Disclaimer: Actually, there was a time when- No, I'm lying. I've never owned Inuyasha and never will. *sadness*
A/N Ohhhh man, final chapter! Are you all ready for this intense throwdown? Let's get started!
"Mr. Hirozaki," Inuyasha greeted, trying to keep his emotions in check.
The man gave Inuyasha a feral grin. "Oh come now, Inuyasha. You and I go back quite a ways. Feel free to call me Naraku."
"Naraku," Inuyasha repeated with a tight smile. "I finally see you for who you really are. A coward, a killer and someone always looking out for himself."
"You mentioned on the phone a reason why I wouldn't kill you on sight?" Naraku cocked his head to the side.
"Oh yes, I have one. It doesn't mean I have to sugar coat it," Inuyasha snapped back. "If you came to get your ego stroked, I'm afraid that won't happen. Make no mistake, I loathe you as much as one human can another. You destroyed my entire life. You killed my parents, two of the best people in the world. And you stole five years of my life from me. I woke up not even recognizing myself anymore."
"Poor Inuyasha. Poor little rich boy went through a hardship," Naraku taunted.
Inuyasha clenched his fists at his side. "And what did you get out of it? What was worth putting my family through that? Do you honestly think money can replace what I had? Did it help you in your pathetic life?"
Naraku chuckled. "I live like a king, Inuyasha. All thanks from the generous 'donation' from Western Enterprises. And of course the 'sacrifice' of your family. And oh, look at that – I don't regret a thing."
"You're despicable. How does someone become so heartless?"
Naraku yawned. "I'm getting bored, Inuyasha. Why did you call me out here? Just to find answers that you're incapable of swallowing?"
"You ruined my life in more than one way that day. You took away my parents and left me with my older half-brother, Sesshoumaru. You couldn't have given me a worse situation. He has always despised me and ever since I woke up, he's been blaming me for being the one who survived that night. My life this past year has been hell. I'm under his guardianship, he controls my every going and coming and every penny in my bank account. He shoved me in a boarding school which is more like a makeshift prison than school. He lives to torture me and remind me that our parents should have been the ones to live over me, his pathetic little half-breed brother."
Naraku flashed a feral grin. "Sounds like the Sesshoumaru we all know and love."
"I can't take it any longer. I need to get rid of him."
"And what? You think I'll just kill him for you? Just so you'll keep your mouth shut?"
"No, you unchained freak," Inuyasha spat. "I don't want you to kill him. I'm not like you. I just don't want to be under his thumb anymore. I want to be independent so I can live out the shambles of my life in peace."
"So what exactly is it that you think I can help you with? Because once again, my attention's slipping."
Inuyasha watched as Naraku slipped a hand into one of his coat's deep pockets and gulped. He had a pretty good idea Naraku hadn't come unarmed. He met Naraku's eyes, his expression set in determination. "I want to oust Sesshoumaru from the company. I want to take over Western Enterprises. And I want your help to do it."
Naraku looked at him in shock for a split second before letting out a bark of laughter. "Are you out of your mind, kid?"
"No. I'm perfectly serious. There are two heirs to Western Enterprises and I'm one of them. Why should Sesshoumaru get everything and lord it over my head? I want to be my own master, not his lapdog. But everyone thinks he's doing such a good job with the company. They'd never accept me over him without a good reason. That's where you come in."
Naraku paced away from him a few steps before turning back. "I'm supposed to believe you want to turn on your own brother? And team up with the man who shot you in the back six years ago? All for control of your father's company? Hahaha, maybe you're not quite as self-righteous as you profess to be!"
"Maybe I'm not. Maybe I've learned a few harsh lessons from my 'hardship,' as you put it. I need to look out for myself and if you're the only solution, I'm willing to take the chance. We can use each other. You stop trying to kill me, I keep you out of prison. We take over a company and make whatever you embezzled before look like pocket change."
"It's an intriguing offer. Not one I would expect from a seventeen year old. How exactly do you propose we get rid of Sesshoumaru?"
"We have to discredit him. You're obviously good at changing company records. I'm sure you can think of something to smear his name. Hell, we could pin some sort of tax crime on him. Something to get him out of the way long enough for me to take his place. I would leave the finer points to you. I am only seventeen after all. But when I have my eighteenth birthday at the end of this month, I'll be able to assume the presidency. Then we can put things into action." Inuyasha watched Naraku's reaction with bated breath. He had kept his tone steady and shoulders relaxed. Hopefully it came across as him showing more confidence than he felt.
"And we would then what? Put the past behind us? Let bygones be bygones?" Naraku asked sarcastically.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth. "We would work something out. I'm sure the vast amount of money at our disposal would help us forget how much we hate each other. Money is your solution to everything after all, isn't it?"
Naraku was silent as he studied the boy in front of him. The pause stretched on for an excruciatingly long time to Inuyasha, though it must have been much shorter in reality.
"Let me get this perfectly straight," the man said finally. "You want me to help take down Sesshoumaru, the only family member of yours I didn't shoot that night, so you can assume control of a company way beyond your ability to run. And then I just trust you will share the profits and never once think about turning me into the police? Do you hear yourself, kid?" He took his hand out of his pocket, flashing a shiny gun that Inuyasha recognized from his youth. One of his father's twin pistols. "Do you really believe I'm that stupid? Do you really expect me to buy that?"
Inuyasha gulped and took a step backwards as Naraku leveled the muzzle at him. "Sorry, Kagome," he murmured under his breath.
"Good-bye, Inuyasha. And good riddens."
Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut and willed himself to be brave. Suddenly he felt his body being slammed to the side at the same moment that the gun went off.
He opened his eyes to find himself on the ground and Kagome on top of him. Red was soaking through his shirt. "What the-? Kagome?"
"Who the hell is this?" Naraku shouted, taking a step towards them.
Kagome moaned and shifted on top of him. Inuyasha pushed himself up hastily and pulled her towards him. "Kagome?"
When she didn't respond right away, he looked back down at his bloodied shirt. He checked himself for wounds, but other than some bruises from the fall, he couldn't feel anything more acute. Which meant…
"Kagome!" He pulled away from her to see blood seeping through her top and open jacket. When he pushed the jacket back further, he saw a bullet wound deep into her shoulder. "Oh god…!" He closed the jacket back over the wound and pressed down firmly to keep it in place.
"Who is she?!" Naraku seethed, still pointing the pistol towards them.
Inuyasha ignored him, his mind only filled with panicked thoughts. "Kagome? Kagome, h-how…? W-why did you come? Oh god, Kagome, please be okay. Please stay with me."
Kagome's eyes fluttered as she looked up at him. She gave a weak smile. "Inuyasha. You're alright. I saved you."
"Yes, yes you did," Inuyasha choked. "But why…? How did you know I was here?"
Her eyes brightened a little more as the shock wore off. "I had another vision. I told you I wouldn't give up on you! I wouldn't let you die!"
"Well, this is all very sweet," Naraku cut in sarcastically. "But I'm afraid your little girlfriend has merely spared you some time, Inuyasha. There was no way you were ever leaving here alive tonight and all she's done is ensure her own death alongside yours!"
"It's over, Naraku," Inuyasha said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, it is. The only question that remains is which one of you I will kill first." The pistol wavered between Kagome and Inuyasha.
Inuyasha instinctively drew Kagome closer to himself. "I meant it's over for you. You think you came here tonight to stop me and shut me up, but really, you just dug your own grave."
Naraku's eyes narrowed. "What nonsense are you spouting now, boy?"
Inuyasha gave out a bark of laughter. "You think you're such a clever bastard. Do you honestly think you got away with everything up until now because you're smart? Please. You took my parents and Kagura by surprise and had a helping hand of dumb luck. Did you think that was going to last forever?"
Naraku's grip on the gun tightened. "Don't test me, you little shit-head."
Inuyasha moved Kagome behind the barrier of the bridge sidewalk. He made sure she was out of view and applying pressure to her shoulder wound before standing up and facing Naraku once more. He studied the man in front of him for a moment before shaking his head in disdain. "I can't believe you got away with it all this time. You must have let that go to your head. Cocky bastard."
"EXPLAIN YOURSELF!" Naraku shouted.
Inuyasha smirked. "You really thought I wanted to make a deal with you, didn't you? You thought I was that naïve? Or that I could just casually work with the man who killed my parents? And all to take down the one person who has kept me safe all these years? You thought I was that stupid?"
"You ARE that stupid!" Naraku shot back, his eyes flashing. "You're nothing but a spoiled jackass who should never have survived the night I put a bullet in your back."
"Too bad for you I did," Inuyasha countered. "Your dumb luck had to run out sometime. And maybe you really thought you were going to get away with it all for a while. After all, I didn't remember anything. But you know, then it started to come back to me. You know what I remembered first? Seeing Kagura in a car outside my house that night."
Naraku's face twitched at the mention of Kagura.
"And boy did that surprise me. I had thought Kagura was my friend! But all this time, she must have known the truth. And she was spying on me. For you. But before I could talk to her about it, you went and killed her, didn't you?"
Naraku's next words were quiet, but held a heavy undercurrent of anger. "She betrayed me."
It was Inuyasha's turn to pause. "So she did betray you."
Naraku's face twisted into something ugly. "She was soft on you. Felt 'sorry' for you. Probably just wanted to bang your brother. The bitch was going to tell Sesshoumaru everything. Just to save one measly half-breed punk."
Inuyasha and Kagome shared a look at this revelation. An unspoken communication occurred between them before Inuyasha turned back to Naraku, his face hardened. "She was willing to throw everything away to save me from you? And you made her pay with her life, didn't you?"
Naraku's face split into a crazed grin. "I strangled every last breath out that Jezebel."
Tears streamed down Kagome's face as she clutched her shoulder. Inuyasha stood resolutely by her side, staring Naraku down in hatred. "Anything to save your own pathetic skin," he spat. "Have you ever considered where the line is, Naraku? When will it be too far for you?"
"That's a delusion of moralistic assholes like you, Inuyasha. There is no line. I get what's mine and no one is going to stop me."
"That's where you've never been more wrong. Your mad tirade ends tonight, one way or another. You can kill me, sure, but you're still going to prison for everything you've done."
"Oh?" Naraku asked airily, cocking his head. "And how is that?"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you did it to yourself," Inuyasha mocked with a tight grin. "Your pride, arrogance and greed led you to it. You agreed to meet me tonight for what? An easy kill, like all the others?"
"I don't see anyone stopping me!" Naraku spread his arms at the empty road around them.
"I don't need to stop you," Inuyasha retorted. "You've already admitted everything."
Naraku faltered. "…What?"
Inuyasha fumbled with a pin at his lapel. He unhooked the Madison College fastener and tossed it to Naraku. The other man caught it with a deft swipe.
"The hell is this?"
"You might want to take a closer look. It might be hard to see the micro camera in this light," Inuyasha advised.
Naraku gave him a wild look before scrutinizing the pin. Sure enough, a small black dot glistened on its surface. "You…!"
"I got the idea from you, you know. Remember how you had Kagura bug my hospital room? It got me to thinking how Western Enterprises really is the leading technology company in the country right now. We probably had any number of devices at our disposal. It only took a little digging around to find something to suit my purposes."
Kagome and Naraku were both looking at him in astonishment. "So that's what you were up to…" Kagome said in wonder.
"You…! What have you done?!" Naraku yelled, clenching the pin in his fist.
"I've gotten you to admit every one of your crimes on tape, you asshole," Inuyasha told him with a satisfied smirk.
Naraku threw the pin to the ground and stomped on it savagely. Inuyasha watched him calmly.
"Even if you destroy the pin, the footage was sent and stored in a very secure location, I'm afraid. A good friend will be taking it to the police for me. There's absolutely no way out of this for you, Naraku. Not this time." Inuyasha's smirk faded as his look hardened. "My parents will finally have justice. Kagura will have justice. And if anything happens to Kagome or I tonight, they will know exactly who did it."
Naraku stared at the remnants of the pin for a few moments before looking up at Inuyasha through loose tendrils of his black hair. "You think this makes you safe, kid? YOU THINK I'LL LET YOU LIVE FOR THIS?!"
Inuyasha took a step back towards the bridge barrier. He chanced a look at Kagome who nodded at him through her tears. Giving him strength even though they both knew the future was bleak.
"You goddamn kids! Who do you think you are?!" Naraku grabbed his head and shook it in bewilderment. "I'm so SICK of people RUINING my plans! Why can't you just let me BE? It was MY money. I DESERVED it. But that wretch you called a father couldn't let it go."
"And the rest of us were just what? Collateral damage in your panic to keep everything under wraps? To avoid ever taking responsibility for anything in your whole miserable life?!" Inuyasha shot back.
"You don't have to worry your half-witted head over it any longer, Inuyasha. You die tonight!" Naraku raised the pistol once more.
Inuyasha dashed towards the bridge as the gun went off. The bullet whizzed past where he once stood. He crouched down and ran past Kagome, up the bridge's sidewalk and keeping the barrier blocking him from Naraku's view.
"How long can you prolong your own death, Inuyasha?!" Naraku cackled as he ran to where Inuyasha had last been.
Inuyasha glanced behind to see Naraku aiming again. He quickly tried to vault the barrier, hoping to make another miraculous dodge. As Naraku advanced to fire, however, Kagome frantically stuck out a leg in his path. He tripped, the bullet going wide.
He regained his footing and spun on her furiously. "Little bitch! You only had to ask to die first!"
Inuyasha rose to his feet on the opposite side of the barrier, a large chunk of ice in his hand. With all his strength, he hurled it at Naraku. It struck him in the temple and he sagged against the bridge railing, dazed.
Kagome used all her strength to rise to her feet, stumble around the barrier and run up towards Inuyasha. He hooked her arm around his neck and the two ran as fast as they could up the bridge.
They were almost at the apex of the bridge when another shot rang out. Inuyasha stumbled as a lancing pain shot through his left leg. He cried out and looked down to see blood rapidly trickling down his shin.
Inuyasha and Kagome both sunk to the ground, unable to go on. They turned to see Naraku walking up the bridge towards them, the hatred plain on his face. Inuyasha tried to push himself backwards, but the pain in his leg shot all the way up his spine. The feeling was familiar, that of a spiritual bullet trying to attack the demon traits inside him. He repositioned, trying to cover Kagome as best he could with his upper body.
Gritting his teeth, he pleaded, "You don't have to do this. Let Kagome go. She didn't do this to you. I did."
"You think I would fulfill a request you made?" Naraku sneered. "I don't want to give you any illusions, Inuyasha. You will both die tonight. No threats or words of persuasion can save you. At least I'm not so cruel as to give you false hope." His mouth split into a wide mocking grin.
"Kagome, run," Inuyasha quietly but firmly. "I'll try to hold him off long enough for you to get away."
"Not a chance," she panted. "Even if I could get away…which we both know is a big 'if'. There's no way I'd leave you, Inuyasha. Even if I lived…if you die, I would too. You know I couldn't go on." She reached out and clasped his hand with her own. "Since the day we met…we're in this together. Until the end."
Inuyasha squeezed back in reassurance and glared defiantly up at Naraku. He blinked and slid his gaze past him, however, just as he was raising the gun. A figure was running up behind Naraku, his long silver hair gleaming in the lamplight.
Naraku turned at the sound of crunching footsteps to see Sesshoumaru almost upon him. Hastily he tried to aim the pistol, but Sesshoumaru was faster. He delivered a swift kick to Naraku's wrist, causing the gun to fly out of his hand and over the side of the bridge. It clattered on the ice below.
Naraku backed away clutching his hand and the two men surveyed one another.
"How…the hell…?" Naraku spat harshly. "Why can't I ever be rid of you Reijiros?!"
Sesshoumaru's glared back, his golden eyes savage and piercing. Without taking his eyes off Naraku, he called out, "Inuyasha! Are you okay?"
Inuyasha grimaced and pulled his injured leg underneath him. "Yes, it's just my leg. But Kagome's shoulder…"
Sesshoumaru nodded and directed his next words at the man before him, "You should have known the night you turned on my family, Naraku, that there would be no place in the world that would be safe for you. And yet…you stayed right under my nose."
Naraku laughed. "I was in no danger there, with you as ignorant and blind as you were."
"I can't believe I trusted you all those years," Sesshoumaru said, as if the word 'trust' was a terrible taste in his mouth. "I spent so long wondering why my family died, who was so cruel as to murder them in their own home… To find that it was you all along, and for such a petty reason. All to cover up your embezzlement?"
"Oh, did you think your family was that special? That if the great Inutaisho were gunned down, it had to be for a glorious and heroic reason? Not just because he was in my way?" Naraku mocked.
"He was heroic!" Inuyasha protested, struggling to stand once more. "I remember the whole night, Sesshoumaru. He only invited this coward into his home because he discovered the embezzlement. He wanted to give him a chance to explain himself before he turned him in!" He focused on Naraku. "He showed you sympathy even after what you'd done! And you were too scared to take responsibility for any of it!"
Naraku's only response was a scoff.
"Sesshoumaru, he…he also killed Kagura," Inuyasha said.
Sesshoumaru's voice was quiet, barely concealing the seething anger underneath, "I know. I know everything this bastard's done. He's not getting away with it anymore."
"Tch!" Naraku sneered before trying to run past Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru sprang into action and tackled him. The two of them tumbled over the sidewalk barrier. Sesshoumaru landed on top of him and pinned him down. He pulled back only to deliver a powerful punch to his face.
"You son of a bitch! You deserve to die for what you've done." Another punch, and another. "You killed my parents! You killed Kagura! You shot my brother and left him for dead. All for your goddamn greed." Naraku struggled, his arms coming up to protect his face from the blows. Sesshoumaru grabbed his wrists and pinned them to his chest with his knee. Then slowly and deliberately, he closed his hands around Naraku's throat. "This is how you did it, isn't it? How you killed Kagura in the end? Do you suppose she'd want me to return the favour?" He squeezed slightly.
Naraku's eyes flared and his hands managed to break free from Sesshoumaru's knee. He rummaged in the inside of his jacket. Before Sesshoumaru could determine what he was up to, a cold barrel was pressed against his stomach. When he looked down, there was a new gun in Naraku's hand and a cocky grin on his face. "Why Sesshoumaru, did you forget that I stole two pistols from your father that night? And I thought you were supposed to be the clever brother." He squeezed the trigger.
The gun went off and Sesshoumaru fell back, shock on his face.
"NOOOOOO!" Inuyasha screamed, limping forwards.
Blood was rapidly spilling from Sesshoumaru's stomach. He put his hands to the wound, but crimson continued to flow over his fingers and drip into the pristine snow underneath. Naraku pulled himself to his feet and reached over to grasp Sesshoumaru by the lapel. He hauled him up and shoved him against the bridge's balustrade.
Lip curling, he told him, "I curse the day I ever met one of you Rejiros. I would happily kill you all twice over. Go to your death knowing I have taken everything and everyone from you, Sesshoumaru."
With that, he whipped Sesshoumaru across the face with his pistol. The force of the blow was enough to send him careening over the edge and down to the frozen river below.
Before Naraku could turn back around fully, Inuyasha was upon him. He grabbed Naraku's gun hand and bashed it against the sidewalk barrier until he reflexively let go of the weapon. Then he elbowed him in the face before following through with a punch from his other hand.
Naraku stumbled back before spitting some blood to the side. Rubbing the side of his face, he said, "That's a mean hook you got there, Inuyasha. But what are you going to accomplish here? You can't beat me. You're just a teenage brat who's going to follow his entire family into hell."
Inuyasha gave him a withering stare and raised his fists in a defensive stance. "The only one going to hell is you. I thought I wanted to see you rot in prison, but now I think I'll only be able to sleep easy if I kill you myself."
"My, my. The puppy has teeth after all. A little too late, I'm afraid. I'm going to rip you apart!" He launched himself towards Inuyasha, his fist swinging wildly towards his face. Inuyasha reached up to block, only for Naraku to pull back and drive his other fist into his side. Inuyasha doubled over and Naraku took the opportunity to stomp savagely on the injury in his leg. Inuyasha screamed and collapsed to the ground.
Naraku stood over him and raised his boot once more.
"Kagome, NOW!" Inuyasha screamed.
Naraku whipped around to see Kagome on the other side of the barrier, shakily raising the fallen pistol. His eyes narrowed. "Do you even know how to use that, girl?"
Kagome blinked, trying to fight the haze that threatened her vision. "I think I can figure it out."
"We'll see about that." Naraku weaved just as her finger squeezed the trigger. The bullet clipped his upper arm and Kagome was thrown off balance from the recoil. It gave Naraku just enough opportunity to grab the gun and backhand her across the face. She dropped like a rock, unconscious from the blow and blood loss.
Inuyasha, adrenaline helping to mask his pain, vaulted the barrier and came towards him. His injury made him slow, however, and Naraku was able to easily dodge and kick him to the ground beside Kagome. He twirled the gun arrogantly as he looked down at them.
"You put up a truly magnificent fight, pup. But you were mad to believe this would end any other way. It was never just dumb luck that helped me escape all these years. I am smarter than you, I am faster than you. I am stronger than you and I think ten steps ahead. Even if that footage gets to the police, I'll be long gone by then. I have enough money to start a whole new life where the authorities will never find me. You were just as 'heroic' as your father, Inuyasha. Trying to solve problems on your own only makes you stupid, though. Because men like me will always come out on top. Because we don't let our guard down to show 'mercy'."
Inuyasha shuffled in front of Kagome's unconscious form and snarled. "I would rather die heroic like my father than live a thousand of your heartless lives."
"And so, you will get your wish." Naraku eyed the gun in his hand. "Funnily enough, I only brought this one as back-up. It's not nearly as effective, since it only carries regular bullets. But even it will be enough to kill a pathetic half-breed like you."
He raised the gun, its barrel aimed directly at Inuyasha's forehead.
Inuyasha glared back defiantly.
A shot rang out.
Inuyasha blinked and Naraku stumbled, his face blank.
Slowly, Naraku turned around, his feet dragging sluggishly in the snow. Blood seeped from a fresh wound in his back, between his shoulder blades.
Sesshoumaru stood crouched on top of the bridge's balustrade, the twin pistol smoking in his hand. He adopted a haughty sneer as he gazed down at Naraku. "But it was not enough to kill a full-blooded demon like me. Send my regards to the devil."
Sesshoumaru fired once more, the spiritual bullet hitting Naraku square between the eyes. The two brothers watched from either side as his body crashed to the ground. Then Sesshoumaru unfurled himself from his perch and came towards Inuyasha, his hand pressed to his stomach wound. He climbed over the sidewalk barrier and walked past Naraku's body, not even deigning to look at him. He sank down beside Inuyasha. Tossing the gun in the snow, he clasped Inuyasha by the shoulder.
"It's over, brother. It's finally over."
Inuyasha reached up to put his hand over Sesshoumaru's, his eyes shining with emotion. Sesshoumaru slumped against him and Inuyasha supported him as they heard sirens in the distance, coming ever closer.