Inuyasha: You moron! We thought you were dead!
A1969: ah! Please don't be upset! I know I've been gone long, but oh boy, medical school is murder, let me tell you.
Sesshoumaru: it did not do a good job, as you are still living.
A1969: it's a figure of speech! Anyway, shut up Sesshoumaru. Hey guys! I'm horribly sorry about not updating in what seems like forever. I know it's inexcusable, but still, please accept my apologies.
Kagome: aren't you forgetting something?
A9196: hm? Oh, right! Thanks for reviewing guys! And thank you to the people who have sent me personal messages. I was actually touched that you guys were concerned about me. Sorry if I wasn't able to reply to some of them, but thank you all the same! Please enjoy this chapter!
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-Chapter Fifty-Four-
.:Determination:.
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Clara
I don't understand.
As I stood there in my nightdress, staring out at the bustling city below me, I couldn't help but think that the whole world had been turned upside down, and I was the only one who was the right side up. This was New York. This was the Modern Era…
What was I doing here?
What happened?
I remembered cold. I remembered screaming. But not just my scream—Rin's. I remembered the darkness as I fell through a hole in the ice, in a field of snow.
How had I gotten from the Feudal Era to…Modern New York?
The situation was so unexpected, so wrong that I pinched myself, confident that I would wake up.
I didn't.
Frowning, I pinched myself again—harder. "Ow!"
Okay…This wasn't a dream, then. So…how did I get here? What had happened? Where was Sesshoumaru? Who had brought me here? Was this real, or had I gone completely crazy?
I racked my brain for an answer, trying to remember what happened after I had fallen through the ice. I drew a blank. Had someone saved me? Had that someone brought me home? Had it been Sesshoumaru? But, if that were the case, how was I in Manhattan, on the other side of the globe? I couldn't have been sleeping through an entire flight, right?
I shook my head, as though the questions would go away, and I would be left with an answer. Not even bothering to throw on a robe, I turned to the door and placed a hand on it. It was solid—real.
I hesitated before I pushed open the door. I found myself in a marble hallway. Across from me, on the wall, were paintings done by modern artists—paintings that my mother loved.
I took a reluctant step out of my room. "Mom?" I called out.
Silence.
"Mom?" I shouted. I walked briskly down the length of the hall. The only sound I could hear was the sound of my soles, slapping against the tiles. "Mom!"
I burst into a run. "Mom!"
"Whoa, whoa, where's the fire?"
I nearly tripped as I stopped myself from running into a man who had just rounded the corner. He gripped me by the shoulders, steadying me. Behind his black glasses, his brown eyes looked warm and amused as he regarded me.
It was as though I felt the wind knocked out of me. No…It couldn't be…was…was it?
"D-dad?" I stammered, hardly daring to believe my eyes.
He sniggered and ruffled my hair affectionately. "What's the rush?" he asked. "It's the weekend. I thought you'd be sleeping in late again. Like always."
My father.
And before I knew it, I threw myself at him, hugging him so tightly he grunted. "Dad!" I cried. "You're…you're alive!" How was this even possible? I wasn't dreaming, was I? This couldn't be real!
The befuddled expression he wore as he looked down at me told me that, yes—this was real. My father was here. He was alive.
"Clara Antoinette Rose," he said, raising his eyebrows. "What have you been drinking?" His eyes glittered with humor.
I laughed and smacked his shoulders. "No, it's just…you're alive," I said.
He laughed along with me. "Why wouldn't I be?" He ruffled my hair again. In that instant, I felt such a surge of happiness inside me, it pushed out everything else.
"Why on earth are you two making all this racket so early in the morning?"
We turned just as a door in the hall opened, and my mother stepped out in her cream robe. Unlike Dad and I, she looked ready to face the day—her hair was neat, and not a single pillow crease on her face. How she managed that, I could never tell. Must be a model thing.
I felt my smile widening as I turned to her. "Mom!" I charged towards her, and she gasped as my weight hit her. I felt her arms around me, felt her warm embrace, and couldn't imagine being any happier.
"You're unusually affectionate," she said, pulling away so she could stare at me. "Since when were you a morning person?"
I shook my head. "I'm just…I'm just so happy to see you guys," I said. I sounded breathless.
Alexis chuckled. "We saw each other last night, at dinner, darling," she said, smiling.
I blinked. Dinner last night…?
For a moment, I felt as though she must have been wrong. Had we seen each other last night? Or was it the day before? Mom and Dad were busy, after all. In truth, I wasn't really sure.
I shook my head, as though to get rid of the doubts. "Have you been drinking?" she asked. "You could be a little hung over."
I laughed. "Of course not!" I said. And then suddenly, it seemed so pointless to worry. Did it really matter when I saw them last? They were here now, weren't they?
Dad came over and placed a hand on my head. "Well, we're all awake," he said. "Who wants me to cook?"
I made a face. "I'm sorry, I'll have to skip breakfast if you're cooking," I said, grinning at him. I'd inherited my abysmal cooking skills from my father, after all—I knew perfectly well how a meal he made could be deadly.
My mother laughed. She had an amazing laugh—bright and open, as though she didn't have a care in the world. "Don't worry," she said, smiling. "I'm not going to let us go hungry this morning, Clara."
She winked, and I grinned at her. For the first time in a long while, I felt happy.
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Kagome
Sango's voice reverberated through the empty gardens as she drew Kohaku onto her lap. Her shoulders shook as she bowed her head over his face. Miroku placed his arms around Sango's shoulders, holding her tightly as she sobbed.
"No, no, no," she moaned. Several tears fell on Kohaku's forehead.
I clenched my fists as I glared at Midoriko. "How could you?!" I snarled. I took a step towards her, but Inuyasha grabbed me by the shoulder, holding me back. "Let go!" I snapped. I turned back to Midoriko. To her credit, she had the decency to look regretful.
"How could you?!" I shrieked. "He was just a child! He was the only family she had left, and you took that away from her! You say you want to stop the Jewel from causing so much suffering, but you're no better!"
Midoriko closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was nothing but an emptiness to them, a long-held sadness. On one hand, the Jewel hovered above her palm, pure and bright. On her other hand, floated Kohaku's shard.
"I have made mistakes," Midoriko said softly, blue eyes staring intently at me. "And I do not claim to be a saint. I only claim to have a desire to right my wrongs, to ensure that my mistakes will no longer bring suffering to many."
I gestured angrily towards Kohaku. "Well, you're doing very well in that department!" I said sarcastically.
Midoriko shook her head, and she turned towards Sesshoumaru. Suddenly, her expression shifted—she looked gentler, and the smile she gave him was sweet. It was an expression Clara usually wore when she smiled at him.
Sesshoumaru stiffened. Just as I realized what Midoriko was trying to do, she said, in a calm voice, "You will help me, won't you, Sesshoumaru?"
"That manipulative wench," Inuyasha hissed. I felt his grip tightening around my hand.
Sesshoumaru glared, his expression one of pure menace. "Do you think a petty act can sway me?" he hissed. He pointed his sword towards Midoriko, who didn't blink.
"No, I suppose not," she said, shaking her head. She glanced at the Jewel and the shard, hovering in her hands, and she looked up at us. "Enough. The Jewel will be whole here and now—you can either stand with me, or against me as I vanquish it. That choice is entirely yours."
"I'd rather die!" Sango hissed as she stood, carefully laying Kohaku's body down on the snow. Her eyes were filled with tears and rage—a rage I'd never seen in her before. "I'd rather die than help you vanquish the Jewel! In fact, I'd rather vanquish you!" She started towards Midoriko, but Miroku held her back.
"Let go of me!" Sango snarled, trying to free herself from Miroku's grip, but he held her fast. "I'm going to kill her!"
Midoriko regarded her, before turning her attention to the Jewel and the shard. "For too long, I've watched the souls of the Jewel's victims," she said quietly. "Watched as they suffered, and knowing that there was nothing I could do stop the senseless violence. Each cry shattered my heart over and over again…Enough is enough."
"I'm not letting her complete that thing," Inuyasha growled, as Tessaiga was slowly encased in adamant. Without another word, he leapt into the air towards Midoriko's barrier, Tessaiga flashing in the winter light. "Adamant Barrage!"
There was a loud explosion as spears of adamant struck Midoriko's barrier. Dust and snow shot into the air from the force of Inuyasha's attack, and I coughed.
"Inuyasha!" I called out as snow blinded me.
A startled cry suddenly rang around us. "That sounded like Inuyasha!" Miroku shouted.
I felt my blood run cold. "Inuyasha!" I screamed.
The snow settled to reveal Midoriko's barrier, intact and unscathed. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru standing in front of us. Sesshoumaru had a clawed hand around Inuyasha's throat, and the Tessaiga lay a few feet away from them, forgotten. There was no mistaking the angry look in the demon lord's eyes as he watched Inuyasha splutter and gag as he tried to breathe.
"Sesshoumaru, stop!" I screamed. I quickly nocked an arrow to my bow, aiming it straight at his head. "Put Inuyasha down, now!"
He ignored me. Instead, he fixed Inuyasha with a glare. "You will not harm her," he said, his voice deadly. Inuyasha tried clawing at his brother's wrists, but Sesshoumaru didn't budge.
"She's…she's…not Clara!" Inuyasha gagged. "Clara is…she's gone!"
For a moment, Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in anger and…pain? I wasn't sure, because a second later, he schooled his expression into one of icy calm.
Sesshoumaru dropped Inuyasha, who coughed as he hit the ground. "She is mine to deal with, little brother," Sesshoumaru said. The warning in his voice was all too clear.
"Don't be an idiot!" Inuyasha snapped, standing. He glared at his elder brother.
Midoriko shook her head as she regarded them both with sad eyes. "The bond of blood brothers, broken because of the Jewel," she said. The shard and the Jewel that hovered in her hands slowly drew closer, the shard angling itself so it aligned with the crack in the Jewel. Like the last piece of a puzzle.
"No!" I shouted. I took aim at her barrier and released the bowstring. The arrow lit up with a bright light as it sped towards her. But before it could even touch her barrier, the holy light surrounding it vanished, and it fell to the snow.
"The Jewel's evil ends now," Midoriko said.
Time seemed to freeze as the shard slid smoothly into place within the Jewel. There was a sudden, blinding flash of light as Midoriko's barrier vanished and the Jewel shot upwards, towards the sky. It hovered high above us, its light slowly blackening as the evil within the Jewel was finally complete.
I shuddered. The Jewel emitted such an impure aura. Was this the evil that Midoriko had fought for centuries? Its malice was overwhelming. For a moment, I felt nothing but pity for Midoriko. To have fought something so wicked for so long…
"What have you done?!" Sango shouted, glaring at Midoriko.
"I am setting things right, and it's time you understood this," she replied. She looked around at everyone, her blue eyes lingering on Sesshoumaru, who glared. "The Jewel is finally whole. Now is the time to purify it, to rid the world of its evil."
Her eyes suddenly found mine, and I froze as she held out a hand to me. "I'm not letting you harm Kagome!" Inuyasha snarled as he stood protectively in front of me, Tessaiga held at the ready.
I suddenly felt something quivering from the sleeve of my haori, and I cried out in surprise. I pulled out Midoriko's mirror from my sleeve—it shook and jerked, and I tried to hold on to it. A second later, it flew out of my hand and towards Midoriko.
"I am not an evil person," she said gently, as she caught the mirror in her hands. "I, too, have known pain and loss, and though I regret causing you anguish"—she glanced briefly towards Sesshoumaru—"I can do nothing for you."
I couldn't tell what Sesshoumaru was thinking. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at Midoriko. She smiled sadly at him, before turning her attention to Sango.
"But you," she said to her. "I regret you the most of all."
"I don't need your pity!" Sango snarled as she struggled against Miroku's hold.
"No," Midoriko agreed. High above us, dark, ominous clouds gathered around the Jewel. Wisps of miasma hovered around the Jewel, and I suppressed a shudder. "You need something else."
The mirror in her palm suddenly radiated a soft, white light. I watched, amazed, as the mirror glowed brightly in Midoriko's palm. Its light devoured the darkness above until it was all we could see.
"I renounce the gods' favor," Midoriko said, as she glanced up at the dark sky above her. She smiled, regretfully. "From henceforth, this power shall no longer be mine!"
The mirror pulsed with light. It flew from Midoriko's hand towards Sango, whom Miroku immediately pulled back with a startled cry. "No, Kohaku!" Sango shouted as Miroku yanked her back. She reached towards her brother's body just as Midoriko's mirror reached it.
The mirror glowed even more brilliantly. I shut my eyes against the glare. "Kagome!" I felt Inuyasha leap towards me, felt him drawing me tightly against him. Cloth brushed gently against my cheek as Inuyasha covered us both with his sleeve. I clung tightly to him just as holy energy surged around us.
Incredible. This power was even holier than Midoriko's. Was this the full power of her mirror? Did the mirror hold not her power, but the gods'?
I suddenly heard Clara's voice chanting in a strange language. What was Midoriko saying? It sounded as though she was speaking a strange mixture of Latin, Celtic and Japanese. Her voice grew louder, and as it did, the holy energy surrounding us surged in strength.
I felt Inuyasha tensing, heard him grunt in pain. "This holy aura..." I clenched his haori and buried my face against his chest. "It's too much for you. We have to get out of here, Inuyasha."
He held me tighter. "I can handle it! Besides, it's vanishing."
True enough, the holy energy around us slowly started to fade away. I pulled away from Inuyasha and opened my eyes.
Sesshoumaru was kneeling beside Kohaku. He frowned slightly as he stared at the boy. "What the...?" Inuyasha said as he pulled away from me.
At that moment, a loud cough echoed throughout the ruined garden. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly as Kohaku gasped, his cheeks immediately coloring as life flowed through him again.
"Kohaku!" Sango rushed past us and towards Kohaku. She fell on her knees beside him, and placed his head on her lap. "Kohaku!"
"Incredible," Miroku said softly. He walked past us and knelt beside Sango, ignoring Sesshoumaru.
Kohaku let out another cough before he finally opened his eyes. He blinked rapidly. He looked disoriented as he stared up at the falling snow.
His eyes suddenly focused on Sango, who was shaking with both happiness and disbelief. "S-sis?" Kohaku groaned.
"Kohaku," Sango breathed. A tear slid down her cheek and onto Kohaku's forehead. "You're alive."
"What are you playing at?" Inuyasha demanded, glaring at Midoriko. She had been staring at Kohaku and Sango, a peaceful expression on her face.
Midoriko turned to Inuyasha. The peaceful look on her face changed into one of cold. She shook her head. "I am not filled with malice, Inuyasha," she said. "Though I will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Jewel is no more, I cannot stand to see other people suffer because of my sins. As much as possible, I do not wish to cause harm. Please, understand this."
Strangely enough, I believed her. But that didn't mean my dislike for her lessened. She may have given back Kohaku, but it was clear she had no intention of handing Clara over.
Sango looked up at her. There was a look of reluctant gratitude in her eyes. "You need not thank me," Midoriko said simply, sensing her inner conflict.
The priestess looked upwards, at the Jewel surrounded by its black cloud of miasma. "If you can give back Kohaku, give us back Clara!" I snapped.
Midoriko looked towards Sesshoumaru. All this time, the demon lord had been a silent figure in the background. I couldn't tell what was going through Sesshoumaru's mind, but whatever it was, he didn't seem to like it. His eyes were nothing but cold as they held Midoriko's gaze.
"It is unfortunate, Lord Sesshoumaru, that I cannot give you what you so desire," she said. "I need Clara's soul to vanquish the Jewel. If I could save her, I would. You know this, and yet you wish to pretend that I am the enemy." She paused. "Fight with me, every one of you, and I am certain that, together, we can vanquish the Jewel. And perhaps, just perhaps, we can save Clara as well."
"What do you mean, save?" Miroku asked, his shrewd eyes narrowed.
"Miroku's right, the only person Clara needs saving from is you," Inuyasha huffed.
Midoriko shook her head. "When I took Clara's body, I sealed away her soul within the Jewel," she said simply. "My soul will rejoin hers, and as one, we will vanquish the Sacred Jewel forever. Whether or not you wish to help me is entirely up to you."
Lightning flashed around the black jewel above us, and thunder rumbled. Midoriko kept her eyes on us. I stared at her. A part me of believed that she was not an evil person—she had known loneliness within the jewel, and pain when she had lost everything, even the demon she loved. She was a sad figure…but certainly not evil.
"Whatever conflict you are feeling, resolve it," Midoriko said calmly. She looked at all of us, her eyes lingering on Sesshoumaru. "Already, the Jewel's evil is starting to seep into the land."
I glanced around us. Sure enough, the ground seemed a sickly color, and the leaves on the trees were starting to fall from their branches. There was a loud flap of wings as birds darted out of the trees around us, their loud cries echoing with foreboding.
I gripped my bow and looked towards Inuyasha. He bit his lip and nodded reluctantly at me. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand…I couldn't read his expression.
"We'll help you," I said at last. "But know this—if we see even a small chance of saving our friend, we're going to take it, even if the price to pay is your life."
Midoriko's smile was melancholic. "How strong your bond is," she said, her voice filled with regret. She shook her head. "Then, our final battle with the Jewel begins now!"
So saying, she turned to look up at the jewel. She raised a hand towards it, her fingers spread open. Lightning flashed as the jewel fell towards Midoriko. The moment the jewel touched her palm, a blinding light suddenly enveloped us.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted. I felt his arms tightening protectively around me.
"What's happening?" I gasped as I shut my eyes against the immense glare.
"Whatever happens," Inuyasha said, "I'm here for you—always."
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Clara
"Dad, you're hogging the remote." My father looked at me with wide eyes. He looked funny, his hair rumpled in a mess, and a single potato chip in his mouth. It was what he usually looked like on Saturdays, when he took time off his busy schedule to spend the day at home.
"If I give this to you," he said, holding up the remote from where he sat at the opposite end of the couch. "You're just going to watch re-runs of Game of Thrones, and I can only tolerate Ned Stark's death once."
I laughed and threw a pillow at him. It smacked him in the face. In retaliation, he lobbed the bag of potato chips at me, sending chips scattering everywhere.
"I wish you two would act your age," a voice sighed.
We looked over the couch just as mom walked into the living room. She leaned over our couch, a delicate eyebrow arched. I'd have to say, she had her makeup on point quite early in the morning. "I expect one of you will be cleaning that mess up?"
"Clara will."
"Dad will."
Alexis rolled her eyes. "In any case, I have tickets!" she raised her hand to show us three glossy movie tickets.
"For what?" I asked, tilting my head as I snatched one of them.
"The premier of the English Patient," mom said proudly.
I squealed in delight and mom grinned at me. "You girls only want to go because of Ralph Fiennes," Dad said, letting out a long, suffering sigh.
"He's hot," I said simply.
"He's very good-looking," mom agreed.
"I think I'll watch The Vampire Diaries instead," Dad said, rolling his eyes as he pointedly turned back to the TV.
"But he's not as good-looking as you are," mom said, as she wound her arms around dad's neck. She kissed his head and grinned down at him.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go and do Clara stuff while you two get all lovey dovey," I said as I hopped off the couch. I looked back at them. Mom was looking down at dad, and he was smiling up at her. I had never seen anyone look so in love before.
I smiled as I walked away. As I reached the hallway, I frowned. I had the strangest feeling as though I had forgotten something.
But I couldn't remember what.
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Kagome
I couldn't see.
As soon as the light had faded, we found ourselves hovering in a void of darkness. I glanced to my left then right. I could see nothing but black—I couldn't even see the tip of my nose. Where was this place? I gripped my bow tightly in my hand.
"Inuyasha!?" I called out, feeling a creeping sensation of panic settling around me. I heard my voice echoing around me.
"Kagome!"
I nearly screamed as I felt someone gripping my wrists. "It's me!" Inuyasha's voice said. His grip tightened, reassuring me.
"How do I know you're really Inuyasha?!" I snapped, trying to tug my wrist away. I couldn't see a darned thing!
"It's me, you idiot! Calm down!"
I tried to pull my wrist away. "I prefer ninja food over your cooked eggs, dammit!" Inuyasha growled.
"Inuyasha?" I said. If that comment about my cooking was true, I'd teach him a thing or two, after this whole mess was over.
"I'm right here," Inuyasha said, his grip on my wrist gentle.
"Where is everyone?" I asked. "What happened?"
"We are going to battle the Sacred Jewel," another voice said.
My eyes widened. "Clara?" I said aloud, before I shook my head. No, this wasn't Clara. "Midoriko?"
In reply, light suddenly flared from beside me. I closed my eyes against the intense glare. I could feel warmth washing over me, felt Inuyasha shielding me. I opened my eyes as the flare lessened.
I gasped in surprise.
Midoriko was hovering a few feet away from us. Her hands were raised upward, towards a bright sphere high above her. Had she conjured it to give us enough light?
Turning my eyes away from Midoriko, I looked towards Inuyasha. He was frowning as he looked off into the distance, into the darkness that our light could not penetrate. I glanced around me. Sesshoumaru was hovering a little farther away, his golden eyes taking in his surroundings. Like Inuyasha, it seemed as though he sensed something.
"Sango? Miroku?"
"Here." I spun around to find both of them behind me.
"Where's Kohaku?" I asked.
"I left the boy behind," Midoriko said, turning to us. She gave Sango a slight smile. "I thought it would be for the best."
Sango only frowned. "Where are we exactly?" she asked.
Midoriko turned her back on us, and glanced around, her eyes searching for something. "They're coming," she said simply.
No sooner had she spoken, than a loud screech suddenly pierced through the darkness beyond. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru immediately drew their swords, while Miroku and Sango readied themselves. Beyond the border of light, I could make out something slithering through the dark…headed towards us. A moment later a wall of demons burst through the darkness, their screeches loud and strong.
We were completely surrounded.
"We are in the depths of the Sacred Jewel," Midoriko said, as she drew her sword.
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Clara
"I think it was a good movie," I said from seat in the back of the car. We had just finished watching the premier of the English Patient, and dad wasn't really convinced.
"Meh," he said.
Mom smacked him lightly in the arm as he drove away from the theater. "It was a good movie. You just don't like Ralph Fiennes," she joked.
"Ha, ha," dad said sarcastically.
I raised an eyebrow at their antics as I leaned back in my seat. Outside, the rain was starting to fall. I glanced up at the falling rain, frowning. There was something about the rain that made me think of something, like a memory at the back of my mind. I tried thinking what it was, but I couldn't. Something about cosplayers, and umbrellas…
But what? I closed my eyes, trying hard to think. This feeling had been nagging at me the whole day. The feeling that there was something or someone I'd forgotten. Even as I had watched a movie, a part of my mind kept wandering. The rain…walking in the rain with my umbrella, with someone beside me…But who?
I opened my eyes just as the loud blare of a truck broke through my thoughts. I suddenly became aware of several things all at once. Light blazed from the right of the car, and I turned towards it. The truck baring down on us looked as though it had come from nowhere. I heard my mother scream my father's name as he quickly swerved the car a moment too late. I heard a loud crash, heard glass shattering, heard my parents' screams. I heard metal twisting, and grinding, rubber tires screeching. I closed my eyes as I tried to hold on.
And then pain.
I groaned as I opened my eyes. The car had been flipped over. My vision was so blurry, it took a while for my eyes to adjust. When it did, I wished it hadn't. My father's body was twisted at an odd angle in his seat, his torso facing towards me. He was sandwiched between heaps of metal and broken glass. His neck was bent in a way that made me want to throw up. And he was staring at me with glassy eyes.
I tried to reach a hand out to him. "Dad?" I whispered. I felt something warm and sticky trickling down the side of my eyes. My throat felt tight. "Dad?" I wanted to reach out to him, but my arm hurt.
And then the reality of it came crashing down on me.
My father couldn't hear me. Couldn't see me. He was dead.
"Oh god," I breathed. I heard a groan. "Mom?"
At that moment, the faint scent of fuel filled the air, and my eyes widened. I glanced out the shattered window. The truck had rammed the driver's side of the car, and its headlights sparked. The scent of fuel grew stronger as I frantically tried to reach towards my mother. A moment later, fire blazed.
In the distance, I could hear sirens wailing, and rain falling.
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Kagome
"Inuyasha, behind you!" I released my arrow, and it struck the demon behind Inuyasha. It let out a keen of rage as it was purified.
Inuyasha slashed at the wall of demons around us, unleashing the Wind Scar. "Dammit, is there no end to them?!" he growled, as he brought the Tessaiga down on a demon.
A little farther off, I could see Sango and Miroku battling the hoard that surrounded them. "Wind Tunnel!" Miroku shouted, removing the beads on his hand. The demons howled in fury as the Wind Tunnel drew them in. But even as they were pulled in, more demons seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Miroku, stop it!" Sango shouted as she threw her Hiraikotsu. "This hoard seems endless, it'll be dangerous if you use the Wind Tunnel for long!" She took out her katana, and slashed at a demon that sped towards her. She caught the Hiraikotsu with her other hand.
"Meido Zangetsuha!" Sesshoumaru's dark meido drew the demons in, but it seemed useless. There was no end to the demons.
I could feel beads of sweat on my brow as I nocked another arrow to my bow. A little farther on, I could see Midoriko taking down the demons with a slash from Shinsei. The expression in her eyes betrayed no emotion, and I couldn't help but feel a bout of pity for her. Was this what she had to endure all those centuries within the Jewel? A never-ending battle?
"Kagome, get back!" Inuyasha shouted as adamant began to appear on the Tessaiga. "I'll cut these bastards down, if it's the last thing I do! Adamant Barrage!"
Spears of adamant flew towards the demons who howled in fury as they rushed towards us. I watched as they disintegrated and more demons sped from the darkness.
Sesshoumaru sped towards Midoriko, cutting down several demons as he reached her side. "You said you locked her soul within the Jewel," he said as he slashed through a demon. "Where is she?"
Midoriko brought down a hoard of demons with a blast from Shinsei before she turned to him. "I do not know," she said simply.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her. "I cannot find her," Midoriko went on. "Our souls are one, and yet I cannot feel her presence." She frowned. "I feel as though the darkness has consumed her."
The demon lord's eyes widened slightly, and his gripped on Bakusaiga tightened. Without saying another word he sped towards the darkness beyond the light.
"Sesshoumaru, wait!" Inuyasha shouted, dispatching a demon and turning towards his brother.
"If you leave now," Midoriko told him, blue eyes narrowing. "The darkness of the Jewel may consume you as well. We must find Magatsuhi and Naraku and eliminate them both, if we are to be rid of this darkness."
Sesshoumaru stopped, and turned towards us. The look he gave us was one of cold loathing. "I will bring her back," he said, before he turned and disappeared into the black void.
"That impatient idiot!" Inuyasha shouted as he swung the Tessaiga towards the wall of demons. "Backlash Wave!"
"Midoriko!" I called out. "How do we find Naraku and who's Magatsuhi?"
"He is the very evil I have battled since I birthed the jewel," Midoriko said, frowning. "He is the origin of all the suffering the jewel causes, and the one who killed me."
"How do we find him?" Miroku asked as he Sango made their way over to us. "If we destroy this Magatsuhi, will we be able to destroy the jewel as well?"
Midoriko nodded. "But what about Clara?" I interjected. I nocked another arrow to my bow and let it fly, striking one of the demons headed towards us.
"I do not know," was the answer I didn't want to hear.
"Midoriko!" I snapped, glaring at her. I was not going to let her gamble Clara's life like this! "Listen to me! The only reason you're doing this is because you no longer want the jewel to exist in this world! If you give Clara's body and soul back, I give you my word—we will destroy Magatsuhi and the jewel!"
Midoriko's face was impassive, and I felt that she didn't believe me. I was about to say something else, when a loud roar echoed from all around us. The demons surrounding us suddenly went still, and we turned towards the darkness. I could see something slithering towards, something massive.
"He comes," Midoriko said.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Clara
I was screaming.
All around me, fire was blazing. I could see nothing, not even the inside of the car. Nothing but bright, hot flame. I tried to shield my face from the blaze, but that was useless. Flames licked at me, and the pain was indescribable.
Please! Someone! Anyone!
Just let me die.
Beyond the flames, I could hear cold and cruel laughter. I lowered my arms, and I felt heat against my face. I struggled to open eyes. Pain, so much pain. Every inch of my skin screamed. The heat was indescribable. I could smell the scent of burning flesh and hair, and my stomach rolled.
"Please, help me," I gasped. "Anyone!"
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Sesshoumaru
I looked ahead, into the endless darkness. I took out Tenseiga, and as though it sensed my thoughts, light burst from the blade. There, illuminated in Tenseiga's light, was a wall of demons, their eyes shining with unconcealed bloodlust.
"Vermin," I hissed. I took out Bakusaiga, and swung. I watched, satisfied, as the demons fell prey to Bakusaiga's erosion.
Help me!
I froze and my eyes widened. That voice. "Clara?" I turned to the darkness behind me. There was nothing there. And yet I was certain it was her voice I had heard. She had sounded distressed and in pain.
I quickly sped into the darkness, towards her voice.
I will find you.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
A1969: well, there you have it!
Inuyasha: whatever.
Kagome: don't be rude Inuyasha, you haven't spoken to each other in ages.
A1969: yeah, Inuyasha, be nice. Anyway, I have a small announcement to make. I originally planned on making this story fifty-five chapters, but I'm planning on shortening my chapters so it'll be a bit easier for me to update.
Miroku: oh, hey, look! That good for nothing author is back!
Sango: Miroku!
A1969: yeah, nice to see you too, Miroku. Anyways, I also wrote another story! It's called Twilight Stars, and it's an Akatsuki no Yona fanfiction. I just discovered it. God, Soo-won is hot. Whew! I swear, he's hotter than Sesshoumaru!
Sesshoumaru: *EyeTwitch*
A1969: aw, don't worry, Sesshoumaru, you've been number one in my bishounen list for a decade now. Number two won't be so bad.
Inuyasha: hahaha! Number two!
A1969: You never made it at all, Inuyasha.
Inuyasha: what?
A1969: anyways, thank you for reading! Please review! : )