A/N: Been working on the other story as well as this one, and I think I almost have the title! For those that are curious, I might have it up in a couple of days...anyway, as to this story, there's only a few chapters left, and I hope you enjoy! Soon, everything will be solved.
Chapter 44: The First Battle
Though I expected we would have to stay in the village longer, since Sango-chan was upset, we ended up leaving the next day. The next morning she was as she had always been, holding a brave face in front of a wounded heart. But I knew her heart was so scarred that it would never heal. Her brother, the only family she had left, was dead. Such a feeling can not heal easily.
Miroku-sama stuck to her like glue, as we all had expected. He was concerned about her; his first priority was to make sure she would be all right after enduring such emotional pain. But somehow, she got through it without shedding a tear since that day. Later when I talked with her, she admitted that she was sad, and did cry sometimes when she was alone, but now her brother was at peace, and it was something that made her content, despite what she had been through.
All of us, even Inuyasha, felt sorry for Sango-chan, each of us knowing the pain of losing someone close to us. We hoped that this was to be the only sacrifice paid in order to defeat Naraku, but it was not to be.
I remember hearing much later, that bloodshed will begot bloodshed, yet blood is sometimes the only way to end it as well. And it is true. If Naraku had not been killed, then who knows how many countless lives would have been destroyed as well. The ratio was one to many, and yet, that price was too much. But does one life have more value than another? Does that mean that the one who died was worth more than those countless lives, or do I try to be realistic and say that their life was like any others, and therefore, one is a small debt to pay?
Perhaps I think into it too much. But all I know is while one life may have value as a number, sometimes we forget that each of those six billion numbers in our world has their own life; their own family, their own friends, their own personality. Then how can we place one life versus another, when they each have their own, unique worth?
Even if all lives are wroth the same or not, that one life was lost was one I would have given anything not to lose. Maybe I'm selfish, but I think that the one missing from our number now was worth, to me at least, more than a million lives put together…
The rain slowed to a gentle pitter-patter outside of the misty cave as all companions huddled in it. Each was silent; they had been that way ever since they had crossed into the boundary of the North—closer to Naraku. Now they only spoke when it was necessary, most feeling nervous about the upcoming battle.
They had barely walked into the North when Naraku's scent was caught, almost if he was laying a trail for them directly to his lair. It was more than suspicious, but after conferring quickly, they agreed that they should follow the scent, because trap or not, Naraku was probably expecting them. Now it was a long, slow march to the valley Kouga had described, to meet up with their archenemy for hopefully the last time.
The rain had been drizzling on for hours, and while they were wasting precious traveling time, no one wanted to get wet today. Shippou and Kirara were snoozing by their slowly dying fire, Miroku and Sango were sitting against the wall of the cave, together as they had been for a while, Kouga was leaning near the mouth of the cave, with a scowl on his face, ready as ever to get out of there.
And Inuyasha and Kagome were also sitting against the wall of the cave, with Kagome sleeping softly with her head in Inuyasha's lap, while her mound of her stomach rose up like a hill beneath her large green shirt. Inuyasha absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair as she slept, making sure his mate was as comfortable as possible.
She had been sleeping a lot lately, and he attributed it to her pregnancy, as he knew it would be hard on her. Besides, while those pamphlets from her time said exercise was good for her, he knew that even at their slow pace, he was pushing her too hard. He should have known not to trust those doctors, especially since they didn't have any experience in hanyou pregnancies.
As they got closer to Naraku, he was worried even more about her safety. It wasn't just about keeping Kagome safe anymore; now he had to protect her and their child as well. And if that wasn't enough to rattle his nerves, there was also the small matter that if she tried to use any of her miko powers, she might accidentally kill their child.
I knew I should have persuaded her to stay in the village, he thought, his eyes glazing over with worry as he watched her in sleep, her face serene, and her chest rising and falling, the shell necklace visible on her breastbone. It's too dangerous…I just can't protect her while trying to keep her from fighting as well…
Before he could muse on the subject anymore, he felt Kagome stir, and suddenly open her eyes, blinking them a few times as she fully woke up. "What time is it?" she asked in a yawning whisper.
The hanyou glanced out of the cave, where the rain continued to pour. "It's been a few hours," he told her, helping her to sit up.
"How much farther do we have?" She gently traced circles on to her stomach. "I think it misses home." Before she had fallen asleep, the baby had gotten restless again.
Putting his hand over her stomach, Inuyasha agreed, "I think we all do, Kagome." In an afterthought, he added, "We don't have much farther now, the wolf said so."
"Good," she murmured, leaning her head against his chest. "Well, not 'good' in that way…but I just want to get this over with and go home."
"I know what you mean," he pulled her closer to his chest, keeping her safe.
"Inuyasha…" she asked hesitantly, glancing up into his eyes with an unsure look. "This time…we will defeat Naraku this time…right?" Her eyes begged for his assurance, something she desperately needed when filled with so much worry.
But, as always, Inuyasha didn't give her what she wanted to hear, he told her the truth. "I don't know," he replied after a pause. "I hope so, but…we won't know until we try."
With a sigh, Kagome leaned against him, closing her eyes, comforted in feeling the strong contours of his body against her frame. He was her pillar of strength now, when so much in her life was confusing and frightening. "Do you need anything?" he asked, making sure to cater to her every need.
She shook her head, her arms fisting in his haori and holding on to his desperately. "No…just hold me, please."
They were walking along the trail the next day when Kagome instantly stopped, clutching her stomach and falling to her knees. Inuyasha was instantly at her side. "Kagome? What is it? What's wrong?"
Her eyes were clamped shut as she began to tremble, not answering him. This only made the hanyou more worried. He fell to his knees and grabbed her shoulders. "Kagome! Tell me what's wrong, Kagome!"
"Naraku…" she managed to gasp. "He's coming…"
Inuyasha stared at her, feeling a strong chill wash over him. "What?"
"He's coming!" she said, turning back to him with a fearful look in her eyes. "I know this feeling…that something bad's going to happen…It's worse than ever before!"
By now, all their companions had gathered around wondering what was had happened. Inuyasha whirled and around and glared at all of them. "Don't just stand there! Naraku's coming, you idiots!" the hanyou roared, and no one dared oppose him now, not when all his anxieties had been thrown to the brink.
He turned back to Kagome, who now seemed to be calming down a bit. "Kagome, are you all right? Is the baby all right?"
After a deep breath, she nodded. "I'm fine…we're both fine…I just…" Kagome glanced back up at him, her chocolate brown eyes frightened. She reached up and touched his cheek, holding him there for a little while longer. "Please…be safe…" she pleaded.
Inuyasha held her gaze for only a moment, the silence all they had left before he turned and yelled, "Hey, wolf!"
"What?" Kouga asked, glancing from Inuyasha to Kagome.
"Get Kagome somewhere safe," Inuyasha replied, standing up, glancing back at Kagome only one time while her eyes filled with tears. "What are you waiting for? Do it!"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, as Kouga picked her up before she wanted to leave, and started sprinting in the other direction, towards the cliffs. "Wait! Kouga-kun! I can't leave him!" she yelled, watching Inuyasha fade into the distance.
"Mutt said I had to get you somewhere safe!" the wolf replied in a grunt, "And you need to be where Naraku can't get to you!"
At that moment, Kagome felt a severe chill come across her—Naraku was here. He found them…
Kouga deposited her in a small cave high enough off the ground to discourage her from trying to get back. "Stay here, don't move. We'll be back in a bit," he tried to say with a false hopefulness, but failed. After a moment of staring at her with a twinge of regret, the wolf prince leapt out of the cave, and ran back towards the battle, leaving her alone.
Kagome had a hand on her belly as she sat in the cave, on the verge of crying. She could hear the sounds of battle as clear as if she had been there as well. And every time she heard the sound of her hanyou, whether it be a yell of fury or a grunt of pain, she grasped her stomach, hoping that it wouldn't be the last time she heard his voice.
A tear fell from her eye, and landed on her maternity curve. As she rubbed circles on to the bulge in her belly, the baby only seemed to get more anxious, it's kicking and movement increasing. The baby wants its father too…
She stood up slowly, and peeked out of the mouth of the cave. What she saw was a dark, cloudy sky, lit with the lights and sounds of battle. Another loud explosion caused her to gasp as the hand clutching her stomach trembled. Inuyasha…
Surveying her surroundings, she determined that there was a thin ledge that she could walk on, and if she was careful, there were enough switchbacks to get her on the ground. Though the thought of the battle raging on at this very moment chilled her, but she knew once and for all what she had to do. It doesn't matter what Inuyasha said…he needs me…and I need him!
Carefully, she pressed herself flat against the wall, walking slowly down as the ledge. It was high up, and she wished that there was some sort of hand hold to guarantee that she wouldn't fall, but she couldn't stop now. Kagome moved slowly, and made it halfway to the ground without stumbling.
But she heard a gigantic crash, and a very loud yell from Inuyasha. Gasping, Kagome turned towards the battle. She couldn't see anything, as a ridge was covering her way, but her heart raced with every passing moment. Please, let me hear his voice again, let me hear it again…she begged, but she heard nothing from him.
Glancing down, she continued onward, though a bit faster, until at last, her feet touched solid ground. And then without so much as a pause, she took off running. It didn't matter that she was much slower when she was pregnant—as long as she got there in time.
Please, don't let me be too late!
Inuyasha slowly lifted himself on shaking limbs, clutching his ribs. No doubt about it—a few of them were broken. Being thrown against the ground by Naraku's tentacles was no laughing matter, that was for sure. Coughing slightly and wincing whenever he did, he managed to grasp the Tessaiga and use it to pull himself upward.
The hanyou gazed at the scene around him; Sango had been knocked out a while ago, and was just coming to, Miroku was at her side, having sustained a little poison from the saimyoushou, Kirara was being tended to by Shippou, who had been thrown back against a rock and probably broke something as well, and Kouga claimed he was still in the game, but had been impaled through the stomach and was now trying to get back into the fight.
And Naraku, who hardly had a scratch on him, only laughed. "Do you now see why humans and hanyou aren't worthy to fight me? You are all too weak now, a weakness brought upon by giving in to selfish desires while you waited for my debut."
Inuyasha began growling, certain of who he was referring to. Naraku's grin widened, noticing the hanyou's snarl. "What is the matter, Inuyasha? Are you feeling sad because you are separated from your mate? After all this time of you fighting side by side; with your pup, you are the last one standing. Now, you are alone."
"He's not alone!" a voice, which at that moment Inuyasha praised and cursed, rang out. He turned, praying that it wasn't who he thought it was, and yet he was let down. Kagome was there, she had come to him once again, and even single handed, she would always fly to his aid if she knew he needed her.
Of course, he was furious. "What the Hell are you doing here? I told you to get away!"
"It doesn't matter, Inuyasha! I need you now! And I know you need me!" She ran towards him, trying to wrap her arms around him in an embrace, but he pushed her away angrily.
"I was trying to protect you!" he yelled.
"Maybe I can protect myself!" she shouted back, placing her hands on her hips.
"Don't you dare think about it!"
"Why not?"
He muttered curses under his breath. In this situation, there was no choice but telling her. "Because if you try, then you might—!"
What happened next seemed to be in slow motion. The hanyou heard a sound from behind, and turned, to see one of Naraku's tentacles whipping around. It suddenly flashed towards him, but it was too wide—and all too late he realized Naraku's target.
"Kagome!"
He jumped forward and caught her as she fell, being knocked back by the tentacle. While Naraku laughed, Inuyasha held the unconscious girl in his arms, praying to anyone who would listen. She's alive…but…he placed an urgent hand over her belly. At first, the baby didn't move, scaring him half to death, but he felt it began to kick as normal, allowing him to breath easier.
Once he had determined that mate and baby were fine, Inuyasha turned and roared at Naraku, "You Bastard!"
A grin sprouted on Naraku's face. "If you cannot handle her getting hurt, then you should not bring her to dangerous battles in the first place, Inuyasha."
The hanyou's hands began to tremble as he held Kagome. He felt all the rage, worry, anxiety and fear he had in him start to churn, and boil…If he hadn't been holding Kagome, then he might have turned into a youkai right on the spot, but as it was, his eyes flickered to red once or twice before subsiding.
"Two years has changed things, hasn't it, Inuyasha?" Naraku smirked cockily. "After all, in two years, you found someone who would care for you despite your filthy hanyou blood, and look, you even managed to pup her. But in two years, I have changed as well…" He clutched the Shikon no Tama in his palm. "I have found a new use for this jewel, one that you all have been sneaking around to find the leftover details of, but without ever knowing what power the curse truly has."
Now Naraku glanced right at Sango, his white teeth showing through his grin. "It was no accident that Kohaku was killed…after all, a curse of blood needs to be fed blood…and your brother was the perfect sacrifice."
The exterminator gasped, beginning to shake under the implication. "You…you killed him…for a damn curse!"
The evil hanyou shrugged, "He disobeyed me; I would have killed him sooner or later."
Angry tears sprouted in Sango's eyes as she roared, "Naraku, you bastard!"
Naraku began chuckling to himself before he turned back to Inuyasha, "Be that as it may, I shall give you a gift; your lives, for the time being. And I hope next time we meet, you will be better equipped to give me the fight I crave." Naraku rose up and floated behind a cloud of his shouki before disappearing, leaving only the haunting memory of his grin and chilling laugh in his wake.
When Naraku had left, Inuyasha knelt down with Kagome in his lap, gently holding her, waiting for her to wake. Why did she come back? he wondered, Stupid woman, can't she just stay put when its good for her...
But even through his angry tirade, he couldn't silence the lingering thought, She got hurt because of me…Because I allowed her back into the fight…and we're lucky that the baby wasn't hurt, too.
He suddenly grasped her tighter and buried his nose in her hair, shutting his eyes tightly. Kagome…you fool...
