"Where are we? I can't see a thing."
Sesshomaru attempted to observe their surroundings. Despite the pitch dark location where Naraku had transported them, he could see the smooth stone walls. Behind them came the distant trickle of water. It created dampness in the air.
"A cavern," he answered.
"Why would Naraku bring us here?" Kagome asked.
"Not us; you," Sesshomaru pointed out. "I doubt he intended for me to follow."
"I guess he doesn't know you very well, does he?"
Sesshomaru heard the amusement in her voice. It eased his rage but only slightly. He had noted an alarming scent in the air. "How badly are you injured?"
"What do you mean? I'm fine."
"You are not fine," Sesshomaru insisted. "There is blood in the air— your blood."
His foremost concern was his mate's safety. Any wound, no matter how small, was significant. He would be unable to focus on anything until it was tended to.
"Sesshomaru, there's nothing— oh! My hand," Kagome remarked in surprise. "Naraku must have done it when he grabbed me earlier."
His inner beast snarled. No one was allowed to touch his mate.
He would ensure Naraku paid for marring her beautiful skin. Sesshomaru would make the hanyou suffer. He would not kill him, at least not right away. First, Naraku would endure sufficient punishment. Then, Sesshomaru would end his life.
Tearing Naraku apart would be an appropriate option. After all, the hanyou had stolen countless limbs from his victims. It seemed fitting for him to find the same end.
A hand brushed against his thigh. "Is that you?"
In response, Sesshomaru laced his fingers through Kagome's. "Do you have the jewel?"
"Yes," she answered. "Though I still don't understand what happened. Naraku didn't even touch it."
"This is not the work of the Shikon Jewel. This is something else," Sesshomaru informed her. He struggled to pinpoint where Naraku was. The entire cavern was coated in the hanyou's scent.
Sesshomaru frowned. Confined spaces posed risks during battle, even more so if the location was predetermined by one's opponent. Naraku had selected this location for a purpose. Sesshomaru glanced over at his mate. Kagome was distracted by the wound on her palm. He watched her bandage the shallow cut, unaware of the danger she was in.
"You don't need to worry," she said. "Wherever we are, we're safe as long as we're together."
Sesshomaru disagreed but he did not argue with her. There was nothing to gain by upsetting his mate.
His mate gasped. "Sesshomaru, look."
To her right was a glowing bush of Chinese bellflowers. She knelt beside the shrub. Gently, Kagome cupped one of the blossoms in her hand. "I think this means she's okay."
"Who?"
"Kikyo."
"Hn." Sesshomaru did not care for the dead priestess. Nor did he care for the tears his mate was shedding in remembrance of her.
"I…I wasn't sure that I did the right thing before, but now, I know she is free."
He placed his hand on her shoulder. Sesshomaru would not grieve for the woman who had caused so much turmoil but he was grateful. If it had not been for the priestess, he would never have found his mate. Out of respect for what she had inadvertently given him, he bowed his head.
"Oh!"
Sesshomaru blinked, surprised to find the bellflowers were dissolving. The illuminated petals fluttered about in the air before descending to the ground in front of Kagome. They landed in the formation of a weapon.
"My bow," she whispered, running her fingers over the polished wood grip.
"Keep it close," he advised. "If we are to escape this place, you will require a weapon."
"We will escape," Kagome responded.
"Make sure to keep your wound covered," he instructed her as she gathered up the priestess's parting gift.
"It's not that deep," Kagome stated, misreading his concern.
She assumed he was worried about infection or scarring. Those issues were trivial compared to what Sesshomaru truly feared. He doubted it was a coincidence that Naraku had drawn blood. The spider hanyou did not make mistakes, which meant the wound was intentional. Sesshomaru gripped Bakusaiga.
As though the revelation had summoned him, Naraku's voice echoed around them. "Welcome. It appears that I have captured more than one fly in my web. I was not expecting the Lord of the Western Lands to grace me with his presence." He chuckled. "But I can't say I am disappointed. You can witness the fall of your precious human."
"Show your face, you jerk!" Kagome shouted, drawing her bow.
Naraku chuckled. "All in due time."
Sesshomaru felt the air shift as the hanyou moved. He caught the glimpse of a shadow. Naraku faded into the darkness before he was able to attack.
"You have grown weak, Lord Sesshomaru. A woman will do that to you," Naraku taunted.
"The only one who is weak here is you. Only a coward would hide in the shadows instead of facing his opponent."
"Is that so?"
There was an explosion overhead. Dirt and rocks sprayed across the cave. Sesshomaru tilted his head down, raising his arms to shield them from the debris. A gust of wind rustled his garments and tossed his hair aside. Yet, instead of an attack, light streamed into the cavern. Naraku had opened a hole in the ceiling.
Sesshomaru glared at the man standing several meters in front of them. "I am no coward," Naraku said.
"Still a jerk," Kagome grumbled.
The hanyou's dark eyes landed on his mate. Sesshomaru stiffened.
"I'm sure you're both wondering how I managed to bring you here." Naraku slipped a hand inside of his robes. Kagome nocked an arrow, expecting their enemy to strike. Naraku smirked. He produced a smooth object. Pinched between his thumb and forefinger was a pearl.
"I have your father to thank," Naraku said to Sesshomaru. "After all, if it wasn't for his cleverness, I never would have realized Master Housenki's abilities. Unfortunately, with him now deceased, I had to rely on his son. He is only an apprentice but under the appropriate level of persuasion, he did manage to replicate his father's success." Naraku rolled the pearl between his fingertips. "I merely needed the final ingredient to activate the portal."
Sesshomaru's attention snapped to his mate's wound. Kagome gasped. "No."
"Yes," Naraku crooned. "The tint of this particular pearl is thanks to you, girl. Your blood bound you to it and by extension me."
Kagome paled. "That's why Inuyasha and the others couldn't get through."
Naraku grinned.
Sesshomaru stepped between them. "Your blood magic is inferior to the bond between us. Release my mate."
"I have to admit, initially, I was rather disappointed that you made it through. However, it will only make my victory that much more satisfying. Taking down the Shikon Miko and the great Lord Sesshomaru— no one else has ever earned such accolades."
"And no one ever will." Sesshomaru lunged at Naraku. He swung Bakusaiga, intending to strike the spider hanyou's shoulder. Naraku shifted out of the way. He vanished as if he was made of the cavern's shadows.
"Sesshomaru!"
There was a snap as Kagome's arrow was severed in two by one of Naraku's limbs. Sesshomaru pivoted around, narrowly dodging Naraku's counterstrike. Had it not been for Kagome's interference, Naraku would have landed his blow.
Sesshomaru seethed. He detested the hanyou. He had faced hundreds of enemies in his life yet none had ever possessed a truly evil soul. The determination Sesshoamru saw on Naraku's twisted face was unparalleled. He would not stop until he had obtained his victory.
Or was put down like the rabid cur he was.
It was a challenge to predict Naraku's movements. He had absorbed thousands of lesser demons to accumulate the power he wielded. Not only did Naraku possess physical strength, but he had also inherited his host's talents. His incarnations had been troublesome. This new ability to move without a sound was even more vexing.
A limb lashed out at him on the left. Sesshomaru side-stepped into a hit on his right. He teetered off balance for a moment before whirling around to cut through the follow-through attack. The severed limb fell, twitching. He stomped on it with the heel of his boot, grinding the mangled flesh into the ground.
Naraku's eyes gleamed in the light filtering down from above. He did not hesitate to strike again. Sesshomaru anticipated his charge. He blocked the next attack with the hilt of Bakusaiga. The blade clanged, vibrating in his hand from the force of the strike. His assumptions had been correct. It appeared that his opponent was stronger here.
The hanyou ducked around and drove his fist into Sesshomaru's side. He staggered.
Naraku locked eyes with him. "You were foolish to follow me into my den, Lord Sesshomaru. This is the place of my rebirth, where I triumphed over that wretched woman and your brother and it will be where I defeat the two of you."
"Wanna bet?" His mate's second arrow lodged itself in Naraku's throat.
Clutching his neck, the hanyou turned. Sesshomaru met Kagome's eyes. She tilted her head to the side, signaling him to get out of range. Retreat was not a battle tactic he had ever had reason to explore. Sesshomaru had rarely come across an adversary who was capable of landing a hit against him. Two of them happened to be in the cavern with him and, in his current state, he wished to test neither. With a nod, he maneuvered himself around the hanyou to join his mate.
Naraku spat at their feet. Though he could barely get them out, his words are laced with poison as he lumbered toward them. "Y-you…y-you f-foolish-h…"
Kagome readied another arrow. "Don't take another step," she warned.
There was a pulse of pale light at Naraku's feet. The hanyou froze, staring at the ground. Naraku glowered as he ripped the projectile out. He spent several minutes gathering his breath. With each inhale, the flesh on his neck repaired itself until the wound was fully healed."You can't defeat me. Not without the power of the jewel."
"You're wrong," she snapped. "I don't need to rely on relics or the powers of others to win. I know who I am."
He scoffed. "Who is that?"
"I'm Kagome Higurashi," she announced proudly. "And you're going down, jerk!"
She shot arrow after arrow. Her movements were quick, fluid. There was no hesitation. His mate showed no fear. Kagome was relentless in her strikes and ran through each motion with poise. She aimed for the weakest points on their opponent's body— his neck, an exposed section of his wrist, even his ankles —anywhere that she could target a piece of bare flesh.
Sesshomaru watched as the spider hanyou's smug grin vanished. With each strike, Naraku's confidence wavered. Kagome's barrier held him in place, preventing his counterattack. Her arrows— imbued with spiritual energy —tore open his skin. Initially, her attempt to purify him from the inside out appeared to be working. His extra limbs fell from his body. He seemed to be weakening. Yet, the malice in his eyes remained. Sesshomaru sensed the battle was not won.
Kagome was too focused on nocking her final arrow to notice the detached limbs regenerating.
Sesshomaru felt his sword pulse. However, the power did not come from Bakusaiga.
When Tenseiga had been left to him, Sesshomaru had loathed the sword. He had thought it useless. It was not until he had used the blade to restore Rin's life that he had learned to appreciate its power. That day, the sword called to him.
And now it was calling again.
He honored the blade's request by destroying the severed limbs of his enemy. Tenseiga could not harm the living but what Naraku had claimed for himself was made from the living world. He had built his body from a menagerie of corpses.
Sesshomaru cut them down with ease. Each limb that sought to cross Kagome's barrier met his father's fang. Sesshomaru sent them to the underworld. He did not plan on showing the same mercy to their master.
"Clever," Naraku sneered, "but you'll have to be quick if you want to keep up with me, Lord Sesshomaru."
Dozens of limbs came forth. Within seconds, their splattered remains decorated the cavern floor, yet more kept coming. Beside him, his mate's aim wavered.
"There's too many."
"I will deal with them," he promised.
She shook her head. "It's like an infection. It will keep spreading until you cut out the source."
Sesshomaru watched as she lowered her bow. "Kagome."
"He was right. There is only one way this ends." Her hand closed around the Shikon Jewel.
Naraku chuckled. "And so it begins."
Sesshomaru started to reach for her, ignoring the onslaught of misshapen arms and legs pawing at the barrier. His fingers had barely brushed the smooth skin of her arm when he was knocked backward.
Reiki exploded from the jewel. The energy cleanser everything surrounding the jewel, including the limbs beyond Kagome's barrier. Sesshomaru saw Naraku stumble away, eyes wide in fear as he witnessed the power annihilate the forgotten remnants of his body.
There should have been pain— agonizing, breath-stealing pain, but Sesshomaru felt nothing. He glanced down at his hands, expecting to see charred flesh or disintegrating claws. He remained untouched.
Several meters from his position, Kagome stood with the jewel clasped between both hands. It cast an ethereal light around her.
The way the illumination haloed Kagome gave off the appearance that she was encased in the jewel. Sesshomaru felt his chest constrict with fear.
Kagome's eyes lifted from the powerful orb. She did not look to him. Kagome met the gaze of their enemy and ended the turmoil he had created. "I wish the Shikon Jewel never existed."
The light around his mate became blinding. Sesshomaru shielded his eyes as an unnatural wind began to howl. It blew with such force that he was convinced they would all be tossed from the cave. Sesshomaru dug his claws into the stone wall to anchor himself.
Naraku attempted to do the same. His efforts were futile. The jewel stripped him of his remaining limbs, tearing the stolen fragments from his body. His expensive silks were left in tatters. The leather of his boots was scuffed and worn. He no longer resembled the conniving hanyou who had masqueraded as a human lord. The jewel's banishment showed Naraku for who he truly was— a feeble, scared man.
Onigumo.
"You worthless wench!" he hissed. "Do you realize what you've done?"
Kagome ignored him. As the wind died down, she made her way to Sesshomaru's side. "Are you okay?"
"Fine."
She smiled. "Good. Let's go home."
" Home," Onigumo spat. "You think you'll be safe there? That any of your friends will be safe? I'll find another way to gain power. I already have this," he said, holding up Housenki's pearl.
Sesshomaru positioned himself in front of his mate.
Onigumo smirked. "I won't stop until everything is under my control— Edo, the Northern Mountains, the Western Lands. This isn't over."
"Yes, it is." Sesshomaru stepped forward and snatched the pearl from his hand.
Onigumo lunged at him, hands grasping desperately at Sesshomaru. There was a thrum, a swish, and, finally, a thud. The sounds were his first indication of what happened. He blinked. Onigumo laid on the floor of the cavern, one eye staring up in shock. The other had been displaced by Kagome's arrow, which was protruding from his skull.
"Y-you," the man rasped.
"I told you," Kagome began as she appeared at Sesshomaru's side. "I know who I am. I'm not someone who will let you hurt others, especially not my mate."
Onigumo's mouth opened, then closed. His body sunk into the earth, dissolving to ash.
They stood over the spot for a moment, silently regarding their opponent. Only once Sesshomaru was certain the man was dead, did he sheathe his blade.
Turning to Kagome, he said, "Mate, it is time to leave."
She nodded, entwining her fingers with his. "I miss Rin and Shippo."
Sesshomaru crushed Housenki's pearl between his fingers and they disappeared from the cavern.
The atmosphere around the mountain was different from how they left it. There was no miasma. The skies had cleared as if the land was already aware of their success.
Kagome leaned into Sesshomaru's side. She was exhausted from the battle. Her efforts to hold Naraku within the barrier had worked but it had also drained her. She was struggling to remain conscious. As she sagged against him, someone called her name.
She glanced up. Through her bangs, Kagome spotted her friends rushing toward them. They spoke over each other.
"Where do you two go?"
"What happened?"
"Where's Naraku?"
"He's gone." It was Miroku who answered Inuyasha's question. He unwrapped his hand, revealing a completely healed palm.
Sango gasped and grabbed it with both of her hands. She scanned the spot where his Wind Tunnel had once existed, carefully inspecting both sides. Her initial disbelief disappeared as she realized that the curse was gone. Sango dropped Miroku's hand. She paused, staring at the monk.
"It's over," he told her.
Kagome had always admired Sango's ability to compartmentalize her emotions. It was critical for her as a successful demon slayer. Now, however, there was no need for Sango to hide her feelings. She seemed to reach that realization at the same time as Kagome and proceeded to throw her arms around Miroku, hugging him tightly.
"It's over," she repeated, burying her face in his shoulder.
"It is," he confirmed, rubbing her back consolingly, "but I hope you won't mind if I stick around for a while."
Sango's watery laugh was muffled but Kagome could tell from the way Miroku beamed at them that she was perfectly alright with keeping him around.
Kirara, who didn't seem surprised at all, curled up on the grass, content to nap in the sun. The rest of them took it as a cue to give the couple some privacy. They stepped aside.
Sesshomaru kept his arm around Kagome. She was grateful, as excited as she was for Sango and Miroku, her eyes were growing heavier by the minute.
They had only gone a few paces before Inuyasha spoke. "You killed him?" he asked, looking over her to his brother.
"My mate did," Sesshomaru answered proudly.
"Good," he muttered.
"Inuyasha." Kagome paused to dig into her sleeve where she had tucked a single bellflower bloom. "Kikyo helped us. I thought…you'd want this."
With trembling fingers, he accepted the flower. "Thank you, Kagome."
"You're welcome." She pretended not to notice the tears in his eyes.
He bowed his head and walked off, staring at the tiny blue flower.
"Is he going to be alright?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, Inuyasha may be a half-demon but he is still a Taisho. He will survive this," Sesshomaru assured her.
She started to ask how he felt when a shriek startled them both.
"Lord Sesshomaru! My lord, you are safe."
Sesshomaru scowled. "Mate, remind me why you wished to forgive the imp?"
"Later," Kagome said, stifling a yawn. "Right now, all I want to do is go home."
"Indeed."
Sesshomaru led her over to the two-headed dragon who was approaching them with his vassal.
Kagome fought her drowsiness the entire way back to the Western Palace. Each time her head bobbed and her forehead hit one of A-Un's necks, Sesshomaru would chuckle. A gentle hand on her torso would right her until the next slip forward. Just as Kagome decided a brief nap wouldn't be such a bad thing, the castle came into view.
Home, she thought.
The word caused a sharp pang in her chest. During the last year, she had applied the term to two locations. Kagome had always assumed when this adventure was over, she would return to Tokyo, but, now that the day had arrived, she knew she couldn't.
"Mate, what is troubling you?" he inquired, wrapping his arms around her midsection. Kagome allowed herself to rest against him. Sesshomaru dropped his chin on top of her head.
They sat together like that for a moment. Kagome felt a bit ashamed for missing her home. She didn't want Sesshomaru to doubt her feelings. She knew what she wanted. It was just hard to say goodbye to her family. Without the jewel, the Bone Eater's Well would no longer function. It has always served as the connection between the modern era and her place in Feudal Japan. Since she had wished it out of existence, the bridge between the two worlds was gone.
Unless…
"I was considering something Naraku said in the cave."
Sesshomaru stiffened. He lifted his chin. "You should not concern yourself with that. Thanks to you, he is incapable of harming anyone."
She tilted her head back to smile up at him. "You helped."
"Hn."
Kagome chewed her lower lip. "It wasn't anything bad. I was actually thinking about the pearl Housenki's made for him."
"What of it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I was wondering if made he could make us one too."
Author's Note: I'd apologize for how long it's taken me to get this chapter completed, but I'm pretty sure you are all sick of hearing it by now. Instead, I'll just say thank you to everyone for your support, especially those of you who nominated my fics for the Feudal Connection's 2022 1st Quarterly Inuyasha Fandom Awards. Recover(me) was nominated for "Best Canon Divergent Fiction". Louder Than Words was nominated for "Best Oneshot Fiction" and now has artwork by the wonderful yumanichan, who you should follow on tumblr. She has some beautiful SessKag pieces.