Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.


Chapter Twenty-Two: Wind and Fire

Megami directed her car into the casino parking lot and stopped beside a navy blue Durango and her father's Suburban. Moriko rolled down the window of the enormous SUV and opened the door. Tensuke and Moriko's three sons clambered from the vehicle. Hoshi and his sons soon joined them. Megami parked the car. Soon she and Sesshomaru were standing beside Tensuke, Moriko, Hoshi, and their sons. Senkotsuke parked behind Megami's car. Kagome, Shippo, Sango, and Senkotsuke joined the group as Megami looked to everyone in turn. "Is everyone up to date on the plan?"

Moriko motioned to his sons as he spoke, "The boys and I are to initiate the attack, drawing the guard to us."

Hoshi joined in, "We will disguise ourselves as barn owls and drop behind the guard from above. While they are distracted you six are to make a break for it."

Tensuke chimed in next, "I will be in the Suburban nearby to provide reinforcements should they need it."

"Precisely," Sesshomaru commented.

"What is your strategy?" Moriko's son Koji asked Megami.

Megami chuckled as she answered, "There is no strategy."

"What?" Moriko boomed.

"You heard me. What are we going to do if something goes slightly wrong in a well thought plan? We're going to fucking panic. The only plan set in stone for us is to make sure that Naraku is vanquished. No smoke. No mirrors. No tricks. He cannot escape death forever."

Moriko was too disgusted and vexed to answer his godchild. He simply hung his head and waived his hand.

"All right everyone. It's no use standing here and killing time. Follow me. Sesshomaru knows the way," she stated calmly as she pulled her keys from her pocket and returned to her vehicle.

Sesshomaru turned to follow his mate when Moriko grabbed his arm and growled, "Are you just going to let her walk in there and get killed?"

"Get your hand off me, Moriko," Sesshomaru said with his usual deadly timbre.

Moriko instantly released Sesshomaru's arm; somewhat taken back by his tone.

"You are her godfather, and I understand your concern for her life. I feel the same," Sesshomaru paused, "But I cannot allow his reign of terror to continue. I swore to kill Naraku and I will." He looked to Moriko and calmly inquired, "If you had to do it over again would you want your children to grow up in fear?" Moriko was silent with thought but Lord Sesshomaru took the initiative. "I don't want that for my pups, either." He turned on his heel and returned to Megami's side.


As they neared the gates of Naraku's compound Megami shut off the car and coasted onto the side of the road. The other three vehicles pulled over in various locations. The Suburban and the Chevelle were nearly invisible on this dark night. Megami exited her vehicle and moved to the trunk. Sesshomaru joined her as she opened the rear compartment. She first handed him a travel packet of baby wipes so that he may remove his sutra. With the sounds of relieved growls and numerous popping noises, each demon took on their usual appearance. Everyone shuffled through their respective cargo to gather their weapons and armor. Sango merely removed her jeans and t-shirt to reveal her black leotard beneath. She began to strap on her armor as Kagome slung her quiver and bow over her shoulder. Others retreated into bushes and behind trees intermittently to change from modern street garb into their hakamas and haoris. Megami's brothers helped each other strap on their armor much like the fox demon families. Megami skillfully fastened her mate's armor with dexterous fingers and lifted his heavy fur over his shoulder. Sesshomaru returned the favor. When finished he reached into the trunk and unfolded the blanket that was protecting their swords when a gasp escaped his lips. "What's this doing in here?" he asked as he held up the Tetsusaiga.

"I put it there."

Sesshomaru pivoted to see Kagome standing five feet away. She was wearing her school uniform with her bow and quiver hanging from her shoulder as usual. Only now her bow was accompanied by a dragon bone whip that hung on a belt fastened about her ever so slightly swollen waist. "You put it here?" he asked.

"Yes. Tokijin was broken, and the Tenseiga can only revive dead souls or slay the undead. After what happened at the lake I think you should bear it for a while," Kagome answered.

"Shouldn't this be passed to the child?"

"He'll be too young for quite some time. You'll know when the time is right to pass it to him," Kagome said confidently. "Do you really think I would send you into this battle unarmed?"

Sesshomaru chuckled, "At one time you might have, but not now. So much has changed." He slid the Tetsusaiga into his sash next to its twin. "Thank you, Kagome."

Megami turned to face them wearing her usual black hakama, shoulder armor, and black tank top accented by her leather arm guards. She slid the flame sword into its scabbard and pulled two slightly curved short swords from the trunk. Megami fastened them to her shoulders in the same fashion as her double swords. Lastly, she pulled a hairbrush and elastic hair tie from the trunk and began to secure her hair into a high pony tail.

The others now approached them as they had finished preparing for the battle. Sesshomaru stepped forward and spoke, "Kintotsuke told me that Naraku seems to rely more on technology for his security than enchantments and charms, but do not count on it. He may have added something after the incident with Totosai. He surely knows that we will confront him now." He turned to Kagome, "Are the shards safe?" Kagome nodded in answer.

Megami looked at everyone and asked, "Ready?" Senkotsuke shouldered his claymore as Sango fastened her face mask in response. Everyone else nodded. "Let's go." Megami shut the trunk and the troop marched for the gates.

They were about a hundred feet away when Tensuke asked for everyone to stop. He and Moriko jogged for the gate. Megami watched her brother and she noticed that he had a small knap sack slung over his shoulder. "Tensuke!" she softly called, "What's in the bag?"

"A surprise!" he quietly replied as he reached the gate. Tensuke and Moriko kept their backs to the group once they arrived at the gate. They shuffled about and Tensuke pulled something from the bag. The pair quietly fastened it to the gates and ran back to the others. Tensuke had a maniacal grin on his face as he said, "Get down."

Megami quirked her brow at her brother but Sesshomaru and Tensuke pulled her to the ground with them. Tensuke's grin never wavered as he pulled a strange looking remote from his pocket. He aimed his thumb over a button and said just loud enough to be heard by those present, "Fire in the hole!" Tensuke pressed the switch and …

KA - BOOOOM!

The gates were blown off their hinges.

Megami shouted at her brother, "I was under the impression that this was to be a covert operation!"

Tensuke stood as he pulled his axe from its holster on his back and broke into a dead run for the gates. "You said to draw their attention!" Moriko, Hoshi, and their sons charged alongside Tensuke towards the upcoming guards.

"Come on," Sesshomaru said as he grabbed Megami's arm and directed her to the gates. Kagome, Shippo, Sango, and Senkotsuke trailed behind them. The six of them dashed along the walls of the compound, staying out of the sight of the guards who were preoccupied by the others. Sesshomaru led them towards the main building with the hopes of finding a side entrance to break through. "Kagome!" Sesshomaru shouted behind him, "Can you sense any shards?"

She looked around briefly and screwed up her face in concentration. "Close …" she muttered. "They're definitely in that building. There are so many!"

"Sango!" Sesshomaru called, "Make an entrance!"

Everyone stopped running and gave Sango room to aim her weapon. Sango focused on a bare piece of the wall and threw her hiraikotsu with precision. "Kamisoriga!" she cried as the boomerang flew from her fingers and lit up like a laser. It struck the building and reduced the wall to rubble. Without prompting they ran for the makeshift entrance. As they ran Sango caught her weapon and something caught Megami's eye: On a nearby balcony stood a woman in a kimono holding two fans.

Megami growled viciously. Kagura … She strayed from her present course and drew her flame sword. She will pay … Megami began to run towards her prey as her heart began to pound within her chest with the desire for vengeance and uncontrollable bloodlust. She leapt for the balcony and howled as she raised her sword, "Kagura!" The wind sorceress turned in a flash and sent a blast of wind at the infuriated Megami. Megami was blown off course but quickly regained her composure and landed fluidly.

Kagura soared down from the balcony to meet her. "Has a pup come bearing her fangs at me?"

I bear a fang like no other … if she only knew … Megami gave her a malicious grin, "Indeed. I claim my right of vengeance, and I will not be denied." She stood straight and tall as she pointed her sword directly at Kagura's chest.

Kagura swished her fans in a rush and commanded the wind. "Dance of blades!" A barrage of enchanted blades flew upon the wind towards Megami. The dog demoness vaulted into the air to avoid the attacks and rushed Kagura. Megami raised her sword again and poised to strike. Kagura raised her fans and used them to catch the blade before impact. Megami took advantage of the situation to land a strong kick to her opponent's chest. Kagura groaned as she was propelled backwards while still standing upright. Megami conjured her fire whip and began to lash at Kagura repeatedly. Kagura raised her left fan to block the first strike of the whip. She tried to blast the whip away with a small burst of wind only to find the fan engulfed in flames. Kagura gasped and released the fan before her hand could be burned as well. Kagura saw the whip coming at her again and she wasted no time in sending another wave of blades at Megami.

Megami's fire whip was extinguished from the immense winds and she raised her sword to skillfully block most of the projectiles. One slipped through her guard and grazed her left arm. She continued to block the remaining blades until she could assess her wound. Just a scratch.

Kagura threw her head back and laughed deeply. Megami glared while seething with rage. Kagura began to gloat, "Not even five minutes and I've already landed a hit. Even your decrepit grandfather managed to last longer than that. Then again the old man went rather quickly after the first strike." Kagura looked to Megami and really studied her for the first time. She cocked an eyebrow upon noticing Megami's marking. "Ah, I see that Kintotsuke was not completely honest with us. He failed to mention another of the mark."

"Do not mention that filth's name in my presence." She gripped the hilt of her sword tighter. She's trying to get the better of you and lure you into acting a fool. Don't let her win. Megami let out a cleansing breath and thought of her grandfather and great-grandfather. I know you're both watching … lend me your strength … Megami placed her left hand on the hilt of the great sword and felt her demonic energies gather. The blade turned red in her grip and brilliantly burst into flame. Megami gasped softly as she had a sudden thought. What happens to flames when you blow on them? A wicked smile spread across her lips despite Kagura's laughter.

Kagura raised her right fan and called forth her most potent attack, "Dance of the Dragon!"

Megami mustered all of her strength and anger and as she did the flames grew in intensity. The twister drew ever closer as the flames grew taller and brighter. Megami twisted around, howling as she swung her flame wreathed sword. As the blade collided with Kagura's attack she screamed, "Take that!" There was a blinding burst of light as the twister turned into a tower of flames and reversed direction. Megami continued to feed the flames as they poured forth from her sword to the cyclone.

"Nani!" Kagura cried as she watched her own attack turned against her. She screamed in terror and began to raise her hands to shield herself from the burning cyclone. Her hands did not even reach her chest before Kagura was engulfed in the inferno. Within seconds, Kagura was no more than a pile of ashes.

When the flames dispersed Megami approached the ruins of the Wind Sorceress. She spat on them and growled. To add insult to injury Megami kicked at the ashes sending them into the air. However, they flew back upon her, causing Megami to cough and sneeze. Megami took a few steps and stopped to shake herself off, wagging her massive fluffy tail in the process. "Disgusting," she muttered while sheathing her sword and walking towards the hole in the side of Naraku's fortress.

Megami tracked their scents and had not walked very far into the compound before Sesshomaru and the others came running up to her. Sesshomaru appeared panicked and infuriated at the same time. "Where the hell have you been?" he demanded.

"I saw Kagura," she stopped to look around at everyone, "I killed her."

Shippo's eyes became as big as saucers. "Maybe that prophecy wasn't kidding when it said their powers would triple," he said softly.

Sesshomaru looked to Megami critically, "I understand that you had to avenge your grandfather but don't run off like that again. We have to stick together."

"I know, but I had to," she answered.

"Let's go," Sesshomaru said as they turned back down the hall.

They ventured on uninterrupted for a short time. Kagome occasionally called out a direction for everyone to follow. Her ability to sense the jewel was their only way to find Naraku's position. Before long they heard the stomping of running feet and soon three demons appeared in the hallway before them. One was a lizard demon, another was a boar, and the last appeared to be a scorpion. Everyone readied their weapons. Even little Shippo took a battle stance with his hands wreathed in fox fire and his lip curled to bare his fangs. The three demons charged and no one held back. Kagome fired a sacred arrow into the lizard's forehead and it evaporated upon contact. Senkotsuke swung at the scorpion only to be blocked by its stinger. Shippo jumped onto Senkotsuke's head and blasted the scorpion with a heavy dose of fox fire. It screamed from the burns and Senkotsuke impaled it upon the massive claymore. He decapitated the demon for good measure and turned to see Lord Sesshomaru and Megami battling the boar demon. The boar turned its back on Sesshomaru to take a cheap shot at Megami, enabling Sesshomaru to swing the Tetsusaiga with deadly accuracy. The boar squealed momentarily before his torso fell away from the rest of his body.

Kagome continued in her directions as if nothing happened, "Down this hall, and then take a right." The six resumed their pursuit and soon came to a stair well that led to the lower levels of this compound. Kagome instructed them to go down the stairs. The further down the stairs the darker the scene became. Megami drew her sword and allowed the flames to sprout from the blade again. They were almost at the landing and saw about thirty demons awaiting them.

Senkotsuke readied his weapon and murmured, "Ah, a welcoming party. Let's not disappoint them."

Sesshomaru and Megami ran forward, hewing and dismembering enemies left and right. Senkotsuke and Sango remained near Kagome as Shippo ran through the fray and leaped upon Megami's shoulder. The little fox blasted foes with fox fire with all his might from his elevated position. Kagome fired sacred arrows with uncanny aim, slaying many where they stood. Sango sent her hiraikotsu around the room and slaughtered those on the sidelines. Senkotsuke took care of any demon that tried to come near Kagome or Sango. When the last demon fell they regrouped. Sesshomaru turned to Kagome, "Where to next?"

"That way," she said as she pointed down a dark tunnel. "He's there."

Megami lifted her flaming blade like a torch and said, "Let's not keep destiny waiting."

They tramped down the tunnel. It was damp and dark with the occasional slimy puddle of stagnate, murky water. Kagome's breathing soon became ragged and shallow. Sango reached out to her friend, "Kagome is everything all right?"

"I think so. I just feel a little queasy. It's so stale down here," Kagome reassured everyone.

The passageway seemed endless. It felt like they had been walking at least a mile until they finally heard sounds ahead. Two voices echoed in the distance; one was trembling and frightened while the other was cold and filled with malevolence. Through the distance they discerned a conversation as they continued down the path.

"Please, Master Naraku," the frightened voice begged. The voice gave way from pleading to screaming in agony. "Stop! Stop!"

"What a pitiful spy you have been. All this time you have left out some of the most important information of all! Vermin!" Naraku's cruel voice hissed and again the other began to shriek. "Damn you, Kintotsuke!" Naraku growled.

Kintotsuke whined and pleaded, "Please, I didn't know that her marking was related to all of this!"

"Of course it was related you blathering fool!" Naraku spat. "Did you think that the fact that your sister bore a crescent and that God damned mutt Sesshomaru bore a crescent was just a fucking coincidence? You idiot!" Naraku growled, "And of course you tell me all this only after he's mated the bitch! You are useless!"

"Please, master. Please …" Kintotsuke continued to plead.

"Silence, Kintotsuke. It's a shame that Sesshomaru didn't do me a favor and kill you when he had the chance." There was a loud, sickening "squelching" noise. The next sound to reach their ears was that of gurgling and groaning, and finally the unmistakable sound of a limp body falling to the ground. "Kanna," Naraku lazily commanded, "Bring me something to clean up this blood … I seem to have soiled myself with the blood of a half breed."

Sango quietly whispered to Kagome, "Kanna is still alive."

"I wonder if she can still use her mirror since Sesshomaru cut off her hand," Kagome answered.

"Quiet," Sesshomaru quietly instructed them, "We are almost at the door."

Megami held her sword aloft to shine upon double stone doors adorned with iron rings. "This is it," Megami whispered.

Everyone readied themselves. They raised their weapons and steadied their souls in preparation for the final assault. Shippo jumped atop Kagome's shoulder and whispered, "D'you think he knows we're here?"

"Indeed I do," Naraku answered to everyone's horror. The stone doors slowly creaked open to reveal Naraku and his new body. Strange jagged armor sprouted from his shoulders, arms, and chest. Legs had replaced the gelatinous mass that had once carried his form. A great red eye was perched in the center of his chest and smaller ones were imbedded on each of his hands. Kanna stood to his right holding her mirror with one hand and behind him to the left was Kintotsuke's lifeless mangled body.

Naraku raised a hand to them and said, "You shall all suffer his fate!" Without warning his arm extended into a massive claw and stretched ominously towards Kagome.