Chapter 3
"Miroku, Sango, would you wake up already!" Inuyasha was becoming impatient as usual. He had been sitting with them for quite some time now trying to shake them into consciousness. Shippo and Kirara were already awake, probably because they were demons and could overcome the miasma poisoning faster than humans could.
Miroku's wind tunnel was getting worse. Inuyasha could hear it sucking in wind even though it was covered. If Naraku wasn't killed soon, Miroku's wind tunnel would expand and consume everything in its path, including Miroku.
"Kirara, do you think you can carry Sango and Miroku together? We have to get moving, if we stay in one place too long Naraku will try to absorb us."
Without much effort Kirara transformed into her full size and allowed Inuyasha to drape Miroku and Sango across her back.
"Inuyasha, where is Kagome? She was with you when we got separated." Shippo was clearly worried.
Inuyasha's heart ripped from his chest all over again from Shippo's question. What was he supposed to say? Shippo, I killed Kagome. That wouldn't go over very well.
Inuyasha inspected his hands while trying not to cry or look at Shippo. He had whipped most of her blood off, but the smell still made his nose twitch. There was nothing he could do about it now. He didn't even know where her body was; Naraku probably already absorbed her. Inuyasha's heart sank at the thought of his Kagome being apart of such a Bastard.
Could Inuyasha even call Kagome his? He had caused her so much trouble during the time they had spent together. She had almost died a couple of times and he had caused her heartache when it came to Kikyo. In all honesty, he knew he didn't deserve her love. What had he ever done for her besides treat her like a doormat and never let her see her family? Kagome had stuck with him until the end, just like she said she would. But Inuyasha didn't picture the end like this, or he would have never made her stay with him.
"Inuyasha! Where is Kagome!?" Shippo yelled wondering why Inuyasha was looking at his hands.
"I don't know Shippo." Inuyasha didn't have the heart to tell Shippo that she was dead.
He was going to be selfish and let the kitsune figure it out on his own. Inuyasha knew he was going to kill himself in the process of killing Naraku, so why make it worse, when he was going to pay the ultimate price with his life anyway.
"We have to find her! Take me with you Inuyasha! I can't believe you lost her!" Bouncing from Kirara to Inuyasha, Shippo knocked Inuyasha on the head.
"No, I will make a way for you guys to get out of here and you will go. I will find Kagome." Inuyasha didn't have the heart to fight back with Shippo. He would let him get away with the knock to his head, it was the least he could do.
Grabbing Shippo by the tail Inuyasha slung him back onto Kirara. Miroku and Sango were still out cold, so there would be no chance for goodbyes. Goodbyes suck anyway, it was better this way.
Walking over to Kirara, Inuyasha tapped her back and quietly said farewell to his friends. He didn't want to tell Shippo his plans because he knew that the kitsune would try to stay with him. He hoped they made it out safely and lived. Once Inuyasha killed Naraku, Miroku's family curse would be over and he would then hopefully live a long life with Sango.
At least one couple would have a fairy tale ending.
Turning away from his friends, Inuyasha raised Tetsaiga over his head. He had found that the body cavity they were in was close to the outside. If Inuyasha used the Wind Scar, followed by the Adamant Barrage he would be able to blow a hole in Naraku long enough for his friends to get out before Naraku rebuilt his body.
"Get ready to escape the second I slice with the Adamant Barrage. Do as I say. You must get out of Naraku and take care of Sango and Miroku. Do you hear me Shippo? Kirara?"
Before they had a chance to even nod in agreement, Inuyasha let out the Wind Scar, which caused a small hole about the size of a fist. This was perfect, now Inuyasha could use the Adamant Barrage to rip the rest of the way through for Kirara to fly out.
"ADAMANT BARRAGE!!"
The moment the space was large enough to pass through, Kirara was gone and safely outside of Naraku. It was sad to think that that was the last time he would ever see them again. They had all been through so much together, it would have been nice to have talked with Miroku and Sango before they left, but Inuyasha just didn't know how much time he had before Naraku would start sending more clones his way. It was actually pretty damn surprising that Naraku hadn't gotten in the way of Inuyasha blowing a hole threw him. Whatever must have happened to him must be requiring all of his attention.
"Naraku! Where are you hiding!? Don't tell me you're scared to come out and face me! Always having your clones do your dirty work!"
Inuyasha's words echoed through the silence.
What the hell am I supposed to do now!? I have no way of knowing where the Shikon jewel is and Naraku won't show his face! Damn it! If only Kagome was here.
As soon as Inuyasha thought her name again, Kagome appeared as an illusion standing before him. Her eyes smiled, while her hair bounced along her shoulders. This time when she spoke, Inuyasha could make out her words, barely, but it was enough.
"Inuyasha, you must live. Please do not give up. If you continue to walk forward and go up one cavity, you will find Naraku's heart." Kagome's voice was like satin to Inuyasha's ears. Before her illusion faded, she reached her hand to Inuyasha's face and wiped off a tear while caressing his cheek.
"Kagome! Don't go! Kagome! I need you! There is so much I want to tell you! Kagomeā¦.."
Inuyasha fell to his knees while simultaneously dropping Tetsaiga. Covering his face with his hands, he couldn't catch his breath. His face still tingled from her touch and he never wanted it to stop because it was all he had left from her. If that really was her; maybe it was her spirit. Either way it didn't matter, all that mattered was that even in death she believed in him, he knew she did. She must be waiting for him to meet her in the afterlife.
But if that was true, why did she ask him to live? Why would she want him to go on living without her? Even Kikyo tried to force him into Hell. Now Inuyasha wants to go willingly and Kagome wants him to live.
I don't care what she wants, I need her. She may be able to be without me in the afterlife, but I cannot live without her. Life is meaningless without the one you love.
Pushing himself back onto his feet and grabbing Tetsaiga, Inuyasha decided to follow Kagome's directions. If he couldn't reach the Shikon jewel, he would kill Naraku by crushing his heart. Who knows, if even found the Shikon jewel he would probably turn into his full demon form again even if he shielded himself. Wasn't that what I wanted all along? But that was before I met Kagome. What he wouldn't give to be able to feel her skin; to be able to slide his fingertips over her body. He wanted to taste her and make her shudder against his tongue. Inuyasha wanted to make her into a woman.
Just thinking about Kagome sexually, Inuyasha knew more than ever that he had to see her in the afterlife. If they couldn't be together in this world, he would make sure they were together in the next.
Flying into a fit of fury Inuyasha pushed himself off the floor and lunged straight through Naraku where Kagome said his heart would be. Using Tetsaiga, he stepped into the cavity that would be most precious to Naraku. His heart should be more important than the Shikon no tama. Without his heart he could nolonger regenerate and he would eventually die.
"Did you think it would be that easy Inuyasha? That I would just let you cut my heart out! You really are just a stupid mutt. But I already knew that. Your friends escaped, but the munk will still die." Naraku finally decided to come out of hiding.
"Naraku! You will pay for what you have done. I hope you rot in Hell you bastard!"
Inuyasha's eyes started to turn into the color of blood, and one stripe formed across his left cheek bone. His anger boiled and his jaw clenched as he held Tetsaiga in a death grip. Every muscle in his body flexed with the anticipation of cutting Naraku's heart from his deformed body.
"Are you getting mad Inuyasha? That's cute. I'm surprised you even made it this far without your precious Kagome and your friends. You're a fool to open your heart to a human. I will give you what you've always wanted; I will make you a full demon permanently. Then you would never have to feel like this ever again. What do you say?"
"Go to Hell!" Shaking with rage at the very idea of offering him a way to erase Kagome's memory, Inuyasha ripped through Naraku's illusion causing it to dissipate into the air. Circling around to let his sword slice through the soft tissue of Naraku's dark heart, a tentacle sprang from the wall and wrapped around Inuyasha's ankle dragging him to the ground. Swinging Tetsaiga into the tentacle attached to his ankle, he was able to steady himself and stand back into fighting position. Naraku's vines flew in numbers at Inuyasha trying to wrap around his limbs.
"It's useless to fight Inuyasha, I will strangle the life from your body and display your cold dead face to your friends before absorbing you into me."
Frantically slicing down everything that was coming towards him, Inuyasha tried to move towards the prize. Dead limbs were flying through the air like rain, while reforming once hitting the ground. Inuyasha had to watch his step as he made his way through the debris. There was only one goal, and that was to make Naraku pay for all of the pain he had caused Inuyasha, his friends, and anybody else who crossed paths with the demon. There would be no mercy. Mercy didn't even exist in Inuyasha's world right now. There was only death, and that's exactly how this would end; without mercy and leading to death. There would be no celebration remembering the day Naraku was killed. Naraku wasn't even worth that much, he was meaningless and he would not get the hope of knowing that he will be remembered. His body will be tossed aside like a rotten tomato, never to be thought of again.
Kagome was limp in Seshomaru's arms. After breaking the seal on Rin's barrier she was knocked out by the force and she had not yet returned to consciousness. Rin had awoken not long after she was released, but Naraku absorbed the Shikon jewel before Seshomaru could try to destroy it. Rin didn't appear to be hurt, just confused.
"Seshomaru-sama! You came for me!" Rin squealed when she had awoken to Seshomaru's stare.
"Yes, it appears I have." Seshomaru wasn't the type for hugs and kisses so his answer was as emotionless as ever. It was not a secret that he cared for Rin, but he treated it as a weakness and rarely did he show his love out loud. Inside he was allowed to feel pain, but the outside had to remain cold, as a demon lord should be. Everything should appear to be treated with indifference.
Following behind Seshomaru, Rin kept up pace by holding onto his kimono. He was swift even with the extra weight of Kagome, not that she weighed much anyway. Seshomaru needed to find a way to get both girls out of Naraku before either was put in more jeopardy. Kagome would do him no good dead, she needed to heal and then she could help him find the Shikon jewel. She might even be able to take care of Rin in the process of finding the Shikon jewel for him. Maybe Rin would behave and act more like a girl if there was a woman figure in her life.
Inuyasha probably wouldn't be happy about Seshomaru taking his woman, but when has Seshomaru ever cared what Inuyasha thought. Inuyasha was just a pest among God's. He would never have the amount of power Seshomaru had, so fighting him would prove fruitless if he had the urge to take back his Miko.
This woman is no longer Inuyasha's Miko for that matter, she is mine. She will eventually become loyal to only me and then I won't have to worry about her running off to find that mutt. She's not bad to look at either, she will clean up nicely. Her hair is a bit dull, but that can be corrected with time.
Adjusting Kagome against his chest to ease the stiffness in his arm, her hair fell over her face blocking Seshomaru's view of her exquisite features. Pushing her head against his shoulder, he slid the hair from her face and delicately hooked it behind her ears. She was so fragile, how could a human like this survive as long as she has. Inuyasha is an idiot! If this woman meant so much to him, he should have never allowed her anywhere near Naraku. But she did have an awfully stubborn attitude, and it happened to be quite annoying.
What am I thinking right now? I don't care for this Miko; I simply need her to perform a duty for me. She can die afterwards if that is what she is trying to achieve by throwing herself into every dangerous situation that arises.
Seshomaru couldn't figure out why he couldn't let her hair hide her face. It just seemed an injustice to let her face be hidden. Seshomaru also didn't mind having the ability to look upon her smooth facial features, tracing her cheek bones with his eyes.
So I will probably have chapter 4 posted after Christmas! I hope everybody has a happy holidays and please enjoy chapter 3! Let me know what you think so far. ,)
