TITLE: Cursed Twins
AUTHOR: InuYoukaiAki
DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and Co.
Author's Notes: Hi! I'm sorry it has been so long. I've too busy. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 28: The Beginning of the End
It was the third day of Kagome's capture and the day after she had been able to talk to Sesshoumaru and Kikyou. She was still confined to her room and was not able to gather any useful information into pointing out where she was. The only observation she had made from being inside the room was that it was always cold. Having no windows in the room didn't help her either.
She had resorted to meditating and practicing her miko powers ever since waking up here. It helped pass the time and she could feel more at ease as she felt her power steadily growing. Finally, her body was starting to heal faster.
Kagome was idly playing with her miko whip when she felt Akitori's aura. It was very faint, almost unnoticeable. She immediately erected a barrier around her. "You won't catch me unaware again, Akitori," she said without turning to his direction.
"How did you know I was there?" he asked in confusion. "Nobody ever detected me when I cloak myself."
She shrugged and looked at him. Kagome had given up trying to reason with him. "I don't know," she said as she went back to playing with the short whip. It was still very weak compared to Sesshoumaru's but it was a start. At least she can now control it at will. She twirled the whip like a ribbon and watched the deadly coils go round and round.
It was not long when Akitori finally became irritated. She knew he hated it when she ignored him. "You can ignore me all you want," he said. "I still won't let you go."
She looked at him, her sadness evident in her eyes. "You can never have me," Kagome said with conviction. "No matter how long you wait, my heart already belongs to Sesshoumaru. No one can change that, not even me."
They both looked at the direction of the door when they heard Naraku laugh derisively. "What a remarkable display of loyalty," he sneered. "You see, Akitori? No matter what you do, she'll be Sesshoumaru's bitch."
"Yes, I am." Kagome said, her head held high, "And know that I'm proud of it. You should listen to him, Akitori. Naraku wanted to become a youkai so badly because he thinks that if he is stronger than Inuyasha, Kikyou would choose him. He's wrong, of course. She will never love you, Onigumo." She said the last statement to Naraku. She watched with satisfaction as Naraku's eyes narrowed.
Kagome saw the fury in Naraku's eyes. She smiled to herself as she felt the pull of Sesshoumaru's presence getting stronger. He is near. Her heart rejoiced at the thought. They must not realize that the others are near. She stealthily erected a barrier within the room that filters the aura that gets inside, removing the barrier around her so that she could focus on the larger one around them. She had perfected this on her first day of capture, since she didn't really want to feel Naraku's aura constantly.
"I know the truth hurts, Onigumo," she said, stressing his former name. "Sooner or later, you must accept that all the power in the world won't be able to give you the one thing that you really want. You can never have Kikyou."
Kagome knew the instant one of Naraku's tentacles connected to her stomach that Naraku was truly angry. She had only been taunting him but it appears that everything that she said struck a nerve. She looked wide-eyed at the tentacle that went through her stomach.
"No!" Akitori screamed angrily as he went to her aid. "I told you not to hurt her!"
She held her bleeding stomach as Naraku laughed manically. Then she smiled up at the hanyou that had destroyed the lives of the people she had learned to love. Naraku stopped immediately when he saw her smile. "I'll let you in to a little secret," she said, blood dripping at the side of her lips. It hurt like hell but she knew what she would say next would shake Naraku to the core. "No one can wish on the Shikon no Tama. Only I can use it," she said triumphantly, watching Naraku's face contorted with fury before letting blackness consume her.
-+-+-
They were nearing the cave. Inuyasha who was carrying Kikyou on his back was leading the way. Sesshoumaru could already see the cave when there was a sudden blast of evil aura followed by a furious scream. They all stopped when they saw a huge crack appear on the cave and panicked screaming came drifting to them. From the cave opening, different servant youkai ran out, followed by a mass of tentacles and miasma that was the trademark of Naraku.
Sesshoumaru's heart began to beat faster when he was not able to feel Kagome's aura. The strong stench of miasma also blocked his sense of smell.
He stopped and scanned the surrounding. No matter how hard he concentrated, he could not detect her aura. He closed his fist, unmindful of his own blood dripping to the cold ground below. It was then that the ring on his finger pulsed. He looked at it and watched as it vibrated on his finger. A faint red string appeared and he decided to find the other end of it.
"Where are you going, Sesshoumaru?" Yoji asked, confused since Sesshoumaru was moving away from the cave.
He ignored him and followed the red string, keeping his eye on it as it shortened as he tried to get to the other end. Then he stopped at a clearing. His eyes began to bleed red as he saw Kagome in Akitori's arms. She was very pale and there was blood on the kimono she was wearing.
"Remove your hands from my mate," Sesshoumaru said, his voice dripping venom.
He heard gasps from behind him. He knew it was Sango and Kikyou. Akitori seemed oblivious to all of them as he held Kagome to him. "I never meant for this to happen," he kept saying over and over.
Sesshoumaru could no longer contain himself any longer. He strode to the pair and threw Akitori away from Kagome. His heart wrenched as he stared at the gaping hole on her stomach. This was not happening. He could not lose her again.
"Kagome," he whispered to her ear. He could hear her faint heartbeat. "You will not leave me." Her breathing was ragged and every breath she took seemed to be a lot of effort.
"I..." she whispered back.
Sesshoumaru looked at her face and saw that she was smiling despite the pain in her eyes. She swallowed and closed her eyes briefly before opening it again.
"I... won't," she finally said. Kagome again closed her eyes. Sesshoumaru was starting to panic, thinking that she was going to leave him again when he noticed the pink glow on her stomach as the wound healed slowly.
Sesshoumaru watched in fascination as Kagome healed herself. He held her in his arms as he waited patiently for her to open her eyes again.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome said happily as she opened her eyes again. She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.
He was too shocked to do anything but when Kagome was about to end the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her forcefully to him. He deepened the kiss and felt her melt against him. Finally, they ended the kiss.
Kikyou and Sango immediately ran to Kagome the moment Sesshoumaru let her go.
"Why didn't you heal yourself sooner?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Because," Kagome said with a smile. "I can't do it myself. I needed Sesshoumaru's ki to help me."
They were interrupted by Kenji's growl as he walked purposefully towards Akitori who just sat against the tree where Sesshoumaru threw him. He was watching the exchange with pain in his eyes. He did not even move to defend himself when Kenji picked him up and punched him. Yoji did the same and still he did not move.
"Stop it, you two," Kagome said as she ran to them. She shielded Akitori with her body.
"Why are you defending that bastard?" Kenji asked angrily, his fist itching to do more damage. "If he had not kidnapped you, this wouldn't have happened."
"He saved me from Naraku," Kagome said. "If he didn't take me away, I would have been killed."
Yoji tried to move around Kagome but was unsuccessful. "Still, he deserves to be beaten," he insisted.
"Let him be," Kagome said. "We still have Naraku to deal with."
Miroku nodded. "I agree," he said. "He is not a problem compared to that monster."
"I am honored," Naraku said, his voice reverberating around them. "You still had not dismissed me."
Yoji and Kenji growled angrily. Their anger was getting the better of them as their eyes began to bleed red and their fangs started to elongate.
"Stop!" Kagome yelled at them. "If you let your youkai take over, you will be vulnerable to his miasma."
Sesshoumaru saw the effort that the twins exerted before they were able to stop the transformation. He, too, was having a hard time calming the rage. What stopped his transformation was Kagome's calming aura.
"Show your self," Sesshoumaru said coldly.
Naraku laughed again. He then appeared at the opposite end of the clearing. "I knew you would come for your mate," he said. "And I see you brought the gang with you. It's not your usual style but at least you are here."
The evil hanyou's eyes scanned all of them. Everybody had now assumed a defensive stance. "You even brought the undead miko and your useless brother," he sneered. "I hope you two had a very touching reunion."
"Cut the crap, Naraku," Inuyasha growled. "What Sesshoumaru does is none of your damned business."
"Very well," Naraku said with a shrug. "As you wish."
The melee ensued as Naraku let loose a horde of youkai with varying strengths and abilities. Sesshoumaru pulled out Toukijin while Inuyasha used his Tessaiga. Sango's hiraikotsu zoomed around as Miroku watched her back with his staff and an occasional use of the wind tunnel. Mostly, Kenji and Yoji used their swords which both released a concentrated red energy. Kagome and Kikyou stood side by side at the edge of the clearing, shooting their purifying arrows.
The horde of youkai had diminished considerably with their efforts. Sesshoumaru used his Toukijin and sometimes his venom whip. As he fought against the lesser youkai, he glanced at Kagome's direction every once in a while. She seemed to be holding her own since no youkai could get near her. He had expected her to get in close combat using her sword but he preferred her to use her arrows since it didn't require her joining directly in the battle field.
He was no longer aware how long they had been fighting but eventually, there were no youkai left. They all stood scattered in the battle field, looking at all the dead youkai.
"That was fast," Naraku said in amusement. "None of you appeared to be hurt. Not even a scratch, I see. I have to do something about that."
Kanna and Kagura appeared out of nowhere. As the two began their attacks, Naraku transformed into a mass of miasma and tentacles with his head.
"Gross," Kagome commented to the amusement of the others. Sesshoumaru was glad that the others could still laugh at the face of this danger. It was a good sign.
His gladness was short-lived as Kagome stepped beside him. "Keep back," he told her.
"This is also my fight, Sesshoumaru," she said seriously as she stood beside him. She bent down and ripped the kimono so that it now ended above her knees. She then ripped the sleeves more and tied the sash more securely. "Much better, she said with a nod."
"It is my duty to protect you," Sesshoumaru argued.
"And it is my duty to get the Shikon no Tama back," she said defiantly.
They stared at each other. Sesshoumaru saw that Kagome was determined on this course of action. He nodded briefly. "Very well," he conceded. "Stay close to me."
Kagome nodded with a determined smile.
No matter how much Sesshoumaru tried to reassure himself that nothing bad would happen to Kagome, he could not shake the feeling of dread that was creeping inside him.
-+-+-
Rain began to pour as everyone began their relentless attack on Naraku. However, no matter what they did, the hanyou's body generates faster that they could cut. It frustrated Kagome to no end until she realized that the part that was purified by her did not regenerate.
She became more aggressive in her attacks. Kagome called her sword to her as she ran towards Naraku. She gave a battle cry as she infused the sword with miko powers. It glowed a bright pink as she slashed every tentacle she could find. Seeing the burnt mangled tentacles gave her satisfaction and she continued her attacks.
She glanced at the direction of Kagura as she heard her cry out. Kenji and Yoji had attacked the wind witch from two directions and were able to get in a hit. Kikyou stood above Kanna's fallen body. The white-haired girl's eyes were now as lifeless as her mirror as she lay unmoving on the ground.
Kagome concentrated on Naraku. She was now some distance away from Sesshoumaru. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed that Naraku's attacks were more concentrated on Sesshoumaru. Her heart clenched as Kagura's wind hit her mate's back, taking him by surprise. For a short moment, he was off-balanced but it was the opening that Naraku had been waiting for. Naraku's tentacle hit Sesshoumaru on the shoulder, creating a gaping hole that made him stagger for a moment.
Rage started to build inside Kagome as she saw the blood staining Sesshoumaru's pristine white clothing. She clutched at the sword tighter as she felt her hands shaking in anger. Soon, she knew fighting against a rage like this was useless. She gave in to her anger that consumed her being.
End chapter