NVP

Chapter 17

Sango heard an explosion above them and picked up her pace. The battle had started already. Tor'mac seemed to draw the same conclusion and moved even faster than he had been. They rounded a corner and found a stairway leading up. Tor'mac burst through the door at the top to find that they were now outside… and behind Naraku.

Naraku re-formed from his blasted state, courtesy of Inuyasha's Wind Scar, into his natural horrific form.

"Inuyasha! He's already absorbed the jewel!" Kagome shouted

"Where is it?"

"In…in his head!" She answered.

Inuyasha looked at her incredulously. Great. He could blast him all day and he'd keep re-forming as long as he had the jewel.

Sango's Hiraikotsu flew from behind Naraku, cutting a swath through his body along the way. A scream of rage echoed through the castle and Gor'lan's spear erupted from Naraku's chest to stick into the ground in front of him.

"Kohaku, deal with these pests," Naraku hissed in annoyance.

The boy appeared from the same entrance as Naraku had, the same glazed over expression as usual on his face. He looked around slowly, and then rushed at Sango and Tor'mac. He drew out his scythe-chain and whipped the blade at Sango, aiming to sever her head.

"Kohaku, no!" Sango cried, using her Hiraikotsu as a shield.

Ignoring her, he kept up his attack. Sango only parried his attacks, not able to bring herself to strike at him. Tor'mac attempted to intervene but Sango warded him away. While the others focused on Naraku, she waged her own private battle.

Something flew past Inuyasha as he went in for another attack and several of Naraku's limbs fell to the ground in pieces before reforming.

"I see you've started without me Inuyasha," Sesshomaru's cold tone sounded off to one side where he now stood, Tokigin in hand, Jaken cheering from much farther away.

"Feh, what took you so long?" Inuyasha yelled, charging back in to slash at Naraku.

Naraku lashed out simultaneously at Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Both managed to block or dodge each blow he gave. Tor'mac leapt into the air, intending to land on Naraku's back. Yet another appendage lashed out and caught him in mid air, sending him into a wall. He hit hard enough to break a portion of the stone wall, slide down to his feet, and immediately push off and run back into the fray, howling in anger. If the blow had hurt, he gave no sign to anyone. Only the promise that there would be pain to come…

Sango managed to knock Kohaku's weapon away and Kirara didn't miss the opportunity. She knocked the boy to the ground and pinned his shoulders by partially laying on him. No amount of struggling would free him.

Sango wiped her forehead, "Thanks Kirara," and turned to help the others.

The battle dragged on. Nothing seemed to work. Sango and Kagome fired their ranged weapons while the others all tried to sever Naraku's head. Each time they got close they were knocked away or blocked. Even Sesshomaru seemed to be tiring. They couldn't keep this up forever.

Inuyasha crashed into a wall, demolishing it. His latest attempt at an attack. He got to his feet, using Tetsusaiga as a cane. He wouldn't give up, if he did the others would be lost as well. Kagome growled as she ran out of arrows. Going against her usual role, she charged in flexing her new claws. She raked at any part of Naraku that got close, hoping to be at least a distraction. Tor'mac was struck across his mask and sent skidding along the ground to stop in front of a hiding Shippo. Only Sesshomaru seemed to be holding his ground.

A new scent hit Inuyasha as he prepared to dash in again, halting him. There was someone else nearby. He jumped at Naraku again and immediately regretted it. Several tentacles wrapped around him as he neared his target, catching him out of the air and slammed him into the ground.

The scent grew stronger.

Sesshomaru had noticed it too and was keeping any eye on his surroundings as he fought, not wanting a surprise. He too, had an idea of what it was.

Naraku began squeezing Inuyasha, "What's wrong? You both seem distracted."

He squeezed Inuyasha tighter, making it impossible for him to breathe. His vision began to blur.

"I will absorb you all!" Naraku laughed.

Inuyasha was dragged closer to Naraku as he attempted to do just that. Tor'mac had rejoined the fight but was unable to get close enough.

Someone bolted past Shippo, then Kagome. They headed straight at Naraku and Inuyasha. All eyes went to the new arrival. Unfortunately for him, Naraku was the last to notice. A sword flashed and Inuyasha suddenly found he could move. Wasting no time he quickly jumped away before Naraku could recover. His savior stepped up beside him.

"Who invited you?" Inuyasha said, recognizing the scent, though the appearance had changed.

It seemed in appearance that a samurai now stood among them. His white armor seemed to shine even in the darkness of the castle. He smiled at Inuyasha's remark.

"I owe you." He said simply, "Allow me to repay the kindness you once showed me."

With that, his body began to glow. So bright that only his outline could be seen, which began to get larger and change shape. So large that Inuyasha had to move to avoid it. A deafening roar filled the air as it became visible, the glow dying away.

"It's that dragon from before!" Shippo said running to Kagome's side.

The beast's blood red eyes snapped open and locked their gaze with Naraku, who for the first time that night, looked more than a little nervous.

"This isn't your fight!" Inuyasha growled.

The dragon looked down at Inuyasha, "The memory of a dragon is long, Inuyasha. I'll not spend the rest of my days wishing to have repaid my debts." The dragon smiled again, "I'll not finish him off, you may have that honor." He turned back to Naraku, "Now allow me to give you a taste of hell before we send you there!"

With that, the dragon belched fire that engulfed Naraku, hiding him from view. When the flames died away, Naraku appeared – with a barrier erected between himself and the flames. The dragon snarled and unleashed another barrage of fire. The barrier wouldn't last forever. Already it was weakening under the pressure.

Naraku scowled 'I need more power, but where…?'

He spied Kohaku, still laying helpless beneath Kirara and lashed out as the fire came again, knocking the great cat away. Kohaku began to get up but didn't get that far. Naraku's arm dug into his back, snatching the jewel shard that kept him alive. Naraku retracted the shard and swallowed it. The barrier intensified and pushed the flames farther from his body. Kohaku fell to his knees, the control Naraku had over him now gone. His memories came flooding back and he managed only a word as he slumped to the ground. His last breath.

"Sister…"

"Kohaku!" Sango said through her tears, running to his side and holding his lifeless body close, "No. Not again… Damn you Naraku!" She cried, her tears landing on Kohaku's face.

Inuyasha held up Tetsusaiga, its blade turning red. "You're finished, Naraku!"

Inuyasha swung, sending forth the Wind Scar, carving deep gouges in the ground as it raced forward. It hit the barrier and flashed an arc of energy over it. The barrier crumbled around Naraku.

"You think this changes anything fool?" Naraku taunted, preparing to set another in place.

Inuyasha smirked, "Now Tor'mac!"

Naraku's eyes went wide, "Wha..?"

Twin blades flashed from behind and cut off his words as a cloaked Tor'mac plunged them through the back of his neck and out the other side. He pulled upward using all his strength, ripping his head completely off and leapt away from the writhing body. Despite not having a head, it still tried to stop him.

Another blast of fire put an end to the squirming mass, only charred remains were left.

"I'll handle cleanup then," Miroku said.

Miroku opened the void in his hand, sucking up the remains before they could regenerate. Tor'mac now held all that was left of Naraku by his hair. He held Naraku up and glared into his eyes as the others gathered around.

Naraku looked around angrily, "Fools. It will be easy to gain another body so long as I have the jewel."

"What do we do with him now?" Kagome asked.

Sesshomaru glanced at Kirara, "Does the cat need something to chew on?"

Kirara growled.

Tor'mac growled as well, then bent down and took the dagger from Shippo's back and walked away from the group. Kagome and Shippo looked away as Tor'mac began to cut and slash at Naraku, who screamed in pain the whole time. Sesshomaru stared, a flat expression on through the whole process, and then moved to where Sango held Kohaku. Naraku was still screaming when he drew Tenseiga.

"What are you doing?" Sango said, pulling the boy closer.

"Naraku wanted this boy dead as his last act. I will not let him have his dying wish."

Sesshomaru slashed over the boy's body, destroying the underworld creatures that gathered there. Kohaku groaned and opened his eyes. Sango looked down at him, astonished.

"Kohaku.." She said, pulling him into an embrace. "Thank you, Sesshomaru." She said as he was walking away. He stopped a moment, but didn't turn back, then continued on his way back into the forest. Jaken trailed a few moments later, calling his name.

Tor'mac returned to the group as they halted their conversation at his approach…and saw his handiwork. He now held the bloody skull of Naraku, a feint glow coming from somewhere inside.

"This. Isn't. Over…" Naraku's weary voice emanated from the skull.

"Oh, just DIE already!" Inuyasha yelled.

Tor'mac held the skull over his head as if displaying it to them. Inuyasha saw the muscles in his arm tense for a moment before the skull shattered under his grip. Naraku's voice faded away as the tainted jewel fell to the ground. The trophy was not worthy of Tor'mac's wall. This dishonorable creature deserved nothing but to be forgotten.

Kagome took out the shards she carried and duped them into her palm. Then knelt down to retrieve the much larger and darker fragment Naraku had. The instant she touched it, it was restored to its pure form. Kagome cupped the shards in her hand with it and the jewel rejoined with the shards.

"Almost whole again." Sango said, approaching with Kohaku.

"Koga," Inuyasha spat.

"His should be the last of them," Kagome said.

"Then let's go get him. I'll rip the shards out of his scrawny legs if I have to!" Inuyasha growled, clenching his fist.

"That may not be necessary," Miroku said, placing a now unbound hand that had formerly housed his wind tunnel on Kagome's shoulder, probably saving Inuyasha from another 'sit'.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.

"Well, I'm sure Kagome could work something out…"

Miroku was knocked off his feet before he could finish his thought, this time by Kagome.

"I'll think of something," She growled, walking away.

"Idiot," Shippo said, following her.