Chapter 23 Tricks, tricks and more tricks
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A/N:
Thank you all for reviewing and continuing along with this story this far. I know it wasn't too good to begin with….But I think I have gotten better as the story had gone along. So thank you, you guys!
HopelesslyEscaflowne- Yay! Thanks! I'm happy you like it!
Berii-Yeah me too. I just got tired of waiting…sorry.
Sango17-It makes me happy to hear you liked it. I got the next chapter up as soon as I could!
heavens lil cherry-Thanks for your review! I have posted my newest story up! YAY! So please read it and tell me what you think!
andrea10011992- Okay well when you get it going let me know. Thanks for reviewing!
angel61991- Well thank you so much for reviewing!
How is it that I always get my chapters up sooner than I thought? I guess I just never know what my muse is going to hit me! It just happens and when I start typing I just can't stop!
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Kagome took two steps inside Naraku's hideout before Inuyasha suddenly disappeared from her side. She turned around but he was no where to be seen. Her friends were also gone! "INUYASHA! TESSA! SANGO! SHIPPO! MIROKU! TAKASHI! KOGA! SESSHOMARU! Where are you guys!" Kagome spun around frantically searching for everyone. She hoped they were safe and that Naraku hadn't hurt them. She also noticed she was now somehow in a largely wooded area. She began to run, not really thinking. Her only thought was she had to find them. She had to find them now before it was too late!
She stopped running when the forest suddenly ended revealing a lush, green field. Flowers she hardly noticed reached her ankles. What the? What was going on? In the back of her mind she knew this was just another one of Naraku's tricks, but it all just seemed too real. The grass beneath her now, somehow bear feet felt like well real grass. It tickled and scratched her toes. She picked up a flower and brought it up to her nose. It smelled real. How could all of this be an illusion? To her at this moment, it just didn't seem possible.
She slid to the ground confused. For a few minutes she just sat there, her head in her hands. She was on the verge of tears when she heard Inuyasha's voice. "I will destroy you, Naraku!"
Kagome immediately jumped to her feet. She saw Inuyasha running towards Naraku, facing an imminent death. He seemed oblivious to his fate. Around him she saw her friends lying motionless on the ground. Dead. She just knew it. Her worst fear had come true. They had all been killed by the cruel hanyou, Naraku. And now Inuyasha was about to die right before her very eyes! She watched on as he ran towards Naraku, Tetsusaiga ready for attack. When he was just a few feet from Naraku he swung his blade preparing to attack with his Wind Scar. But he didn't move quickly enough. In that second Naraku shot forth one of his tentacles and forced it straight through Inuyasha's heart. Gasping Inuyasha fell to the ground face first.
"NO!" Kagome screamed. "Inuyasha NO!" She ran towards him and knelt by his side. Gently she flipped him onto his back. He was still alive, but just barely. She positioned him so his head was resting on her lap, just like the day she had done when she first discovered his most guarded secret. The day of the new moon, when he becomes a human. That was the first day she had cried for him, like she was now. "Inuyasha you baka! What were you thinking!" Kagome choked out through her tears. (Here I go again with the drama!)
"Kagome." Inuyasha rasped, reaching his hand out to touch her cheek. Kagome leaned into his hand, noticing how cold it now feels. "Never forget me, okay?"
Kagome reached up and took his hand in hers. "Inuyasha you are not going to die! You are going to be okay! Please don't talk like that!" Kagome started crying harder. "Please. We can make it through this. I can get you help! I can take you back to my time where we have better medical equipment!"
"Just please promise me this, just in case I do die, promise you will always love me and never forget me." Inuyasha said his breathing beginning to slow. "Just promise me."
"Okay. I promise." Kagome said reluctantly. "I will always love you."
Inuyasha smiled weakly. His eyes glazed over as if he was no longer seeing her. "Kagome! I can see her! I can see my mother! My father is with her too!" His eyes turned back to Kagome. "They want me to come with them!"
"No Inuyasha! You can't leave me! You have to stay here with me! I need you!" Kagome began shaking violently. "Please stay with me!"
"Kagome I have to. It's my time." He said in a small voice. "I love you….." His eyes slowly closed and his hand became limp in hers.
"Inuyasha!" She cried. She let it all come out. How could she let this happen? Her friends, her cousin, her mate….she let them all die. It was all her fault! "Inuyasha, please come back to me! I can't live without you!" She felt her heart beginning to break. Finally something in her snapped. She spun around wanting to take out all her anger on one being, Naraku. But when she turned around he wasn't there!
"Naraku!" She screamed! "You coward! You kill all my friends and don't even have the courage to fight me!" She fell to the ground sobbing. She clutched her chest in pain. Her heart felt like it was breaking into a million tiny peaces. All was lost. She had no reason to continue to live. No want to continue to live. She would be happy to end her life here and join Inuyasha in the heavens.
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Koga was walking behind Kagome and Inuyasha when they suddenly disappeared. Where had they gone? He followed after them and found himself suddenly outside his cave. The very cave where his pack resided. How had he gotten back here? Had Naraku done this to him? But why?
He entered the cave. Instantly the smell of blood reached his strong nose. His face scrunched up in repulsion, the smell was so strong and seemed to permeate throughout the air of the cave. He looked around him and saw his pack laying dead all around him. Blood coated their dead corpses. Whatever had happened, it had been a terrible battle. If only he had been here he would have been able to protect them!
Koga continued walking further and further into the cave. He saw many wolf pups unmercifully killed; He saw Ginta and Hakku also dead, their eyes staring at him as if they were blaming him for their deaths. And it was true. It was his fault they were not still alive now. He was the one to blame. His heart when out to his fallen comrades.
Finally he reached the end of the cave. Not one had survived. What ever had come through here had been strong enough to take out his entire pack! But what he saw at the back of the cave disturbed him the most. You would think seeing his whole pack lying dead would be the worst thing that could happen, but no. He saw Ayame lying on the ground, dead. Blood ran form the corner of her mouth; her eyes were blank and staring right at him.
"Ayame," He whispered stroking her blood encrusted red hair. "What happened to you? How could I let you die like this?" Without his realizing it, he began to cry. "I'm so sorry!" He pulled her towards him and held her allowing the tears to come more freely now. He didn't understand why this upset him so much. He just couldn't comprehend it. Then it all suddenly all became clear to him. "I love you Ayame. I'm so sorry I realized it too late."
He laid her body gently down and stood looking down at her. His mind was blank. Right now all he wanted to do, all he could do was cry. So he did. He cried and cried.
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Miroku suddenly found himself alone with Naraku. He thought it odd that everyone else had just disappeared. But at the moment he didn't have time to think about it. He glared at Naraku, readying himself for battle.
"What's wrong Miroku? You don't seem too happy to see me." Naraku laughed evilly, "I thought we were good friends."
"Stop fooling around Naraku! I'm tired of your games! It ends now!" Without thinking, Miroku began unwinding the prayer beads from around his cursed hand.
"Stop right there!" ordered Naraku. "You are forgetting something very important monk! I am the one who gave you that curse. You cannot use it against me!"
Suddenly an unbearable pain raced through Miroku's arm. "Arg!" Miroku mumbled clutching his wrist. His worst nightmare was coming true. His Kazanaa was getting bigger by the second! There was nothing he could do to stop it! He was a dead man!
'At least my Sango isn't here. She and the rest of the group will be safe from me, wherever they are!' As soon as the thought appeared in his head, Sango come running out of nowhere, followed by the rest of the gang.
"Miroku! What's going on! What's happened to you?" She asked running towards him.
"No! Stay away from me!" he shouted. Half his arm was already gone. "Get away before it's too late!"
"Miroku, your hand….He….Naraku…He's using your wind tunnel to kill you…." Sango stuttered. No one moved. It was as if they were paralyzed in there places.
"I said, get away from me!" But it was too late. He watched as first Sango and then his friends were sucked into the vortex quickly spreading up his arm. In mere seconds it would consume him as well.
His friends were gone. Killed by his very own hand. Literally. They were dead. He killed them! "Naraku, you bastard! You ruined everything!"
Naraku laughed at Miroku. "It was all in a day's fun!" And he left, leaving Miroku to die alone.
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It all happened so quickly Inuyasha didn't have time to react. One minute Kagome is standing beside him and the next she says she's leaving him! She was in Koga's arms kissing him like there was no tomorrow! At first he had been upset and confused. But then his anger took over.
"Kagome, what the hell are you doing!" He snapped.
Kagome sighed exasperated, "I told you already! Gosh pay attention! I realized you are wrong for me, Koga is who I want! He can provide for me so much better that you ever could! I'll get anything I'll ever want and need and plus I'll be the alpha female of the wolf demon tribe!" She squealed the last part like it was the best thing in the world. "So get over it already! You had me but you blew it! Your chance is over! Come on Koga baby, let's get going!"
"Sure thing, my love." Koga said pulling her closer to him.
"I don't think so, Kagome! You're my mate! You cannot leave me! I will not let you!" Inuyasha protested his eyes beginning to turn red.
"Since when! We never mated! We were going to but you ran off with Kikyo! That's when I realized who I really wanted!" Kagome crossed her arms.
"What! We killed Kikyo! She's dead!" Inuyasha said confused.
"I'm not dead! I'm right here!" Kikyo said suddenly appearing. "Don't you remember? That night…under the stars?" Kikyo placed her hand on his shoulder and tilted her head in a flirty manner.
"I don't know what the hell you are talking about, but it's all lies!" He turned to Kagome. "Don't believe her Kagome! I don't love her, I love you! Please, you gotta believe that!"
"I'm tired of your frequent lies, Inuyasha! I'm with Koga and you get Kikyo. You should be happy it was your decision! And I have made mine!" Kagome turned to Koga and smiled. "I'm going to spend the rest of my days with Koga!" She leaned towards Koga and kissed him. "Come on lets go! I'm tired of arguing with him!"
"Kagome, no!" Inuyasha reached for her but was stopped by Kikyo. "Let go!" He tried to yank his arm free but she seemed too strong!
"No! You don't need her. You've got me! Let her go with him!" Kikyo almost growled but the smile never left her face.
"I can't!" Inuyasha watched as Koga scooped Kagome bridal style in his arms and sped off in his usual whirlwind of dust, leaving Inuyasha behind with Kikyo. "No." He couldn't live without Kagome. She had become his world. And if he had to live in it without her, he didn't want to live at all!
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Takashi was all alone. Tessa was gone and so where the others. They had all left him. Somehow they had all lost trust in him. They thought he was the enemy. That he was just another one of Naraku's tricks. They thought he was working with Naraku! But he wasn't! It was all a lie! Why couldn't they believe him! He hadn't even met Naraku he absolutely hated him! What he had done… it disgusted him!
And yet, here he was again left wandering in this nothingness. Alone in the world once again. Was this how he was meant to live his life? With no one to love, or hold close to his heart? Normally this wouldn't have bothered him. But after meeting Tessa, that had all changed. They could have been something together. He knew he was developing feelings for her. Maybe even love. Who knows? And now…he'll never know. They were all gone…again.
He continued to walk in the nothingness that was now his life. He didn't know where he was or how he got here. This swirling gray mist was to be his new lonesome home. He would accept his fate. This is was the gods had given him.
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Shippo just didn't understand what was going on anymore. Somehow he and Kirira had gotten separated form the rest of the group. They had been walking for what seemed like hours with no sign of anybody.
"Don't worry, Kirira we'll find them." Said Shippo patting the neko demon on the head.
"Rowr!" Kirira agreed.
"Look!" Said Shippo, "There they are!" Together they ran towards their friends only to find them arguing.
"I'm tired of this Inuyasha! I'm going home for good this time! Come on Tessa!" Kagome shouted.
"Good riddance!" Inuyasha said walking in the other direction.
"When will you guys ever stop this stupid fighting! It never ends!" Miroku said angrily.
"Inuyasha is the one that starts it and he never apologizes!" said Sango crossing her arms. "You should be saying this to him! It's his fault they always argue!"
"Will you guys just stop this! There is no reason to shout like this!" Said Takashi trying to be the peace maker.
"You shut up!" They all said at once.
"Okay! I'm sorry! I was just trying to help!"
And they all started the argument again. In the end it ended with Kagome and Tessa going home through the well, Inuyasha walking off into the forest, Sango headed home to her village, Miroku went home to his mentor and Takashi just left to who knows where.
"Hey guys! What was that all about! Where are you all going?" Shippo called after them all. But it was like no one could here him, like he wasn't even there. "What about me?" He said in a small voice. He leaned against his only friend left, Kirira who began purring to comfort him as he cried.
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Tessa was so scared! She was all alone in Feudal Japan! She didn't know how to defend herself like everyone else. She hadn't spent times learning to training to better use her special gifts like everyone else. They knew what to expect around here. What if he got attacked by a demon? Takashi was no where to be seen! So he wasn't going to be able to help!
Somehow once she took no more than two paces inside Naraku's hideout she had been separated form everyone and transported into the forest! All she wanted was to find her friends before she got herself killed!
She was paranoid of every little noise she heard. A bird chirping in a tree, the leaves blowing in the wind, any noise she heard caused her heart to beat faster. There was just something too eerie about all this that was going on.
She continued walking becoming more and more frantic. Soon the trees around her began to look like monsters with dark horrid faces. The branches looked like long clawed arms. Tessa quickened her pace and ran faster and faster. She began to hear terrifying howls and ear piercing screeches coming from behind her. Something was chasing her! Faster and faster she ran until her foot caught on a protruding stone and she fell. Hard. She cried out in pain.
Without wasting another second she was on her feet and running again. Whatever was chasing her was not going to get her without a fight! She ran for awhile when she noticed everything had gone quiet. But she didn't slow her pace, in fact she ran even faster. She glanced behind her and saw nothing but a blur of green.
Before she even had time to react something shot out and grabbed her by the ankle. "NO!" She screamed as she fell. It wrapped around her body and began to squeeze her to death. She tried to fight it off but it was too strong for her. Her breathing became labored and all she could think about was how she was going to die here alone, without even saying a goodbye to her family! And the worst part was not even seeing Takashi again. This adventure for her was over before it had even started!
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Sesshomaru wasn't fooled by Naraku's tricks. He couldn't make this Sesshomaru fall as easily as he assumed the others had. Such weaklings they all were. They let their emotions get in the way of the task at hand. Just like his father had done and what happened to him? He got himself killed! But This Sesshomaru would learn form his father's mistakes. He would not show such weakness!
Naraku had tried to trick him with the death of Rin, but it didn't work. Sesshomaru was much smarter than that. He knew for a fast that Rin was safe and with Jaken. Plus "Rin" had reeked of foul magic. Baka Naraku. When would he learn, that this Sesshomaru does not like to be played. Naraku was only postponing the inevitable. His death! Today he would die and there was just nothing he could do about it!
But, Sesshomaru sighed, he probably should go search for his brother and his weak companions. He may need them to distract Naraku and his incarnate slaves. It would be unwise for him to let them die without using them to his advantage.
So he trudged onward, following the somewhat distressed sent of his brother. 'Weak! How can he not see that this is a trap set by that bastard Naraku!' Sesshomaru thought disgusted to call him his brother.
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Suddenly Sango was back home in the village she grew up in, the village that had been destroyed so long ago by a horde of demons. But the village didn't look like it had been destroyed. It looked…Normal, like nothing had ever happened.
"Sango!" called a voice she thought she would never hear again.
"Father!" Sango turned and ran into his arms.
Her father chuckled and hugged his daughter back. "What has gotten into you, silly girl! Come on we have a job to take care of!" He grabbed her hand and led her into their hut.
Sango stood in the doorway as he gathered his demon slaying supplies. Sango they couldn't go on this job. They would all die! "Father!" she said. He stopped what he was doing and listened. "Why don't we just skip this job and let someone else do it?"
"What has gotten into you today, Sango? You know we are the best for the job! And we need the money!" Her father said telling his daughter she had no choice in the matter.
"But Father!"
"No buts!" her Father stopped her from continuing. "We are doing this exterminations whether you want to or not!"
Things went by so fast after that. Before she knew is she and her family of demon slayers were at the home of the lord that needed the demon exterminated. This is where it all happened! The place where they all died! Sango just stood there unable to do anything. She was frozen in fear. She knew no matter what she did she wouldn't be able to stop them. Their minds were set.
She watched on as her brother once again killed their father and the he himself was killed. "NO!" she ran to his side and sly beside him, her own woods causing her much discomfort but she ignored the pain. She lay down beside her brother and cried. This couldn't be real! How was this happening again! Why was this happening again! It just wasn't fair! None of it was! This is what had fueled her hatred for that retched demon Naraku! But now she didn't have the strength to fight him!
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Ayame finally caught up to Koga. She came across a large hut that reeked of a strong demonic aura. She knew an aura as strong as this could only belong to one person; Naraku. And Koga's scent trail went right into the aura! She had to go after him! She just knew it in her heart that he was in danger! She had to get in there and save him! What was it with males and never thinking before they did something as stupid as this? They always had to be macho and tough!
Not wasting another second Ayame raced inside the fortress as fast as her demon legs could carry her. She was on a mission, a mission to find her future dimwitted mate! One day he would see how perfect and right she was for him, one day. She followed his sent and her heart beat quickened. She could sense he was in distress but not harmed. Now she was confused. What had happened?
She found him kneeling on the ground holding something and he seemed to be crying over it. Was he seeing something that she wasn't? And then he spoke.
"I love you Ayame. I'm so sorry I realized it too late."
Ayame could here the tears in his voice. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did he just say he loved her? She couldn't believe it! Without really thinking she slowly began to walk towards him as he stood and continued to stare at the ground. She wanted to confront him and see if his words were true.
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Naraku watched from Kanna's mirror, as each youkai, hanyou and human fell for his trap. All of them that is, except Sesshomaru and that girl Ayame. They were the ones that were gonna cause the problems! He would put an end to them now! "Kagura!" He called for his incarnate sharply.
"Yes master?" Kagura stepped forward waiting for her lord's orders. Evidently he didn't like something he saw in Kanna's mirror and was using her to take care of it. How expendable she always seemed to be!
"I want you and that boy Kohaku to take care of Sesshomaru and that female wolf demon. They are trying to ruin my plans and I will not stand for it! You will destroy them or you better not come back alive!" Naraku threatened.
"As you wish." Kagura nodded and left the room. How could he treat her so! She had served him and done everything she ever asked of him! Sure she did try to escape once…Maybe he was not getting her back for that. And now she had to do the one thing she hoped she would have never had too; kill Sesshomaru.
She walked outside and found the boy, Kohaku sharpening his weapon. "Come on runt! On Naraku's orders we are to kill Sesshomaru and the female wolf demon!"
Kohaku nodded and climbed onto her feather. Together they flew into the air searching for their targets. Neither spoke a word. They just wanted to do their job and get it over with.
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Wow. I think that is the longest chapter I have ever written! Over 4,000 words and 10 pages! For me that is extremely good! I never thought I would be able to have a chapter be this long! I hope you all liked it! Only about 2 to 3 more chapters are left! I know it's hard to believe! At least it is for me! I never thought I would ever have a story be this long! I know there are some that are like 50 chapters but this one is long for me.
It took me two days working about three hours a day to write this chapter! I put a lot of thought into it. I hope it shows!
Thank you all my reviewers, I love you all! He he. This is one of the things I look forward to when I come home from school! Please take time to read my other stories! Thanks! Pleas R & R!
Yay! Berii got to edit this chapter! At least I think she did. Lol. Jk.
Clouds of the Sky