Chapter 25 (2) Naraku!

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A/N:

Here is the spoiler free one. Although Inuyasha is almost at a close on Cartoon network….I was so close to not even posting this chapter. I don't think this one is as good at the other one but….oh well.

Sorry I took so long but I did have to chapter so wright and I was kinda stuck.

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The Inuyasha group readied for battle. The biggest battle they would ever have to experience. Some may die. And if they did, they knew it wouldn't be for nothing as long as the bastard Naraku went down in the process. That was all they could hope for.

Naraku stood menacingly before them, the evil grin never leaving his face.

"Kukukukukukuku!" He cackled. "This is where you all die!" He shot forth one of his tentacles straight towards Kagome.

With skill she easily dodged his attack.

"My, my! You, little miko or should I say hanyou have gotten quicker and stronger! You no longer depend on others to take care of you! I'm surprised! You must be so proud of yourself!"

"Shut up Naraku! Let's just get this battle over with! The sooner we kill you the better!" Kagome retorted. She aimed and shot one of her arrows at Naraku. Her attack easily shot off one of his tentacles. Immediately the appendage began to reform back onto the evil demon.

"Damn it! It's not going to work that way!" Koga stomped his foot angrily.

"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha's attack hit Naraku square in the chest. Sango then shot out her Hiraikotsu; Miroku tried some sutras, while Takashi shot forth a ball of light and Sesshomaru merely swung his sword sending forth an immense amount of power.

Ayame and Koga stood back and watched from a far for now, waiting for their moment to jump in.

Tessa stayed back with Shippo keeping him safe from harms way. Each attack hit Naraku in turn but, any damage they inflicted was immediately healed. In Tessa's eyes all seemed the lost. But they weren't ready to give up just yet.

"Kukukukuku! You might as way surrender now! You're attempts are all futile!" Naraku taunted. "You'll never win! You can never beat me!"

"We'll see about that!" Said Takashi. "Today will be your death!"

"Over confident are we? What makes you think you can defeat me?"

"I may not be able to defeat you alone but with the help of my friends, together we will take you down!"

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"Kagura, what's your plan?" Kanna asked. "You can't forget about Hakudoushi, Naraku's heart."

I know, Kanna. You should know I have been thinking about my escape for a long time. Almost since the day I was created." Kagura answered smoothly. "So believe me sister when I say, I haven't forgotten about them."

"I just want to make sure. When dealing with Naraku you can not have any flaws. He's very tricky." Kanna said in her unemotional voice.

"I realize this. Now, first where has Naraku hidden his heart?" Kagura asked.

"Follow me." Kanna said.

With Kanna leading the way, Kagura followed her sister down a dark corridor. It seemed as if it would never end….until finally Kanna stopped before a room. To the untrained eye it would appear to be unguarded. But Kagura knowing Naraku knew better. Preparing for the worst, Kagura reached forward to slide open the door.

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The battle against Naraku continued to rage on. About an hour had gone by and neither side seemed to be getting the upper hand. But the Inu gang was beginning to get tired. Even the great Sesshomaru! (Surprising aye?) Koga and Ayame looked as if they wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.

"Are you getting tired yet? Ready to give up?" Naraku taunted. "I can see it on all your faces. You all can't take much more of this! It's only a matter of time before I kill you all! So why not give up? I can promise you it will be quick and painless."

"Never!" Kagome yelled. "We will never give up! Not until we kill you!"

"We'll see about that miko. Sadly if Kikyou couldn't defeat me what makes you think you can? You are in fact her reincarnation, are you not?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at Naraku before she began speaking. "I am not Kikyou and I never will be! We may have the same soul but we are entirely different people!"

"We'll see about that!" Once again Naraku shot forth his tentacle straight for her. He seemed to be directing most of his blows towards her, forcing Inuyasha to always be worried about her. It was as if he felt she was the greatest threat of them all. Whatever the reason is was beginning to make Inuyasha angry.

Without wasting anytime Inuyasha jumped protectively in front of Kagome and sliced Naraku's appendage clean off. But Naraku was ready for this and without wasting a beat shot forth another one of his tentacles straight through Inuyasha stomach before he could even raise his Tetsusaiga to deflect it.

Inuyasha fell back into the open arms of Kagome. "Inuyasha? Inuyasha!" She cried.

"I'm fine Kagome." Inuyasha said struggling to get to his feet. "He only wounded me. I'm not down yet." He reassured her. Kagome nodded sadly.

"Kagome!" Called Sango. "Watch out!"

Kagome looked up to see Naraku charging towards her. He seemed to think with Inuyasha wounded Kagome would be an easy target. Kagome looked around. Her friends were to far away to aid her. She was all on her own with this one. Inuyasha tried to step in front of Kagome to protect her, but Kagome gently pushed him aside.

Naraku grabbed Kagome by her throat and held her high in the hair. "I've got you now, young miko! Now I will kill you!"

Kagome didn't bother a reply and only smiled in return.

"What's with that smirk?" Naraku asked becoming slightly worried. She should be terrified right now! Not smiling! Had he missed something? "I said what's with that smirk!" Naraku asked again his voice rising.

By this time Kagome noticed that her friends had surrounded Naraku without him even noticing. Kagome didn't want them to get hurt so she looked deep into Naraku's eyes and grabbed the hand holding her neck. If she was ever going to do this, now was the time. It may drain most of her power but she had to take that chance.

Using everything she had, she sent a serge of her purifying energy through her hands. The energy enveloped Naraku. He screamed in pain and dropped her. She began to fall but Inuyasha caught her. She smiled at him before blacking out.

Naraku continued to shriek until his body turned to ash. "Is he dead?" Asked Tessa.

"No. That was too easy. And besides the only way we can defeat him is through his heart. Kagome used her power to give us time to find it." Inuyasha answered looking worriedly at the woman he held in his arms.

"How's your wound?" Miroku asked.

"Fine. Let's not waste anymore of the time Kagome gave us and start looking for Naraku's heart. Who knows when he'll be back."

"Little brother, you stay out here with Kagome and alert us if you see anything strange. The rest of us will go inside and search Naraku's palace." Sesshomaru spoke up.

"I'll stay out here too" offered Tessa. "Besides I don't think I would be of much help to you guys inside anyway."

"I'll stay too." Takashi said in such a way that said 'and no one can tell me other wise!'

Tessa smiled and blushed slightly.

Sesshomaru nodded and led his group inside the dark building.

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Kagura slid open the door and looked in. Naraku's heart lay in its cradle holding that ball Naraku stole to hide its scent. This was way too easy. Naraku would never leave his heart so unprotected! But then again, he thought she was dead.

Kagura slowly entered the room. She walked right up to the sleeping child. What a pain this baby was! She reached her arms out to grab him but stopped when she caught the shadow of a figure in the corner of the room. She straightened and called out, "Who's there!"

He stepped forward.

"Kohaku? I was wondering where you had gone off too. Today shall be your lucky day. We will kill that baby and set ourselves free."

Kohaku's eyes glazed over and his face took on the blank features he had when under Naraku's control.

"Kohaku?" Kagura ventured.

Kohaku took one more step before he attacked. He shot forth his sickle. That was when Kagura knew he was being controlled by Naraku. She backed up barely managing to escape the attack. Kagura hoped it wouldn't come to this, but now she knew she had to kill him.

She opened her fan and shook her head sadly. "Fuji no M-"

"Stop! Don't hurt him!"

Kagura's attack was interrupted when Sango burst into the room followed by three demons and one human.

"Naraku is controlling him and I can't have him ruining my plans!" Kagura snapped.

By this time Sango was standing in front of her brother protectively.

"If you don't move he'll just kill you. As I said before Naraku is controlling him. He doesn't know what he's doing."

"I don't care I will not let you kill him!"

Kohaku

'That woman. Why is she so familiar? Where have I seen her before? My head! It hurts! No! I have to know! Where have I seen her before?' Kohaku forced his mind to remember. He forgot about the ache in his head and forced his brain to recall.

'She's…She's… my sister!" Memories came flooding back of his childhood. He and Sango growing up together. Playing will Kirara, him training to better use his sickle, and even the day he confided in her how scared he was about his first demon extermination. And theh came the one he didn't want to remember. The day he had killed his father and almost Sango too. Silent tears streamed down his face. "Sister!" He said as he collapsed to the ground crying.

Sango almost about died when she heard him call out to her. She spun around and in that instant had her arms around him. Her little brother. He was back. He had broken the spell Naraku had over him. She began to cry with happiness.

"Sister, I'm so sorry! I killed father and I almost killed you! Forgive me!"

"It's alright Kohaku. It wasn't you fault. Naraku is to blame!"

He nodded and continued to cry into his sisters arms.

"Are you done now?" Kagura and Sesshomaru asked after a few moments. They looked at each other and then quickly looked away.

"Yes." Sango sniffled. "We are." She smiled at her brother and he nodded.

"Let's get outta here then." Kagura reached out to pick up the baby but was flung backward by some unseen barrier. She flew back and Sesshomaru caught her.

"Thanks." She said somewhat shaken.

He nodded and set her on her feet.

"What happened?" Miroku asked.

"I don't know but look!" Koga said pointing at the baby.

Inside the pink Barrier Naraku began to appear. His body was torn and in pieces. Only his head remained intact.

"Kukukukuku! You thought I could be defeated so easily? Well you were wrong! And as soon as my body repairs itself you will all see how wrong you were!" Naraku laughed wickedly before he continued. "Come here Kanna. I know you are there, hiding. Come into my barrier and hold Hakudoushi."

Kanna stepped into the room and did as her master requested. It didn't look like Kagura was going to get her freedom after. Nor did it seem Inuyasha and his friends would live to see another day. Naraku had won after all. And what of Kanna? She would remain Naraku's slave forever until he no longer had need of her.

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There it is. I have made it so no matter what chapter 25 you read you can still read the next chapter and not be confused. I still think the original chapter I wanted is better. Oh well. It is kinda short too. Sorry. Please R and R! Thank you!

Clouds of the Sky