Chapter 14

Inuyasha's feet pounded against the hardwood floors. He tuned out the sounds of his own labored breathing, trying to focus on his surroundings. He'd been running for what felt like forever, and he still hadn't found Kagome. This castle seemed to be an endless maze of hallways and rooms filled with nothing. The smells of incense and burning lamp oils clogged his nostrils. He'd not found even a whiff of Kagome's unique scent. The one that smelled like roses and demon blood, with something else underlying he could never place, that would always tell him she was near.

His ears twitched and Inuyasha ducked. He felt a breeze over his head, and a sudden chill tickled his ears. The gust created by the thing Inuyasha couldn't see, blew out one of the lanterns on the wall. With barely enough time to gain his bearings, Inuyasha was ducking once more, this time drawing his sword preparing to attack as he pivoted to regain footing.

"Show yourself!" Not a moment later, footsteps were heard. They were heavy, lazy. The sounds of chains clinking and dragging across the floor, grew louder. A young man stepped forward from the shadows. His skin pale, his kimono clean and well made. His long, lilac hair fell to one shoulder as he crouched like an animal ready to strike. The tension in Inuyasha's belly continued to brew.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded. He was in a hurry but this thing gave him pause. Though he looked like a man Inuyasha knew better. There was something about this demon, who smelled too much like Naraku for the half demon to ignore. The creature did not answer with words. It was all Inuyasha could do to block. It was so fucking fast. Without even time to lift his sword, the half demon warded off his foe with his forearm.

Inuyasha felt, more than he saw, the thin slices of flesh the creature took with every strike. The warm blood trickling over his skin. He felt unbalanced as he spun around to defend himself. It took several deep breaths for Inuyasha to realize the thing was gone...for now.

His eyes were scanning, as he waited with bated breath, then they went hazy. It was the searing pain in his abdomen, that stole his focus. Dropping to one knee, Inuyasha dared not look at his injury, though he could feel the slip of his organs against his hand.

"Yummy, innards for dinner." Came the smooth, malicious voice. When Inuyasha looked up all he could see was the man in the well made kimono. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, he was sure the man hadn't spoken.

"Down here you dog!" Inuyasha tried to keep from retching. What slithered closer to him, was a thing with the body of a slug and the head of a man. Two razor sharp blades, fashioned to be his hands, sat at his side.

"Kukuku, call me Kageromaru."

Kagome stood stonely in front of her enemy. The power she felt in her new weapon thrumming warmly in her palm. Hojo, the first boy to hold her hand, to be her friend. The boy who sacrificed his life for her not once, but twice. As she gripped the hilt tighter she silently vowed to never let his sacrifice be in vain.

"I found you." Naraku sneered. His body had changed. He looked more spider than man, legs long and stretching across the hallway. Grotesque parts of other demons slithered across his skin, sticking out in a sickening way. This was the result of the spell she broke on the mountain.

"I chose to stop hiding." Her grip tightened and her stance widened. She felt confident in her power, but she'd grown unaccustomed to fighting alone. She spared a quick glance over her shoulder. She could feel the rumble of battle outside. Inwardly she prayed for her friends, their safety and their victory.

"Your eyes are sturdy, yet your hands tremble. Tell me, what ails you girl? Are you afraid?" She didn't even have a second to decide if she would answer, the tentacles flying towards her never giving her a chance. "You should be!"

Kagome dove to the side, but it was hard to maneuver in the narrow halls. The walls came crashing down as more appendages came bursting through. Righting herself, she cut down several tentacles before they could touch her. They were purified on contact, but more just came in their place. Surely she would tire before he did.

"How do you hope to defeat me, when you can barely defend yourself against me?" He sent a tentacle to crush the floor beneath her feet. She tripped, but didn't fall, plunging her sword into the ground to erect a protective barrier around herself. She watched as the limbs meant to skewer her disintegrated. From behind her barrier she could see the jewel, buried deep inside her nemesis. She watched as the pure purple glow of the once sacred jewel slowly turned black. She had to take it from him, least he corrupt the mostly complete orb.

As she searched blindly for something, anything, she realized her downfall would lie in her being a long range fighter. While the sword was powerful she needed to get close to use it, and her human body was much slower than Naraku's youkai parts. She would have been much more comfortable fighting with her arrows. Her thoughts were cut short as Naraku began to barrage her with tentacles once more. What was she going to do?

'Inuyasha I could really use you right now!'

Sango grunted as she flung her Hirakotsu once more. There were still so many demons left. They were weak alone, but together they'd been posing a huge problem. There was no way Inuyasha or Kagome wouldn't need backup. She doubted these demons out here were the only trick Naraku had up his sleeve.

"Miroku! We can't keep this up, we have to move in after Inuyasha and Kagome!"

The void demon looked over his shoulder to regard his companion. She was tired, but otherwise fine. These demons were nothing, mindless, but there were so many. It was a distraction he knew, and it irked him that it was working. They'd been able to cut enough down to make a path for Inuyasha. Though Miroku feared diving in and leaving their backs unprotected.

"I know! If we charge forward we'll leave our backs wide open, we have to figure something out!" Before he knew what was happening the wind picked up, and suddenly Miroku could hear the distant howling of wolves. The earth began to tremble under their feet.

"Naraku!" Was the only warning they were given before a cyclone touched down in front of them. The powerful winds reminded Miroku of the one in his hand. He made sure to grab onto Sango and hold her tight. The battlefield was quickly filling with wolves, who dove, clawed, and mauled the demons down.

"Where are you, you slimy bastard! Come out here and face me!" Sango and Miroku took in the young demon before them. He was tanned with long, dark hair. He was covered in armor and furs. He didn't seem to give them a second thought.

"Um, excuse me?" Sango started. The demon whirled on her, as if just now noticing she and Miroku had been standing there. He took a fighting stance and though Sango prepared to defend herself, she put her hands up in a show of surrender. "Who are you and why are you after Naraku?" She questioned.

"And why should I tell you? You working for him bitch?"

"We're trying to get inside," Miroku said stepping in. "Our friend was kidnapped by Naraku and our other friend has already went to try and retrieve her."

The wolf demon looked him up and down, giving the air an experimental sniff. He wasn't lying, but he didn't have time for this.

"Name is Kouga, Naraku killed my men and stole one of my jewel shards. I'm here to kill the bastard and get it back." Before anything more could be asked, Kouga was gone in a cyclone of wind. He'd left Miroku and Sango in the dust as fast as he'd came.

They looked at each other confused before deciding to follow. The wolf had brought ample backup. They should have no problem holding the demons back out here.

"This is our chance. Let's go!" Miroku said, Sango following closely on his heals.

Inuyasha panted as he slid against the wall, going down with little resistance as his blood made the wood slick. Stupid bastard was fucking fast.

"Kukuku, I'm beginning to tire of you weakling. Shall I stop toying with you and finally devour your heart?" Inuyasha knew he needed to move, but the ability was beyond him at that moment. He grunted in pain and annoyance as he watched the chained up sicko open his mouth.

The little worm was coming.

Inuyasha gripped his sword in preparation for a blow that never came. He heard the vile thing squeal as the wall to his left came crashing down. Flying through the debris was a wolf demon Inuyasha had never seen. He must either have incredible timing or he was incredibly fast. The green eyed monster in Inuyasha's gut began to brew, as he realized he hadn't been able to land a single blow on the thing.

"Watch out!" Was all the warning Inuyasha had time to give. Luckily the wolf was on his guard and sent powerful reverse kick to the chained sicko's face. The sound of his jaw breaking ringing out.

"I don't need help from a mutt like you!" The wolf demon yelled out as he dusted his furs. "If anything you should be thanking me for saving your scrawny ass!"

"Why you..." His words were only irritating because it was true. "Who are you?"

"Kouga, who wants to know?" Before anymore pleasantries could be exchanged an attack from Kageromaru had the two youkai ducking.

"Don't turn your backs on me!"

"That worm is freakishly fast." Inuyasha warned the newcomer. He wasn't expecting the smirk that settled on Kouga's face.

"Not as fast as me." Then he was off. Moving at a speed even Inuyasha's eyes had a hard time following. He could see Kouga catching up to Kageromaru, predicting his movements. He watched as Kouga threw a punch meant to pulverize. Inuyasha was impressed, but chose to growl instead.

"Inuyasha!" Turning at the sound of his name, he was relieved as he watched his friends make their way towards him.

"Glad neither of you got eaten." He said in greeting. "Who the fuck is this bastard?" Making a gesture towards Kouga.

"Apparently a wolf demon with a grudge against Naraku," Sango started, "said Naraku killed his men and stole a shard from him."

Their reunion was cut short when a cry of pain drew their attention back to the battle. The threesome watched as Kageromaru took a chunk out of Kouga's thigh, and Juromaru pinned him to the ground by his neck.

"I don't think so, bastards!" Inuyasha charged in, swinging Tetsusaiga in a mighty arc. Juromaru leaped away from Kouga, and luckily the wolf demon had the good sense to stay to down.

"You tryna kill me mutt? Watch where you're aiming that thing!"

"More like saving your scrawny ass." He retorted, a smugness in his tone at throwing Kouga's words back at him. He didn't know this demon or his intentions, but it seemed they would have to work together for now.

"Just stay outta my way dog turd!" Kouga took off at a sprint towards Juromaru. The man just continued to crouch, making no move to intercept or avoid Kouga. Inuyasha got the distinct feeling, that something was wrong.

'I don't sense Kageromaru.' He thought. He looked around, eyes scanning wildly. Where had the little bastard gone. Looking towards Juromaru once more, Inuyasha realized there was something seeping from the demon's mouth. A sudden chill made its way into the air and Inuyasha knew where Kageromaru was hiding.

"Move out the way wolf or I'll cut you down along with these demons!" In that moment Kageromaru emerged from Juromaru's mouth, almost faster than the eye could see. Allowing his instincts to take over Kouga ducked, giving an opportunity for Inuyasha to land the killing blow. Juromaru and Kageromaru vanished into dust.

"Nicely done." Miroku complimented. The joy was short lived as a tremor made its way through the castle, shaking the foundation. The battle here had been won but Kagome was still out there fighting.

"There's no time to waste." Inuyasha stated. He took off with his friends hot on his heels.

Kagome was panting at this point. So far she'd only managed to cut and evade. She was running out of steam and Naraku just kept coming.

"I'm enjoying this dance girl. Keep running!"

He was trying to throw her off her game with his taunts. They were almost working. She had to turn the tables. Right now she was the only one on her toes. She had to think! The sword pulsed in her hand, the power swirling about the blade warming her hand. It was then she finally had an idea.

It came to her in a memory, one of Midoriko as she laid in Kagome's arms taking her finals breaths.

"Your destiny has always been to protect the jewel." Midoriko wheezed. "The darkness will always seek your light, trying to snuff it out. Your light will always try to chase away the darkness."

"When the time comes, that is how you will find the jewel. Allow your light to chase away the darkness and follow the path set forth for you."

The sword pulsed in her hand again and Kagome knew what she had to do. She stood tall and charged her enemy, slicing disgusting pieces of flesh along the way.

"Aw, a new move I see. At least you're trying to keep it interesting." Instead of cutting away the appendage Kagome dodged and soon she was beneath Naraku, his soft underbelly exposed to her gaze.

"My light, will always chase away the darkness." She said aloud, but more for herself. Releasing a powerful cry, she stabbed in sword into Naraku's gut. She couldn't see the jewel, but she could sense her powers seeking it out. Her light was trying to eliminate the darkness, and it wouldn't stop until there was no more.

Naraku let out a howl as Kagome's purifying energy surged through his body. Bitch! She was trying to use the jewel to purify him from the inside out!

"I'll kill you!" He snarled, sending out whatever body parts he thought capable of ripping her apart.

"Wind scar!" The eastern section of the hall was blown to bits. Kagome could barely see over the dust, but she watched as Naraku was crushed under the weight of the debris.

"Inuyasha!" Her heart leapt into her throat. She watched as the rest of her friends ran up behind him. They were safe. They were all safe. "Thank the Kami." She praised. She ran towards them, arms outstretched and ready to embrace them. The damage to Inuyasha's body had her pausing.

"You're hurt! How did this happen?" She said trying to inspect Inuyasha as quickly as she could.

"Naraku's lackey. Slippery little bastard, nothing I couldn't handle." Inuyasha said confidently.

"Humble yourself mutt, you'd be worm food if it wasn't for me." Before she could ask Kagome found her hands cusped in a pair much larger and rougher than her own.

"I can see why the mangy dog, was risking it all to come for you. You're gorgeous and I could feel your spiritual energy from a mile away. You're strong." He said matter of factly. "I'm Kouga, and once I've killed Naraku I'll make you my woman."

Kagome was at a lost for words. She could feel her face heating and the warmth spreading down her neck. No one had ever been so forward with her. Her only response was, "You have two jewel shards, one in each leg."

Kouga looked incredulous, if her statement was supposed to deter him from wanting her it had the opposite effect. "You can sense shards? Now you're really coming with me, together we can make the eastern wolf tribe unstoppable!"

"Hands off Kagome!" Kouga was able to avoid Tetsusaiga before he could be cut in half.

"Kagome." Kouga said testing the name on his tongue and deciding he liked it. "I've got bigger fish to fry than you shithead, I'll see you around Kagome!" Like his entrance the wolf demon was gone in a cyclone of wind, and the two shards in his legs grew fainter and fainter in Kagome's conscience.

"Fucking bastard." Inuyasha snarled. The group was startled when the castle around them began to disappear. The walls, floors, and lanterns turning into nothing. They wandered toward the wall of debris they thought Inuyasha had crushed Naraku under, but all that was left was a wooden doll with several strands of dark hair wrapped around the base.

"Another puppet." Kagome all but growled. She should have known it would never be this easy to defeat Naraku.

"Hmmm, it seems our dance is not quite over, girl." Naraku's voice ghosted through the air. "I shall not underestimate you again. Though you have taken a servant from me, Akumu can be easily replaced. I think a fine young demon slayer such as Kohaku, will serve me well."

Naraku laughed evilly and Sango stiffened, her eyes going wide at the sound of that name. "When our paths cross next, maybe I'll be kind enough to let you met again, dear Sango."

Kagome came to embrace her friend as the chill chased away the last of Naraku's voice. "Sango, what is talking about?"

"My younger brother, Kohaku. We got separated in the attack on my village. He was taken by a demon with brown hair and crimson eyes."

"Akumu." Miroku stated, looking towards Kagome.

"Did you see him here?" Inuyasha questioned. He watched as tears pooled in Kagome's eyes. She looked sad, yet resigned.

"He saved me. Hid me from Naraku until I could come up with a plan." She held up her sword. "He brought me this blade. He sacrificed himself, again, for me."

There was a pain in her tone that was tangible, and the white knuckle grip on the hilt of her sword didn't go unnoticed. Inuyasha looked away, the last thing he wanted to do was meet her eyes and see the love she had for her former love there. He would let her grieve, without the weight of his own feelings adding to what she must already be going through.

Miroku sent a knowing look his way, while Sango just seemed confused.

"I would like to go back to my village." Kagome said, her back towards the group as she watched the sun begin to rise. She wanted one last time to say goodbye.

"First we'll rest, then we'll make our way." Inuyasha blushed under her grateful gaze. With that group set off toward the horizon, the next set adventures right around the corner.

Review, and tell me what you think.

It feels a little rushed, but I had to get this thing away from me lol