Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.
Chapter 29: Enter the Battlefield
Kagome lay on the ground, her foot caught under some fallen debris, struggling to free herself, "Help! Help!" She cried as she tugged on her leg. "Oh, please won't somebody, anybody, save me from this horrible creature!"
Inu Yasha stood unmoving beside her, watching her fruitless attempts to free herself, "From what creature?" He spat. "I don't see any horrible creature, just a stupid human who can't help herself."
"From that horrible creature!" She replied, pointing off into the dense forest.
The unbelieving hanyou turned to look where she was pointing before quickly taking off in the other direction. His red robed form shot up a tree and out of sight to hide in the branches and cower.
Kagome again streamed for help as she continued to struggle for freedom, "Oh, who is strong enough and brave enough to save me?"
"I'll save you, Kagome." The low, booming voice of the tall, muscular kitsune answered as he placed himself between her and the approaching danger.
"Oh, Shippo! My hero!" She sighed with relief and admiration.
Just as he made ready his foxfire, a gentle hand tapped his shoulder and made him turn. "Shippo. It's time to wake up, sweetie."
"Here, I'll wake him."
"No, Inu Yasha." Kagome scolded the grinning hanyou, "I can do it just fine on my own."
"Kagome?" the small fox questioned as he stretched his still sleepy muscles. "What's for breakfast?"
"That's my little man," She giggled as she shooed Inu Yasha away, "Always thinking with your stomach."
The screen on the doorway gave a misty, surreal look to the swirling mass of demons just beyond it. She knew they were near, although she couldn't see pass the demonic horde. Her keen senses could already pick up his rich scent.
"You can smell him, can't you?" His deep voice whispered in her ear, as he pressed himself against her. "It's beautiful, isn't it? All that raw power under such unwavering control." With his lips still pressed to the shell of her ear, he bound her hands tightly behind her. "We must keep up the appearance that you are my prisoner if our plan is to succeed."
The crest of the hill was shrouded in a dark cloud of writhing miasma. Inu Yasha knew that Naraku had to be at the heart of it even though his scent was hidden by that of the other demons that had gathered.
"Naraku!" he yelled. "Show yourself, so I can kill you!"
Kagome felt like smacking her forehead …or the tactless hanyou. "Inu Yasha…"
"What?!" he barked, turning sharply to face her.
Shaking her head, Kagome simply waved it off, "Nothing …just remember the plan is to get Naosu back before destroying Naraku."
Rolling his eyes, he turned his attention back to his target across the field. The rest of the group had spread out across the hill top and were ready for the first wave of attacking demons. As the thick cloud of miasma thinned Kagome saw them, the dark light from Naraku's nearly completed jewel and the purer glow of the shard Naosu possessed. Taking careful aim she released the arrow she had readied and watched with anticipation as it collided with Naraku's barrier. A great rumble began to shake the ground beneath their feet as the purifying light around the arrow intensified, dissolving the evil aura of Naraku's barrier. The ground seemed to heave up around the small hut that had become visible as the rumble became a roar. The brittle boards of his hide-out splintered and flew towards his unwelcome guests.
"Did you come all this way just for me," he smiled, watching them dodge the last of the shrapnel, "or do you come seeking this deceitful wench?!" His tone became dark as he raised up the helpless body of his captive by her chained limbs.
Naosu quickly surveyed the field from her new vantage point; everything was still going as planned, everyone was in position. She was careful not to make eye contact with any of them, fearful that Naraku would notice and feel the trap closing before they were ready.
"She wears the robes of the great Lord Sesshomaru" Naraku's eyes bore into the youkia lord across the field, watching for any waver in his expression, "and when she came to me, she was drenched in your scent." Moving Naosu's body closer to him, Naraku inhaled and smiled, his eyes still locked with those of his prey. "What could my little spy have done to earn such favour from the cold Lord of the West? What special talents did you share with him, my deceitful pet?"
Naosu flinched as the hand of her captor closed around her neck and pulled her tight against him. His voice came as a hiss in her ear, "I have fulfilled my end of the bargain, now it is time for you to fulfill yours."
He felt the trembling of his limbs as he inched slowly closer to his goal, the scattered wood and stone of the exploded hut providing him with cover. The others had done such a good job dispatching the many lesser demons that his main worry now was the Saimyoushou or being spotted by Naraku, himself. Shippo stopped about ten feet away from the dangerous hanyou and waited for his cue. The dark haired half demon held Naosu by the throat, her eyes forced skyward as her body hung limp, the chains connecting her wrists unnecessary.
The kitsune watched as the woman's body suddenly tensed at a whispered word from the lips pressed to her ear. A single tear slipped down her cheek as the vicious hanyou's hand burst through her abdomen in a spray of dark blood. As the thick liquid dripped down his arm, Kagome spotted the soft light of the last jewel shard between his fingers. Holding it tightly, Naraku withdrew his arm from the wounded girl and tossed her dying body at the feet of the stoic youkia lord across the field.
Sesshomaru's eyes remained locked on Naraku as the scent of pooling blood surrounded him. A thirst for vengeance began to fill him; not at her death but at the part of him that lay dying with her. He saw her hand struggle to move toward him and heard the barely audible words that escaped with her last breth.
"My heart will never forget you…"