My God, this was difficult to write! I'm really bad at fight scenes, so I beg forgiveness to those who think they would have done a way better job at describing this. I do hope you won't be judging me too harshly, though. After all, each writer with his/her inability, right?

CHAPTER 7 - What she holds inside

Kagura's eyes refused to move from that spot. The tall white figure hadn't budged for a couple of hours. He was just staring up at the house, looking his usual calm self.

'Sesshoumaru? What's he doing here? This is not his business…' the witch thought, and continued to trace his rigid body with her eyes.

'If Naraku has his way today, they will all die. Even Lord Sesshoumaru.' The thought brought her some unease. Sesshoumaru wasn't supposed to be there. He was… an accident. 'An accident waiting to happen.' She inwardly added, and felt as if she had been burnt when his golden stare suddenly landed on her face.

Kagura widened her eyes and just stared back. An awkward feeling rose inside of her body, and she found herself wanting to drive him away from that place. That place which would soon enough become a battle field. She did not want this Lord hurt. She wanted… but his eyes had left her, and now Kagura felt broken up inside. Her shattered soul had been so restless, ever since she had first seen the light of day! Her life was, as it had always been, all hatred and despair.

The many times she had deplored her fate were now distant memories, as she no longer had tears to cry, nor feelings to let out. She didn't even have feelings to keep in… She was just… hollow. Except from when she looked upon this taiyoukai's silent and cold form. He was so peaceful.

It really didn't make any sense at all. Born and trained killer, Lord Sesshoumaru of The Western Lands brought peace to his enemy's soul. Kagura wanted him to leave and never return. If Naraku was to die here today, then she would be free. If not, then she would be forced to fight against this perfect creature, and she didn't want that.

Now he was talking to the hanyou. Kagura took a deep breath and ripped her glare off his face. She turned her feather around and headed for the house. Naraku was watching her, and she was to bring him news… She hated that she couldn't just send him straight to hell. She wanted her freedom. She wanted a life, as the free wind. She wanted Naraku dead.

"We've got company…" Inuyasha stated the obvious, approaching his brother from behind, as he exited the forest. Sesshoumaru took his eyes off the woman and lightly turned his head back.

"Indeed."

"I guess we shouldn't keep the bastard waiting for too long. Let's go!" Sesshoumaru nodded, and they both proceeded to climb up the green and blue stained hill ahead, to the base of the rocky peak. The blue flowers seemed to cry as Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru stepped on their frail petals, but the two brothers had only one thing on their minds: 'The sakura no hana must not fade away.'

Her cherry blossom scent was lingering in the air, and they both came to a stop when at the top of the hill, Naraku appeared, surrounded by his ever present barrier, smiling as if they were old friends. Neither Inuyasha, nor Sesshoumaru had sensed him approaching, until maybe two or three seconds before he actually did.

Inuyasha quickly moved into fighting position, as his eyes searched for Kagome. He could clearly smell her, but he couldn't see the girl. The entire situation was infuriating him to no end. Sesshoumaru simply narrowed his eyes, and waited for the scum to speak his usual pompous phrases.

The damn filthy hanyou always had some make-believe witty attitude to serve him. So he waited for his share of bullshit to be heard today.

"Well isn't this a nice family reunion?" Naraku spat mocking the two. "Are you both here for that little miko? Come on! This is too much!" he laughed, and Inuyasha nearly charged at him. The thought that Kagome was not yet in sight kept him back, though. So he bit on his teeth and simply stated:

"You'd best say your prayer for hell, you fucking bastard. You'll be arriving there soon enough." His voice sounded like a growl, and Naraku simply widened his eyes.

"That's what I missed these past years!" Naraku loudly said, outstretching his arm towards Inuyasha in a dramatic manner.

"Well… Good going, mutt! You haven't changed a bit, I see!" Inuyasha started to boil, but Sesshoumaru's still stance said that there was still something to be done before attacking the filthy bastard in front of them.

Kagome wasn't there yet. As on queue, enter Kagura standing on her feather, holding Kagome's hands above the girl's head. The miko was seated and her wrists were tied… apparently, because there seemed to be no rope around them. However, Kagome didn't seem frightened, nor was she struggling to escape.

'Odd.' Was what Sesshoumaru thought, the moment he saw Kagome with the witch. Both brothers followed Kagura's path, and the witch landed her feather just in front of Naraku, facing them.

"Kagome! Are you okay?" Inuyasha yelled, and the girl answered "Yes." She looked confused, and the jewel was still around her neck.

'Now, that's really odd.' Sesshoumaru thought, again, and met Kagome's surprised gaze.

"Sesshoumaru?" she asked out loud, not believing her eyes. 'Sesshoumaru came for me?' Kagome was utterly flattered. She took a look towards Naraku, and remembered her dangerous task for the day.

'If this fails, we're all dead.' She thought. 'Right, Higurashi, way to lift your spirits!'

Inuyasha was still gazing at her wrists, as Naraku said, all high and mighty:

"Oh, yes… That little spell is for her not to use her power against Kagura. Or what's left of it, anyway. Don't worry, mutt, the wires only cut through her flesh if she struggles or if he gathers any holy energy around them."

Naraku turned his eyes to Kagome, who was standing on her knees, on the grass.

"You'll be a good little miko, won't you, Kagome dear?" he said, and smiled at her almost kindly.

"There's no need for this, Naraku. My powers have failed me. I can't use them now. You've seen me try and fail." Kagome sadly stated, and bowed her head to take a look at the jewel around her neck

Inuyasha couldn't make any sense of it. Her powers had failed her? What had this bastard done to her? Kagome tried to undo her invisible ties, but the wires cut through her skin and drew blood from the fragile wrists. She cringed in pain and looked up to Naraku.

"Untie her, you fucking scum!" Inuyasha screamed, and stepped forward. Something was off in the air. Naraku wasn't his usual self. What had he done throughout all this time? Could he have something so powerful up his sleeve that he afforded to play this waiting game?

"Why? She's so cute trying to do so herself! Look at her! Great going miko, bleed to death, what the hell?" Naraku laughed, and Inuyasha felt his anger flare around him like hot air from a teacup. Sesshoumaru was still.

"He's not a hanyou anymore." The taiyoukai simply stated, and Inuyasha's head sprung up to his brother.

"What?" he growled from between his teeth.

"He's… something else." Sesshoumaru continued, his eyes never leaving Naraku. Inuyasha followed his brother's gaze to their enemy, and took a good look at him. His dark blue aura, his body, were the same. His eyes, though… Not only they were black, but they held a large amount of… humanity inside.

'Human? No… But not youkai either. And not hanyou.' Inuyasha promptly thought. The bastard really had something up his sleeve.

"Very well, Sesshoumaru! You've got it! Finally, someone with an eye for details." Naraku grinned. "Actually, I am a human, a hanyou and a youkai." He simply said, and the group could barely contain their shock. Kagome was staring at him in apprehension. He leaned forward and winked at her.

"See why your miko powers didn't work, Kagome dear?" Kagome just stared at him, her mind searching for way out of this situation.

'He's human?' Her astound was obvious, and she slowly turned her head to look at Kagura. The witch shrugged her shoulders, silently letting the girl know that she had no idea.

"Well this should be easy, then!" Inuyasha said and charged at Naraku, who simply rejected Tessaiga's attack, his barrier merely flickering.

"Stupid mutt." He laughed, and watched as Sesshoumaru was making his way towards him, in a threatening manner.

Inuyasha was confused, and took a look at Kagome, who was still searching the ground for answers.

"Kagome, get out of here!" he shouted, but she did not move.

"Inuyasha, the Shikon shards are still inside him! But… somehow, he is human." She said, not believing her eyes. The Shikon was glowing pure light inside Naraku's body.

'No freakin' way!' Kagome mused, as she stared at the glow, then back at Inuyasha.

"You can't hurt him, it's useless. Tessaiga wouldn't hurt a pure human, and I can't purify him… because there's nothing to purify!" Her voice was desperate, as she realized that in this form, Naraku might as well be a miko! His power was much like hers, and now…

The hanyou, well, former hanyou, looked at her in amusement.

"Glad you've finally figured it out, Kagome dear!" Naraku slowly said, and his voice was clean of any demonic hatred. He looked pure and stainless, as if he were even above human. As if he was no longer a being of this world. But Kagome remembered his evil look when he had kidnapped her, at the well, and realized that this being, whatever it was, held more faces than she could make out, for now.

Somehow, he had managed to use the Shikon no Tama for this perverted joke. It was sickening, really. This creature was so wicked, so treacherous that he could even trick the jewel… Kagome took a second to think at Midoriko's soul trapped inside the small purple stone.

'It's no use…' she thought, as Inuyasha charged again, and Naraku effortlessly rejected his attack, slamming him to the ground. The hanyou gulped in pain, but got up and took a mad look at Tessaiga. The sword's handle burnt his flesh, and soon Tessaiga undid its transformation.

"Tessaiga!" he said, amazed. "It won't…"

"That's right." Came the line from Naraku, his voice again calm and serene.

"It won't fight me, Inuyasha. So you can just say goodbye to all your hopes. Now, Kagome, give me the Shikon you have left." He turned to the miko, who took off her necklace and closed the piece of jewel in her fist.

"No way, Naraku. You can't have it."

"Well, why not? I'm just like you, now! What, don't you trust me to purify the damn thing? Come on, Kagome dear, can you not see me? I am pure…" His voice sounded so clear and so human, that it hurt her heart to hear him plea. Nevertheless, something had to be wrong. This was Naraku, after all. Kagome's head was spinning around, and she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck.

Soon, the pain made its way down her spine and seemed to grab her body entirely, like flowing through her veins. She couldn't move, and her eyes lost focus. Suddenly, another presence woke inside of her, whispering words she didn't understand. Alert, she tried to make sense from those strange words, and everything fell into place when she recognized the voice she thought she would never hear again.

'Kikyo…' she barely acknowledged, as the dead priestess' words swam inside her mind

'Give him the jewel, Kagome. Tie it to your soul and give it to him… Ai, Eiki, Kouyuu, Junshin. Give him the jewel…'

Kagome stood there, petrified at the thought of letting go to the jewel. That was her plan, ever since Kagura had approached her with that unbelievable truce of hers. Bind the jewel to her soul, give it to Naraku and then purify it from the distance, even as the bastard was absorbing it. That was the plan. But now… it didn't seem quite right. She began to shiver and took a fleeting look at Inuyasha, then at Sesshoumaru, who was staring at her suspiciously.

'What's Kikyo doing inside me? Why like this? Has she been here all along?' Kagome's head was spinning, the entire world had disappeared, and she could not focus on her own thoughts. She could only hear Kikyo repeating those words: 'Tie it to your soul and give it to him… Ai, Eiki, Kouyuu, Junshin. Give him the jewel… Trust me, Kagome.'

"That's quite enough, miko!" Naraku said, louder than he should have in order to be heard. "Give it to me, now!" His eyes flashed red, and he frowned for a second, as it trying to keep something at distance. Kagome stood up and held her fist close to the chest, as she slowly said "Ai, Eiki, Kouyuu, Junshin". Then, she released her grip on the jewel.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru both sprung in front of her, at the same time, only the hanyou got a full hit from Kagura's blades. Her fan was open and as soon as Inuyasha moved, she shot a shower of blades towards him. Inuyasha fell flat on the ground at Kagome's feet, covered in bloody slashes, but Sesshoumaru's hand was on the girl's wrists, holding her back from Naraku.

"What are you doing, miko?" he asked, calmly, although he could clearly see that there was something wrong with her. Her eyes had lost their light, and her skin was cold. But he couldn't keep his grip on her, as a pure light sprouted out of her body and sent him flying thirty feet away from the girl.

Kagome's wrists began to bleed, but she did not seem to care. She never even blinked when the invisible wires cut through her flesh. Sesshoumaru's ego was severely hurt, and he had a burning sensation on his right palm, but other than that, he had no wound.

Before he or Inuyasha could get to Kagome again, though, she was inside Naraku's barrier, held in his arms.

With blood dripping from his wounds, Inuyasha got up and yelled from the top of his lungs: "Let her go, bastard! You have your damn jewel now!"

Naraku laughed, but he seemed distraught, his eyes narrowing and widening sporadically. However, he took the other half of the Shikon from Kagome's frozen hands.

"Well, it seems like Kikyo still hates you, Inuyasha." He said, and this time his voice was no longer serene, but that of his usual vicious self. Kagome suddenly regained her ability to move, and stared at Naraku in awe. He was busy speaking to Inuyasha, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

'Wasn't Kikyo supposed to help me? What happened?' She nearly froze when she realized that the priestess had lied to her. 'Or was this all my imagination? Was Kikyo really inside me?' Naraku was holding her tightly, as he smiled at Inuyasha.

"Kikyo? What are you talking about, you scum? She's dead! Let Kagome go!" Inuyasha screamed with rage. Naraku tilted his head, and the hanyou could see the Shikon pieces melting into each other inside his body, as they kept their pure glow. It was outright confusing.

"Oh, that's what you assumed, stupid mutt. Have you seen her fall into the other world? Hmm?" Inuyasha's face became livid, as he came to the realization that he hadn't. Kagome's soul was returned to her, and he assumed that Kikyo had died seven years ago. 'But… how can she still live?' he wondered.

"Oh, you should see your face, mutt!" Naraku laughed. "Oh, this is too good. Yes, your beloved wench is inside my body. I didn't throw her in there, idiot! I've kept her close, to remind me never to trust a human bitch again! She's all here, and working to my advantage!" His sick laughter made Inuyasha furious.

Kagome was in shock. 'Kikyo is inside Naraku? That's what's been keeping him pure? But how can he be pure with all the harm he's doing?' Right then, the thought hit Kagome much like a lightning. 'For the moment, he is not doing anything malicious! He resisted Inuyasha's attacks, but didn't respond in kin. His mind might be corrupt, but his heart is held by Kikyo and he didn't use any dark power… so far.'

It was all too puzzling. This meant that Kikyo was in fact helping Naraku, by purifying his heart in order to get to the other half of the Shikon. Otherwise, Naraku could have never got a hold of it. Not from Kagome's hands, anyway.

"All that talk about me not being able to purify the jewel anymore…" Kagome began, and looked straight up at Naraku, "… that was all a lie…"

"Oh, no, it wasn't!" he answered her, clutching his teeth, and tightening his grip on her waist. Kagome didn't understand.

"Oh, for God's sake, do I have to draw it out for you, human?" Naraku spat, slightly angry at her ignorance." All I had to do was to get you to doubt, stupid little miko!" His voice was now downright angry, and his eyes flaring. "You had to doubt yourself, if only for a moment, in order for Kikyo to be able to get to you. All she's got inside of you, now, is the part that helped her move in this world. The will. Her power is inside me, now. She let herself be absorbed by me. She's mine now."

Soon, Kagome felt his jyaki rise, and his hands burnt her. The jewel was changing, and its pure aura was dissipating, turning the Shikon into the horrid weapon that Naraku had been using. She screamed in pain, and outstretched her arms hitting him in the chest with a solid beam of purple light.

Naraku let her go, but realized his mistake the next second, as Inuyasha lifted her into his arms and placed her behind himself and Sesshoumaru. Kagome was indeed hurt, her skin held burn marks in the places Naraku had touched her, and her forearms were drenched in her own blood. Inuyasha cut through the thin wires holding her wrists together, noticing that he hadn't seen anything like those ropes. He could barely see them fromup close, they were so thin! She would lose a terrible amount of blood, if this would not end soon.

"You still have shards!" Naraku yelled and something shifted inside Kagome. Kikyo's voice screamed 'What did you do? Now it's all for nothing! What did you do, you idiot?' Kagome was stupefied. What had she done wrong? Wasn't it a good thing that Naraku didn't have all the Shikon?

'A few shards still remained… with Sesshoumaru?' Her eyes were stuck on the demon's chest, from where the shards sparked their pure light. She took an odd look at Sesshoumaru, and then grabbed her head, as Kikyo shouted inside of her, powerless: 'What did you do? I needed the completed Shikon to destroy him! I needed Midoriko's soul! What did you do?'

Naraku's aura darkened, as he took in the jewel's corrupted power. Kikyo's voice faded inside Kagome, like a distant memory growing further and further apart from her. Soon, there was nothing left of the shouts and cries inside the young miko, and she only felt like there was something lacking. An empty space that her soul was beginning to fill with her own strength.

She felt Naraku's power grow, but it was unstable, as if there was a fight within him that he could not contain. 'Kikyo disappeared from within me, but her power is still closed inside Naraku's body…' The creature now in sight had nothing that could be described as human, or youkai. His face was contorted into an abnormal form, and his arms and legs were quivering uncontrollably around his almost immaterial body. He periodically faded, and Kagome could practically see through him, at times.

The scene was horrid to the eye, and Kagome could barely watch Naraku's body fight against himself. As she stood up from behind Inuyasha, she could sense the corrupted jewel steady its power and Naraku regaining his control, only so barely. It all took no more than five seconds, but it seemed so much longer. Kagome's wrists were bleeding and aching. She was feeling dizzy and clutched to Inuyasha.

"Kagome… Hold on a little while longer, Kagome." He whispered, desperate and terrified that she could lose too much blood until this was over. She simply nodded and tried to lay down on the ground, flipping her eyes open and closed.

"You have to stay awake, Kagome!" Inuyasha softly said, and put a hand on the back of her neck, placing her down. She opened her eyes and stared at him, clinging desperately to the sight of his frightened gold eyes.

'Have to stay awake…' The words remained like an echo in her mind, and she took a glimpse at her wrists. Inuyasha had freed her from the wires, and now he held his own hands over the wounds, pressing tightly.

"So much blood…" Kagome said, slowly, as she felt something slipping away from her. It could have been her power, it could have been her life… she couldn't say. She only saw two gold eyes staring at her. Their depth brought her comfort, and she sunk in their despair, in their plea and their fear.

Inuyasha didn't take his eyes from Kagome, but yelled at his brother:

"Sesshoumaru, finish this! Kagome's bleeding badly, and I can't stop it!" His voice was telling the taiyoukai just how bad the miko's wounds were. Sometimes, he forgot she was human. Sesshoumaru flinched and turned to see Kagome standing in a pool of her own blood, and his brother using stripes of his white shirt to tie her wounds. Inuyasha's movements were frantic, and his eyes periodically returned to the girl's face, to make sure she was still conscious.

"Sesshoumaru…" Naraku murmured at the taiyoukai. "You have my shards, you arrogant bastard!" he hissed, and sped to Sesshoumaru, who swiftly unsheathed Tokijin and plunged it into the ground, sending a powerful wave of dark blue light to meet Naraku. Their forces seemed not to repel each other, but to converge into an exploding whirl of black light.

Naraku stopped and took a glimpse at Kagome, who was still behind Inuyasha.

"Don't even think about it, scum!" Sesshoumaru growled, and lifted Tokijin at his head's height, then flared a dark blue wave at his enemy. Naraku frowned and outstretched his arms, taking in Sesshoumaru's attack.

Tokijin's vengeful spirit rushed towards Naraku with anger and blood thirst, but Sesshoumaru never accounted for the fact that Naraku was made of the same raw material as his sword. Naraku was a walking pool of hatred and evil. He was now in his full power, using the corrupted Shikon, and Sesshoumaru wondered where Kikyo was now. Why wasn't she purifying the bastard, if she was indeed inside him?

'Or is it that she's lost the battle with Naraku? Is he using her only when it's suitable to him? It would make sense, with all the ill plans he's been known to have…' Sesshoumaru found himself feeling slightly sorry for the dead miko. He knew that she couldn't possibly have enough power to overcome Naraku now, that she had been absorbed.

'What the hell was she thinking, seven years ago? Did she honestly think she could use the complete Shikon inside Naraku's body to purify him?' His thoughts returned to Kagome, and Tokijin sent another earth-quaking wave towards Naraku. But his sword was not meant to protect, and Naraku's resistance collided with Tokijin's attack, creating another whirl of raveling black light.

Sesshoumaru began to feel frustrated. Tokijin wasn't working that well, after all. He knew for some time now, that the damn thing wasn't suitable to his needs anymore. He had changed, and the sword's power became something he did not care for anymore. It was simply too dark and his heart had become somewhat more… light.

"Fuck, this is taking too long!" Sesshoumaru heard from behind him, and saw Inuyasha posting himself in front of Kagome's body, unsheathing Tessaiga, which transformed instantly.

"You'll die, you lowlife!" he growled. "Kaze no kizu!" his scream filled the surroundings, and this time the attack hit Naraku in full. The damn scum wasn't pure anymore. He had used Kikyo to get the other half of the Shikon, but Inuyasha could only imagine how badly the filthy bastard took the miko's presence.

To think that he would put himself through that, even for such a short time, only to get the Shikon! A hanyou possessed by a miko. But now he had overcome her, and Kikyo was nothing more that a trace of conscience inside Naraku. She had been used, thinking that she had the power to purify the jewel, once it would be completed in Naraku's body.

But she had been wrong. For starters, the blasted thing wasn't completed. The two shards Sesshoumaru held were missing, and Inuyasha wondered if that was the reason for which Kikyo could not do her job.

Disregarding the thought, Inuyasha focused on Naraku, sensing Sesshoumaru heading towards Kagome. He engaged in battle without much thought other than 'Get this over with! Get Kagome to Kaede!' Immense forces were unleashed, as both Naraku and Inuyasha attacked each other with rage. The air exploded around the two in circles of dissipating power, dust rising into the air, and the smell of blood reaching to the taiyoukai's senses.

Both his brother's and Naraku's blood, he noticed. Inuyasha had been able to pierce through Naraku's barrier with Kongousouha, and was now fighting the bastard fiercely. Sesshoumaru knelt beside Kagome and took her wrist in his hand. Her blood tickled his skin, and pricked his senses.

Slowly, he took out the two shards and placed them in the palm of her hand. Kagome's eyes were shut. Softly, he leaned towards her and spoke, inches to her face "Stay awake, miko. It won't be long now." Her eyes opened, but they were blurry and out of focus. She was still bleeding, through the stripes of fabric tied around her wrists.

Sesshoumaru inwardly wandered how long does it take for humans' blood to coagulate and close a wound… because this was going on for far too long for his liking. She'd lost too much blood, and too quickly. It seemed wrong.

"Inuyasha…" she murmured, and Sesshoumaru frowned for a moment. "Hold my hand." She reached for him with her fist closed, holding the shards. "I need a link." She seemed not to see anything at all now, and Sesshoumaru wondered if she was delirious. The ramble of the battle was almost deafening, but the girl did not seem to care.

'Gold eyes… white hair… gold, frightened eyes…'

"Inuyasha… " she said again, pleating him to take her stretched out hand.

"I'm not… " Sesshoumaru started, but her next words closed his mouth abruptly.

"Our love will defeat him." Her voice was so faint that he could barely hear her.

'Can't she see I'm not him?' Something fell into place inside the taiyoukai's heart when he witnessed the miko's proof of love towards his brother. Even in the moment of her pain, she still had faith. Not knowing what else to do, he took her arm, and felt as if he had been possessed. The only thing even similar to this had been the feeling he had when he first laid his hand on Tokijin.

Only this time it was so different. It hurt, and it brought bliss at the same time. Sesshoumaru was suddenly aware of the miko's every flow of blood and every part of body, he saw with the eyes of his mind her feelings, her soul, and inside, pulsing, breathing, and keeping her alive like Mother Earth kept Nature, her love. Such a hungry quest for life, such a frantic search for a power higher than herself, for a feeling that now flooded her small body!

The taiyoukai stood knelt beside the bleeding miko and felt… small. Her soul was such a beautiful and peaceful place that he felt his eyes sting. All his authority and high rank meant nothing if he could not find that peace. All his life meant nothing if he would stray in and out of reason, without having known that serenity.

His every youkai muscle rejected the girl's touch, her blood, her presence. His own blood felt as it would burn his veins like acid, and yet his soul desperately called for her, called for that piece of mortality and imperfection that stood reigning at the core of her power.

He felt Tokijin's blade contort and its handle burn him and he let go of the weapon. Tenseiga pulsed at his side, and the demon rushed to take it out. The blade was glowing a watery blue color, and he instinctively pointed it towards Naraku, as Kagome gained her focus.

What she saw frightened her beyond belief. Sesshoumaru was holding her hand, and his face was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen. His markings were like fire and his eyes flashed red and gold, as the demon fought to keep the transformation from taking place. Her holy power passed through him like a spear, and she could clearly see his fangs growing in length, and his claws stretching slowly.

'God, no!' she thought, as Sesshoumaru let out a raging howl that scared her senseless. It was demonic to its core, and Kagome tried to adjust her power. She had trusted that Inuyasha was holding her hand, and so she had thought that his human blood would be the link she needed to send out her power towards Naraku.

But this was Sesshoumaru, and she was afraid that she would purify him. However, Tenseiga seemed to keep him whole, for the moment being. His presence was strong within her, and Kagome's eyes widened considerably when she felt another presence almost taking over her. It was so powerful, and yet its nature was neither good, nor evil. 'She needs me…' was floating around in her mind, and Kagome knew it wasn't her own thought. Then… was it Sesshoumaru's?

The battle between Naraku and Inuyasha came to a solid stop at the sight of Sesshoumaru pointing his other sword at them. Inuyasha jumped out of the way the second he realized what Kagome was doing, and with a terrifying howl from Sesshoumaru, Tenseiga shot a blaze of white and purple energy towards Naraku.

His body was instantly shattered, and all that could be seen from him was his head and the almost completed Shikon jewel. Kagura was watching the scene, petrified. As she realized that Naraku wasn't going to die, and saw the miko collapsing powerless, she chose her side, and flew away along with Naraku's shattered body.

Inuyasha sped to Kagome, not caring that Naraku actually escaped. Sesshoumaru had let go of her hand and was now seated next to her, his arm covered in her blood. He was breathing heavily, and seemed to be in pain. But after a quick glimpse at him, Inuyasha headed to Kagome.

"Kagome! Kagome!" he touched her face and bent to listen to her heartbeat. It was so faint, it scared him. Her skin was cold, and all he could think about was getting her to open her eyes, again. He was barely touching her face and her arms, cursing the "fucking bastard" that had brought her in this condition.

"My Kagome… Please wake up… " he murmured, and his voice held so much pain that Sesshoumaru shivered. He had never seen his brother so scared before. Inuyasha was bleeding also, the taiyoukai noticed, and severely for that matter. But it seemed that all he could care about in that moment was to get Kagome to wake up.

Please send me some reviews regarding this chapter, I'm kinda insecure about it. And thank you for reading, as always. I'll be getting to the RinXSess part of the story from the next chapter on, so the couple's fans don't dig my grave. BTW, I'm one of those fans.

I love Rin, she's so cute, but when I think about her being with Sesshoumaru, I get goosebumps. I mean, he's all strong and bad-ass taiyoukai, and she's this sweet, innocent thing, looking up to him! We've gotta give her some personality or else it would be like he's taking advantage of her, right? Oh well, next chaps I'll be concentrating on those two!

little hearts flying around