After a certain incident involving a demon posing as a Water God, along with Gohan awakening the Dragon Current of Lightning, Sango had agreed to join the group.
They were currently in the middle of a demon saying job, using smoke from a burning incense to lure the demon out, much to Inuyasha's dismay.
During this, Miroku spotted yet another woman amongst the crowd 'What a beauty.' At least, that's what he assumed he thought. Though I believe that it went more along the lines of 'Pretty woman, 11 O'clock. Miroku want.' and he took off after her.
The demon mouse was slain by one whack from the Hiraikotsu, courtesy of Sango.
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While they were staying at the inn, Inuyasha was still out of it, due to the incense.
"Hey, where's Miroku?" asked Kagome
Gohan snorted "He took off after another one."
Sango raised an eyebrow at this "While we were in the middle of slaying demons?"
"She was really beautiful. He probably gave her the line about having to have his child." Replied Shippo nonchalantly
Needless to say, Sango was disgusted by this (A:N Yeah. She's got a lot to learn.)
The poor woman had a lot to learn.
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Speaking of a certain lecherous monk, Miroku apparently bit off more than he could chew. The woman actually turned out to be a mantis demon in disguise.
Miroku defeated it, but his Wind Tunnel had been nicked in the process.
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During dinner, Miroku noticed how Kagome and Sango were glaring at him. At Gohan's suggestion, he sat FAR away from them.
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Later that night, everybody was asleep while Kenshirl was meditating.
Miroku was staring at his Wind Tunnel "Damn, it still hurts.' He thought back to how his father had perished because of the Wind Tunnel, when Miroku himself was still young.
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By the next morning, Miroku had left.
The perverted monk was being accompanied by his faithful raccoon dog servant, Hachi "My father was drawn into his own Wind Tunnel, and he disappeared without a trace. I fear I may die that way as well."
"Miroku, I can see it from here!" replied Hachi
The two landed near a large temple, and they saw a massive hole in front of it.
"Where did this giant hole come from?"
Miroku smiled sadly "This is my father's grave."
Hachi quickly bowed in respect and ran after Miroku.
"Mushin! Are you there?" Miroku called "It's Miroku!" He found the monk sleeping on a bottle of sake. Annoyed, he kicked the bottle away "Drunk again, as usual. Wake up you stinking drunkard!"
Mushin slowly woke up "Miroku, I'm surprised you're still alive."
Miroku just sighed "You're not going to live very long if you keep drinking the way you do."
"Did you just come to lecture me?" Mushin asked sarcastically
Miroku shook his head "A giant mantis nicked the side of my Wind Tunnel, I was wondering if you could repair it."
Mushin looked at Miroku's hand "Too late, you're going to die tonight."
Miroku's eyes narrowed.
Mushin chuckled "Relax, I'm just kidding."
This was followed by a hiccup, which earned him a smack over the head by Miroku "Look, do you wanna get sucked in?"
"Now now, calm down." replied Mushin "I'll stitch it up, but I'm warning you. You must keep the Wind Tunnel covered up and not expose it or try to use it until it is completely healed. If you do, the Wind Tunnel will spread from the nick, and eventually consume you entirely. Should that happen, I will no longer be able to help you. Now then, I will start gathering the herbs I need to stitch it. Go and purify yourself. God knows you need it." and with that, he walked away.
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Miroku started meditating under the waterfall behind the temple.
"So that drunken old man was the monk who raised you?" Asked Hachi
Miroku nodded "He taught me everything I know. Good and bad."
"He's a bit rough around the edges, but he seems very kind."
Miroku chuckled "I suppose."
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'I'm surprise Miroku is so worried over a little nick like that." Mushin thought 'But considering the tragedy in his life, I can't blame him.'
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The rest of the group was thinking about where Miroku took off to.
"I wonder why Miroku took off yesterday without saying anything?" Kagome mused
"Maybe because you and Sango shot him such dirty looks." replied Shippo
Inuyasha snorted at this "Don't try to tell me we hurt his feelings. He's not exactly sensitive."
"Well, master Inuyasha." said Myoga from Inuyasha's shoulder
Gohan raised an eyebrow "When'd you get back?"
"Late last night. When I came in, I noticed the monk acting strangely. He kept staring at his right hand. The one with the Wind Tunnel. He seemed very deep in thought. He didn't say what was bothering him."
Gohan's eyes widened slightly at this, and he turned to Kagome "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Kagome nodded "I've got a bad feeling about this."
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At the temple, Mushin was preparing some herbs to fix Miroku's Wind Tunnel, when he looked outside "It's the middle of the afternoon. Why is it suddenly so dark outside?"
He didn't notice a set of evil red eyes watching him from the shadows, as the figure held up a clay pot. Streaks of fumes emerged from the pot and engulfing Mushin.
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Miroku was waiting for Mushin, who arrived after a few minutes "Did you drink your medicine?"
Miroku weakly nodded "I'm starting to feel very groggy." he closed his eyes, not noticing Mushin pull a cleaver from his robe.
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In the meantime, the group was making their way through the forest.
"What was that noise?" asked Sango
Kagome shook her head "I don't like the sounds of it."
In response, Inuyasha drew Tessaiga and slashed through a tree, revealing a Saimyosho.
Seeing it, Sango attacked it with Hiraikotsu, clipping its wing off.
As suggested by Inuyasha, they followed it.
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Back at the temple, Mushin brought the cleaver down, but Miroku's eyes opened, and barely avoided it.
"You're still awake?" Mushin noted
"You're not Mushin. Who are you?" Miroku growled
"I am a demon worn charmer. I came across Naraku, who promised to give me a sacred jewel shard if I killed you."
Miroku was able to defend himself with his staff, but the medicine had numbed his entire body.
Hachi tried to take Miroku away from the temple, but several demons gathered at the temple.
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At Miroku's insistence, Hachi went to get help. But along the way, he was chased by a large horde of Saimyosho, much to his horror. But on the bright side, this did lead him straight to Gohan and Inuyasha, who slaughtered the Saimyosho.
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"To think I'm going to die because I like to flirt with women. Just my luck." Miroku grumbled from inside his sacred barrier.
"Doesn't surprise me in the slightest." a voice replied as Gohan appeared in a green flash.
Not long after, Inuyasha and the others arrived. Gohan, Sango and Inuyasha mad very true quick work of several of the demons, but they had strength in numbers.
"Who goes there?" a voice shouted as Mushin appeared "I will punish anyone who dares to disturb the peace of my temple."
"Are you the monk called Mushin?" asked Inuyasha as he gripped the Tessaiga "Very interesting. You're brave, taking me on all by yourself. Fight me if you can."
"Please, Inuyasha. Don't kill him." Miroku begged
Mushin chuckled darkly "Good boy, Miroku. I raised you well."
"Who care if you raised him. Your drinking days are over, you old drunk!" Inuyasha snarled as he charged, but Mushin threw a set of prayer beads, which wrapped around the Tessaiga, rendering it useless. The beads then wrapped around Inuyasha, trapping him.
During this, Gohan found the demon worm charmer and went after him.
Inuyasha leapt at the monk and caught him by the throat "Die!"
"You better think about it before you kill me." Mushin warned "I'm the only one who can repair Miroku's Wind Tunnel. If his hand is left as it is, all of you, including Miroku, will be sucked in by this time tomorrow!"
Inuyasha froze and let go of him.
The demons were still multiplying,
Seeing this, Miroku removed the prayer needs from his hand "I'll probably be sucked in this time, but it's better than being torn limb from limb and eaten by a pack of demons! Wind Tunnel!" he began sucking in the demons, but there was practically no end to them.
Seeing the monk distracted by this, Inuyasha broke the spell as he charged over to Miroku and closed the Wind Tunnel.
"Dammit Miroku! If you try to use that Wind tunnel again, I'll tear your arm off!" Inuyasha snarled as he drew the Tessaiga "I don't care if you die or not. But you're not gonna die while I'm around. I won't be accused of abandoning you. You're not gonna lay that responsibility on me!" and with that, Inuyasha swung the Tessaiga, sending out a massive blast of demonic energy, which engulfed every last one of the demons.
As this happened, Gohan finished off the demon worm charmer. They then used it's magic urn to free Mushin.
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Next morning, Gohan and the others were waiting for Mushin to finish stitching Miroku's wind tunnel, when Mushin emerged.
"How's Miroku?" asked Kagome
"He's sleeping now. You two, Gohan and Inuyasha. I need a word with you two."
Kagome, Sango and Shippo watched over Miroku as he slept.
"Is he gonna be ok?" asked Gohan.
Mushin sighed "I did the best I could, but the Wind Tunnel has definitely spread."
"Does that mean that his life has been shortened?" asked Inuyasha "How much time does he have left?"
Mushin shook his head "I don't know. Miroku's wind tunnel is a generational curse place on him and his family by Naraku. If Naraku dies, the curse will be lifted, and Miroku will survive. The sooner you get him, the better. If you don't, Miroku will undoubtedly perish."
Both of them nodded "We'll get him."
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Miroku awoke. He then stared at his right hand and gasped.
"What's wrong, Miroku?" asked Kagome
Sango then blushed out of nowhere, much to the confusion of Kagome and Shippo.
It turned out that Miroku's left hand was groping her rear, to which she retaliated by hitting him over the head with a bucket.
"Sounds like he's still got a life left if you ask me." Inuyasha muttered.
Mushin nodded "Miroku's bloodline is to be feared."
Gohan snorted "I could've told you that."
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While Miroku was recovering, Gohan and Kagome headed home for a few days.
But it turned out that the one time Kagome showed up at school, she was totally unprepared, and Gohan couldn't have her back this time.
But a miracle showed up in the form of her younger brother Sota. It turned out he had practically become a little secretary for Gohan and Kagome, keeping updated of homework and tests, and other school related things.
But all wasn't well in the Feudal Era.
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It turned out that a few Saimyosho were watching what happened at Mushin's temple, and informed Naraku, who had another scheme in mind. It's not a writer's place to give their opinion, but I have to say, this scheme is just plain cruel.
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After 3 days at home, Gohan and Kagome returned to the Feudal Era.
Inuyasha was trying, and failing, to tap into the power that killed the 100 demons.
And Shippo was not helping.
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Gohan, Inuyasha, and Miroku were talking around the campfire about what Naraku's next move would be.
"Anything Shippo?" asked Kagome
Shippo shook his head "They're just talking."
Kagome smiled at this "Now's our chance to go for a dip in the hot springs!"
Sango was skeptical "I know the monk would try to peek at us, but do you think Inuyasha or Gohan would?"
Kagome snorted "Inuyasha's nothing but a stubborn jerk, and Gohan's not into that kind of thing. He even wears a blindfold when I'm in a hot spring, out of respect for my privacy."
"You say that like you want him to look."
Kagome's face turned beat red at this.
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As the girls got into the hot spring, Kagome noticed a bad scar on Sango's back.
"It didn't heal well." Sango quickly explained when she noticed Kagome looking at it.
"Was it demons?" asked Kagome
"No. I got this scar from my younger brother, Kohaku. If only I'd realized some things earlier, I could've prevented his death. Kohaku was tender-hearted. He was always a very gentle boy. Perhaps he wasn't meant to be a demon slayer."
"I'm sorry to bring up such painful memories. It must be hard to talk about."
"It's alright. Before he died, Kohaku reverted back to his old self. I still mourn for him, but that helps ease the pain. We were both strong demon slayers. I'm proud of that. We both have our reasons for being here, don't we? Why are you gathering the Shikon jewel shards anyway?"
Kagome looked away in embarrassment "Well, it's kinda my fault the jewel shattered in the first place."
Both then looked into the bushes as Sango picked up a rock "Did you follow the deeper points of our conversation, you peeping toms?!" she threw it into the bushes.
It turned out to be just a monkey.
Then, a blindfolded Gohan came up to them "What's with all the ruckus?"
"Nothing, but thanks anyway Gohan." replied Kagome
Gohan shrugged and went back to the campsite.
After he left, Kagome looked at Sango "See what I mean?"
Sango nodded "And again I ask, do you want him to see?"
Kagome's face turned red as she looked away and said nothing.
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The next morning, they were on the move again.
Shippo attempted to drag Kagome's backpack, but had little success "Kagome, what's in your bag? It's way heavier than before!"
Kagome nodded "I have a test next weeks, so I brought as many books as I could carry."
"And what she couldn't bring, I crammed into my bag." Gohan added dryly
"Miroku says you should just give up on school." Shippo commented
Kagome sighed "He thinks so too? My younger brother Sota's only in grade school, and he's going on about how if I flunk 6 times, we'd be in the same grade. What a little geek! He thinks he's so hot!" Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake.
Sango merely smiled "I bet he acts tough and pretends to be hot headed. But he hated to be lonely, and he cries easily. He's a very good boy, this little brother of yours."
Gohan nodded in agreement "Sure, he can be a little cocky and thoughtless at times, but he's a good kid."
Kagome smiled.
That was when they noticed someone coming.
A villager covered in blood collapsed in the middle of the road.
"I can smell it." Inuyasha muttered "Blood. Lots of it. And it's fresh. There's been a slaughter."
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The group found a village that was completely annihilated. Not a single one left alive.
Sango then threw a pebble at one house, causing it to explode.
Sensing something, Gohan drew the Ryuuga and slashed through one building, destroying it. A figure then emerged from the building and attacked Gohan with a chain-sickle, but Gohan slashed it away, as it returned to the wielder, who was revealed to be a young boy.
Sango's eyes widened in a mix of shock, horror, and disbelief as she saw the boy "Kohaku…"
Suddenly, Kohaku then attempted to run away.
Inuyasha attempted to go after him, but accidentally set off a landmine.
Gohan and Sango then attempted to go after Kohaku, not noticing the jewel shard in his back.
The others attempted to follow, but were blocked off by a spirit barrier.
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Gohan and Sango then caught up to Kohaku after he stopped running.
"Take off your mask, kid." Gohan ordered "Show us your face."
Kohaku complied.
Sango looked on in horror "Kohaku…"
"Are you happy to see him?" A voice question as a silhouette appeared behind Kohaku "It's been a long time, Sango, Gohan.
"Naraku." Gohan snarled
Naraku merely chuckled "Aren't you going to thank me, Sango? I salvaged your brother's life after he fell to those arrows at the castle. Kohaku should've died there and then, but I saved him. You have already personally experienced this kind of salvation, through the power of the Shikon jewel shard, like you had in your back when you fought Inuyasha. You were his equal in battle."
"That's enough Naraku." Gohan snarled
Naraku ignored him and continued "Now Kohaku possesses that same power. He stands before you as and equal warrior because of the sacred jewel shard. If he loses the shard, he will die. Do you understand, Sango? Think about your actions. Kohaku's life is in your hands. I have a proposition for you: Bring me Inuyasha's sword, the Tessaiga, and I will allow Kohaku to live."
Sango's eyes widened in rage as she attempted to use Hiraikotsu, but Kohaku stopped her from doing so.
"Kid, why are you protecting him?" asked Gohan
"I have erased all of Kohaku's memories of you and his former life in the village. A fighting machine has no room for feelings. They would only get in the way. He slaughtered an entire village by himself. You should be proud of your little brother. He's become a fine demon slayer."
In a fit of blind rage, Sango charged, but Naraku unleashed a cloud of poison miasma, allowing him and Kohaku to escape "Bring me the Tessaiga. I will be waiting for you, Sango."
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Gohan and Sango returned to the others, who immediately started questioning.
"Sango, was that boy you were chasing your brother? Did you get a chance to talk to him?"
"That boy was not my brother!" Sango snapped
That ended the questions.
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In the meantime, Gohan and Shippo were sniffing out the traps in the village.
"Let's get Sango to safely destroy these later." Shippo mused
Gohan ruffled his hair and smiled in a dangerous way "Or, we could do it the fun way." a few minutes later, they were on the roof of the hut "Ok Shippo, throw them!"
Shippo did so.
In response, Gohan swung the Ryuuga "Dragon Current!" a large demonic lightning dragon destroyed the bombs, in a dazzling display of fireworks.
As suggested by Gohan , they left Sango alone, despite Inuyasha's insensitivity about it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Later that night, while everybody was asleep, Sango thought about Naraku's offer.
Gohan finished his meditation and looked at Sango "You ok?"
"Just fine. I just couldn't sleep." Sango lied
Gohan looked at her blankly and sighed "Listen Sango, I know you're in turmoil right now. But I think I've got a plan." he whispered it to her, so that he wouldn't wake the others.
Gohan noticed Kohaku watching them from outside while riding a demon. He looked at Sango and nodded.
Sango then grabbed the Tessaiga while Inuyasha was asleep, jumped on Kilala and rode off, while Gohan silently followed in secret.
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They soon found themselves at Naraku's castle.
"Alright Naraku, show yourself!" Sango shouted
"First, put down your weapon." Naraku's voice ordered
Sango reluctantly complied.
"Well done Sango." Naraku praised as he appeared "You brought me the Tessaiga, as promised."
"Where's Kohaku?" Sango demanded "I will only hand over the sword after I see him."
Kohaku then emerged.
Naraku then attacked Sango and Kilala, injuring them both severely.
But when Naraku attempted to deal the finishing blow…
"Surprise mother ****er!" Gohan shouted at he slashed through Naraku, injuring him.
Naraku then retreated, ordering Kohaku to attack.
Gohan subdued him with a Ryu scale enhanced, jaw shattering punch, sending him crashing to the ground.
Naraku then unleashed his miasma, surrounding them.
"Foolish mortals!" Naraku snarled "You can all die in this sea of miasma!"
With the last of her strength, Sango handed her poison resistance mask to Kohaku, who hesitantly took it.
Gohan, meanwhile, swung the Ryuuga "Dragon Cyclone!" the demon wind dragon dissipated the miasma, as well as severely injured Naraku.
Seeing no reason to stay, Naraku fled, taking Kohaku with him.
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By morning, Gohan and Sango found that the castle had disappeared.
"It was a phantom castle." Gohan mused
"Damn! He got away!" Sango attempted to get up, but failed.
"Don't try to move, Sango." Gohan protested "You're hurt, bad."
"I'm sorry." She whispered "I can't stay with you any longer. I'll just end up betraying you agin, as long as Naraku has Kohaku."
Gohan shook his head "You think you're the only one who wants Naraku dead? If you go after him by yourself, you're just begging to die. Now, let's tend to your wounds."
"Why would you still help me?" asked Sango
Gohan smiled sincerely "Because you're our friend, and a fellow bonafide Naraku hater."
"But…" Sango couldn't hold it in anymore and started sobbing into Gohan's chest.
'Poor Sango.' Gohan mused as he comforted her 'This whole thing must be destroying her. It's hard, I know, but you're gonna be ok, Sango. We're here for you now."
Sango sobbed for a few more minutes before she was ok "Let's go. The others must be worried."
Gohan nodded in agreement.
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When they arrived, they found a concerned Kagome, Miroku and Shippo, and one seriously pissed-off Inuyasha.
Needless to say, they had A LOT of explaining to do…
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Naraku, still posing as the sick lord of the castle, was astonished to discover that Kikyo was once again walking among the living. He could only stare at the priestess, whose life he himself took 50 years ago.
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In the fields of the village outside the castle, farmers were discussing how their crops were mysteriously ruined, when it suddenly started raining blood and body parts of demons.
Gohan and the others were informed of this, and decided to investigate.
Needless to say, Inuyasha wasn't happy.
"So here we come to save the day, again!" He groaned sarcastically "We don't have time for this! We should be trying to find Naraku!"
"You're forgetting Inuyasha." Gohan replied "My Dragon Cyclone really did him some damage. Even he would be out of it for awhile after that."
"Besides." Miroku added in "We've already accepted payment for our services."
"When did that happen?" asked Kagome
"We haven't even done anything yet!" Inuyasha barked "The paying part doesn't usually come until afterwards!"
"If you wait then you get cheated out of the tip." Miroku replied easily
Gohan and Inuyasha just exchanged glances.
Kagome noticed Sango looking elsewhere "Sango, what's the matter?"
Sango looked in the direction of a large mountain "I think the miasma is at the base of that mountain. I was wondering if anybody other than Naraku is capable of something like this."
Gohan thought for a moment "Well, Sesshomaru does have poisonous claws, but his poison is green, and this isn't really his type of thing."
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Kikyo was about to depart the castle, but on the "lord's" orders, the men weren't very agreeable about letting her leave.
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Gohan, Inuyasha and the others were making their way up the mountain, astonished by the extent of the poison.
"The poison even killed the grass." Shippo said to no one in particular.
They soon reached a cave, which was most likely where the miasma was coming from. When they arrived, Sango wasn't fairing too well, since she still hadn't fully recovered.
"Sango, Kagome, stay here." said Inuyasha as he cracked his knuckles "This is just a demon hunt. No need for everyone to come. Gohan, Miroku, you guys coming?"
Both nodded and left with Inuyasha, leaving Shippo and Kilala, who were resistant to the poison, to look after things.
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In the castle, Kikyo freed herself from her confinement in the castle without much effort, thanks to her soul collectors.
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In the cave, Gohan, Inuyasha and Miroku were making their were making their way through, when Miroku fell to his knees in a coughing fit, but he was determined to make it through.
That was when things got weird.
When they reached the end of the cave, they found a large pool of purple liquid, filled with demon carcasses.
Suddenly, the liquid started being sucked into a whirlpool, along with the demon parts. When the liquid fell away, it revealed one massive ogre demon, along with another reptilian demon. Gohan and the others watched as the ogre demon slaughtered the other one, and began merging with its body parts, much to the horror of the others.
The demon then started going on about how the last one was supposed to be allowed to leave alive.
Without thinking, Inuyasha charged in, Gohan following after him.
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Kagome was looking after Sango, when, much to her shock, Kikyo appeared.
"So, Inuyasha is inside." She mused out loud as she walked past them and entered the cave.
Seeing this, Kagome followed after her, leaving Sango in Shippo's care.
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As Kikyo made her way through the cave, a white light began surrounding her 'The dead souls inside me are trying to get out. Are they drawn by the miasma?' She then place a hand on her chest and the glowing ceased 'But there's another force at work. Could it be the one who lives in the castle?'
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Back in the cesspool, Gohan and Inuyasha were having trouble with the large demon, as the substance from the pool entered the wounds, healing them.
"Gohan, Inuyasha, stop fighting!" Miroku shouted from above "This is similar to a technique called Fuko. It's how you make a creature called Kodoku!"
"Fuko? Kodoku? What the hell are you saying?" Inuyasha snapped
"It's a type of sorcery." explained Miroku "You put together lizards, poisonous worms, and a bunch of other things, and the last one standing becomes a creature known as Kodoku."
Gohan raised an eyebrow at this "And that means…?"
"You are the only ones left!" the demon roared "Once I kill you two, I will be the winner!" And it shot a massive fireball towards them, but they dodged.
"This ends now!" Gohan shouted "Dragon Tsunami!" the demonic water dragon shot out from the Ryuuga, sending the Kodoku creature flying into the wall.
'This is bad!' Miroku thought 'Unless the spell cast in her is broken, they will…' His thoughts cease when he noticed a presence behind him.
Inuyasha noticed this as well as he turned and his eyes widened "Kikyo…"
"Oh ****." Gohan groaned "This isn't gonna be good."
"Inuyasha…" Kikyo called weakly, bluish-white lights begin streaming out of her into the Kodoku 'The souls of the dead are leaving me. The miasma is coming from the Kodoku.' she fell off the ledge, towards the cesspool below.
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Naraku watched from the cliff above 'Soon it will come. The demons I sealed in there, beyond counting. One by one, they kill each other, until only one remains. The winner will become my new body,'
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Inuyasha attempted to make his way over to the fallen Kikyo, but the Kodoku wasn't having any of it.
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Kagome was making her way through the cave, when the jewel shard came off from around her neck. She was about to go retrieve it, when she sensed another jewel shard. She quickly made her way to the cesspool, and found Miroku at less than 100%.
Sensing that Kikyo wasn't human, the Kodoku attempted to make her apart of him, but Inuyasha cut its arm off, causing the beast to howl in pain, before it regenerated.
While this went on, Gohan noticed Kagome above them "Kagome! Get Kikyo and Miroku out of here! I don't think we can hold this thing off much longer!"
Kagome nodded as she made her way done the ledge and attempted to get Kikyo to safety, but she started going on about how Gohan would lose her forever.
Gohan slashed at the demon multiple times with the Ryuuga, but before he could deal the final blow, a sacred arrow stopped him from making contact.
Gohan and Inuyasha landed on the ground, but the moment they did, the cesspool began being sucked towards the top of the cavern forcefully.
"The spell is broken!" Miroku shouted "The miasma is gone!" He then moved away to avoid being sucked up along with the rest.
The opening at the top of the cavern exploded, and an air current surged, carrying Gohan and the others out of the cave.
"Gohan!" Kagome reached towards him.
"Kagome!" Gohan grabbed her hand "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. But what about Kikyo?"
Inuyasha tried to make his way towards her, but was having little luck.
They looked and found where, or who, the current was surging towards.
"Naraku." Inuyasha snarled
The air current then merged with Naraku forcefully.
Gohan then jumped off of the current, holding Kagome in his arms bridal-style. Inuyasha landed right next to them.
"So that was his game." Gohan mused "Because my Dragon Cyclone messed up his body so bad, he needed a new body. So he had those demons kill each other and combine into a new one."
"The mountain mist lured the three of you." Naraku growled lowly "You took the bait, and I cast my spell. You could've joined me in here, Inuyasha, Gohan." He then turned his attention to the unconscious Kikyo "So this is the woman who restored me to life. I might not have had this new body at all if it wasn't for her."
"Yeah right!" Kagome snapped "She did it to save Inuyasha, not you! Wipe that smirk off your face!"
Naraku picked Kikyo up in his arms "And yet, I still know her to be the foolish woman who followed Inuyasha in death 50 years ago."
"You bastard!" Inuyasha snarled as she drew the Tessaiga and charged towards him "Don't you dare touch her!" And he brought the Tessaiga down, but he didn't even flinch. Instead, he unleashed a massive cloud of miasma, sending Inuyasha stumbling backwards as he made his escape.
'It makes no sense.' Naraku mused 'If her true wish was to save Inuyasha, and not break the spell, why didn't she aim the arrow at the Kodoku? But she did. Kikyo as good as gave me this body herself.'
Naraku had brought Kikyo to his castle, the barrier around it preventing her soul collectors from reaching her, rendering her helpless as Naraku tried to figure out her plan. After a brief conversation with Kikyo, he allowed one of her soul collectors in, before destroying it and embedding a jewel shard into the soul it was carrying. The soul then entered Kikyo's body.
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Inuyasha had been unusually quiet even since the incident with Kikyo, Naraku and the Kodoku.
"Get up." said Gohan "We've got to save lady Kikyo."
Kagome nodded "It's still early. They can't have gotten too far."
Inuyasha just looked away "I'll save her on my own."
Annoyed, Miroku then stepped on Inuyasha's head "Stop being such a stubborn fool. Have you forgotten who exactly took Kikyo in the first place? I want my own revenge. If it wasn't for Naraku, I wouldn't have this damned hole in my hand."
Sango nodded in agreement "You're not the only one after him, Inuyasha."
Gohan sighed, aggravated "Look, we all know about your history with Kikyo. You don't have to try to sneak around behind our backs."
"I don't sneak around!" Inuyasha barked
Gohan then looked back "Um, guys?"
They saw Kikyo's soul collectors flying in a certain direction.
"She's close." Gohan mused
Inuyasha turned to Gohan and Kagome "You guys coming?"
They nodded and headed after him.
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During the trip, Inuyasha's mind was racing with thoughts of hatred and revenge directed towards Naraku 'Kikyo died because of him. I won't let Naraku get his hands on her!'
They noticed more soul collectors flying overhead.
Sensing something amiss, Gohan slashed one of them, revealing it to be a Saimyosho, along with the rest.
They were heading into a trap.
They suddenly found themselves trying to get through a thick mist.
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Inuyasha made his way through, and found himself in a burning village.
Then he ended up getting bound to the Sacred tree by Kikyo.
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Miroku found himself in a dark forest, before his Wind Tunnel began sucking him in.
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Shippo and Kilala found that the others had disappeared, leaving behind only their clothes.
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Gohan found himself, in a dark forest, the skies pitch black. There, he saw something that nearly drove him insane with grief. Kagome, Kai, Piccolo, Trunks, Krillin and everyone he cared about lying dead on the ground. Two sinister figures stood over them and laughing maniacally, revealing themselves to be Naraku and Cell. In an extreme burst of rage and grief, Gohan charged at them.
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Naraku was from the branches of a large tree from behind a barrier, Kikyo at his feet, her soul collectors were unable to reach her due to the barrier "Evil spell of Illusionary death. The soul is so fragile. Sadness, fear, confusion. If even the slightest bit of doubt exists, and is touched by the creepers of this world, that soul will be consumed by darkness."
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Kagome was still making her way through the forest. She was surprisingly unaffected, just very disgusted by the creepers as they advanced towards her.
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"Strange." Naraku mused "Perhaps because of the jewel shards, the girl is unaffected." he then looked at the unconscious Kikyo "Only she shall make it here. The stage has been set for you."
Kikyo slowly opened her eyes "Aren't you the clever one." She then slashed Naraku's head off, but it was revealed to be nothing more than one of his wooden puppets underneath.
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At the castle, Naraku was seething over the fact that she defied him.
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Kagome finally made her way to where Kikyo was located.
In response, Kikyo fired a sacred arrow at her, just barely missing, but grazing Kagome's cheek. The arrow then melted into a white light, enveloping the ground around it, forming a large hole, which continued to increase in size until it reached Kagome. She managed to grab one of the creepers and was left dangling, staring in fear into the depths of the hole.
Kikyo slowly walked up to the perimeter of the hole "Naraku fears you. He tries to control me with a sacred jewel shard, hoping that I might be turned against you.
Her soul collectors then wrapped themselves around Kagome and lifted her out of the hole and into the air, until she was eye level with Kikyo. Her eyes widened "The jewel shard in your chest…"
Kikyo merely snorted "Surely the priestess trusted with protecting the Sacred Shikon jewel has not fallen so low as to be controlled by a mere shard." She then purified the shard in her body, and then removed it.
She then proceeded to take the jewel shard from around Kagome's neck, much to Kagome's shock.
Kagome was then grabbed from below by creepers as she was unwrapped by the soul collectors. Kikyo merely watched intently as Kagome was pulled back into the hole, showing no signs of emotion at all.
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Inuyasha watched Kikyo's wound from that fated day "Kikyo has been suffering, all alone." He then proceeded to hug her "Kikyo, I promise you'll never be alone again. I swear I will always protect you."
The illusion then faded, revealing Inuyasha back in the forest.
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Miroku was still being tortured by the creepers until a newly freed Inuyasha destroyed the creepers, snapping him out of it.
Gohan was sobbing over Kagome and Kai's supposed deaths. Then he wiped his tears, stood, and spoke with determination burning in his eyes and voice "It's a lie. I would never allowed that to happen! Naraku, Cell, Bojack, anyone or anything thrown at me, I'll kill them all and protect the people I love! I swear it!" the illusion disappeared and he found himself back in the forest.
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In the bottom of the hole, Kagome was lying unconscious amongst the creepers.
"Kagome! Kagome!" a voice called out
Slowly, Kagome started to stir "Gohan…?"
Gohan then jumped down to the bottom of the hole "Kagome! Are you alright? Those roots cause some kind of illusion that make you see your worst fears. I'm just glad you're ok."
Kagome, still pale and visibly shaken, nodded.
Gohan picked Kagome up in his arms bridal style and jumped out of the hole.
Suddenly, Kagome gasped. Inuyasha then turned in her direction to see Kikyo, holding the jewel in her palm.
After a little bit of mocking Inuyasha, Kikyo fled away with her soul collectors.
After she left, a worried Gohan turned to Kagome "Kagome, what did she do to you?"
"She took the jewel shards… I'm sorry."
"It wasn't your fault."
"That's not the important thing here!" Inuyasha barked "Did Kikyo really try to-"
"Then don't ask me!" Kagome shouted at him as tears brimmed in her eyes.
Both of them were taken aback by this.
"I can't do it." She whispered "I feel like I'm telling on her."
"So are you guys finished talking?" asked Miroku, visibly strained by carrying both Sango and Shippo, as well as the Hiraikotsu.
'To Kikyo, my life has no meaning.' Kagome thought to herself as she remembered what Gohan said about the creepers 'The Illusionary death… Our pain, fear and confusion put us all to the test. Mine too. It gave me a small look into my own heart. Into a place where Gohan was gone. Where he was never there for me. Where he didn't love me like I heard him say.'
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Things were unravelling in an unexpected way.
Kikyo confronted Naraku in his castle "You're careless, Naraku. Once your little puppet is broken, you can see nothing. Remember that. Your petty sorcery doesn't work on me. As for the barrier around the castle. The one you erected to keep Inuyasha and his companions away. It was easy enough to break." She then tossed the jewel shard she stole from Kagome over Naraku.
"You wanted it, didn't you? I leave it to you to stand guard over. After all, who needs its power more than you? And you do need it don't you? Demon Naraku… Or is it half-demon Naraku?"
Naraku's eyes widened slightly at this at a large amount of KI (Killer Intent) was emitting from him "A mere half-demon? I, Naraku?"
"True, you've disguised yourself well. But you're still that fugitive human. And the blood of who you once were can never be erased. You seek the sacred jewel to become a full-fledged demon, do you not?"
"Then why give me the shards? Am I not the one you seek to avenge your death 50 years ago?"
"It was only my body that died. I may have left it behind that day, but with this new one, even stronger, I don't ask that you understand. I'm returning to the temple. I will neither run nor hide. Send a messenger if you need me." and with that, Kikyo left.
After she left, Naraku began pondering about how the burn scar on his back from Onigumo was still there, no matter how often he changed.
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Kikyo stared at the sunrise from outside Naraku's castle 'Go Naraku. Gather the shards of the jewel. And once you've found them all, then I will send you to Hell. I am free to hate. My soul is so much freer now than it was then. Free to hate… Free to love…'