For those of you wanting more Kaoru/Ken/Sessh action, I promise that there will be more in the future, even if not much in this chapter.
Recap: Saito, Sano, Kouga, Namu and Kirara arrived in Tokyo to begin searching for Shippo. Kouga has picked up the strong scent of youkai in the Imperial palace. Suspicious they have decided to investigate. Meanwhile, Kenshin, Inuyasha, Aoshi, Kagome, and Sango arrived at the Shizu Temple in Tokyo to confront Naraku and Shishio. It was there that they learned that Naraku had absorbed the kitsune into his body.
The Samurai of Tomorrow
Chapter 39: The Final Battle Begins
Saito peered around the corner. I can't believe I'm breaking into the Imperial palace. That thought brought a smirk to his face.
Kouga had already gone on ahead to track down the scents. If he was noticed, then he would serve as a diversion for the others. Sanosuke quietly climbed through an open window, followed by a silent Namu. Kirara was already inside. The youkai cat had already surveyed the immediate area, being able to keep out of sight because of her small size. She came gliding back and halted at Saito's feet and looked at him.
The former Shinsengumi slipped out of the room and followed the cat. Sanosuke and Namu waited a minute before following as well. Saito was going to step out of the shadows when Kirara suddenly gave a hiss. He flattened himself against the wall and motioned for Sano and Namu to do the same. Seconds later, Emperor Meiji himself came walking by, flanked by two bodyguards.
Saito let out the breath he had been holding and continued to move wraithlike through the shadows.
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"Naraku, you Bastard!"
Inuyasha launched himself at Naraku, his Tetsusaiga already drawn. Naraku chuckled darkly as he stood his ground.
"Strike me down if you wish Inuyasha, but you will also kill your friend," he warned.
"Kenshin has the Tenseiga, he can bring him back," Inuyasha growled. The youkai teleported out of the way as the enraged hanyou struck at him. A large crack formed in the earth where he had formerly been standing.
"Shippo is now a part of me," Naraku explained matter of factly. "If you attempt to revive him with the Tenseiga, you would also be reviving me."
"Inuyasha," Kenshin said. "I fear he is telling the truth. We must get Shippo out of him if we are to..." Kenshin leapt out of the way as Shishio attacked. The former Ishin Shishi dropped to a knee and brought his reverse blade sword up to defend himself. Shishio paused as he and Kenshin stared at each other. Shishio's red eyes gleamed malevolently.
"Your battle is with me, Battousai."
Kenshin's golden eyes narrowed dangerously as he gripped the Tenya. The Tenseiga pulsed once at his side as the two men circled each other. Like a crack of lightning, they flew at each other. The clang of contacting swords rang throughout the empty temple.
In the moment that Inuyasha's attention had been diverted by Kenshin and Shishio, Naraku had teleported to the top of the main shrine. A wave of green foxfire forced the hanyou's attention back to the battle at hand as he grabbed Kagome and leapt out of the way.
"Kagome," Inuyasha said. "Do you think that your sacred arrow might separate Shippo and Naraku?" Kagome bit her lip as Inuyasha again leapt out of the way as Naraku fired Shippo's foxfire at them.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm not sure if I'll even be able to hit him. He's moving so fast."
"Yes," Sango added. "Even if we did hit him, we could very well kill Shippo as well." Inuyasha's fists tightened as he glared at Naraku.
"We may not have a choice," Inuyasha growled quietly. "Our first priority is to take down Naraku. Shippo would understand."
"Are you going to fight me, Inuyasha? Your compassion for your friend will be your undoing," Naraku called out. Inuyasha growled as he again unsheathed his Tetsusaiga and held it in front of him.
"Naraku!" Inuyasha yelled. "Prepare for Hell!"
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"I smell something bad," Kouga murmured. He had joined the others in the courtyard of the palace. They had so far managed to avoid the guards, which as Saito knew, wouldn't last much longer. If Kouga and Kirara had already detected youkai within the palace, then they themselves had already been detected as well.
"Smell what?" Sano whispered.
"It's the same smell that was on that kitsune that Shippo killed. It smells like that spider that crawled out of his chest, except worse."
"Can you tell where?" Saito asked. Kouga sniffed once.
"I think it's coming from underneath the palace," he answered. "I think we should check it..."
They all became instantly alert as the palace suddenly came to life. People began shouting as soldiers began racing out of the doors. Kouga growled suddenly as Saito's hand flew to the sword at his side. The wolf youkai launched himself into the shadows and struck with his claws, causing a couple of inhuman screams. Two fox tailed men rolled out of the shadows.
"Shadow foxes," Kouga growled. "I thought I had smelled something familiar. They used to be our allies." Saito ignored him as he tore open their haoris to reveal the spider marks on their chests. Their chests bulged as two spiders popped out of their cold skin.
"These things must be controlling them," Saito pointed out quickly. "Wolf, you said that this smell is underneath the palace?"
"Yeah," Kouga said, catching on. "There's probably more of these things under there."
"We'd better destroy them," Saito said. "There's no telling how many have been infected by these."
"If we're going to do something, let's do it now," Sano urged. "The whole palace knows we're here now." Kirara mewed in reply before running from their cover. She transformed into her larger form and gave a thunderous roar. Saito smirked as he pushed Kouga and the other two in the opposite direction.
"I believe she's attempting to create a diversion for us," Saito pointed out. "We'd better move quickly."
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Kenshin growled as he dodged a wave of lightning bolts. Shishio had caught him off guard the first time when he had fired the deadly energy at him. The Tenseiga had responded by creating a temporary shield around the former Ishin Shishi. The Tenya glowed a bright silver in his hands as Kenshin appeared behind Shishio and sliced back with his sword. Shishio glided out of the way before the blade could make contact.
It had become a test of speed between the two combatants. Kenshin's speed, which had been god-like before, had been greatly increased by Sesshoumaru's soul. Shishio, who had also been deadly fast before, was now aided by his new youkai body.
"After I kill you, I will kill that woman of yours, Battousai," Shishio stated, trying to rile Kenshin. Kenshin's eyes flashed red as another strand of hair turned silver.
"Shishio..." he growled. "You will not touch her."
Shishio grunted as a blow across the chest forced him back. This was a bit unexpected. Kenshin was much calmer than he usually was when he was angry. He brought his sword up in a parry and charged it with electricity the moment that Kenshin's sword made contact. The energy caused a growl of pain from Kenshin and seemed to enrage him even more. Kenshin leapt back to a safer distance and Shishio smirked at him.
"Battousai, this time I will kill you," he promised. Kenshin's eyes flashed as he stared icily at him. An air of elite arrogance formed around him as he stared down his enemy.
"Shishio...you are a mortal in the body of a third rate youkai," Sesshoumaru said dispassionately. "I am the Lord of the Western Lands. You are not fit to cross blades with me...or even Inuyasha." Shishio's eyes flared as he fired a wave of lightning at the awakened youkai lord. Sesshoumaru jumped out of the way and raised a hand.
Shishio hissed as something burned into his skin. A strange poison was quickly eating through his skin and clothing. Shishio ripped off his haori and managed to roll out of the way as Sesshoumaru brought his poison claws down again. He let loose a wild barrage of energy that forced the youkai possessed human to halt in his attack.
"Battousai," Shishio spat angrily. "I will make sure that your woman dies slowly."
"Woman?" Sesshoumaru asked flatly. "I have no..." He paused then and held a hand to his head. The vision of a smiling woman wielding a wooden bokken came to his mind. For reasons he didn't know, his heart warmed suddenly at the thought of her. His blood raced as he envisioned her face.
Kaoru...her name was Kaoru.
It was then that Sesshoumaru suddenly remembered. All of Kenshin's memories came flooding back to him at once and intermingled with his own memories.
"Die Battousai!"
Sesshoumaru/Kenshin managed to move out of the way as Shishio brought his sword down. A small cut formed across his upper left arm. The former Ishin Shishi raked his claws at the other man, causing deep cuts in the earth from where his poison landed. Shishio teleported out of the way to avoid the attack.
"Shishio..." Kenshin turned his head to look at the other man. "You will not harm those that are precious to this one or this one's brother." Shishio smirked back at him.
"We shall see," he warned. Then the two men launched themselves at each other again.
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"Inuyasha, why do you choose to continue with this humiliation?" Naraku asked. Inuyasha glared furiously at him. The hanyou had stated earlier that killing Naraku came first before trying to save Shippo, but he was having trouble holding up to his boast. The kitsune was both a second son and also a younger brother to him. He knew that Shippo would insist that Inuyasha not worry about him, but it was hard to let go.
"Naraku, this is your last chance," Inuyasha warned boldly. "Give my granddaughter and Shippo back to me." Naraku chuckled darkly at him.
"You will kill me regardless if I did or not," Naraku pointed out. "Therefore, I have no incentive to give them back. Now perish!"
Inuyasha hissed as the youkai flung a cloud of deadly miasma at him. A shining arrow pierced the dark poison and purified it. The hanyou yelled out a warning as Naraku suddenly appeared behind Kagome. Aoshi swung his short swords at the youkai, but an invisible barrier pushed him back. Naraku grinned malevolently as he grabbed the priestess around the throat and lifted her up.
"Behold, Inuyasha. Your compassion for others will be your downfall." Naraku tightened his hold on Kagome and prepared to snap her neck. The priestess dropped Sango as she tried to loosen his grip.
"NO!" Inuyasha bellowed. He threw himself at Naraku, but a barrier blocked him as well. He stood near Aoshi and glared into the barrier.
"I you wish to rescue your beloved Inuyasha, then strike down with your Tetsusaiga." Naraku smirked as he squeezed Kagome's neck to the horrified outcries of Inuyasha. Then, unexpectantly, Naraku's hand froze. His face contorted into a growl as his hand began to shake.
"No..." he murmured angrily. "This isn't possible..."
His hand continued to shake until it opened up forcefully and dropped Kagome. Naraku glared dangerously at his hand as it moved with painful slowness to grab his own throat in a choke hold. Kagome coughed as she backed away from Naraku. The barrier surrounding them suddenly vanished and Inuyasha rushed in to grab Kagome.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. He eyed the cursing Naraku with confusion as he pulled his wife away.
"I'm fine," Kagome wheezed. "Where's Sango?"
"I'm here." Aoshi had rescued the bow from where she had been laying at Naraku's feet. He handed Sango over to the priestess.
"Damn you fox!" Naraku yelled. Their eyes all flashed back to the irate youkai, who was trying to pull his right hand from his throat.
"It's Shippo," Kagome said. Inuyasha's eyes widened as he watched Naraku's inner battle. She's right, he thought. Aoshi's lips pulled back in a faint grimace.
"Shippo!" Inuyasha yelled. "Fight him!"
Naraku struggled for several long moments until his hand finally came back under his control. He smirked to cover up his slight unease as he turned back to the hanyou and his priestess. If he had to, he could release the kitsune from his body. However, doing so would be to lose an advantage. As long as Inuyasha was worried for the well being of his friend, he wouldn't dare fight with all his strength. Besides, Naraku would never give in to a lowly kitsune. He was Naraku. He was the strongest.
"Inuyasha, you can not win against me," Naraku warned.
"Like hell, you Bastard!" Inuyasha growled. "You're not fit to lick my feet." The hanyou paused as he smelled that the shrine had suddenly become surrounded by humans and youkai. His nose wrinkled as he detected the faint smell of demonseed.
"Dammit," he swore. "We have company. Aoshi!" Aoshi turned to him. The Obiwaban had so far only been watching both battles, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The thought rankled him, but he knew that as a mere mortal, no matter his impressive skills, he wasn't able to keep up with the current fights.
"I sense them too," he said calmly. His fingers were itching to use his weapons.
"They're under the control of the demonseed," Inuyasha warned as he dodged an attack from Naraku. "Kagome, I'll handle Naraku. You go help Aoshi with them. Aoshi..." Aoshi nodded at him once in understanding.
"I will protect her," he said. Inuyasha nodded his thanks as he swung the Tetsusaiga at Naraku. Aoshi ran down the temple steps, followed closely by Kagome and Sango.