for only a couple minutes, when they came to a small river. Inuyasha stopped and bent down to sniff the ground.
He lifted his head and nodded. "Naraku is here." He started walking again, and looked behind him, at the wolf demons. "Kouga?" He asked.
"What?" The demon replied.
"Run up ahead, and just keep running, ok?" Inuyasha said.
"And why would I want to do that?" The wolf replied.
"Just do it, we don't have time, ok?" Inuyasha turned away from the wolf youkai and smiled wickedly.
Stupid wolf, he thought. Nearly four years of chasing after Naraku had given him an edge on sensing kekkai. But Kouga didn't need to know that.
Kouga shook his head and took off, down the path. He had ran for about ten seconds when he slammed into an invisible barrier and fell to the ground, stunned.
Inuyasha turned back around just in time to see Kouga hit the kekkai. He began to laugh, as Kouga stood up and stomped over to him.
"You knew that was going to happen, didn't you!" Kouga shouted. He didn't look very amused, but his tribesmen seemed to think it was rather funny, as they snickered quietly.
"Nope, I had no idea." Inuyasha said, pulling out Tetsusaiga.
"Just cut the damn thing." Kouga muttered, angrily.
He's too trusting, Inuyasha thought. Just shows how much smarter I am than him. Inuyasha arrived at the spot where Kouga had just fallen down.
Raising the sword, he shouted, "Tetsusaiga!" It turned red and he brought it crashing down, cutting the barrier. He exhaled and put Tetsusaiga back into it's sheath.
"Go." He told the wolves. "I'll meet you back here." Kouga nodded and his pack set off towards the castle.
Inuyasha watched them until they ran out of sight. He sighed and looked around, for any signs that might lead to finding his brother.
It had been decided that Kouga would attack the castle, casually mentioning Kagome's reappearance. It had worked once with Inuyasha. Hopefully Naraku would be stupid enough to fall for it again. Then he would flee and run back to where Inuyasha was now standing. Hopefully Naraku would follow them. But before they got here it was up to Inuyasha to find Sesshomauru.
The hanyou sniffed the ground, but his brother's scent wasn't there. His hope quickly fading, he decided there really wasn't much he could do. Most of the times he had met with Sesshomauru, it hadn't been him that had instigated the meeting.
What should I do? He wondered.
His intuition had told him this was a bad idea, but he had ignored it and gone along with itThe whole plan had been very unpredictable. What if Naraku didn't follow them? What if Inuyasha couldn't find Sesshomauru? But it was the only thing they could come up with.
Lost in his thoughts, Inuyasha paid no notice to the person who had successfully concealed himself within the thick woods.
Pathetic, the youkaithought. Doesn't even realize I'm here, does he? The demon looked down to his side and quietly unsheathed his sword.
Fortunately, the demon, Kanna, had informed him that Inuyasha now possessed the completed Shikon jewel and wished to steal the Toukijin and Tenseiga, assisted by the jewel's power.
Jaken and Rin had been left behind when he had found Sesshomauru would strike before Inuyasha was able to use the jewel. Though the demon had doubted his brother wanted his swords, he would still kill the hanyou, and steal Tetsusaiga and the Shikon no Tama.
Without wasting more time, Sesshomauru bound out from within the trees and charged at Inuyasha with Toukijin.
Surprised at the sudden attack, Inuyasha dodged, Sesshomauru's attack narrowly missing. In midair, Inuyasha pulled out Tetsusaiga and smiled at his luck. He landed swiftly on the ground and struck at his brother.
"Sesshomauru!" He called, as he jumped back into the air. "Just the person I was looking for!"
What luck! Inuyasha thought.
"Yes, so I've heard." He replied, bounding after his brother. His face remained calm as the chase begin. He followed after his brother, who seemed to be running away.
Inuyasha looked over his shoulder to see Sesshomauru, who was quickly closing the gap between them. Where are you Kouga? He thought anxiously.
Inuyasha had been running for nearly a minute when the scent of Naraku grew so strong that he landed on the ground and looked around.
His brother stopped as well, sensing the youkai. He sniffed the air to be sure and then looked at his brother.
"You would do well to use the jewel to destroy Naraku, brother!" Sesshomauru suggested coolly.
"What do you mean 'jewel?'" Inuyasha asked, looking around for any sight of Kouga or Naraku.
Sesshomauru raised an eyebrow slightly and then looked past Inuyasha. Inuyasha turned around just in time to see Kouga and his pack who were being chased by Naraku.
Kouga ran over to Inuyasha and stopped, breathing heavily.
"Good job Kouga!" Inuyasha congratulated. "You actually did something right for once!"
Kouga rolled his eyes and prepared for battle.
"Ah, Inuyasha. And so the wolf demon's plan becomes clear." Naraku said.
"He didn't believe us that Kagome was here, so we had to attack him. I guess he followed us to continue the battle." The wolf demon explained.
Inuyasha nodded and glanced over at Sesshomauru who, for once, looked slightly confused. "And now, I too, understand." He stated. "Where is the demon Kagura?" He looked over to Naraku.
Naraku smiled and said, "Behind me." Just as Kagura yelled "Fuujin no Mai!" Sending cascades of razor sharp wind blades hurdling at Naraku. "I've had just about enough of you, Naraku! I've come for my freedom!" She had managed to escape from his castle rather easily.
Naraku easily dodged the attack, landing swiftly in a tree.
"Kagura!" He said, his voice full of fury, yet his face remained calm. "I thought you of all people would remember that I always hold your heart in my hand!" He stretched his hand out, a heart appearing on it. He gripped it roughly, sending Kagura to her knees, clutching her chest in pain. Though she could never kill him, he had had enough of the troubles she caused. He could find someone else to do his biddings.
"Y-you bastard!" She cried, her face twisted in pain.
This is the end… There's some many things I wanted to do… To tell you… She gazed up at Seshomauru, biding him goodbye with her eyes.
"You have betrayed me one too many times. You will pay with your life!" He said simply, crushing the heart.
Despite knowing what was going to happen, Kagura's eyes widened in surprise, as she fell to the ground. Her body lay motionless in a crumpled heap.
Inuyasha and Kouga watched in surprise. Both shocked at the murder he had just committed.
"He k-killed one of his own!" Whispered Kouga, who's eyes were wide with shock.
"Yes. Well, mercy is for the weak!" Naraku replied harshly.
Inuyasha gripped Tetsusaiga and began to charge, wanting only to cause Naraku as much pain as he could, when Sesshomauru shouted "Stop!"
The hanyou immediately halted and chanced a glance at his brother, wondering what he wanted.
"That is not the real Naraku." He stated simply. His rose a single finger and pointed to the trees behind Kouga.
Kouga jumped as the real Naraku stepped out from behind, his puppet fading away. Kouga and his pack charged at Naraku. Naraku waved his arm and they were flung back, rendering most of them unconscious. He turned to the hanyou.
"Inuyasha." The demon called, taunting him.
All the feelings of anger and sadness Naraku had caused him came rushing back and nothing mattered except killing him. Inuyasha ignored all common sense and charged at Naraku.
"Bakuryuuha!" He shouted, bringing the sword crashing down where the winds collided. Everyone watched as Naraku was enveloped in the wind.
The silence was nearly unbearable as they waited for the clouds to clear, to see what had become of the youkai.
The dust and dirt began to clear, and there stood Naraku, quite unharmed. He smirked at the stunned faces of Inuyasha and Kouga.
"What! How can that be?" Inuyasha asked.
I thought he had his human heart! He should have been injured by that. That's what Kagura told us last time before we 'killed' him, He thought angrily. There's something else that isn't right… But what?
He shifted Tetsusaiga and looked over at Kouga, who was conscious again. The wolf demon nodded and they rushed Naraku, Kouga with his claws bared and Inuyasha with his sword.
The demon jumped into the air and yelled, "You'll have to better than that!" Which only caused Inuyasha and Kouga to become angrier.
"Use the jewel!" Called his brother again.
What the hell does he mean? Wondered Inuyasha as he attacked Naraku again.
"I don't have the jewel!" He shouted at his brother, who was standing nearby looking utterly bored. But his expression changed suddenly to understanding.
He doesn't have the jewel. The demon Kanna just said that to trick me into coming to battle Naraku. He smiled slightly and thought, Clever of her. She must really despise him. He had known that Kagura disliked her master greatly, but her older sister had never shown much emotion towards Naraku. Pathetic… Even his own incarnations wish for his death.
He looked up in time to see his brother jump at Naraku. The demon grabbed Inuyasha by the throat and drove him into the ground. Naraku grabbed Inuyasha's injured arm and twisted it so the Tetsusaiga fell out of his reach.
"Now what will you do, Inuyasha?" Naraku taunted. "Your little wench isn't here to save you this time. And who knows what you'll become now?"
Sesshomauru could smell his brother's blood beginning to change.
I had better do something. If he reaches his full demon form I may not be able to restrain him.
Having made his decision the demon lord charged at Naraku, knocking him off of his brother. He looked down at the hanyou, noticing his red eyes and said, "Pick up the Tetsusaiga, I shall take care of Naraku."
Inuyasha could hear someone's voice commanding him to get the sword. He blinked twice and shook his head, wondering, What happened? Then he realized Tetsusaiga was laying a few feet away.
That was close.
He had nearly became a full demon again. Luckily someone had stopped him before he had fully transformed. He grabbed Tetsusaiga and looked around. He spotted his brother and Naraku battling down the path.
"Should we do anything?" Asked Kouga, walking over to Inuyasha. The hanyou nodded.
"Even Sesshomauru can't defeat him alone." He said, getting up. Then curiosity got the better of him and he asked, "Do you know what happened when Naraku grabbed me? I just sort of blacked out."
"Sesshomauru knocked Naraku off of you and then he said something. I didn't hear him." Kouga told him.
It was his voice that I heard! He thought. But why would he help me? Still confused, Inuyasha, Kouga and the other wolf demons ran to join Sesshomauru.
Inuyasha and Kouga struck first, from behind. Fortunately Naraku had been busy with Sesshomauru so he didn't have time to block their attack. They both hit him squarely in the back. The other wolf demons jumped from all sides and attacked.
It was evident by the look on Naraku's face that this had caused some pain. He lashed back, slicing Inuyasha's stomach and hitting Kouga's arm. With another wave of his arm a poisonous miasma began to engulf the area..
Naraku flew into the air and disappeared.
"I can't survive long in here!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Yeah, let's go. Everyone's pretty injured!" He called back, already fleeing the scene.
Inuyasha put Tetsusaiga in it's sheathe and turned to leave. But before he did, he quickly turned around and said, "Thanks, Sesshomauru." He followed after Kouga, leaving his brother alone, except for the corpse of Kagura.
Sesshomauru put Toukijin away and watched his brother leave, his face expressionless as always.
He walked over to where the wind witch lay dead.
She may prove a valuable asset, he thought. Pulling out Tenseiga, he killed the creatures from hell and picked up the woman.
Her eyes slowly flickered open, her gaze quickly landing upon the face of the demon lord.
"Sesshomauru?" She asked, recognition registering on her face.
He placed her on the ground and turned away.
"I shall allow you to live as long as you swear allegiance to me." He stated simply. "Although I cannot guarantee Naraku will not attempt to end your life again, as long as I have Tenseiga I should be able to allow you live a while longer…"
She stood up, trying to regain her composure. Looking at the demon lord she muttered, "Hai." The control of her life had now partially shifted from Naraku to Sesshomauru.
"Of course Naraku will be aware of your life." He added, as an afterthought. He turned back to her. "Thought he shall be disposed of soon enough."
Kagura smiled at him, an evil sparkle in her eye.
"But for now, we must depart. Come Kagura." He commanded, beginning to walk down the path.
She pulled a feather out of her hair and transformed it. "Let me supply our transportation."
Sesshomauru complied and stepped onto the feather. Kagura jumped on behind him and the two were off.
As they were leaving the forest Kagura looked down, happy to be, for the time being, rid of Naraku. She realized how much she owed to this demon. For now only one thing could be said. So she said it.
"Thank you."
Just in case you wanted to know (which you probably don't XP) in the manga (not so much in the anime) there actually is something going on between Sesshy and Kagura. Sesshy sort of denies that he cares about anything (As we find out about a million times in movie 3. 'I have nothing to protect' meanwhile pictures of Jaken and Rin are being flashed about the screen.. -.-;;)
So the relationship seems onesided.. But it's really hard to tell. Because Sesshomauru is there when Kagura dies and he sort of pities her (that counts as a feeling right? XD) Well actually the whole relationship began when Sesshomauru saved Kagura after he found her dying in the river (I think..) That wasnt when she died though. Naraku told Kagura she would have her freedom, and he allowed her to eb free of him, but poisoned her heart with miasma so she had only a few minutes to wander the world of the living freely.
(Just so you know the reason I sort of dont include alot of parts of the newer manga are because they would completly contradict Naraku ever dying and Kagura being healed by Tenseiga.) It was said, it could not happen for Kagura didn't have a soul. But you'll see later how I'll include that to make my story follow the plot better. And Naraku's heart is in Mouryoumauru.. Who is trying to kill Naraku... And all this crazy stuff is happening which
I cant explain right now.
ANYWAYS! It was quite beautiful how Kagura died though. She was very happy. She was nearly dead when Sesshomauru came up and said he smelt Naraku so he came. And then Kagura told him that he must have been disappointed finding her. And he said "I knew
it was you." Aww Kawaii! Sesshy does have a good side!
And she thought "At least I was with you.. In the end" Then she died. It was very beautiful, sad, and cute. I cried, i smiled, and I laugh- wait i didnt laugh. I just balledmy eyes out. XP
All she ever wanted was freedom. And in the end she got it.
Ok, and we'll be seeing more of Kanna's subtle betrayal. I think that will sort of signify Naraku's loss of control later on. Well mabye not. I'll see how things turn out as I write..
-Kellai-chan-
I am the wind. The free wind.