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A.N. Okay… I won't say anything now… just that I wrote chap13 and posted it and I hope you didn't have any grandchildren in the meantime….
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Chapter 13 – Life and Death
Naraku was boiling with anger. His venomous looks were periodically targeting Kagura, as she stood on the porch of their new hideout. She was eyeing the horizon. It was morning, and she sky looked so peaceful and pure that her eyes practically hurt. She still hadn't figured out how to kill the damn bastard who held her heart, and who held her freedom.
Kanna was simply standing in a corner, looking spooky. Kagura swore even Naraku found that kid scary at times. She herself saw Kanna as in impediment to her plans. She was an ally to Naraku. Good for her that she didn't really have a soul that little devil could seal in that terrible mirror. Wind couldn't be locked into anything. She was meant to be free.
"Kagura." Naraku's voice drove a cold shiver up her spine.
"Yes." She answered, not turning to look at him. She hated his damn face and everything remotely related to him.
'Die, already, you bastard!' But he'd been recovered, thanks to the almost completed Shikon, and now he was even stronger. Fate was mocking her. 'Fate is a bitch!' she thought, spiteful.
"I think I've changed my priorities." She simply raised an eyebrow and didn't bother to inquire. She didn't even move.
Naraku's pride had been severely injured by that taiyoukai, Sesshoumaru. He was just about to kill his little worthless brother, when Sesshoumaru used the miko's powers to shatter him into almost death. He'd been astounded by his ability to withstand holy power, like that.
Naraku knew about both Tokijin and Tenseiga's powers and now that he knew about this particular ability that Sesshoumaru had developed, to survive holy powers, he was intrigued. He was youkai, he shouldn't have survived! Unless… he'd understood holy powers the wrong way. They weren't a weapon against youkai, but against darkness, evil.
Sesshoumaru was cruel, cold, and merciless. A killer. How could he survive…? Naraku's lips curved into a sick grin. 'He loves somebody.' Suddenly, a convenient manner to break the taiyoukai's strength was presented to him. He had to find out who Sesshoumaru loved.
"I want you to do some investigation…." His voice was sinuous and slippery, like a snake. Kagura turned around and threw Naraku a disgusted look. She didn't say anything, though.
"Find out… who is it that Sesshoumaru loves." Kagura widened her eyes.
"Sesshoumaru!" She thought she didn't hear well. Naraku grinned.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru."
"I don't understand. Sesshoumaru doesn't…" she began, but a vivid image of the kiss he gave that human filled her mind and seemed to cloud her sight. She shut her mouth, clenching her teeth.
"Don't be stupid, woman. How else could he have survived that miko's power? Now go and don't ask any more idiotic questions. I gave you a job to do. Do it!" he almost yelled at her, which he'd rarely ever done. Boy was he pissed! Sesshoumaru had really stepped on his toes, Kagura thought.
She took off on her feather, more as a formality now, because she already knew the answer to Naraku's question. She was surprised the bastard hadn't figured it out already. After all, he himself had tried using that silly human girl against Sesshoumaru, many years ago. Kagura smiled. This was her chance to get rid of that stupid human.
She flew around for a while, pondering over that thought. Sesshoumaru couldn't truly love that worthless piece of existence. She was nothing compared to him. How could he love her? Maybe he was just… confused. Yes, that was it. Kagura came to a satisfying conclusion and decided to allow Naraku to kill the girl. She couldn't possibly be worth much, anyway.
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Rin decided to think of the blood bond for a while, and to find out more about it, before she would ask Sesshoumaru to consider it. She needed to know every aspect of the situation; this was all so new to her, and somewhat vague.
She walked at Kaede's side as they reached Kagome's house. They went around the back, and Rin could clearly hear Kagome's laughter, and Inuyasha's following. She raised her eyebrows at Kaede, and smiled.
Kaede simply shook her head lightly.
"I guess they're certainly getting along better, ne Kaede-baba?" Rin chirped.
"It would seem so." the old woman sighed.
The second they took a turn and saw the front porch, Rin knew something wonderful had happened. Kagome was lying down on Inuyasha's chest, looking at the beautiful green stone of her new ring. Rin widened her eyes, as Kagome met her look. She jumped off Inuyasha and blushed a little. Inuyasha stood up and shook the dust off his clothes.
Kagome simply held up her left hand, and smiled. Rin stopped her walk at an arm's length from the older girl. She looked at her shiny face, then at the delicate ring, and then at Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't look at her, though. He was staring at Kagome. Rin smiled, and they both giggled.
"Congratulations, Kagome-chan, Inuyasha!" Rin said, and she embraced Kagome tightly.
"Don't let him push you around, and shut his big mouth every once in a while…" Rin imitated Kagome's words from earlier that day, and both let out a loud laughter. Inuyasha simply rolled his eyes back.
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Rin was on her way back home. She'd left Kagome surrounded by her friends. Sango, Miroku and Shippo all jumped to see her beautiful ring, but mostly her shiny face and the peace written all over it. They were all happy for their friend, and Rin was too. Kagome deserved every good thing on this Earth. Inuyasha was one lucky hanyou!
She wasn't actually looking at where she was going, and found herself to be startled by a woman's voice.
"Human." Rin raised her eyes. A demon lady with red eyes and a white fan stood before her. For a moment, Rin was confused, but then remembered who this woman was.
"You're the one who…" the girl began, but Kagura wasn't about to listen to her.
"Shut up, human!" Rin closed her mouth, and looked at the demon confused.
Kagura approached Rin slowly, and eyed her attentively. The human had nothing that stood out, as far as she was concerned. That stupid look upon her face annoyed her. She raised an eyebrow and slapped Rin across the cheek.
"Know your place, human!" she hissed, and Rin returned her a fiery glare, her cheek burning and red.
"What do you want with me, Kagura? I haven't…" Another slap over the face almost made her fall to the ground. Rin was downright angry by now. She wanted to hit the demon woman, but she knew she had no chance against a youkai. So she just stood there. Kagura was bound to do something. She only hoped the vicious woman wouldn't kill her.
"I said, know your place!" She narrowed her eyes at the girl, and grabbed her chin, forcing her face up.
"You humans disgust me, thinking you can just claim something that's not meant to be claimed… You taint everything you put your filthy little greedy hands on. She pushed Rin's chin back and let go of her, seemingly disgusted.
"Did you come all this way here just to insult me, Kagura? Or is it something that you want?" Kagura seemed amused.
"Another one that thinks she has a backbone… Tell me little filthy human, do you think Sesshoumaru-sama actually cares for the likes of you?" Rin frowned. She didn't expect Kagura to bring Sesshoumaru into discussion.
"Sesshoumaru? What's he got to do…?" Another hard slap sent her to the ground.
"Don't you dare talk disrespectfully about him! You're nothing compared to him, you little maggot!" Kagura's eyes were sparkling with anger and hatred. She hovered over Rin subdued form. The girl was holding a hand over her cheek. The hit she'd just took was stinging her flesh. Kagura was truly mad.
Rin looked at her with stun, more that anger. She didn't understand what this woman wanted from her.
Kagura was staring at the small girl now on the ground. She was holding a hand over the cheek, but the look in her eyes wasn't one of anger or hatred. She was just confused, and surprised.
Kagura told herself that she should hold no mercy in her heart for this human. She was the one who had weakened Sesshoumaru; she was the reason for which he could now get hurt by Naraku. She was the reason he was now endangered because. She couldn't bare that thought.
She opened her fan and raised it into the air, staring at the girl. Her face was still devoid of hatred.
Rin knew what that fan did.
"Why are you doing this? What could my death possibly mean to you?" Rin's voice was soft, and Kagura couldn't believe this little human wasn't gonna scream for mercy, beg for her life… After all, humans were all so desperate for their useless lives!
"So that he could be safe." Kagura said, and narrowed her eyes. She didn't care what Naraku would do to her, she just knew she had to keep Sesshoumaru from being hurt. If there was the slightest chance that this human could get him harmed, she had to make sure the girl was out of the way. Besides that, she was furious at the human's high aim over him. How could she think that Sesshoumaru was to belong with anybody, let alone her?
Sesshoumaru was meant to be exactly as he was now. Wild, untamed, and powerful. Untouchable. Perfect. She hated this human, she hated what she represented. She was the path towards his imperfection.
"You love him." Rin said, slowly, and Kagura felt like she'd beet punched in the stomach.
"I don't love him, you stupid human. You couldn't possibly understand what I feel."
"You're wrong, Kagura. I also love him. Do you think I would want him harmed?"
Kagura could scream at this idiotic human. How could she say something like that?
"You humans think that love is the answer to everything. You think that if you love someone, you cannot do them wrong. Well I have news for you, little girl. Your love for him will bring him to his death. Naraku plans to use you to get to him. Supposed he does care for you… he'll be weakened by your pain. Naraku is vicious and cruel. He'll break your little human body, and Sesshoumaru-sama will seek to avenge you. He'll be blinded by hatred and he'll lose. You are going to kill him with your stupid, useless love, you damned human!"
Her words were so heartfelt, that Rin was simply petrified. She refused to believe that such a beautiful thing as love could kill Sesshoumaru. She refused to believe this woman, but now there was another issue. Naraku was after her, if she was to take Kagura's word. This could prove dangerous. The witch still held her fan up. Rin looked into her eyes and saw she was in doubt.
"Killing me could only make things worse, now. He'll kill Naraku. He'll come after you too, and there will be no escape. It's too late now; he already loves me, Kagura. I've seen it in his eyes; I've heard it in his silence and read it upon his face. He loves me and this will not weaken him. It will make him stronger, because I love him too. It doesn't matter that I am human. Love doesn't favor a species."
Kagura's hand was trembling, holding up the fan, wind began swirling around her and dust rose into the air, blinding Rin.
"No. It's not possible. You'll die, human, and he will not be harmed." Rin prepared for death, closing her eyes to see the beautiful face of the one she loved. She hoped he wouldn't lose to Naraku's plans, after she would be gone. She prayed he would not suffer after her death, and she prayed he didn't really love her as much as to be blinded by pain.
'Keep him safe.' She thought, as Kagura waved her fan at her.
"Kagura." His voice hissed, and Rin flashed her eyes open.
"What are you doing?" she heard the man say, and her blood froze. The nerve of him, to just show up here!
"Naraku…" Kagura mumbled, and lowered her fan.
Rin's vision cleared and she could see the hanyou behind Kagura. He was talking to the witch, but looking at Rin. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at the human girl.
"How convenient, finding you here, little girl." Rin wanted to stand up, but Naraku rapidly advanced towards her and grabbed her neck, pushing her down again.
"Don't move." Taking a look around, he decided that the place didn't suit his purposes.
"Take her to those woods." He instructed Kagura, who all but didn't shout in disgust. She put a hand over the girl's mouth, whispering into her ear.
"Don't make this even worse. You must die quickly. If I have to, I'll kill you myself."
Rin soon found herself pinned to a massive tree, with Naraku's tentacle wrapped around her body.
"You know, I'm surprised you didn't scream for your protector, little girl." Naraku laughed.
"I don't need to. He'll smell your rotten corpse from miles away." The hanyou shot a vicious, short laugh at her. He seemed a little more nervous, Rin thought.
Naraku extended a clawed arm that didn't really looked like an arm anymore, and scratched her neck, following the line of her body down to her waist. Rin was stiff, and eyeing him with undisguised repugnance. Her mind was still pondering over Kagura's words, while her heart and instincts screamed that she was not Sesshoumaru weakness.
"I've yet to figure out a way to deal with you, little girl."
"You won't get to be doing much thinking, Naraku. He'll have your head on a platter before you may breathe again, from the moment he'll see what you've done to me."
She looked down to the skin of her neck and chest and saw trails of blood. Naraku was really nervous, letting that kind of thing slip by him like that. He could feel his blood boil. This girl had distracted his attention, and now he'd spilled her blood. That youkai was bound to smell it, and he'll rush there at once. He had to think fast. And so he did, seeing as Sesshoumaru was to come in less that a few seconds.
Naraku pulled Rin close to him, and used her as a shield. Kagura stood to his left, eyeing the hills outside the forest. She could practically feel Sesshoumaru closing in on them. She looked at the girl, hoping she'll die before Sesshoumaru gets hurt. Naraku squeezed Rin's waist, and the girl lost her breath, instinctively clutching onto the tentacle.
"You'll get worse treatment than this, human. You've distracted me, and now look what I have to do." He pulled her against his chest, and Rin went stiff at the unwelcomed contact. She arched her back in a try not to touch him. Her clothes were cut and she was bleeding from the shallow wounds on her chest. They stung, but she didn't care. She only wanted to get away.
'He's here.' The witch thought, a second before his voice sent chills down her spine.
"I thought you had more sense that this, Naraku." Sesshoumaru said, in his usual calm manner. Rin could almost laugh. He was the same as ever. So damned composed… For once, she thanked God he was like that.
"Well, I've come across an interesting discovery, Lord Sesshoumaru." Naraku mocked.
Sesshoumaru appeared to have no interest in the hanyou. He was looking at Rin, attentive to her wounds. He took a mindful look at the girl, frowned a little, and then bothered to eye the hanyou.
"I do not care. Put her down." Naraku seemed hurt by the Lord's lack of interest.
"I thought you'd be more polite, but it seems like your little brother's poor manners are rubbing off, Sesshoumaru. I think I'll decline your request."
Sesshoumaru flinched his upper lip, and bent his head forwards a little.
"You will regret this, hanyou." Naraku laughed.
"I think not." He responded, and grabbed Rin's throat. The girl was short of breath as it was, and the pressure on her neck was really not what she would have needed. Sesshoumaru took a fast step forward at Rin's wince, and unsheathed Tokijin. He couldn't actually take a swing at Naraku, he would pulverize Rin, and not even Tenseiga could have revived her after that.
He growled.
"You need a human to guard you, Naraku?" Sesshoumaru said, mocking his enemy.
Naraku smiled.
"Good try, Sesshoumaru. No, she doesn't guard me; I just enjoy her wincing in pain. Just look." He said, and tightened his grip on Rin's throat. The girl coughed and spit blood.
"Isn't she beautiful? I mean, for a human…" Naraku knew that this would probably make Sesshoumaru go mad. Although he wasn't sure what it would take for the taiyoukai to completely lose it. Well, he would have to keep pushing his limits, won't he?
"Aren't you going to save her, Sesshoumaru? You're so cruel, really…" Naraku calmly said. Sesshoumaru was considering his options. That damned barrier was circling both Naraku and the witch. He was twenty feet from them. He really saw no option.
He couldn't rely on speed, because the barrier would repel Tokijin's attack. If only Kagome could have been there… He couldn't believe he'd just thought that. He never needed any help, but then again, he was never protecting anyone before… Rin's eyes were open and locked on his face.
She wasn't even blinking. She was alive, he could tell, but only barely. Her lips were slightly stained with blood. Sesshoumaru felt like a knife had just been plunged into his heart. Naraku was twisting it with every second he touched his Rin. His frail, beautiful Rin. How could have he allowed this to happen? This hanyou had become so powerful that he could hide his scent.
He knew only one thing. He had to try getting her out of Naraku's grip. He sprung forward, and went around Naraku, hitting his barrier from the back. Tokijin's dark aura flared at the contact, Naraku's barrier trembled and shot back, but the energy consumed itself. It was the same. Sesshoumaru knew Tokijin wouldn't work, but there was no other choice.
"Did you think it would work, this time?" Naraku smiled, turning around. He could see the hatred in Sesshoumaru's eyes, but wanted the taiyoukai bleeding at his feet, crawling and torn by the sight of his human's broken body.
So he leaned his head to Rin's face.
"Do you know, little girl, that your Lord is gonna die because of you? He would attack if you wouldn't be here. As it is, he's holding back his wraith." He licked her ear, and Rin backed, disgusted.
Sesshoumaru was still, Tokijin still flaring in his hand. Naraku suddenly shot a purple wave to the taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru simply widened his eyes, and raised Tokijin in front of him. However, he found that the energy was pure, and so he took a full hit in the chest, which sent him flying back into several trees.
"Well, I have to get Kikyo out somehow, Sesshoumaru. You know, she bothers me sometimes. She keeps using her power against me, and I found that if I dodge her outbursts, they actually come out like so. That's at least interesting, wouldn't you say?"
Sesshoumaru got up. He could feel the power from the miko's anger. However, it was nothing compared to what Kagome had released through his body, before. It was painful, but it could be bared. Also, he found that there was no reminiscence of kindness in this holy power. It was only the destruction within Kikyo, her will to wipe out Naraku. That was what had survived from the dead miko. Sesshoumaru almost felt sorry for her.
He walked towards Naraku. Rin was still in his grip, and a tear had been rolling down her cheek, seeing Sesshoumaru get hurt. But Sesshoumaru knew how to repel that attack. He had Tenseiga, The Sword of Heaven, and it had protected him before. He passed Tokijin in his other hand and unsheathed Tenseiga.
Naraku laughed.
"Don't tell me you're going to use that mockery of a sword, Sesshoumaru. It couldn't kill a corpse!" Sesshoumaru grinned and sprung forward, holding both swords in front of him. The contact with Naraku's barrier was electric. Sparks flew everywhere, and the barrier collapsed, leaving Naraku stunned. Tenseiga was pulsing, letting out a purple light for a second.
"Kikyo…" Naraku hissed.
"Kikyo, you bitch, you helped him!" Sesshoumaru didn't completely understand what had happened, but the main thing was; now Naraku didn't have a barrier anymore. The hanyou looked at Sesshoumaru with hatred. He wanted the taiyoukai to suffer. To pay.
"If I can't hurt you…." He tightened the grip on Rin's neck, and Sesshoumaru could only take a step before a shower of blades hit Naraku in the back. The hanyou released his grip on the human, and turned to Kagura. Sesshoumaru took Rin and placed her down behind him, after a quick inspection that told him she was alive.
"So many traitors today… Kagura." The witch had her fan still up, and took a fleeting look over Naraku's shoulder, at Sesshoumaru.
'I hope she was worth my death, Sesshoumaru. I hope you love her." She thought, looking her death in the eye. It looked like Naraku.
She folded her fan, and lifted her chin.
"You're a miserable scum and I will let no more souls perish by your hand, Naraku. I quit." She said, and the dignified look in her red eyes impressed Sesshoumaru. He couldn't bring himself to believe that this witch actually cared for Rin.
'Then, why did she….?' He almost asked himself, looking into her eyes. Kagura turned her gaze to him.
"I am honored to have met you, Lord Sesshoumaru." She said, and his thoughts cleared.
'She did it for me. She'll die because of this.' Sesshoumaru suddenly found himself caring. This was an unpleasant feeling. Once he would care for one woman, would he care for every woman that showed him affection? It was downright annoying. However, this particular woman would die because of her feelings for him. He didn't want her blood on his conscience.
"Naraku." Sesshoumaru said, calm and composed. Kagura's sparkling crimson eyes were stuck on Sesshoumaru. She couldn't believe it, he actually interfered!
"Why do you take on this woman? You could kill her with merely a wish. Fight me if you dare." He didn't even finish his sentence, and Tokijin was cutting at Naraku's flesh. The hanyou didn't have time to repel the wave, so the sword cut through him like it would have cut through any other piece of meat.
He fell back and shouki spilled from his body. He grinned.
"The human's dead." Sesshoumaru looked behind him, where Kagura took Rin by the shoulders and raised into the air with her, away from Naraku's poison.
'Unexpected ally.' Sesshoumaru thought, still unsure if he could trust Kagura around Rin. Turning to Naraku, he felt the need to plunge his claws in the hanyou's flesh. Sheathing Tenseiga, he grinned his fangs at Naraku, and quickly moved his fingers, collecting the poison.
He tensed his muscles as he sprung forward and stuck his claws in the hanyou's throat. Blood splashed on his face and clothes, but Sesshoumaru didn't even blink. He was raging, his eyes flashing red at random intervals, while Naraku was choking on his own blood, spitting it out without any success in his effort to clear his throat from the life liquid.
A raw desire for bloodshed and death whipped through Sesshoumaru, recalling Rin's small face and he blood stained lips. He wanted to slaughter this beast, but Kagura's red eyes flashed before him and he realized he would kill her too. Her heart was in Naraku's keep.
"Give the sorceress her freedom, Naraku." Sesshoumaru said, and pulled his fingers from the hanyou's bleeding throat. The shouki was no longer spilling, and Kagura begun approaching, leaving Rin at a relatively safe distance. Naraku slipped from under Sesshoumaru's grip, and sprung at Kagura, blood speckles flying behind him from his wounds.
His right hand was glowing with a dark red light. He stopped in front of the woman, and hit her in the chest with the red light.
"Here you go, bitch!" Kagura felt her heartbeat, and her entire body was overwhelmed by the feeling. Tears flooded her crimson eyes, and she stared at Sesshoumaru, with a look of comprehension on her face.
Naraku then caught her by the back of her neck, pushing her chest with his other hand. He gathered all the energy he had left, probably from the hatred he felt, and pierced Kagura's body, leaving her eyes empty and lightless. The wind sorceress never even looked at him. Her beautiful, blood shot eyes rested on Sesshoumaru's perfect face, as the life slipped from her body.
The first and only thing her heart had told her, the only real feeling she ever had, was that of love. She died looking at the one she loved, understanding that even if she would have gotten her heart at the expense of the human's life; her freedom would have meant nothing. Naraku didn't have the time to release his grip on Kagura's lifeless body, and Sesshoumaru couldn't take a step, and a purple arrow shot through the air roaring towards the hanyou.
Naraku only turned his head at Kagome's shout.
"Naraku!" she yelled, and he felt the sharp pain of holy power spreading inside his bleeding body. He looked into the young miko's eyes and saw Kikyo's face.
"You got me after all, Kikyo…" he whispered, before falling to the ground, dragging Kagura's body with him.
Rin stood up and ran to Sesshoumaru, who didn't wait for her to reach him. He lifted her into his arms, and hid his face in her raven hair. All he could think about was that she was safe. He turned to look at Kagome. She stood not twenty feet from him. Inuyasha was behind her, and so were the others. They all stared at Sesshoumaru, who was holding Rin in his arms.
Kagome walked to Naraku's form, and plunged her fingers into his throat. She clutched onto something and pulled out. The Shikon no Tama was throwing out the dark aura it held until then, taking on Kagome's pure glow. She pulled out the arrow she'd shot to the hanyou and pulled the two remaining pieces from it.
Silently, she closed the pieces in her hands, mumbling a few words. She opened her hand and Sesshoumaru had to look away for a second, to protect his eyes from the purple glow. Everybody could see it now, it was pure, clean and whole, and Kagome breathed easy for the first time in seven years.
It was then that Sesshoumaru noticed the green stone on the miko's finger. He eyed it curiously, and looked at her face. Kagome was at ease, and his brother put a hand on her shoulder. At his touch, the miko turned ad embraced him tightly. Inuyasha took her in his arms and closed his eyed tightly.
"It's over." He said, and the miko shed a few tears in his hair. Nobody knew why she was crying. Sesshoumaru looked at Rin. These human women had changed both his brother and himself. It was awkward to say the least.
Sesshoumaru wondered if he could revive Kagura, but a shallow breeze passed over the witch's body and she was gone. Everyone stared at the lack of her body. Sesshoumaru got a weird feeling, like a warm shiver passing through his body.
'I died with a heart. Thank you.' The words spread in his mind, and the taiyoukai smiled faintly. Kagura was finally free.
"Let's go home." He said, and Rin nodded, cuddling closer to his body.
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A.N. OMG, I am so incredibly sorry for the delay, don't hate me pleaaase. I was just… Just… busy writing on my other fic, I AM SORRY BUT I LOVE THEM BOTH AND I'M TORN BETWEEN THEEEEM. Also I had to figure out a way to write the fight scene. I stink at writing that and it really ticks me when I write poorly.
Hope you still wanna read it. Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews, I am truly overwhelmed of how much you like this thing.
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!
Keep sending them; if you still like it, you know I go all ITADAKIMASU when I get reviews. Hehe…
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