Chapter 62
Naoshi closed his mouth, cutting off the supply of his army. He felt Naraku look at him, knew his father was questioning his motives. For nearly twenty-four hours, the war had raged. No more of their enemies had died. Despite their exhaustion, they managed to fight with a purpose.
Narrowing his eyes, Naoshi cocked his head to the side. A purpose. What drove his enemy? What kept them fighting for so long with no breaks? Many of them should have been dead by now, he knew it. Yet, they defied him, kept pushing forward. It was insulting to him. He was death, and his enemy continued to push back his greedy hands with sheer will power.
"Why?" He questioned, looking around at everyone. Sesshomaru and Kagome were back to back, each fighting with their swords. Sesshomaru was the strongest one there, able to keep back the majority of Naoshi's army while still protecting Kagome. Miroku and Sango were fighting the same way, their bodies moving in unison, as if they were of one mind. Satori was in her Inu form, stomping on any of his skeletons that got near. She was grief ridden, not caring of her own wounds, but still she managed to fight for something. Her soul bonded was dead, and yet it wasn't enough to destroy her. She found another motive. Touga continued to fight with a roar, close to Satori's feet, but being sure to stay far enough away so he didn't get stepped on. Even Kouga was giving it his all, though Naoshi didn't care about him very much.
"Why what?" Naraku questioned, floating beside him as he watched the battle. Naraku knew it was only a short time before the enemy fell. They could not keep battling as they were forever. They just needed to be patient.
"They have gone beyond their physical capabilities. They continue to fight, to push me back. Their army watches their leaders, see's them fighting and becomes inspired. It is a cycle, but I cannot figure out what drives that cycle." Naoshi was getting aggravated, hating that he couldn't understand it.
"For being death, you don't know a thing about life." Naraku chuckled, the sound dark. "They all have something to return home to. A mate, children. There is something for them all back home, and that is what they fight for." Naraku shrugged his shoulders, not caring. "It matters not. They will fall."
"They are making a mockery of my army. They insult me, steal from me." Naoshi wouldn't have that at all. If Naraku was right, then Naoshi would destroy the very thing that spurred his enemy to fight. He would destroy their drive. "I will return." Ignoring Naraku's angry shout, Naoshi disappeared. His enemy wanted to insult him, and he would show them exactly why he should be feared.
…
"Naoshi's gone." Kagome whispered, feeling as his presences left her mind. It was as if a weight was lifted off of her. His constant words had been weighing her down, darkening her thoughts. Over and over he told her how he was going to kill her family, and now, he had left her mind, leaving it quiet.
"Then fight. He is not making more of his army. Use this chance to destroy what we can." Sesshomaru flicked his eyes to look back at her, but then turned to focus on the enemy. He raised his sword, lowering it down and sending a wave of his energy to destroy them. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
Kagome bit her lip, knowing Sesshomaru was right. However, that ball of dread she had been feeling this entire time was threatening to swallow her. She knew something bad was going to happen. She could feel it, could feel the grief of whatever was coming. She just didn't know what, didn't know how to stop it.
"Don't stop now." Sesshomaru ordered, and Kagome lifted her sword once more. She had lowered it, hadn't realized she had been stuck in thought. She needed to pay attention. She needed to get to Miroku so they could combine their powers to try and defeat Naoshi.
"He may not be here now, but that worries me. Where could he have gone? What is he doing?" Kagome voiced, and Sesshomaru growled behind her. She knew he was getting tired. She was exhausted, and if it wasn't for him trying to keep most of the enemy from getting near her, she would have already fallen by now. Their army was only surviving because of Sesshomaru's will and strength.
"I do not know his mind." He was being short, he knew it. He just couldn't help it. It took everything he had to hide the tremble in his hand or the exhaustion on his face. He couldn't let Kagome know that he was weakening. He had to stay strong so she could get to Miroku. That was the only chance they had.
He had closed his bond, made sure Kagome didn't feel how tired he was. Hours ago, she had asked him about it, and he claimed he wanted no distractions. She accepted his answer, but it hurt him to lie to her. He was faltering. His confidence on how this ended was waning, and he didn't want her to know.
How? How could she stop death when she didn't have her full powers? She was born a twin. Miroku stole half of her power, weakening her. The plan was for them to battle together, to combine their strength, but would that be enough? At this rate, they wouldn't even be able to reach Miroku in time. The humans would not be able to fight much longer.
A shrill neigh had them both turning, their eyes widening. Alastar was falling, the dead army climbing onto his back. Kagome let out a scream, going to run to him, but Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to him. There was nothing any of them could do. He was already overrun. Even if Sesshomaru killed all of the skeletal beings, his wounds would be too much. He was gone.
"Let me go!" Kagome screamed, shoving at his chest. Sesshomaru held her, one hand pressing her face against him while the other fought off the enemy still charging them. Kagome sobbed against him, and Sesshomaru could only watch as Alastar disappeared beneath the horde of the enemy army.
Another shrill neigh broke his heart, and Sesshomaru turned, watching as Nakoa kicked and reared, trying to get the enemy off of her. She was desperate to get to Alastar, making mistakes in her focus to reach her mate.
"Calm yourself." Sesshomaru snarled, sending a blast of his energy towards her. She ducked in enough time to keep his attack from harming her but made sure the enemy was destroyed. Despite Sesshomaru's words, Nakoa still fought to get to Alastar's body. She wasn't thinking clearly in her grief, and Sesshomaru once more sent a wave to ward off the enemies.
However, because he was holding Kagome and protecting Nakoa, he left his back open. A force slammed into from behind, pain like fire exploding across his back as the skeletal beings began to climb him. With a snarl, he swiped his sword behind him, slicing them in half and freeing himself from their grasp.
Nakoa let out another whinny, running into the horde were Alastar's body was hidden, and Sesshomaru could only watch. Her screams of agony would taunt him for the rest of his life, but he had done everything he could. He had given her the option to live, and she had chosen death with her mate. Sesshomaru didn't blame her.
With the horses no longer alive, Sesshomaru no longer had a reason to stay grounded. Injured and exhausted, he called on his cloud, floating into the air with a sobbing Kagome in his arms. "We must keep going."
"I know." She whimpered, hands fisting into the sleeves of his arms. When she lifted her head to look at him, she saw his pained grimace. "Sesshomaru?" It wasn't until she saw the blood on his shoulder that she realized he had been injured. "No! I'm so sorry."
"We must find Miroku. We must end this once and for all." He didn't know how much longer he could keep pretending to be strong. He was so tired, and now losing blood. He was going to weaken much faster than he had before. "Where is he, Kagome?"
Sniffling, Kagome looked around, trying not to focus on all of the dead bodies littering the ground. At first she didn't see Miroku, but then a blast of reiki surged outward from the ground in a brilliant display of light.
Sesshomaru didn't need Kagome to say anything to know that it was Miroku. He rushed towards the light, stopping just outside of it. Another sob escaped Kagome, and she stumbled out of Sesshomaru's grasp, falling to her knees to hug her brother.
Sango laid in Miroku's lap, lifeless. Her eyes were stuck open, a gaping hole in her chest. She had been impaled by the enemy, dying immediately. All Kagome could do was hold Miroku as they both cried for the life lost.
"The enemy will not stop." Sesshomaru snarled, lifting his sword and blasting the dead soldiers away. He noticed how much smaller his attack was and closed his eyes in acceptance. This needed to end soon, or there would be no stopping this war.
"We have to do this." Kagome pulled away from Miroku, her hands on his shoulders. They pressed their foreheads together, tears streaming down their faces. "We have to work together to stop Naoshi. If we don't, more people are going to die."
"She's gone." Miroku sobbed, and Kagome let out a watery sigh with him.
"I know. But we have to stay strong. Think of Sakura, Miroku. She is going to need you now more than ever." Kagome placed her hands on her brother's face, watching as Miroku's eyes seemed to focus. Despite the losses they had taken already, they still had a reason to fight, a reason to keep going.
Miroku stood, using his staff. He left Sango's body on the ground, closing her eyes. There was no time for a burial. Kagome leaned against him, both of them looking at Sesshomaru. He was turned away from them, attacking the enemy to keep them away. They could both see the blood running down his back, the hole that went straight through his armor and into his flesh. He was heavily injured.
"Where is Naoshi?" Miroku asked, limping towards Sesshomaru. He would fight until he no longer could. He would take out as many of the enemy as possible. They had taken his wife, his soul bonded, and for that, they would pay.
"We don't know. He disappeared and we haven't seen him since." Kagome admitted, and they looked around, seeing Naraku still floating above the army, alone.
"Naraku does not matter. He is weak." Sesshomaru lowered his sword, seeing a break in the enemy. "Kill the dead army, Naoshi is not here to create more. Buy us as much time as possible, then, when Naoshi returns, kill him." The others nodded, both of them lifting their weapons. They were together, and now they needed to fight. They wouldn't stop until the enemy was dead.
…
Nona sat perched in her tree, watching the battle take place. Finally, the last pieces were starting to fall into place. The small pawns had been destroyed, and now the stronger pieces were in battle. Soon there would be nothing left except for the king fighting the queen.
A pang of grief went through her as she thought of all the lives lost, but it was necessary. The queen had to be broken down before she could battle the king. It was the only way. If they were going to beat Naoshi, Kagome would have to do it alone. Alone and with her full power.
...
Ya'll. It's getting real now. Lol. I already know people are going to come after me, but I can promise you... it's going to get worse. *Evil Laughs!* Anyway, it will get better... eventually... maybe. I guess we will see. Even my editor left you guys a note about this chapter. lol. You know if she pops on, it's getting bad.
So. I have decided to try and redo my book again. I really want to be a published author. The problem I have is a serious amount of self doubt. I am looking for two people who would like to get chapters of my book sent to them before I publish so I can get an honest unbiased opinion. I need someone that understands the actual process of writing. Are my transitions good and smooth? Is there enough interest in each chapter to keep you going? Are the characters well rounded and believable? What are you feeling during the chapter as you read it? I need full blown feed back. The only thing I really don't want critiqued is the editing and grammar because that will be one of the last things I do and I already have an editor anyway. Basically I need a beta reader who isn't scared to tell me what they really think of my book. So far, I have one chapter completed outside of editing. I am working on the second. So if this is something you think you would be interested in let me know. To be clear, this is an original book that I plan to have published. It is copyrighted and one that I will be fiercely protective of. For those that I chose, I am trusting you with something that will essentially be my baby, and potentially my future. With all of that being said, please message me on here if you are interested and let me know why you think you would be a good fit. I hope some of ya'll will have an interest in it.
If you are squeamish or have easy trigger warnings this job isn't for you. I have never been one to shy from darker concepts and that still carries over into this book. There is rape, there is torture, there is death, and there is blood. But there is also love, mystery, friendships, and fantasy. So again, if you are interested, send me a message, and we can talk.
EDITOR NOTE:
When I first read this chapter, I got so teary eyed. I want everyone to please keep an open mind because I promise you, this whole process is well worth it.
