Retrieving Tenseiga

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Inuyasha.

Kagome stopped at the edge of a lake, looking at the waterfall across the way. "Well, if this isn't the place, then the lead I got was a dud." The others had to agree, because they hadn't seen any other huge, Sengoku Jidai-style palaces nestled beside a waterfall. Sesshomaru, I'm almost there. "Let's go."

The entrance to the compound was guarded by two large shinobi, as well as a large crowd of people trying to get in to glimpse the 'God on Land' that had so 'blessed them with his presence.' Kagome scoffed at them as she pushed her way through. This guy was just some random conman who was making money off a sword he should never have been able to use.

She reached the gates and watched the guards select who would have the 'honor' of meeting 'his grace'. She narrowed her eyes and began walking confidently forward with the others behind her. "I'm sorry, Miss, but you can't just walk in there; you have to show us that you're… acceptable." The shinobi had a glint in his eyes that made Sasuke step closer to her and glare.

Kagome pulled on the mask that Sesshomaru had taught her and looked him dead in the eyes with an intense gaze that made him want to back away. "I will do no such 'show', as you put it, but I will go retrieve what belongs to me, and if you get in my way…" Her eyes began glowing faintly. "I will insure that you do not live to regret it."

A hush came over the crowd as they began to watch the exchange apprehensively. The shinobi tried to recompose himself, but the glow in her eyes haunted him. "H-How dare you try to trespass in his Grace's fortress and – "

"How dare his 'Grace' use something that is not his so dishonorably!?" A faint wind began to swirl around her as her anger grew. How dare they defile his legacy?! She calmed slightly as she saw the pure fear in their eyes and felt Sasuke's hand on her shoulder. If only they knew that what they cherish most belonged to the five-tailed bijuu… "You will let me pass."

The guard stumbled away and the crowd stayed quiet as Kagome and her friends passed through the gates. She relaxed her façade just enough to smile faintly at the protective Uchiha at her side. "Well… that went well." Sasuke rolled his eyes and smirked.

They passed through the courtyard without hindrance, though when they reached the entrance to the actual castle, they found that it was locked. At that point, Sasuke took it upon himself to blow the door down. Naruto was pouting because he hadn't gotten the chance to show off to his female friends.

"It'll be okay," Sai consoled him, giving his usual fake smile. "There will be several more occasions to make an ass out of yourself later, Dickless."

"Not nice, Sai-chan." Kagome remained aloof as she moved through the rubble of the entryway and into the dark room. "It seems that 'His Grace' has anticipated our arrival."

Instantly, several mercenaries and rogue shinobi for hire began attacking them. Kagome took out her katana and stood back to back with her 'master'/'student'. "Don't die."

"You too." The Uchiha was pulled away by his enemies and Kagome began to go through hers. Sakura was using Tsunade's training, Naruto was using Kage Bunshin and a few Rasengan, and Sai used his ink.

Cutting through one, Kagome quickly brought out her whips to purify several others. Crouching into her attack position, the miko waited for her opponents to charge her, many calling out some absurd war cry. She dodged under a wide slash and cut across the shinobi's torso before slitting another's throat and continuing her 'dance.'

She and the others took care of them rather quickly and soon they were standing in the once again quiet room. The miko sighed as she put away her katana; she had hoped there wouldn't be that much security… "Kuso." The others looked at her strangely and she scowled. "There's some sort of barrier here – I can't sense anything… This must have been holy ground."

She shrugged it off and looked over the others to make sure that they were alright. Sakura had used a lot of chakre and was panting. Sai had a few scratched and the others seemed to be alright.

Nodding once, the miko turned to continue through the palace, only stopping hat a shout. "Kagome!" She whirled around, only to stare in shock. Naruto stood just to her side, a four foot scythe sticking out of his chest.

Numbly, her eyes trailed up the blade to the trip wire that had set it off. Nauseating guilt swept through her, straight to her stomach and settling there like a load of bricks. "Naru…" She had accidently set off the trap without noticing, and Naruto stood in the way, protecting her.

The other stared in horror before Sasuke ran forward and helped Kagome slide him off the blade. Sakura held a hand to her mouth and her eyes were wide and watering. Sai had hidden behind his emotionless mask, hoping that this was some sort of genjutsu.

Kagome settled him on the floor, tears streaming down her face as she tried to heal him. Blue eyes stared up at her from his palace in her lap. "I remember… how I know you now…" The miko faltered at his fit of coughing.

He opened blood red eyes to look up at her, causing the others to step back. A deeper voice came out of his mouth as a wry grin fell on his bloody lips. "Did… I do good this time? Okaa-chan?"

Sasuke took a step back, Sharingan wide. "K-Kyuubi…"

Kagome smiled softly and ran her fingers through his hair, just like he used to love her doing. "Hai… you did good, Shipp." He grinned again, closing his eyes as his breathing slowed. "Naru…" Soon he didn't breathe at all.

Sakura turned away, sobbing while Sai pulled her into a loose hug. Sasuke stood numbly, not wanting to believe what he was seeing; his best friend was stripped away from him just as he got him back. Kagome still ran her hand through his hair, not caring what she was now sitting in a pool of blood.

Her emotionless mask slowly fell back into place and she stood up. "Sai, can you please carry him? I may have a way to bring him back, but we have to hurry."

Sakura stared at her incredulously. "'Bring him back'? He's dead!" Kagome winced at the last word before turning back to glare harshly at the girl.

"If you remember, I became certain that this was my sensei's sword when I heard that it could bring back the dead." Without another word, she turned and strode furiously away, her raging aura disabling anymore traps in her path.

'His Grace' sat on his throne, smiling contentedly. He was a large man, most of the weight he had gained recently with the money from his 'miracles.' He rubbed the hilt of his sword possessively. He had found that he couldn't bring back all the people brought to him, so he charged them at the door.

He had been informed earlier that day that five intruders had entered the compound and he had sent several of his men to deal with them. Plus there were all the traps set outside the throne room, so he was certain that he was safe.

He sighed happily as he leaned back, enjoying his luxury. The peace was shattered shortly after, though, and he quickly stood up, teetering a little from his weight. "Who dares enter here?!" More of his men surrounded him, but before he could give orders, a black and white wolf tore through the smoke and attacked them. "Kill it!"

One of the mercenaries attacked it before drawing back in horror. "W-We can't! It's made of ink!"

"N-Nani?" Another explosion cut off any further explanation and he turned to face the entrance with a terror-filled expression. All he saw was a black blur and furious blue eyes before darkness overcame him.

Kagome looked down at the corpse in disgust. How could Tenseiga work for him at all? She leaned down and touched the hilt tentatively. It pulsed.

"Tenseiga…" More confidently, she wrapped her fingers around it, ignoring her companion's fights around her. Lifting the blade, she smiled in silent awe at finally holding her sensei's blade. It only lasted a moment before she whirled around and cut a man down with the katana in her left hand, her right still holding Tenseiga reverently. "Naru…"

There was a large explosion and the sound of a thousand birds before all was quiet. Kagome looked to make sure that the others were alright before running back to the door where Naruto was propped against a wall. The others all followed close behind her, hoping for this to work.

The miko tightened her hold on the demon fang as she came to a stop in front of the bloody blonde. He gave his life for me when I should have died; this is the one thing I ask of you now, Tenseiga: bring him back to us, he is more than worthy.

A feeling of joy swept through her as she began to see the imps of afterlife and the shikigami. The god of the dead looked straight into her eyes and nodded once before turning away. Kagome wasted no time in cutting through the tiny creatures that reminded her too much of her sensei's shrewd, evil little toad-thing.

A cough immediately erupted from him. Sakura gasped in awe and the two look-alikes stared before sighing in relief. Kagome knelt and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank goodness…"

The jinchuuriki smiled slightly and hugged her back as strongly as he could. "Sesshomaru's blade still works then?" She nodded into his shoulder and he lowered his voice. "He showed me the memories of his childhood; you led one weird life."

The miko laughed and leaned back, giving the blonde room to stand and get hugged by Sakura. Sasuke came up behind his miko and wrapped arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. They watched Naruto with relief. "You did it."

Kagome sighed and leaned into him, eyes slowly closing. "Maybe… but I'm exhausted…" The Uchiha chuckled and took the swords, slipping them into her belt. He let his hand rest on her hip, keeping her upright as she slumped. "Wake me when we get to Konoha; I don't care if it's a week's travel away, I'm sleeping the whole way there."

Sasuke looked to Naruto and then to the miko. The jinchuuriki laughed and helped his best friend set the girl on his back before they turned to leave the bloody hall.

Kagome snuggled closer to her 'master's' back and sighed contentedly. Maybe a life in Konoha, with Sasuke, wouldn't be too bad…

AN: There! I think I liked the first on better, but oh well. A few of you questioned why Kagome was kidnapped by Orochi-teme and Kab-uke in the first on if she was so powerful. Answer: She was tired from the final battle and confused - think about it, she had no idea where she was! It would have been a whole different story if Itachi or someone found her first!

Anyway, thank you all for reading!