Note: I've been getting a lot of people saying that Sesshomaru is OOC, and I realize that. But it's too late for me to change him because I already developed his character that way…sorry! You'll just have to live with it I guess.
Chapter 7
Kagura writhed on the floor, enduring the sharp pains of her heart being crushed in Naraku's palm.
"Naraku…you…son of a…" Kagura snarled in between gasps for breath.
Naraku's head grinned hideously, and then flew into the air to attach itself to the body once more. Heart still in hand, he gave it a final squeeze and sucked it back in, then took Kagura's motionless body into himself.
"Traitor. Ever since she was born from me I questioned her liability" said Naraku, sucking in the last of Kagura's hair. "Anyone else?" he asked, and his eyes met Kikyo's.
"Do what you want with me" Kikyo said, now sitting beside Inuyasha's body and running her fingers through his sleek white hair.
Sesshomaru's heart prickled with jealousy at the sight. Why does she hang around that pathetic brother of mine? What does he have that I'm missing?
"So Kikyo, you have given up all hope of living now that your lover is dead, eh?" Naraku sneered. He stepped closer to her, smiling widely.
Kikyo remained silent and continued to stroke Inuyasha's hair, despite Naraku's fierce glare upon her. Naraku was right. She had no will to live; the one thing she had hung around for all this time was gone.
Sesshomaru realized his chance now that Naraku was distracted, and he dove down for the Tenseiga. The sword's handle flew straight into his grasp, almost as though there were some magnetic force controlling it. Now reunited with his long lost weapon, Sesshomaru felt as though a missing part of himself had been returned.
"Naraku, your little game is getting quite tiresome" said Sesshomaru.
Naraku turned his full attention on the youkai lord, grinning most maliciously. "You think so? But that was only the beginning of my fun."
"Ha! This is probably the most dull encounter I've ever faced. You disappoint me, Naraku. I guess you are just a sad patchwork of demon flesh after all" Sesshomaru sneered.
All of a sudden, before Naraku could make a vicious come-back, there was a loud crack of thunder and the whole temple shook. Wood from the walls splintered, and some floorboards snapped. Kikyo looked up just in time to see the floor above them fly off into the sky, since the roof had also disappeared.
"What?" Naraku exclaimed in shock. "But…my miasma…"
Up above them was a huge and menacing looking vortex, colored a deep shade of violet. Deep in it's core was a massive black hole, devouring everything that got sucked up into it. Sesshomaru braced himself to be blown away, but oddly enough, nothing happened. However, powerful winds ripped at Naraku's body, pulling off his baboon fur and exposing his bare skin. He latched himself to ground with his forever extending demon arms in an attempt to stay earthbound. Sesshomaru, Kikyo, Rin and Kagome (who had been hiding in the corner sobbing) watched from the sidelines as Naraku fought against the ever growing storm. As his demon strength began to weaken and he realized that there was no escape, he let go with one arm and wrapped it around Kikyo. Naraku was then ripped from the ground, and Kikyo went with him. Kikyo's expression was blank, as though she were in a trance. Nothing mattered to her anymore; she felt so depressed and alone. The swirling mass in the sky came closer and closer, and the winds began to blow with more ferocity. At first it seemed as though Kikyo was going to let herself be swept away without a fight, but then her mind suddenly switched on and her eyes snapped down to see the illuminated face of a beautiful, long-haired man…
Oh my god! What am I thinking? I can't die like this! Kikyo cried in her mind. Luckily she had never let go of her bow and arrow, which was still firmly in her grasp. Naraku's arms tightened around her.
"Come with me to hell" he cackled hysterically in a voice that sounded very unlike himself.
Kikyo's eyes burned furiously. "I didn't get resurrected to die with you! Go to hell alone you bastard!"
Down below, Sesshomaru had drawn his Tokijin and was ready to attack when suddenly there was a flash of bright light, then a bow and arrow dropped to the ground, followed by a limp, slender body. Naraku let out a final roar of despair before being completely sucked up by the vortex. The strong demon aura that had surrounded them only moments earlier immediately disintegrated, and the winds ceased. The enormous vortex swirled in a mélange of colors, then disappeared almost as swiftly as it had come. The darkened skies slowly lightened, and rays of sunshine peeked through the parting clouds. Sesshomaru scanned the area, noting that the storm had wiped out almost the entire temple and everything within a 5 mile radius. Kikyo and Rin's bodies lay in crumpled heaps, coincidentally side by side. Kagome was nowhere to be seen. Sesshomaru strode over, slung Rin over one shoulder and Kikyo over the other. Then, without the slightest expression of emotion, he summoned a floating cloud and took off, leaving behind the devastation that had once been Naraku's temple.
………………………………..
Rin's lifeless body lay sprawled out in the soft grass, which blew delicately in the warm breeze. Sesshomaru stood over her, casting a tall shadow on the ground.
I see them. The creatures of the underworld he thought, unsheathing his blade of revival. With one stroke, he sliced the creatures in half, and they immediately dispersed. Rin's eyes blinked open, and she sat up in a flash.
"Wow" she said, then turned to see Sesshomaru standing there. "Oh, Lord Sesshomaru!"
Rin sauntered cheerfully beside him, as though nothing had happened. Sesshomaru knew that the shikon shard had affected her memory. He turned away from her and stared out at the lush fields that surrounded them from the hilltop. Something doesn't feel right he thought. That vortex…it just suddenly appeared, as if its sole purpose was to devour Naraku. Almost as if it had a mind of its own…
Sesshomaru's contemplations were unexpectedly interrupted by the sight of a priestess standing below, her tattered kimono hanging off her body and the souls of the dead surrounding her. Sesshomaru stared at the back of her head, for some odd reason yearning for her to turn around so he could set eyes upon her pure and delicate face. Ever since he met her, he had been playing with his emotions. Every look from her gave him a new sensation to deal with, causing him to feel overwhelmed. He couldn't be in love…could the great Sesshomaru fall for a woman? And a mortal at that!
Rin followed Sesshomaru's gaze and noticed Kikyo. "Lord Sesshomaru, who is that lady down there?" she asked with utmost curiosity.
Sesshomaru hesitated for a moment before responding. "Why don't you find out for yourself."
Rin descended the hill eagerly and skipped towards Kikyo. Why is she so…happy? Sesshomaru wondered, watching her approach the priestess.
"Um…hey there! I'm Rin. What's your name? Who are you? How do you know Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked all at once, forgetting her manners.
Kikyo turned to see who was speaking to her and gasped when she saw Rin. "You're…you're alive?" she said incredulously.
"I don't remember ever dying" Rin said confusedly, concentrating hard on trying to remember a time when she died.
"I don't…understand" Kikyo murmured softly.
"Oh yeah! I was attacked by wolves. Is that what you mean?" Rin suddenly exploded, recalling her first near-death experience.
"No…that's not…"
"Yeah, it was pretty scary. But then Lord Sesshomaru came and revived me with his Tenseiga! Now we travel everywhere together. Like family" Rin continued chattily. "Hmm…I wonder what happened to Lord Jaken? Maybe he went to find something to eat. He's always stuffing his face."
Sesshomaru snorted. Like family? This girl misunderstands our relationship.
"You don't remember anything about Naraku's temple, do you Rin?" Kikyo asked.
"Naraku? Oh, he's a bad dude. That's what Sesshomaru says."
"I guess not." Kikyo heaved a sigh and sat down in the grass. "So you and Sesshomaru get along pretty well then, huh?"
"Yup. He could be like, my wise old grandpa."
Hey! I'm not that god damn old! Sesshomaru swore in his head.
A smile danced across Kikyo's lips at Rin's response. She's so loyal to him...there must be more to this youkai lord than meets the eye.
………………………………….
Meanwhile back at the ruins of Naraku's castle, Inuyasha's body still lay lifeless and cold and in the same place he had fallen. But there was something else…a lump of flesh with the mark of a spider on it also remained, and it started to move. It crawled on the ground until reaching Inuyasha, then slid into his robes and consumed him…