Once again I know its been a while but what can I say. I write when I write. I'll probably be writing even less after getting a chance to see what this semester is like. For those who are new who haven't read my notes, I'm now a senior in college studying Computer Engineering. Add to that I'm a little behind so I'm taking more classes then I should, so the work is a little heavy right now. With there being only about 2 more chapters and then the Epilogue I hope to get the time to finish this and wrap it up once and for all.
Well before I continue, I've gotten some great reviews lately that definitely need some responding to so I'll start off with that:
SunStreak - I'm glad you've stuck with my fic and hope you keep with it. --------------------Congrats. 2 thousandth reviewer. (I just have to ask why do people keep putting down 20 instead of 2000 (or does ff .net cut zeros)?)
Echo Hunter - I realize it takes a while to read my story. Truth is I don't think people realize how big the story is if you put it together in one Word file in 12 font Times New Roman (that's how it is on my HDD). As for my writing style, I personally think if I would sit down and revise this whole story, people would think it was by a different person. Whenever I start a story (no matter how much experience I have) the beginning sucks cause I'm too eager to write it and I skip stuff. I should explain more and different parts too. So people who stick with my story realize that as time goes on the style changes to a more steady pace of events. Now these later chapters might fall under the same thing as the first few because I'm almost pulling myself to write this. I hope though that things stay good and every is happy when I finish.
StarlightAngelEyes - Personally I think I've slightly deviated from the main point of IY's wish but in a way these events are a small result. The main reason I didn't just do another story/spin-off was that I thought this part would be too small for its own story. As for the bringing back the parents and everyone, few people have shown disappointment in the idea but I'm of mixed feelings as well. A lot of times I'm the kind of guy that tries to keep everyone happy no matter how unrealistic it is. This story is like that. It sort of fulfills my wanting to keep everyone alive, even though we know they won't be coming back in the anime. So in that sense I still like this story and will keep with it.
InuKag101 - You say that because Naraku is gone that Kagura should be dead (I think your also add the Shikon Jewel into this equation). Have you seen the 2nd movie? Small spoiler: Naraku dies for a little bit, or at least hides so that its like he'd dead (Miroku's wind tunnel disappears) and Kagura and Kanna are still alive. I don't think they have the jewel shards with them either. Kagura is a detachment of Naraku but a separate being none the less (the Shikon Jewel just gave Naraku the power to do this). In the anime, Kagura wants Naraku dead so she can live freely, not die as soon as he does. So while she was part of Naraku, she is no longer.
RoseWolf - You say you like the Sess/Kagura. Check out "Call Me Tomorrow" by TailFluffGirl (this was one of my recommendations). This is just a Sess/Kagura story. Probably the best one.
Tycoon Runner - 10 hours! Didn't think it took that long but damn! Also I'd love to write original books and I have the ideas but I just get bored too easily. Hopefully one day I will.
Valdimarian - I looked for you bud but I couldn't find you. Too many Miroku's. I might have seen you and not realized it. I didn't get a chance to cosplay cause it was too much to pull off in a short amount of time. Hopefully next year.
Inu-Hakan the lord of the immortal fire - Since I updated in 2 months the demon tomatoes have been given a Return to Sender note but by the time you read this it will be too late.
Aclahayr - To be honest your review was the most fun. So let's discuss what you had to say (this is not meant in a mean way, in fact its meant to keep the mood light). First off I don't think it says anywhere that demons are immortal (though they could be and I"m not disputing this) no where does it say that can't change. Even if someone would be immortal they can change. If you look at how IY acted as a kid compared with him in the series there's a total difference. Also if you look at how he acted at the beginning of the series and way later on you'll see he's changed quite a bit. Even Sesshomaru changed from when he first showed up, I think Rin has had that effect on him. If you look throughout the series, there are times when IY actually does use his brain in battle (this is just few and far between). Lastly there is the idea of Greek Mythology, the Japanese people weren't cut off from everyone in the world. I didn't realize it until recently but Christianity actually made its way over to Feudal Japan. It was practically outlawed but it made its way there. Now I'm not saying that the Japanese people learned about Greek mythology early on but I think there is definitely a possibility that it made its way there.
Saiko Fluffy - You thought the last chapter was an evil cliffhanger. You won't like me for this one either, and you'll hate me next chapter.
Well I think I'm done reviews. For those who aren't sure of the Sess/Kagura pairing check this site out: http/ www. geocities. com/ sesskagura/ (I found this site thanks to TailFluffGirl's story "Call Me Tomorrow" geez, can I plug that story any more. What can I say I really like it and I'm waiting for her to update.)
Well I think its about time to begin. Enjoy and here's a note I can't even afford this www. animenewsnetwork. com/article.php?id7393 so there's no way I can afford the IY franchise.
A Wish From the Heart
Chapter 61: Three for the Price of One
"Don't even think for a second that we're scared of you," Kouga yelled.
"Oh but you should be. You have no idea the power you are up against," Cerberus warned.
"Yeah, I'm sure. That's why you ran away after each encounter you had with us," Inuyasha yelled.
"You don't get it do you. It was bait to lure you here. I will fight you on my terms on my home ground."
"You fail to notice the disadvantage in this plan," Sesshomaru said coolly. "In baiting us to come here, you have outnumbered yourself."
"I am not worried in the least," Cerberus said with a grin. "In fact, what I've done is given myself a small challenge. I wouldn't have even called it that had you not brought along two more. Though I don't know how much help they'll be to you."
"What was that?" Ayame yelled. "You'll have your hands full with us."
"I'd say it about time you back up those words," Cerberus said as a stream of miasma shot out of the forest and struck Ayame. Kouga quickly acted and pulled her from the barrage before she was hit too hard. Inuyasha swiftly advanced on the origin of the miasma only to find the spot bare.
Cerberus just laughed. He knew that within the thicket of the forest he could easily move around and keep himself hidden from his attackers. Inuyasha had no warning as an entire tree trunk came flying at him from his right side. Kagome acted quickly and stepped in the way, slicing the tree in half with her sword.
"Thanks," Inuyasha replied as kept his senses on full alert looking for Cerberus.
"You're welcome."
"This is touching," Cerberus said with a laugh. "I'll make sure you two die together as well." A jet of flames came at the couple. Inuyasha and Kagome hurriedly separated to avoid the blaze. Sesshomaru used his brother's peril to advance on their enemy slashing through the brush with Toukijin. His sword hit only trees and other plants as another stream of miasma attacked from almost behind him.
Sesshomaru avoided the poison cloud and regrouped with the others. "We have to be careful. This guy knows how to teleport and he's using that against us," Inuyasha said. He then turned to Ayame, "Kagome, take Ayame and go free Kohaku and the others, that way at least they'll be safe."
"Will you guys be okay without us?" Ayame asked.
"Are you trying to say I will lose to this cretin," Sesshomaru asked.
"Sesshomaru is right," Kouga said, "We won't lose to this dirtbag. We'll have him beat by the time you get back."
"We won't be long," Kagome said. "Let's go, Ayame." With nothing more holding them back, the two girls took off.
&&&&&
Kagura felt weird. She didn't know what was wrong but she knew that she didn't feel right. She could feel herself get light headed. What ever was the matter, she knew it had something to do with the bonds which held her so tight. On looking, she could see that Rin and Kohaku were tied together using regular rope yet her bindings were different. Kagura struggled against them, trying to break them or slip her way out.
"What's wrong, Miss Kagura?" Rin asked as she saw the woman tussling with her shackles.
As she continued to struggle, Kagura continued to get weaker. It was then that she realized what was going on. The bonds were sapping her strength. "Damnit these things are sucking my power out of me." Rin and Kohaku rushed over to her but all they could do was pull on the bindings but it did nothing to help. Kohaku looked around but could see nothing with which to help.
"There's got to be something we can do to help," Rin shrieked as tears formed in her eyes.
"There's nothing you can do," Kagura said with a calm voice. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop the power drain but at least this way she wasn't worrying the kids too much. "I'll hold out as long as I can. Hopefully help will arrive," even as she said that she knew it was unlikely.
"Lord Sesshomaru will come. I know he will," Rin stood up. "Lord Sesshomaru! Please come, we need your help!" She prayed that her shouts would reach the taiyoukai.
"Well, we're not Sesshomaru, but where here to help," Kagome said from the end of the hall along with Ayame.
"Kagome, Miss Kagura needs help," Kohaku told her.
"Okay, you kids stand back," Ayame warned. As soon as they were clear, she kicked the door right off its hinges. Both of them went to Kagura, "now what's wrong with you. Ahh!" she screamed as soon as she touched Kagura's bonds.
"I don't know what Cerberus did but they seem to draw in demon power. They've been draining my power but when the kids touched them it didn't do anything."
"So it only reacts to youkai. Let's see how it likes me," Kagome said as she grabbed ahold of the bands. Kagome gritted her teeth as she could feel a small stinging but didn't let go. The shackles seem to give off a searing sound before the ominous glow that surrounded them died away. "That should do it. Now keep your arms behind your back." Kagome pulled her sword and with precision cut the bonds that held the wind sorceress.
"What did you do to them?" Kagura asked.
"I purify them. Since it seemed to be endowed with some demonic ability I figured it wouldn't react good to miko energy," Kagome said with a smirk. "Now how are, can you walk?"
"I'm still a little light headed but I can manage," Kagura put her hand to the nearby wall and slowly pulled herself up. As she got there she found her legs were still too weak as they gave out on her. Rin and Kohaku acted quickly and caught her. "Okay so maybe I can't walk just yet. Give me a couple minutes and I'll be fine."
"Kagome, don't worry about us," Kohaku said. "Rin and I will get Miss Kagura to safety."
"Good, but first we should get out of this horrible jail. Follow us," Kagome said as her and Ayame led the way.
Kagura helped the best she could as Rin and Kohaku practically carried her out. She just smiled at the two teenagers. "To think, I wanted to help them escape and here they are dragging my ass. Oh how I have fallen when two kids are helping me," Kagura thought to herself. "I wonder what Sesshomaru would think if he saw me now? I'm not even strong enough to walk by myself. Damnit, why am I thinking of him? Like I give a damn as to what he thinks of me."
"Miss Kagura?" Rin called for the 3rd time.
"Sorry Rin, what were you saying?" Kagura asked as she was pulled from her internal conversation.
"Can you stand, now?"
Kagura could feel the strength back in her body. She stood on her own power once again. She wasn't sure whether her strength had just came back from being drawn out of her or it was the adrenaline running through her from her inner struggle. She may not have been 100 percent but she was in good condition. "I'm feeling fine. Thanks for you help." She turned to thank Kagome and for the first time noticed that she was gone. "Where did Kagome go?"
"We split up with them when we got outside," Kohaku said. "They headed back to help Inuyasha and the others. We brought you out here. Hopefully we're far enough away from the battle."
"Good luck. You're all going to need it," Kagura thought to herself.
&&&&&
Kagome and Ayame stood at the edge of Cerberus' hideout. Unlike Naraku who usually kept to large mansions, Cerberus was much happier in a small inconspicuous building. Kagome looked on at the forest that surrounded it. With the thickness of it, you would never know the hideaway was their.
"Kagome why are we stopped? Even with the denseness of the forest I can smell where they are. We have to get going to help them."
"It will be more help if I can lock down exactly where Cerberus is," Kagome said. "When we were in the forest before he kept jumping around and spreading out his energy so that I couldn't get a lock on him. If I can pin him down from here, I could continue to follow him."
"Great, but what's taking so long?"
"It was bad before because Cerberus' energy was like a soup in there. Any you can't navigate something when you're drowning in it. I should be able to lock it down from here but I can't seem to do it."
"Why not?"
"Because it's still like a soup. I can't seem to pin down the power."
"Well if he's spreading out his power it has to come from somewhere. Look for the biggest concentration."
"It's not that easy. It's like …" Kagome stopped in her tracks.
"What's up?" Ayame asked.
"Give me a few more seconds," Kagome said as Ayame could feel the power Kagome gave off. Kagome came back to her sense with an even more worried look. "Let's go Ayame. Things just got a lot worse." With that Kagome took off running into the forest.
"Hey, wait for me."
&&&&&
"I'm getting pissed off," Inuyasha said breathing heavy. They had struck at Cerberus constantly but they weren't getting anywhere.
"I wish you'd sit still you bastard," Kouga yelled. They had caught glimpses of their enemy but it didn't last long as he disappeared and attacked from behind them.
"I am getting tired of this miscreant's games." Sesshomaru had barely been able to lay a hand on him. Cerberus seemed to possess incredible speed along with various powers.
"Get all the complaints out now, because you'll be dying shortly." Suddenly the ground under Inuyasha and the others started to cave in. The land around them built up trying to lock them in.
Sesshomaru wasted no time in obliterating all the earth before it had a chance to trap them. "Damnit this nature freak is getting on my nerves," Inuyasha said. Cerberus had used nature based attacks at them. He had even thrown a few of Kagura's wind attacks at them.
"Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Kouga split up," Kagome yelled as she finally caught sight of them.
"Are you kidding, Kagome?" Inuyasha yelled. "How will splitting up help us?"
"I forgot. Cerberus isn't just a hound of Hell. He's three headed," Kagome yelled.
"What!" Kouga replied.
"He can't teleport, there's been three of them all this time!" Kagome told him.
&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&
Ahh the big secret is out. Few people questioned why I called the villain Cerberus, well now you know. Dark Inu Fan I think you were the only person to ask: he had 3 heads didn't he? Congrats even if you didn't realize it you had figured out my foreshadowing. Well while you're all waiting for me to update check out this story:
Yume no Unmei (that means Dreams of Fate) - by Chiisana s/600133/1/ - One of my old fun stories to read.
Join me next time for:
Chapter 62: The Price of Victory
(I didn't think the cliffhanger was bad enough, I had to leave you with such a tempting title too)