Wow, an update that you didn't have to wait 1-2 months for, cool huh? Yeah I wanted to get this out a little sooner but school kind of hammered me for the last 2 weeks (and this week doesn't look to pretty either). There was also the Career Fair this past week which was really fun to go to. Got to meet a lot of companies that I might work for in the future. But we'll talk later about who I'm going to sell my soul to when I graduate. We have more important things to talk about, like this story. I'd like to remind everyone that not counting this chapter there is going to be one more chapter and then the epilogue. At that point this story will be over. I won't be dragging it out anymore, I don't see a reason to, no more ideas to write, and it will be about time as well. Now for some fun, review responses
Dragon Man 180 - You definitely thought about the 3 man combo a bit, good job. You'll just have to wait and see what their connection is.
Inuyasha's Mustang - Freshman in HS, hell I wish I was back there, a hell of a lot less work. Heck I'd love to be a freshman in college again, the amount of work you get as a senior is so much more.
Valdimarian - Funny thing is, I think I saw the same guy in a Tenchi outfit you did. I only saw 1 or 2 Tenchi's at all of Otakon. I remember there was one carrying a sign that said looking for a Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi or other girls in groups of 4. I wanna know if he had any success or not.
Animeluvr630937 - I have no idea how I've kept this story going so long. It was never supposed to be like this, though if you want a longer one, check out Moonsilver's Source of Magic. That has about 90 chapters (though I have her beat in word count).
Selina - Thank you for the three reviews. You don't have to worry, I"m updating now.
another fan - make this story really long. I'm already up to 62 chapters, what do you consider really long?
YuniX-2 - Thank you for your continued perseverance in reading this story. Glad you caught up so quick. As for the recommendations about reading another story, they're not meant to be a nuisance, instead they're there so people can read another good story while waiting for me to update. Hell that's where I learned of some really good stories myself.
Okay now onto my to favorite review that have to be taken care of:
tabycat - Part of me hates you so much for telling me that. Why did you have to tell me something so depressing? At the same time I have to thank you, I really don't read the manga so I never would have learned that. I guess I'll have to continue watching the anime (as they continue it in movies and OVAs) and hope that the same thing doesn't happen there. Also with the way Rumiko deals with death (need I bring up the subject of Kikyo), I have small hopes that it is only a temporary setback. Have to wait and see.
SereneDolphin - Thank you very much for you long and thought out review. It was refreshing to read your comments on everything. I'm glad you liked Tai (I had so much fun thinking him up). As for writing a long story, this one has really tested my patience, resolve, and my sanity. I'm just glad there are people here to read it and that makes this all worth while.
Now onto the chapter, which I might add is super-sized this time around (about 2-3 times as big as normal). PS - I don't own IY
A Wish From the Heart
Chapter 62: The Price of Victory
"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.
"HA HA HA HA HA!" Cerberus laughed. "It took you this long to figure it out. It doesn't matter. You'll still die."
"Its time to put an end to your games," Sesshomaru said. "Souryuuha!" With a single swing of his sword, Sesshomaru destroyed a third of the forest around them.
"I get it. He won't have a place to hide," Inuyasha said. "Kaze no Kizu!" The Windscar ripped even more of the forest apart barely leaving Cerberus with a place to hide.
"You guys aren't playing nice," their enemy said as he walked slowly out of the remaining forest.
"Yeah that was mean," the same voice came as the person shoved away some fallen tries that Sesshomaru destroyed.
"I think its time we got serious," the third came from Inuyasha's demolition area.
"Everyone pick a partner," Kouga said charging at the 1st Cerberus. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha picked their opponents respectively.
"Do you really think you can beat me, wolf? The three of you couldn't beat us and you think you can handle me by yourself?"
"Not by himself." Cerberus only heard Ayame's words as she slammed into him from behind sending him directly towards Kouga, who was ready for him. Before Cerberus could do anything, Kouga gave a hard uppercut sending him reeling into the air. Not wasting any time, Ayame threw multiple razor leaves at Cerberus tearing at him where she could.
Cerberus twisted and pushed himself away from the duo landing safely. Kouga charged at him but Cerberus was ready this time. A wall of rock ripped from the ground, and the wolf demon couldn't slow down in time.
"Kouga!" Ayame yelled. She kept her eyes focused forward and didn't see the tree as it collapsed and fell right towards her.
&&&&&
Inuyasha just stared his opponent down. He wasn't in a big hurry. He had the time and he would use it to his advantage. He could see the 2nd split of Cerberus getting impatient.
"Too tired to come at me?" his enemy asked.
"Nah, I'm waiting for you," Inuyasha called back confidently.
"I can understand. You haven't really fought for 5 years and you're out of practice. You looking for any way out," Cerberus boasted.
"Ohh, I've kept up pretty well," Inuyasha said. "I've got a good sparring partner."
Cerberus moved with blinding speed to directly behind Inuyasha, "Too bad that won't help you now." Cerberus' hands transformed into blade claws as he swung them at the hanyou. Inuyasha made no movement to dodge though.
"I think I will help him," came from behind Cerberus as he felt a sword slice along his back. He quickly jumped away but not before getting caught by Inuyasha's claws along his chest. "If you must know, my mate and I train every day for hours. We fight even better together," Kagome said with a grin and full of assurance.
"You might have had the upper hand when it was just me, but now you don't stand a chance," Inuyasha continued.
"Well you're just going to have to suffer with disappointment," Cerberus said and with a single swish of his hand, blades went flying towards the couple.
Inuyasha used Tetsusaiga to block them while Kagome used a barrier to protect herself. "I was wondering the purpose of those weird restraints," Kagome said with a small laugh. "It wasn't just draining Kagura's power it was transferring it to you, wasn't it?" Cerberus gave no response. "You won't be doing much more of that attack since I removed the bonds already, besides your attack is a poor substitute for Kagura's. Her's are far quicker and deadlier."
"It doesn't matter, she is far weaker than me," Cerberus boasted. "You'll get to see exactly how deadly my attacks are." From twenty five feet away, Cerberus stretched his arms towards the couple.
"Give me a break," Inuyasha said easily jumping a few feet from the arms as they passed by him. "You'll have to do better than…" Inuyasha stopped in mid taunt as he felt his arm and side pierced. At the same time, Kagome let out a scream to pain. He looked over and saw spikes had extended from the attacking arms. Kagome was pinned to a tree by a spike through her shoulder. Inuyasha tried to move to her but the skewers, which he had forgotten about pushed him further away from her.
"Too bad you under estimated me," Cerberus said to the trapped miko, "Now die!" With that he sent another spike hurtling towards her unprotected midsection.
&&&&&
Sesshomaru looked on at his opponent. "To think, I have to fight such a weakling."
"I am sorry you disapprove, Lord Sesshomaru," Cerberus said with disrespect in his voice, "I hope that I can provide you with enough enjoyment."
"See that you do and I will make you death quick and painless," Sesshomaru replied.
Before he even blinked Cerberus was behind him, "Will you not defend yourself?"
"You moved, nothing more. I will not waste my energy to defend against an attack that is nonexistent." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Sesshomaru moved behind the demon and struck at him with his energy whip.
Cerberus managed to only get grazed on the arm and chest as he flew back from the attack. "You been so kind as to show me how to attack, can you show me how to defend?" Cerberus threw a simple wave of energy at the demon lord, who wasted very little energy to sidestep it but Cerberus followed up with a sharp blade he pulled out of his body.
Sesshomaru raised Toukijin out from his belt to block the assault. "I think you just might provide me with a worthy challenge."
"Well then let's just keep the fun rolling," Cerberus said as he opened his mouth wide. Naraku's usual miasma started streaming out. The fog had a mind of its own as it carefully made a 20 foot circle around Sesshomaru be swarming in and covering all around the demon lord. "I'm sure you realized that the miasma that Naraku used to use was poisonous," Cerberus commented. "Of course, you're far too strong to have that poison mean anything to you and that was one of Naraku's weak points. His miasma was only good as a covering and a low level poison but you see mine is far more deadly."
Cerberus could still sense Sesshomaru within the mist. It was another part of himself so it was easy to tell. "You see my miasma is more than just a poison, it's a conduit for my power," with a small twitch Cerberus let his energy run through the sphere of dark fog. "I'm sure you just felt a small shock, I could turn this entire thing into a giant electric ball but…"
"Are you about done, I'm getting bored again," Sesshomaru warned as he made a motion as to get ready to leave.
"Yes well as I was saying," Cerberus continued. "I could turn that entire dome into a giant electric ball but I'd rather set it ablaze," and without warning the entire area with miasma exploded in a violent reaction.
&&&&&
"Kouga!" Ayame yelled and ran towards her mate as she watched him crash into the earth wall due to his momentum. Just as she got halfway, she heard a crash from behind her. Thinking it was Cerberus she quickly turned around to see a tree had fallen right where she had been standing. Inside she blew a sigh of relief.
"You know that was supposed to hit you." In her distraction, Cerberus had manage to get right behind her. She turned around just in time for him to grab her by her neck and lift. "I guess I'll just have to be more thorough." While she tried to fight his grip, she couldn't get loose. He didn't waste anytime in smashing her into a nearby tree. Ayame had no time to catch her breath as she was quickly smashed into another and another. It was finally finished when he threw her head first and another tree.
Ayame couldn't even see straight to know that she was headed to a tree. All she knew was that in a bit she found herself carefully pulled out of the air and was set down softly on the ground. "Hey are you okay? Say something."
"Uhhh," she groaned as her eyesight started to return to her and she could see Kouga looking down at her with worry written all over his face. "Kouga?"
"You can fight better than that I know you can," the wolf leader all but yelled at her. "Just stay here for now while I take care of him." The wolf leader then turned to his opponent. "Prepare to eat dirt, bastard."
"I'll skip that meal but you can tell me what its like," Cerberus said. He raised his fist as they started to glow. "If you're done pampering the girl we can get down to business."
Kouga didn't even bother with a retort, he just dashed at Cerberus and threw a flurry of punches. Unfortunately almost none of them landed as Cerberus moved quickly to dodge, those that landed seemed to have no effect. After giving Kouga a head start in attacking, Cerberus returned the favor connecting with each and every punch. Unfortunately Kouga could feel that they were no normal punches. Instead Cerberus was feed electric energy through his fists. Each attacks sent jolt after jolt through Kouga's already battered body. Cerberus finished with an uppercut that sent the equivalent of a small lightning bolt shooting through the wolf demon's body.
"Let him alone," Ayame yelled as she flings her razor leaves at Cerberus. He sidestepped them with ease but the one managed to catch his hair.
"You know I liked my hair the way it was and you went and messed it up," Cerberus said with a hint of actual anger in his voice.
"Too bad," Ayame yelled back. "Go to hell!"
"You first," Cerberus said as he punched the ground. A fissure broke all the way up to where Ayame stood. The female wolf demon had no time to more as the fissure seemed to become a giant rupture in only a matter of seconds.
"Ayame!" Kouga yelled as he wasted no time in running straight down the gorge after her.
The girl had nothing to grab a hold of as she fell. She also carried no weapons or anything that could change her course straight to the nightmare that awaited her. She could her the wails of the souls that were below her. They anticipated her arrival. "Please Kouga, save me," she wished to herself. She wanted to do more to save herself but she knew her situation and all she could do was trust her lover.
As if answering her prayers, Kouga leapt from the one side of the gorge, grabbed her in mid air before grabbing ahold of the other side.
"Thanks…." Ayame said just as the walls of the chasm started to close.
"Save your thanks we have to get out of here," Kouga said as he quickly made break for the top with Ayame in tow.
"Ha ha ha, you may have caught her but I'll make sure you stay trapped down there," Cerberus laughed from the top. The walls continued to close at a faster pace.
"Damnit," Kouga cursed as he continued he his progress to the top as fast as he could but even he knew it wasn't enough. With only a few feet opening left, Kouga grabbed onto Ayame's arm and flung her up as far as he could. In doing so he himself lost his footing on the wall and fell down.
"KOUGA!" Ayame screamed as she flew threw the air and landed on the ground just as it closed back up.
&&&&&
"Now die!" Cerberus said as he sent a long deadly spike towards Kagome's unprotected midsection.
Inuyasha tried to get to Kagome but it was no use. He even allowed the thorns to dig further into him so as he could get closer to his mate but it wasn't close enough. "Kagome!"
The spikes, which had been going at full speed to impale Kagome stopped about a inch from her body. "Inuyasha, I think you worry too much," Kagome said simply. She turned to their demon foe. "Did you forget that I'm a miko?"
"Oh I remember well enough from our first meeting," Cerberus said.
"Oh, then you should remember what I can do to you," Kagome advised him as flexed her miko energy and flung away the spikes that kept hold of her.
"I underestimated you back then, don't think for a second I'll let you trap me again," Cerberus said as he quickly withdrew his spikes from Kagome, dropping her to the ground. "Here you can have this guy," Cerberus said as he hurled Inuyasha at Kagome before extracting his spikes from the dog demon.
Kagome caught her mate, alright, and then the tree behind her caught them both. "Inuyasha, you're heavy. I think you've been putting on a bit of weight," Kagome groaned out.
"Well sorry for liking your cooking," Inuyasha said as got off of her.
"I should make you cook some more, that way I know you won't be eating as much," Kagome replied.
"But my cooking sucks," Inuyasha complained.
"That's the whole point," Kagome said. "Well let's finish up here so we can get something to eat."
"You hear that," Inuyasha said addressing Cerberus, "The sooner I put you down the sooner I get some good food."
"Oh, well if that's the case why don't I just lie down and die for you," Cerberus mocked back.
"No need, I like to get a good workout before my meal," Inuyasha said charging at Cerberus. Just before reaching his opponent, Inuyasha swung Tetsusaiga, "KAZE NO KIZU!"
Cerberus was taken surprise by Inuyasha's quick change of pace. He pulled up much of the earth around his feet to block the attack but still some of the assault struck him in the shoulder. Cerberus clutched his injury in pain. "Damn you."
"If you didn't like that, wait until you feel this." Like twice long before, the Tetsusaiga pulsed out a wave of energy.
Cerberus felt the wave of energy hit him as paralysis overtook his body. "I have heard of this attack, the one you defeated Naraku with. My body may be immobilized for now but I can easily overcome this. Besides without your friends nearby you attack won't be enough to kill me."
"That's why it's a slight variation," Kagome said as she stepped beside Inuyasha, and using the same move they did to finally kill Kitiara, she made a downward strike while her mate made a horizontal one. The slices of energy combined together and struck forward slicing through Cerberus.
With his final breath's, Cerberus cursed at them, "This won't be the end, you'll see." Once cut into four pieces, the demon's body turned to a dark mist and blew away with the wind.
&&&&&
"KOUGA!" Ayame yelled as she pounded the ground that had fused back together, trapping Kouga. Tears flowed freely from the girl's eyes. "It's all my fault. If only I had fought smarter and better, you wouldn't have had to save me," Ayame cried out. "It should be me trapped down there in that underworld."
"Damn you cry too much," Cerberus said from directly behind her. "If you love him that much, don't worry. You'll be joining him soon."
Ayame didn't care what happened to her. She had loved Kouga dearly even if it didn't show at times. She knew she couldn't continue on without him. He was part of her reason for living. He was part of her. He was her …
"Don't you touch my mate!" a voice screamed as a hand sprung up from the ground and grabbed ahold of Cerberus's ankle. Kouga continued on his jump out of the ground not letting go of Cerberus. The wolf demon swung his opponent directly into the ground. Cerberus felt the breath knocked out but that didn't stop Kouga.
"Kouga," Ayame said in relief.
Kouga continued to swing Cerberus directly into a tree smashing it in half. "Ayame go high," Kouga said as he smashed Cerberus into the ground one more time for good measure.
As Kouga said, Ayame jumped high into the air to intercept their foe as Kouga sent him her way. Ayame landed a few kicks into his stomach before grabbing him and hurtling him down onto the tree that had been recently broken. As Ayame landed onto the ground next to Kouga, she watched as Cerberus was impaled by the tree.
"Things won't change. You will die," Cerberus said before the two wolf demons landed final kicks to the detachment's head. The two lovers watched as their dead opponent's body melted away into a dark mist before flying away.
"Kouga, I'm so sorry," Ayame said apologizing. "If only…"
"You did nothing wrong," Kouga said stopping her. "Mates are supposed to be there for one another. And when they do they don't regret doing anything for the other."
"You're right, I'll be there for you, always," Ayame promised him.
"Ayame, for this life and the next, will you be my mate?" Kouga asked. Ayame's eye's filled with tears for the second time. She jumped onto Kouga with no warning. "Should I take that as a yes?"
"Of course you loveable fool," Ayame all but screamed as she continued to hug the life out of him.
&&&&&
Cerberus watched as the ball of flame burned bright with Sesshomaru inside of it. "Do you still think I'm boring?" Cerberus yelled to the inside of the flaming sphere.
"To a certain extent, yes," Sesshomaru answered from the interior of the ball. "You're all talk and you have a few flashy tricks, nothing else." With that the demon lord swung Toukijin clearing himself a path out of the flame and sending air pressure spikes directly at Cerberus. There was no warning as Cerberus was struck by the deadly pins and needles. He also had no warning against Sesshomaru's follow-up attack which landed a punch right in his jaw.
Cerberus went reeling from the attack. As he laid on the ground, he clutch his mouth in pain, "Don't think I'm finished yet. You're about to see my true power," Cerberus gloated.
"It doesn't help to lie to yourself before you die," Sesshomaru said and without another word swung Toukijin at the demon on the ground. Right before the sword was about to cut into the demon, dark miasma flew around him and acted like a shield bounce the sword away.
"Ha ha ha, it seems your companions were able to defeat my other parts but it didn't help," Cerberus gloated as he slowly stood up. "You're idea of divide and conquer has worked against you. When one of us die, their power is transferred to the remaining parts. It seems they were both killed and their power has come back to me. If you'd like I could split off again and you could try fighting all three of us."
"Would I have to be bored three times worse?" Sesshomaru asked. "The fact that you have more power now makes no difference. I'll still kill you."
"Do you have any idea the power I possess now?" Cerberus let his power ripple out. Destroying nearby trees and tearing up the ground, yet the demon lord was still unimpressed.
"Ahhh," came a scream from the nearby forest. Both demons looked over and saw Rin lying on the ground.
"Damnit, this battle has gone on too long," Sesshomaru thought to himself.
Rin let out another scream as she tried to run away but found her feet anchor to the ground by a set of roots. "You won't be getting away that easily," Cerberus laughed. "You were suppose to die later but I think you can die right now." With a mere thought he created a set of 5 ice spears and sent the racing at the young terrified teenager.
Sesshomaru moved quickly to protect his ward but found his path swiftly blocked. "I don't think so," Cerberus said as he collided with the taiyoukai sending him careening off course and out of range of the girl.
&&&&&
Rin, who had closed her eyes when she saw the attack directed at her, slowly opened them. This did nothing to help as all she saw was darkness. The only thing that surprised her was that she didn't feel cold, in fact, she felt warm.
"Are…you… alright?" a slow stuttering voice came. Rin recognized the voice. As she pulled her head away from his chest Rin could see Kohaku shielding her. "I didn't … want you to … get hurt," he stuttered out more.
Rin could only nod her head in reply. The boy had protected her at the cost of his own life. "Ko…"
"Are both of you unhurt?" came another voice. Rin poked out and could see Kagura barely standing in front of Kohaku. "Well are you?"
"I'm okay," Rin said.
Kohaku looked himself over. He hadn't even been thinking when he protected Rin. The pain had never even registered in his mind. He had just accepted the fact that he would probably die protecting her and never realized that he was never hit. "I don't have any injuries."
"Well that's good," Kagura said as she collapsed to her knees. She pushed her hand onto her chest to stop the bleeding but it wasn't stopping.
"Miss Kagura, we have to get you out of here, so that we can tend to your wounds," Rin said refusing to accept the obvious.
"No can do kid. You know as well as I that there's no getting up from this one."
"You can't die. Lord Sesshomaru can do something, I'm sure of it," Rin said
"Not right now he can't. Not with Cerberus still there," Kagura said as they watched the two exchange blows. "Kohaku, get her out of here, I don't care if you have to drag her. Just make sure you protect her."
"I will. Thank you, Miss Kagura. I was willing to die before," Kohaku said honestly.
"And when you feel that special about someone, that's worth protecting," Kagura said. "I'm glad you two are safe."
Rin couldn't even bare a thank you as Kohaku pulled her away. Rin didn't want to leave the wind sorceress there.
Kagura talked in a small whisper that almost no one could hear but that didn't matter to her. She only intended for one person to hear her. "I'm sorry to disappoint you yet again. It seems I wasn't strong enough to make it through this battle. Doesn't matter to me, maybe I was too weak to see this battle through, but for some reason its comforting to know you're here when I die. My death is worth something. I was able to protect people worth protecting but that's not all," Kagura said as she slowly pulled a small object out of her hair. "I guess you could say its my gift to you before I go, just do yourself a favor, don't get caught by it."
Kagura opened the small fan that she had kept hidden within her hair. She channeled all her remaining energy including her life energy into the fan. With the last of her effort she swung the fan towards Cerberus, "FUUJIN NO MAI (DANCE OF BLADES)!" she screamed as the attacked roared towards the demon. "Now die, you bastard." And with that Kagura landed on the ground, dead.
&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#&#
Didn't I make a comment last time about people that hated cliff hangers were going to despise me once again? Tabycat, I find it kind of interesting what you pointed out and what I had planned. You must have been psychic. Well I wish there was more I could say here but I think I'd rather run for my life at this point (well that and get some sleep finally, its 6:30 AM and I haven't slept yet)
Join me next time for:
Chapter 63: Loose Ends (I really wanted to call it Life for a Life, but this one sounds better, even though it isn't as suspenseful)
PS - I"m really getting pissed at fanfiction(.)net cause they keep removing a bunch of my punctuation. Anyone else getting mad at this?