Chapter 22: Ultimate Battle
The scene looked straight from a movie. Rain pelted the ground, coming down in heavy sheets. The ground was thick with mud and water, making their shoes stick as they ran. Trees danced a frightful sway in the swirling winds. Leaves were ripped from their branches and were being taken with the wind throughout the forest. The sky was an ominous churning of gray clouds. They blocked out the sun causing a dark shadow to fall across the land.
But the group... they ran through it all with a fire burning in their eyes. Their will and determination shone like a bright light in the cruel darkness. And with each step their hearts grew in strength because each of them knew this was the day they were waiting for. This was the moment they were to have their vengeance against the creature that has ruined so many lives.
Kagome was running next to Sesshoumaru, who seemed to be gliding with ease at keeping up with the human's slow pace. Her black hair stuck to her pale ivory face as the rain drops gracefully rolled down the sides of her cheeks. She glanced up at Sesshoumaru and still marveled at the fact he was next to her, ready to fight with her, ready to defend her.
Ready to protect her, his mate.
Life had taken an unexpected turn. For so long she thought Inuyasha would finally come around and proclaim his love for her. But fate had a way of bringing about the unexpected. Her journey had taken a different path. One that led her straight into Sesshoumaru's arms.
Even now Kagome smirked at the way it was in the beginning. Always fighting, and when they weren't fighting Sesshoumaru was giving her the silent treatment. It seemed like the pair was heading for disaster until something changed in them.
As memories floated around in her head, Kagome got a sinking feeling in her heart. That after today life wouldn't be the same. And with that feeling came something else, a black hole in her heart at the thought of losing Sesshoumaru. It was something she didn't think she could bear.
Bringing herself out of her pensive nature, Kagome realize they were close, so very close at reaching the castle. Pushing her legs harder, Kagome brought her mind fully on the present. Everything else would just have to wait now.
Because now it was time... to fight.
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They arrived at the castle, the forest immediately parted to reveal a barren land. And unsettling sight of purple miasma filled the land, making it murky and gloomy.
"This is as far as we can go, but we won't be too far away." Haruka said as Tsuki gave Kagome a hug. "You are strong, my dear." Haruka said and then vanished along with Tsuki.
The group turned to the castle. A figure stepped out of the large wooden doors. It was undoubtedly Naraku.
"So, I finally have what I've been so strategically avoiding. An encounter with all my enemies. Sango, Miroku, Kouga, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru and... Kagome..." His eyes lingered on her body; lustfully he gazed at her, his smile twisting as sick fantasies swirled in his mind.
"Looks like you've been injured pretty bad there, Naraku. Why don't you let me use my healing powers and fix that up?" Kagome hissed as she gestured towards his wound. "Better yet, why not let me purify all of you. I know you're ridden with disgraceful diseases."
"Spoken boldly from a wench who's about to watch her friends die." Naraku crooned at her.
"You're mistaken, Naraku. You're not my friend and I'm going to enjoy watching you die." She bit back.
"You know that spirit is why I crave you." Naraku said seductively.
"Go to hell." Kagome spat.
Throughout the exchange the group had slowly been making their way towards the castle. Rain was now the only thing that could be heard. Finally Naraku turned his attention on everyone else.
"You advance on me like I have no clue what you're doing. But you see I've anticipated your arrival and I have made my own plans. Observe!" He lifted his hand and out of the ground popped six puppets, one in front of each group member. They were all identical, matching in baboon skins with brown dirt like tentacles coming from their bottoms.
Instantly swords were drawn and fighting stances were in place. Kagome lifted her bow and began to shoot. Sango swung her boomerang as she flew overhead on Kirara's back.
"These are the worse we have ever fought!" Kagome was breathless as she used her bow to block a tentacle from hitting her. Turning her body she stabbed it with the arrow she held in her hand.
"They keep regenerating!" Inuyasha exclaimed in dismay.
"Kagome do you see any shards in them?" Miroku asked as he used his staff to smack a puppet good.
Kagome's eyes roamed over the puppets but saw no shards inside of them. "No!" Kagome cried with fury. "I have no idea how they are regenerating themselves!"
Sesshoumaru was dodging the attackers with ease. They were no match for him. Swinging the Tokijin, his puppet was having a hard time regenerating itself so quickly. Throughout the battle, Sesshoumaru kept an eye on Kagome. She seemed to be growing weary, but her fire had only begun to burn.
She met his eyes with a look of reassurance before stabbing her puppet once more.
Sesshoumaru turned his attention back on his foe. It was indeed odd to him that they were able to fight so well without the help of shikon shards. His eyes caught a gleam of something. Was it just rain? No there it went again! It was thread, he followed it to Naraku. And in Naraku's hands were six shards, each having a thread attached to it. A thread that went back to the puppets.
Of course! He knew Kagome could sense the shards and therefore he wouldn't put them in the puppets because Naraku knew full well that Sesshoumaru could get them with ease, so he kept them with him, allowing them to supply the puppets with energy from a distance.
Sesshoumaru swung at his puppet and then in a flash he was at Kagome's side.
"Watch the area behind the puppets." He said in a low tone as he helped her fight.
"What about it?" She searched the area and then saw a gleam. Thread? It was then Kagome realized Naraku's trickery. "What should we do?" She asked.
"I'll fight your puppet; you take an arrow and cut through the strings." Sesshoumaru ordered.
"But how can I do that when I don't see any?" Kagome asked, exasperated.
"Use your miko instincts. The thread is supplying negative energy. Close your earthly eyes and use the miko ones." He stepped in front of her and began fighting his puppet and hers.
"Easier said than done, youkai." Kagome huffed and then held her bow and arrow. Closing her eyes she let out all thoughts and concentrated on the energy. In her mind's eye she saw each thread with dark swirling mist around them. Kagome opened her eyes and she saw the same thing. Smiling at her accomplishment she aimed and then let her arrow fly.
Hit! The threads broke causing the puppets to lose their power and within seconds they were all destroyed.
"Very good." Naraku stood and clapped. "But now you have a bigger challenge." Naraku stepped into the rain and walked towads the group. He was still a ways away when he smirked at them and said, "Me."
Taking the jewel from around his neck, he merge the six shards back with the large black shikon no tama. "And Sango, just so you know, your brother's shard is in here."
Sango stared vacantly at Naraku. "I lost my brother the day me and my family went to fight at what we thought was your castle." Her voice was distance and shallow.
"Right. Behold, the shikon no tama." He said triumphantly.
"Actually you're missing three shards Naraku." Kagome pointed out.
"A minor setback, my pet." Naraku took the ball off its chain and then swallowed it. "Prepare yourself, my foes, for your death!" As he shouted his form began to change. His shirt ripped off as a tornado of dark dust surrounded his body.
Faster and faster the tornado spun against the winds from the rain. And soon Kagome could only make out a mere shadow of Naraku. But she watched as that shadow changed. Larger he grew, and his body became disfigured. Kagome couldn't tell what was happening to him, but she continued to watch silently as everyone else did.
The tornado exploded with force as the winds went in different directions. Kagome had to shield her eyes against the oncoming wind for it made the rain hit her face like pointy needles. As everything settled, she slowly dropped her arm and gaped at what was before her.
It was Naraku, but then again it wasn't. The head and upper torso was undoubtedly Naraku's but it was attached to a huge spider body. It was a purple and black spider and the fangs from Naraku's mouth dripped with acid.
"Oh darn, I left my bug repellent at home." Kagome spat sarcastically. "Oh well, I'll just have to exterminate you with my own weapon." She held up and arrow and let it fly.
But his barrier repelled it. Battle broke lose. Everyone began to charge at Naraku with everything they had. Naraku would swing his legs at them, and then spat venom from his fangs. It burned a hole where ever it landed.
No one could get a clean hit on Naraku. He laughed at their futile attempts. Kagome held out and arrow and ran towards the monster from behind. Naraku, sensing her attack, swung around and hit her before she hit him. Her tiny body flew back and hit a tree.
Then everything went black.
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Haruka and Tsuki were watching the battle from the fountain. Tsuki's hand covered her mouth as she watched Kagome helplessly hit the tree, and then being knocked unconscious.
"We have to help them!" Haruka cried.
"You know we can't! I shouldn't be the one having to tell you, Miss level-headed Haruka! You know the rules more than me!" Tsuki said, but couldn't help feeling the same way.
"There has to be something we can do!" Haruka said desperately.
"Wait... who's that walking towards Kagome?" Tsuki peered in the fountain more closely. A faint spirit of a person was gliding it seemed like, to the unconscious miko under the tree. And the figure strongly resembled Kagome although Tsuki couldn't see her face.
"Could it be...?" Haruka gasped in amazement.
"Is it possible...?" Tsuki said with the same awe in her voice.
The spirit laid a hand on Kagome's head and then disappeared. "IT'S MIDORIKO!"
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Sesshoumaru had seen Naraku hit Kagome into a tree, and it just fueled his anger at the hanyou even more. Fighting with a new passion, he was going to kill this son of a bitch once and for all.
Inuyasha had seen it too, and even though he and Kagome were on fragile terms, it also ignited a spark of burning anger that grew ten folds more. To say the least, Sango and Miroku and Kouga felt the same.
They fought on, stronger now, and more determined than ever.
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Kagome's eyes fluttered open. "Ugh..." She moaned. "Did I die?" She looked around and saw she was in a white room or it seemed like it was a room. It was blinding white, with a thick fog floating around the room. And before her was a maiden standing at a fountain. The same fountain the fairies had. The one with the weeping statue.
"Not quite." The maiden responded. She slowly turned around and Kagome gasped at what she saw.
It was her. But not really her. They both shared the same sapphire eyes, the same mouth, the same nose, but this maiden was wore a warrior's outfit, her hair up and tied, her arms and legs strong and ready for war. And yet there was sorrow in her eyes. She seemed like a spirit. And Kagome felt her aura was sad. She looked battle worn and weary.
"I am Midoriko." She stated and Kagome gasped.
"The miko of the shikon no tama!" Kagome said.
"Yes." She said softly.
"Then you can help me! Naraku has it now, I'm fighting a battle and I need to get it back. I need to purify it but my powers aren't strong enough to break through his barrier." Kagome explained and the maiden smiled. It was a pained smile. As if Midoriko was the one in pain.
"Now they are. I'm with you. Now that you hold three shards, I am able to faintly lend you my powers. You see, I'm trapped in the shikon no tama with the souls of the demons I could not defeat. But you must release us, and together we'll destroy your foe... and mine." She said softly, Kagome could see her slowly fading in and out.
"But how?" Kagome wondered.
"Use your arrow. This time it'll work for I am with you. Place your shards into your arrow and aim for the shikon no tama. Once you fire clasp your hands together and say...junshin, seijun, seisui, iki!"
"I understand." Kagome said.
"We will meet again. We have much to talk about." Midoriko's lips tried to form a smile, but instead of joyful, it was another smile twisted with pain. Midoriko disappeared.
The room faded and then everything went black...
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Kagome blinked her eyes open. It took awhile for her vision to focus. But once it did she realized where she was. Her foggy mind cleared instantly and she remembered her task.
Beside her was her bow and arrow neatly laying on the ground. Kagome grabbed it and her eyes turned on the battle.
Sesshoumaru was the first one to catch her eye. He was about to say something, but Naraku was facing him, and his back was on Kagome. If he shouted 'Just stay out of the battle' now, Naraku would turn around and see Kagome standing there with her arrow, reading to hit him.
However if he remained silent, maybe Kagome could continue with the surprise attack that he assumed she was doing. And so, Sesshoumaru decided to keep his mouth shut. He trusted Kagome to know what she was doing. He gave all of his focus on Naraku now, making sure his back stayed to Kagome.
Kagome grabbed the shikon shards and infused them with the tip of her arrow. Looking at Naraku Kagome saw that the shikon no tama was in his chest. She needed him to turn around. Holding her arrow up, she yelled, "NARAKU!"
'So much for the surprise attack, Kagome.' Sesshoumaru inwardly remarked. But as he turned to Kagome, what he saw took him by surprise. It must have done the same for everyone else, for the battle had stopped.
Naraku slowly turned around to see Kagome. She was standing next to the tree, soaked, rain still falling heavily on her drenched body and yet there was something unearthly about her. Her voice didn't sound like herself. Naraku saw her arrow pointed to the shikon no tama. And there was something about her stance with it that made him afraid.
Naraku was utterly afraid.
"Do you honestly think you can hit me?" Naraku screamed out at her. "Look how far away you are." It was true, Naraku had knocked her back into the forest. "Even without my barrier I can dodge it." Naraku said with a sneer.
"Naraku." Kagome yelled his name with such hate that it frightened everyone (Except Sesshoumaru, for he was never frightened). "It's payback, bitch." She let the arrow fly. Immediately she dropped her bow and clasped her hands together. "JUNSHIN!" Naraku's eyes widened. He tried to move but his legs were frozen to the ground. "SEIJUN!" A white fire surrounded the arrow. "SEISUI!" Kagome yelled as it hit Naraku's barrier and destroyed it with ease.
And as the tip of the arrow touched the shikon no tama Kagome yelled, "IKI!"
What happened next was like slow motion. The shards from the arrow imbedded with the shikon no tama, making it pure again. The arrow had pierce through the jewel, but instead of breaking it, the arrow opened it.
Demons of the past exploded from it, along with Midoriko who appeared next to Kagome. Her spirit went inside Kagome and suddenly a white sword appear in Kagome's hand. In an instant, Kagome knew what to do. She ran into the mass of demons, sword swinging and destroyed them all.
Naraku had been purified the instant the arrow hit the shikon no tama and was forever destroyed. His spawns, Kagura and Kanna were destroyed as well. His castle vaporized into nothing. The barren land it was on became instantly filled with grass.
Once the task was done, the rain stopped and the clouds rolled anyway. Kagome stood in the middle of a deserted field, her friends not to far away had watched the whole scene happen. They too were unable to move, unable to help, for it was a task only Midoriko and reincarnation could do. And now they ran to her, for they were finally able to move.
Kagome stood and watched the clouds roll away. She could hear the footsteps of her friends approaching. "We won." She said softly as her eyes fluttered close.
And then once again, everything went black.
End of Chapter
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Moonchild: WHOO-WHEE! I tell you what everyone, I'm glad I got that chapter done. I hate battle chapters; I'm not that good at them, whatever. So I bet you're all wondering where the hell I was.
Inuyasha: You bet right, MC.
Moonchild: I was sick. And not just your little cough-cough sick, I was bedridden sick. For awhile too. It was bad. There was a lot of vomiting...
Yasei-hana: Ok why must you say that? Honestly the word 'vomit' is such a grotesque word! Can't you use something else?
Inuyasha: Like upchucking?
Yasei-hana: NO!
Moonchild: Hurling?
Yasei-hana: NOO!
Inuyasha: Puking?
Yasei-hana: Ok just stop.
Moonchild: Why are you even here Yasei!
Yasei-hana: You asked me to come and help you with the quest! You know the quest to find the star couple?
Moonchild: Oh right! Yeah. Where are those two? Anyways before we leave I just want to say that I'm sorry it took so long for me to update, but I had missed a lot of school and I had to catch up with that first. Now I'm healthy and happy and ready to finish the fic, which will be ending soon. In about three to four chapters. Its sad, I know, but we'll survive. Anyways please send a review! But no flames! They make me ill.