10

Kagome edged toward the doorway, an arrow ready to fire. Sesshoumaru moved at her side, sword drawn. "Wait, wait, . . . now!" he commanded. She let her arrow fly; its comet bright trail lighting the courtyard. Descending into the mass of vampire troops in the corridor across the courtyard, purity exploded. Screams and shrieks accompanied the dancing dust as the vampires disintegrated in the sun bright light. Kikyo whimpered as she cowered against Inuyasha, safe in the shadows, cloaked in the monk's extra robe.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha dashed into the courtyard, blades flashing in a furious maelstrom. Zombie parts flew in all directions as the two brothers stood back to back and twirled in a youkai blender. In a few moments the courtyard was clear save for the stench of disintegrating flesh.

Kagura screamed and swooped down on her feather from her vantage point above. She flew toward the corridor where Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and Kikyo waited. The two brothers were ignored as if they did not exist and their swords posed no threat. Sesshoumaru lifted one eyebrow in silent question. Inuyasha, equally puzzled, muttered, "Huh?"

Kagura stopped in front of the monk and the three women. "You bitch! First you steal my lover, now you seek to take all that is his!" she screeched. Fan poised to slash, she attempted to dash toward Kikyo. Miroku pushed her back with his staff. Sango drew her sword and Kagome readied another arrow.

Kikyo pushed through the group, her face expressionless and eyes steely. "Your lover I never wanted. His 'treasures' are dust to me. His obsession is what returned me from the grave!"

Kikyo lashed out, a dark purple haze surrounding her. A flurry of glowing shuriken flew from her hand. Kagura screamed as one slashed her cheek, another embedding itself in her leg. She lunged, claws reaching toward Kikyo.

Miroku smirked, vampire cat fight. His cursed hand twitched. "Lovely ladies, are we through yet?" He swung his staff between them.

Inuyasha rushed in, "Don't you touch Kikyo." Slashing wildly with Tetsusaiga, he barely missed removing Miroku's arm. "Move it, monk. Get outa my way."

Kagura slashed her fan at Inuyasha, wind blades swirling toward him. They were too close to do much damage. He leaped high and delivered a blow from overhead. Kagura turned and dodged but the blade sliced down, shearing through her collar bone and rib cage. She looked startled, sighed, and collapsed. Her body stilled and crumbled to dust.

The Inutaichi regrouped, the last of the enemies facing them gone. "What now?" asked Kagome.

Her answer was quick in coming. A storm of screaming flying rodents swooped down from above into the castle courtyard. Clouds of miasma accompanied their approach. Hordes of tentacles slithered down the wall from the balcony above, a dark-haired, cloaked figure their origin. His insane laughter drowned out the sound of wings and slashing swords.

The brothers' attacks swept the courtyard. The slayer slashed at whatever threatened the three women. The monk spun in circles and whirled his bladed staff taking out the 'bats' missed by the slayer. Kagome loosed an arrow overhead, just missing Naraku. As she stepped forward, Kikyo became visible to the dark lord.

Naraku hissed, "Traitor! You have betrayed your Master. Die!" She fell to her knees, her hands around her own throat, squeezing, twisting. Unable to break his hold on her will, she would break her own neck.

Inuyasha yelled, "Kikyo, No!" He leapt upward toward the balcony, his sword sweeping in a wild arc. Severed tentacles fell to the floor. Naraku dodged back, just out of reach of Inuyasha's blade.

Sesshoumaru silently landed behind the master vampire. His light whip slashed through Naraku's neck. His head teetered and fell, bouncing off the balcony rail, finally hitting the floor below.

"Kagome, hurry!" Inuyasha shouted. "Purify his head and body so he can't regenerate!"

Kagome's hail of arrows lit up the courtyard and cleared away the remaining miasma. Kikyo collapsed to the ground, her hands fell limp to her side. Inuyasha crouched next to her, shielding her from the waves of purification. "Are you all right?"

Kikyo looked up and a genuine smile transformed her face. "I am finally free."

Kagome dropped her bow. She sagged against the wall and began to shake. Sesshoumaru dropped down beside her, landing gracefully. He took in the odor of her tears. "Are you injured?" he asked. She seemed to be intact. He pulled away her hands hiding her face.

"It's just . . . just . . . everything," she gasped.

Sesshoumaru gathered her close and wrapped her in his fur. Her body was cold and she was still shaking. "It is over, finished," he reassured her.

Kikyo rose and searched the area where Naraku's body had fallen. She picked up a dark, misshapen hunk of crystal. She approached Kagome and Sesshoumaru, "I believe you should have this." She dropped the crystal into Kagome's hand.

The murky color began to lighten and fade. The clear gem gleamed a light pink. Kagome retrieved her other bits of crystal, which were drawn to the larger shape like filings to a magnet. The light pulsed and a whole spherical jewel lay in her hand. The Shikon no Tama was whole once more.