Psycho Demon-Witch: Sorry again for the wait! Thank you to those of you who have reviewed and thank you for your patience. I have now started the summer holidays, but don't think that means I have more time on my hands. I plan on getting a job for work experience. Sorry again for the wait… please don't kill me! hides

Chapter Fourteen

They had been tracking Naraku down for almost a week now, and with each passing day, Sesshoumaru was becoming more and more frantic. It was getting harder for Inuyasha to calm him down. They were all tired and frustrated. They had put all their energy into finding Naraku, but the bastard just seemed to evade them once they picked up any sign of him.

"This is pissing me off" Inuyasha complained. "The bastard does nothing but run and hide, he's such a coward"

"Yes, but what can we do but keep searching? It's not like we know where he will go next" Kagome reasoned, trying to settle Inuyasha's temper. They had all stopped to rest and have some food, but they were all still wary… except for Rin and Shippo who were chasing each other, and Jaken who was yelling at them to stop. Kouga decided he and his own companions would scout around, to find any trace they could of Naraku while the others rested.

Sesshoumaru rested his head on Inuyasha's shoulder. He was physically and emotionally exhausted with worry for Kaisayoi and Taisho. As leant against Inuyasha, he was telling himself to keep calm, that they would find the pups. But it was hard. He noticed that Inuyasha was moving his fingers through his hair, and absently leant further into the touch.

It was then that he noticed a change in the scent of the air. Naraku was nearby, with the pups and his incarnations, Kanna and Kagura. He growled, attracting Inuyasha's attention. "What is it?" the hanyou asked.

"That bastard is nearby with Kagura and Kanna. He also has the pups with him" Sesshoumaru growled out. Inuyasha froze.

"He's coming for you, I know it. He brought the pups so you would go quietly" Inuyasha said fearfully. Sesshoumaru nodded.

"I know" he said. "If he hurts them, I may have no choice but to go with him"

"I won't let him take you away" Inuyasha snapped. "Come on, we need to tell the others". They walked back. InuTaisho had already alerted the others, and they stood, weapons ready, to face Naraku and reclaim the two pups. Naraku was quickly approaching now. Kouga burst through the trees, and was met with several swords, a bow and a giant boomerang. He raised his hands in mock defeat.

"Umm… can you please put those things down? I think we can say that I am not Naraku" he said sarcastically. Once the weapons were out of Kouga's face, he told them that he had seen Naraku and his two incarnations, each of them holding one twin. He said that both pups were unharmed, and seemed to be quite happy. For now.

Naraku arrived, hovering above them in… another barrier. How predictable, was running through each of the groups heads. Shortly behind him, Kagura arrived on her feather, holding Kaisayoi. Next to her sat Kanna, holding Taisho. Kagura landed on the ground. She had a smirk on her face, whereas Kanna looked as impassive as ever. Sesshoumaru growled as he glared up at Naraku. "Give them back" he snarled, his voice promising pain. He knew he would be unable to deliver this pain, if the pups were threatened though. Naraku laughed.

"I am sure you have figured out that getting them back won't be so easy" he said with a sneer. Sesshoumaru's glare faltered for a brief moment. Naraku saw this, and his sneer deepened. "That's right. I want you in exchange for the pups". Inuyasha had hit the nail on the head. Naraku wanted him. It was the only way to get the twins back.

"How do I know you'll keep your word? I know better than to trust you" Sesshoumaru said. Naraku pondered on this for a moment.

"Well, I know you to be a demon of your word, Sesshoumaru, so why don't you swear that you will come with me once I give them back?" he asked. He nodded to Kagura and Kanna, who moved forward slightly, until they were as near as Naraku. Sesshoumaru looked at the floor. 'I have to' he thought, 'or my pups will suffer'. He looked back at Inuyasha, a sorrowful look in his eyes. Inuyasha shook his head and moved forward. He grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm and pulled him close.

"Do you remember what I told you? I won't let him take you away" he whispered. Sesshoumaru looked into Inuyasha's eyes. Inuyasha saw tears sparkling in Sesshoumaru's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but… I want to know they are safe"

"You can't trust him, he will order his incarnations to kill us all, including the pups, once he has you. There is another way, we need to find it" Inuyasha said.

"I won't wait forever, Sesshoumaru" Naraku said mockingly. Sesshoumaru growled again. He turned his eyes to the pups. Kagura's smirk was still in place, but then, he noticed she winked at him. He didn't understand what the wink meant, but he knew she was planning something. She was always planning something.

Suddenly, both she and Kanna moved towards them as fast as the wind. They both handed the pups back to Sesshoumaru, who fell to his knees in relief and happiness in being able to hold them again. Kagura turned her smirking face to Naraku. "I want to be free" she said to him. "But in order for that to happen, you must die" she said. She got her fans ready and Kanna stood motionless. She was never meant to fight after all. Inuyasha's mind was still functioning about five minutes ago, then…

"WHAT THE FUCK!" he yelled. Everyone jumped. Even Naraku looked a little concerned at the seemingly unstable and disturbed Inuyasha.

"What" Kagura asked emotionlessly. Inuyasha shook his head and returned his concentration back to Naraku. "Just so you know, he stupidly rejoined with his heart, thinking he wouldn't have to fight to get Sesshoumaru back. He will die this time" Kagura said. Everyone smiled somewhat evilly at this information. Naraku looked a little worried now. He was on his own, and no force would be able to stop the Inu family from taking retribution on him.

Inuyasha made the first move, followed closely by Kouga and InuTaisho. Sesshoumaru was still holding Kaisayoi and Taisho, so could do nothing but step back and allow the others to kill Naraku. He watched as they first struggled at taking down the barrier, while avoiding all Naraku's tentacles. Inuyasha got hit by one of the tentacles, but within two seconds was back on his feet. He wanted Naraku to pay for all the pain he had caused. Sango, Kagome and Miroku all stood nearby to Sesshoumaru, warding off any tentacles that got too close. He was grateful to them, he didn't want to put the pups down for even a second in order to defend himself.

They had been at it for over an hour now. The barrier was weakening. Soon it would be gone and Naraku would be vulnerable. Inuyasha, spurred on by this, out even more effort into taking the barrier down. As he was knocked back by another tentacle, InuTaisho moved in for the kill, and took down the barrier with a final swing of his sword. Naraku was now nearly defenceless. Attacks were coming in from all directions, from some very pissed off people. He wouldn't survive this, and he knew it.

He was nearly dead now, lying on the floor, barely breathing. But he was still conscious and aware of everything around him. He noticed that Sesshoumaru handed the pups to Inuyasha and drew his own sword. "Now it is time for you to pay for what you did to me and everyone else here" he said sadistically.

First he made Naraku watch as he chopped off his balls. He then started stabbing him in random areas that wouldn't kill him straight away. Blood was pouring everywhere, and it covered Sesshoumaru too. Finally, InuTaisho stopped his eldest son. "That's enough. He's paid dearly for what he's done. We should just kill him now, and send him to hell". Sesshoumaru nodded, tears pouring down his now bloodstained face. He drove his sword straight through Naraku's heart, killing the bastard instantly. Part of him regretted what he did to Naraku, as he thought it made him nearly as bad as Naraku himself, while the other part of him regretted that Naraku hadn't suffered more.

Everyone was cheering, each for their own reasons. Miroku removed the prayer beads around his hand. There was no hole now. He took Sango's hands excitedly and spun her around. She still looked melancholy though. She didn't know anything about her brother, Kohaku. Kagura sensed this and told her where Naraku's hiding place was. She told her that was where Kohaku should be. Sango threw her arms around the wind sorceress and thanked her

Inuyasha put the pups down near Rin and Shippo, and told them to looks after them. He then walked over to Sesshoumaru, and wrapped his arms around him. Sesshoumaru responded by wrapping his arms around Inuyasha's neck. He smiled into the red fabric of Inuyasha's haori. "You need a bath" Inuyasha said. Sesshoumaru frowned.

"So do you, now" he shot back. Both of them started laughing. Everyone else was watching them, and hoped there would be more laughter and happiness now that Naraku was gone.

Psycho Demon-Witch: Heheh, not the best place to cut off… I am so evil… anyway, I might do a prologue, I haven't decided yet. Please review!