Nianniai watched in horror as Kagome's arrow flew to her. She could see the power, feel it pulsing as it sped to her. She couldn't do anything to stop it. For the first time in her life, she felt helpless. Backed up against the wall as she was, she could only watch as the shaft thudded into the wall by her head.
Kagome smiled at the look of shock on Nianniai's face. It was a priceless look of shock and fury. She was still grinning when she took out another arrow and notched it on her bow.
" You know, I never miss twice. So why don't we try again, hmm?" Kagome asked, aiming the arrow at Nianniai for a second time.
" Nah, Kagome, why don't you let me take care of her?" Inuyasha asked, placing a hand on his love's shoulder.
" If you want to, I suppose you can go ahead and kill her if you want," Kagome said as she lowered the point of her arrow to the ground, the bow slack. She felt Shippou climb up to her shoulder, his favourite spot.
Inuyasha kept Midoriko's sword held steady as he approached Nianniai. He could see the blade's blue tint grow brighter, as if it was magic, longing to help out destroy the black demoness standing mockingly in front of him. He smiled, barely raising the weapon just before he attacked.
Nianniai spun away from the sword that sought her flesh. Her own sword swung out to the hanyou, but the tip only pinged off the armour that covered the inu half demon. Snarling, the demoness swung her sword again and again, missing the half demon by mere inches with each swing that she took. Taking her weapon in a two handed grip, she ran at the hanyou full tilt, the blade pointed at his heart, shrieking out in effort and raw anger.
Lunging away from the sword blade, Inuyasha countered the strike with his sword, deflecting the weapon to the side. But he never did see the strike she aimed at his leg, but felt the blood trickle down the limb. Pushing the pain to the back of his mind, he concentrated on the battle at hand.
Sango, Miroku, Kohaku, Kagome, Shippou and Kirara watched as they fought. The miko thought, even though it was a dangerous sport, that it looked like a dance, like the ones that she had taken part of in the plays at her school. Then a thought burst up from the depths of her mind. What would her friends think of her condition and her child? She had a feeling that the child she carried would be like Inuyasha, dog-ears and all. But she didn't really care because after the baby was born, she was coming back to the feudal era to be with her friends. Four months pregnant already, and still counting for the full nine months! What a wait to only have a single reward, but a reward that would be something special.
Shippou clung to Kagome's shoulder, watching the battle in fearful fascination as Inuyasha fought Nianniai in a hell of an effort to kill her and exact revenge for the death of his brother and taking Kagome when she was helpless, doing nothing but talking with Rin. The kitsune could clearly see the hanyou's anger as the half demon tried to restrain the raging emotion, but failed miserably. His anger gave him power and strength, but it was giving Nianniai an advantage, the only advantage in that battle, that she had immediately noted and was using. She started to taunt him to increase his anger and make him make a mistake.
" Your brother was a much better fighter than you, but look where he is right now," Nianniai said, watching with anticipated glee as the hanyou responded to the comment fiercely. She avoided the first couple of blows from the angered half inu youkai, but received one deep, jagged gash across her shoulder and arm when he swung wildly at her. The sting of the cut was severe and she knew that a nerve had been severed. Damn, he did have good aim though.
" That all you can do? I've seen humans who can fight better than you," Nianniai taunted again. This time, when the inu hanyou rushed in to attack her again, she swung her sword at him with such a precision that left no doubt in any one's mind that she truly wanted him dead.
Inuyasha fell like a rock. Unconscious as he was, he was a perfect target for Nianniai. Midoriko's sword skittered away from his grip when he hit the ground. He couldn't do anything as the darkness took him.
Kagome told Shippou to get off as she reached for the sword that had escaped Inuyasha's grip. Taking Midoriko's earlier advice on how to control her powers, she concentrated on the sword, letting her power flow into the blade like a river, watching in utter fascination as the sword started to glow a light pink. Looking up at Nianniai, she headed over and stood in front of the down hanyou, blocking the demoness's attempt to get near him and kill him.
" You will not harm what is mine," she said and attacked, twirling away like a true dancer, the long skirt she had chosen over the shorter one, twisting around her legs as Nianniai sought to impale her on her sword. She used her talent that she had kept hidden from every one in this era; dancing. She was good enough, but never wanted others to see how well she danced.
The others watched on in amazement as Kagome avoided by the blows and strikes from Nianniai by simply dancing. She had a graceful form, the ability to bend her body enough to duck under the blows. Her muscles tightened with strain as she swung the sword in a perfect circle, going up and down as she spun. It was a new technique, and one that was very effective. Her power flew from the tip of Midoriko's sword, but miraculously, Nianniai had avoided the brunt of the miko's power.
Nowhere near tired, Kagome fought on, her body becoming like an elastic, pliable, snapping back to her original position when an attack had passed harmlessly by her. Stomping her foot down, Kagome used it as a pivot point, the other leg extended. Her foot smashed into Nianniai's jaw, causing the demoness to stumble and almost lose her balance.
" Can't you defeat me, a mere mortal?" Kagome asked, turning the tables on the demoness, taunting her instead of the other way around. She wasn't going to let her defence down and be run astray by words alone. " I thought that you were much more powerful, instead of being a weakling."
" So you think. I can beat you. I'm just waiting for the perfect moment," Nianniai replied in kind and picked up her sword. Amazing, she was already tired and the human miko in front of her was not even winded. In fact, she seemed to be in better shape than she was. But that seemed so unlikely. She trained for hours a week. How could Kagome be stronger and able to deflect her blows without being tired?
Dismissing the thoughts, the demoness attacked, this time slipping a special magic in with the sword swing.
" Claws of wind!" Nianniai shouted as she swung her sword, hurling the attack at the unsuspecting miko.
Kagome, realizing that the black demoness had slipped in a spell during the initial attack, tried to get out of the way, but she was caught in a whirlwind that swept her across the room. She tried to get up, but the strength had been sucked from her. She lay there, limp as a rag, watching as Nianniai walked up to her.
" See, I told you that I could beat you," Nianniai said as reached down and grabbed Kagome's throat, fingers digging into her oesophagus.
" No," Kagome whispered as her oxygen supply she held began to disappear. Bringing her sword up, she willed with every ounce of her strength that her power be directed at Nianniai and blow her to hell. She grimaced as the demoness's fingers sunk deeper into her throat as her power shoved Nianniai away from her. " I will not let you kill me, or harm those of mine who will come after me."
Sango ran up to the miko. The demon exterminator shook her friend as she approached the down demoness threateningly. But trying to keep the priestess back was like holding onto the back end of a bucking horse. Sango was always being pushed backwards by the power discharging from Kagome.
" Kagome, stop, please. Your child might be hurt from your power," The taijiya called out to her friend. Looking around, she hurriedly thought of another idea that could make her stop. " Kagome, look, you have to go see Inuyasha. I don't think he's doing all that good. You might be the only one too help him."
That caused Kagome to pause in mid stride. The miko turned around and, seeing the hanyou still down, went to him, the sword still in her hand as a precaution. Kneeling beside the one she loved, she cradled his head and stayed with him even when Nianniai got up and started another fight with Sango, Miroku and Kohaku. She took off the armour around his chest to let him breath without any type of restrictions. But when Nianniai appeared before her, she tried to swing the sword up and defend herself.
Nianniai's gaze hardened when she looked at Kagome. Grabbing the sword, she threw it point first to the ground a couple of feet away from them. Smiling, the demoness hardened the gaze even more.
Kagome gasped. She couldn't feel her legs anymore, or the rest of her body for that matter. Trying to fight the paralyzation that was overcoming her, she didn't notice when Inuyasha woke up and grabbed the sword in his clawed hands when he realized what was happening. But when she saw Inuyasha pop up behind Nianniai, she could only watch in fear.
Inuyasha placed the blade of the sword against Nianniai's neck, startling her and disrupting her powers. The hanyou spun the demoness around and threw her to the other side of the main room. He followed, feeling the gaze as it fell on him, but he still moved on. He was not affected anymore. He continued to the demoness and threw her across the room again. This time, when he reached her, he wasn't so gentle. He picked her up and slammed her into the wall repeatedly, causing the whole foundation to shudder.
Nianniai groaned from the pain. She knew a couple of ribs were cracked; her breathing was laboured, but she still got up to face the half demon. Taking her sword in her hand, she went to meet the hanyou. Even though it was a pain-blinding effort, she still managed to swing her sword at Inuyasha, surprised that he didn't see it coming when the blade bit deep into his shoulder.
Inuyasha cried out in pain. The sword had cut down to the bone, leaving the flesh hanging loose in a sickening way.
Koga looked up when he heard the hanyou cry out in pain. Taking a quick glance to see if the coast was clear, he saw Ayame heading to the main room of Nianniai's castle. Cursing under his breath about female wolves and their instinct to see who was in pain and their motherly instincts.
" I heard that Koga. Now shake your tail!" The wolf of the northern white wolf tribe shouted out.
Growling, he followed her, entering the large double doors of the room. What he saw there shocked him.
Inuyasha stood to one side of the large room, clutching his ruined shoulder. Kagome was down, not moving. The rest of the gang was busy fighting Nianniai to notice that either Koga or Ayame were there. Looking around, he saw some of his tribe down on the ground by the door, completely paralyzed.
" Stupid bakas," the wolf prince growled at no one in particular. Heading to the fray, he swung a fist at the demoness, avoiding a blow that was aimed right back at him. He threw punches at the demoness, giving as good as he got.
Ayame went to Kagome, The miko was struggling to get up, but the power of the paralyzation spell was just as strong as her own power. Grabbing the young raven-haired girl, she dragged her away from the battle. She even let Shippou climb on until she had stopped by a wall.
Shippou stayed with Kagome, protecting her from any type of harm that might come to her. Patting her hair, the kitsune kept his vigil. But he was scared. He tried to keep the others from seeing his fear.
" I'm just a little kit, why am I here?" He asked himself. " Wait, I'm here because Kagome needs me."
As if in answer, Kagome sat up with obvious difficulty. Gasping, she grabbed her side, where a cramp was starting to grow.
" Shippou, can you go get my arrows?" She asked between gasps of air, getting to her knees as the kitsune scurried away. She saw every one fighting at the other end of the room, and Inuyasha clutching his torn shoulder. That would leave an ugly scar when it finished healing.
Shippou grunted as he dragged the bow and arrows that Kagome had requested. They were heavy for him, being just a little boy and all. But he brought them to her as she was gaining her feet. Handing them up to her, he panted with exertion. It was hard and when it was done, he sat down with a thump.
" Thank you, Shippou," Kagome said as she took an arrow and notched it on her bow aiming for Nianniai. " Clear!"
Startled, everyone stepped back a couple of paces. The fighting stopped. Nianniai turned in a circle, trying to find out what the hell was going on. She never saw the arrow that Kagome shot at her. Screeching at the pain from the arrow, she bent at the waist, avoiding the second arrow that Kagome shot at her without knowing it.
Cursing, Kagome shot her third arrow. Revenge was all she wanted at the moment as she aimed the shaft at Nianniai's head. Releasing the arrow, the sacred energy enveloped it as it flew.
It struck with precision. The sharp end buried itself in the demoness head, killing her instantly. As Nianniai fell to the floor, a dark cloud appeared from behind her, floating like an avenging demon.
" Kaguya," Kagome said calmly, aiming another arrow at the black cloud." Are you here to die?"
Instead of answering, the cloud flew to Kagome, a shrill wind shrieking from the dark mass. But even the wind did nothing to deter the arrow that Kagome released from her bow. The purifying powers from the shaft completely destroyed the cloud, Kaguya's dark soul.
Inuyasha fell to his knees, the blood loss from his wound finally taking its toll on the hanyou. He knew that he hadn't died, but had come close to it a couple of times today. The fate that he had been deemed to live was destroyed. He was still alive. As he slipped back to unconsciousness, he heard and saw Kagome, her black hair flying as she ran to his side. She was worried for him. But as he slipped away, he felt her warmth envelop him.
Kagome hugged the hanyou, willing for her power to help the half demon recover from his wounds. Her power was draining, but she knew that she had to help him. Closing her eyes, she concentrated long and hard, sweat eventually breaking out on her forehead as time slowly passed.
' Heal, Inuyasha, heal. You're in safe hands with me.' Kagome thought as she felt her power flow, her hands starting to burn with the effort. Ignoring them, she continued, stubborn in her own right to help Inuyasha.
Finally the power became too much for her to handle. Collapsing, she fell beside the hanyou.
Shippou sighed. At least Inuyasha and Kagome would be all right, and so would their four-month child. He wondered what it would be like, having Rin and a new baby added to the group. He hoped that he wouldn't be covered in flowers or be stuck with babysitting a little pup of mixed heritage.
When the afternoon came around, Kagome was the first to wake up. Looking around, she saw a different scenery. They had been taken away from the castle while she was out cold. She only saw Kohaku cleaning his sickle. Then something struck her. Tonight was the new moon and Inuyasha was severely injured. Turning to him, she ripped off his bandages and took a good look at his shoulder.
The flesh was healing very slowly. The gash was not completely closed and it was still seeping blood. Torn muscle showed possible permanent damage as she examined him. It might be a good idea to have Kaede make a charm that would make him look human and bring him to her era to have doctors take a look at him and tell her if damage was all ready present.
Checking herself over, she noticed a couple of untreated cuts and scrapes, but they could wait. She wanted to go home and have an ultrasonic done to make sure the baby was all right and to confirm what gender it would be.
Kohaku noticed that Kagome was awake. He was shy around the miko, seeing as she knew that he was alive after Naraku had taken the jewel shard from his back. He was amazed when he saw her fight last night. She had a spirit that wasn't to be tampered with, even when she was on the best of moods. Her power was enormous.
" Kohaku, where's Kirara?" Kagome asked the boy, noticing that he was looking at her.
" She's with Sango and Miroku," The taijiya's little brother answered.
" Can you bet her here? Tonight is the new moon and I need to go home and have run some tests on Inuyasha," The miko said.
" I can try," Kohaku said and turned to the forest, heading down the path that the fire cat had taken with his sister and her husband, calling for them as he went.
Sango was busy gathering herbs when she heard her brother calling for her. Grabbing the basket, she headed to him, catching glimpses of him as he wove between the trees. When he was in calling distance, she shouted out to him.
" What is it, Kohaku?" The taijiya yelled.
" Kagome' s awake and she wants to head to her time because tonight is the new moon and she wants to run some 'tests' on Inuyasha," The boy said, panting from the run. " Where's Kirara?" He asked, looking around as he gasped for air.
" With Miroku. Come, lets go get her," Sango said and led the way to the monk, who had gone ahead to try and find other types of herbs.
As they approached his position, they heard him talking. As they entered a clearing, they saw the monk sitting with a raccoon-like demon.
" Hachi. Out of hiding, I see?" Sango asked the demon.
" Ah, Sango, nice to see you. Is this your younger brother?" The demon asked.
" Yes," Sango replied and turned to Miroku. " I'm bringing Kirara to Kagome. She wants to go to her time since tonight is the new moon."
" Go ahead," the monk said.
" She is beautiful," Hachi said when they were out of earshot.
" Now who's the hentai?" Miroku asked, hitting the demon on the head with a fist. " But you're lucky she didn't hear you. You'd probably be toast by now."
Inuyasha groaned. His body was alive with fiery pain. He felt so weak. What a strange feeling. This must be how humans feel when they're tired. He could hear people talking but couldn't make out what they were saying.
" Kaede, do you have a spell of some sorts for Inuyasha? I'm bringing him to my time so that I can have doctors look at him. No offence, you are a great healer, but I'm afraid that he might have some damage to his arm and I want to make sure that the baby is all right,"
Kagome said.
" Of course I have something for Inuyasha, child. Here, put this around his neck. It will hide his features during his stay in your time," The older woman said, handing the young miko a simple necklace with a small painted stone.
" Kagome, where is Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked when she came from her room.
" I'm sorry Rin, but I don't know. You'll have to ask Inuyasha that, but he's hurt pretty bad. I'm bringing him to my home so the healers can help him, okay?" Kagome told the little girl.
" Okay," Rin cheerfully said and skipped away, looking for the little fox demon that had come with the miko and injured half demon.
A couple of village men helped Kagome get the hanyou on Kirara, leaping back when the fire cat took to the air. When they arrived at the well, Kirara landed and placed Inuyasha beside it.
" Kirara, do you mind coming with me? I'll transport you to my time and bring you back when Inuyasha is out of the well on the other side, okay?" Kagome asked the cat demon, receiving a butt of the head on the arm as an answer.
Willing her power to extend to the fire cat, Kagome felt the tingle of time travel. Opening her eyes, she saw Kirara beside her. Looking up, she saw the roof of the shrine.
" Come on, Kirara," The miko said and started to climb out of the well.
Sota was by the Goshinboku when he saw his sister walk out of the well house, followed by a large cat. It was much taller than himself. Jii-chan grabbed a couple of old sutras and advanced on the fire cat, holding the sutras in front of him.
" Grand-pa, stop. Kirara won't hurt you. Besides, I need help with Inuyasha," Kagome said, stopping her grandfather from advancing any more and scaring Kirara and to prevent her from attacking. " Where's mom?"
As if in answer, Mrs. Higurashi walked out of the house and approached them cautiously. " Kagome, who's this?" She asked her daughter and noticed her state " Kami, your pregnant. Who's the father?"
" It's Inuyasha. Mom, I need his clothes. He's hurt and has been this way since last night. Oh, and this is Kirara. I have to bring her back across the well," Kagome said.
" She's beautiful. A fire cat, if I'm right," Mrs. Higurashi said and patted the cat demon between the ears before hurrying to get the clothes that her daughter had requested.
" Come, Kirara," Kagome said and brought the fire cat back to her own time. Climbing out of the well for the second time, she saw her mom bring Inuyasha's modern-day clothes out of the house and shoo every one away.
When Inuyasha's change had finished, they brought him to the car and put him in the back seat, Kagome climbing in with him and her mom driving. They were almost at the hospital when a policeman stopped them.
" Ma'am, what's your hurry?" he asked.
" My daughter's pregnant and her boyfriend is hurt. If you want to, take a look for yourself, officer," Mrs. Higurashi said and waited as the man opened the door and looked at Kagome and checked on Inuyasha's wound.
" Sit tight, ma'am. I'll radio in and let them know that they have a man who needs help,"
The police officer said and left for his car. When he returned, he bent at the waist to speak with Kagome's mother. " They know that you're coming. I'm to lead you and ask you some questions. I hope you understand."
" Of course," Mrs. Higurashi replied and turned to the two in back. " Honey, we're going to be there soon. How is he?"
" I don't know mama. He has a fever, but other than that, he's not showing signs of infection. Even my power won't help him," Kagome said, whispering the last sentence under her breath.
After arriving at the hospital, a doctor and a couple of nurses came out with a gurney. They brought Inuyasha inside to a private room to help him and check his wound over. Kagome was brought to another room where they would do the ultra sound. When they were done, a nurse showed the girl the results.
" You're going to have a little girl. Who's the father?" the nurse asked.
" My boyfriend, the one that came in with me," Kagome replied and stared at the picture of her child. If she looked really close, she could see little dog-ears like Inuyasha's. They were so tiny. Then she thought of something that she knew she had to tell Inuyasha, but she was worried about his reaction. Absently, she fingered a delicate necklace with a Celtic knot and two dragons, one on either side of it.
Inuyasha opened his eyes and saw that he wasn't in the feudal era any more. The room was white and smelled bad, very clean. He heard a rustle of clothes beside him and looked in that general direction. There was Kagome, frowning at some inner thought, her face screwed up to show that she was thinking.
" Oi, if you don't mind, I would like to know where the hell I am," the hanyou said, startling the girl beside him.
" Sorry, Inuyasha. You're in a hospital, where people come in and get healed from injuries," Kagome said and turned back to the window. " Listen, I have something to tell you but I don't know exactly how to tell you."
Inuyasha tried to sit up, but any pressure he applied to his arm shot pain through him down to his toes. " Itai," he grumbled.
" What if I told you that the woman you know as my mom, wasn't really my mom. She's my step mom," Kagome whispered. " And that my real mom was part of my secret. What would you say?"
" I'd want to know what the hell you're talking about," Inuyasha told her.
" What I really want to say is…is, Kami, I'm having trouble with this. Ohen jana, I found this out about a week before I went across the well for the first time. It shocked me, and I think that it'll shock you more than it did me," Kagome said.
Inuyasha's eyes went impossibly wide as he heard what Kagome said.
" My mother was a youkai. An inu youkai for that matter," Kagome told the hanyou.
" Impossible. I'd be able to tell if you were hanyou. Right?" Inuyasha almost yelled out.
" No. You see, before she died, she gave me her amulet that disguised her as a human instead of youkai. One like you have on now so no one would know your heritage,"
Kagome whispered, scared at what Inuyasha would think of her now that he knew her secret. " That's why you couldn't tell if I was a hanyou or not. Gomen, I couldn't tell you before because I was afraid of what you might think of me, if I showed you my true form. Sota, he's a normal human. My father had him with my step-mom when they met. You know something; he never told her what I was. This'll be a shock to her."
" What do you look like?" Inuyasha asked, wanting to know why she kept this a secret. He suspected it was more than she was afraid of what he would think of her, but couldn't place his finger on it.
" Before I show you, I must tell you something else. When you mingled our blood, I had to perform a ritual to get rid of your blood in me and mine in yours. I still carry the sign of being your mate, though," Kagome said and showed him the bite marks on her neck, hidden by her long, black hair.
As Kagome was about to take off her amulet, Mrs. Higurashi, Sota and Jii-chan walked in.
" Close the door, will you Sota. I have something to show you all," Kagome said and waited patiently while her younger stepbrother closed the door. " Mom, you know dad was hiding something from you, right? Well, this is what he was hiding from you all."
Taking off the amulet, every one in the room gasped as Kagome's true form was revealed to them.
Hanyou—half demon
Inu—dog
Kitsune—fox
Miko—priestess
Youkai—full demon
Baka—idiot
Kit—short for kitsune
Taijiya—demon exterminator
Hentai—pervert
Itai—ouch
Gomen—sorry
Ohen jana—damn it