Ok guys . . . sadly, this is the last chapter before the epilogue. This tale is getting wrapped up. I hope you guys are prepared for some drama, 'cause here it comes!
Make sure to keep me on your author alert or put me on there if you like my stuff, because I'm working on a new story and hopefully I won't lose interest in it and I'll finish. And also, you can always message me and send me ideas for things you'd like me to write. I will accept ideas for one-shots if they are within reason you want me to write about Inuyasha. I will do the following pairings: InuyashaxKagome, MirokuxSango, SesshomaruxRin. I'm not really interested in InuyashaxKikyo, or KaguraxSesshomaru, though I find the latter a good pairing. I just don't really do Kagura's personality too well, so . . . anyway, if you want me to do a one-shot on those pairings and have a particular idea for how it to work, message me and I'll see if I can't do it! :D
Chapter twelve
Sango's P.O.V.
It's time.
I stirred in my sleep at the voice, and opened my eyes. Miroku slept beside me, though a safe distance away, and Rin was behind him, along with Kaede. All of them were fast asleep. Kagome and Inuyasha were no where to be found, but I wasn't worried about them. What I was worried about was the strange voice I had heard in my head.
It's time, Sango.
Time? Time for what? I put a hand to my head as a strange dizziness washed over me, and I felt my vision swirling. It was a strange sensation. I felt as if I didn't have control of my own body, as if something was taking over me. I saw my hand move away from my head, but I wasn't moving it. My eyes widened. I felt a rush of fear.
You're under my control now. And it's time to kill the monk.
The voice was cold and unforgiving, and I felt my hand move to my sword, which was hidden by my pack. I tried to stop my hand, but I couldn't. I tried to open my mouth to speak, but my mouth wouldn't move. My body was completely under someone else's control. I drew out the sword, and it glinted wickedly in the light. I stood up, and stood over Miroku, the sword in my hand. Inside, I was screaming.
You will not resist. Kill him, now. The voice commanded.
All I could hear were my own screams, ringing in my ears, as I lifted the sword over Miroku, and brought it down.
Kagome's P.O.V.
I wasn't aware of what time it was when I awoke, but it was daytime. I was within Sango's hut, because Inuyasha had carried us there last night after we'd left the hot springs. We'd made love a few more times before finally going to sleep, because we knew we were going to need our rest.
I sat up, and looked around. I was completely naked, and Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen. His clothes were gone, so I knew he was dressed and up and about. I smiled to myself upon remembering last night, and I stood up and began to dress.
I pulled my hair into it's white band at the base of my neck, before I grabbed my bow and slung it over my shoulders, and then my quiver. The Shikon no Tama was around my neck, as usual, and completely safe.
I wonder where Inuyasha is? I made a quick glance around the village, and I gathered since no one was really up and about yet, it was still very early. I didn't see Inuyasha anywhere, so I decided I would go look for him near the sacred tree.
As I walked, I had a strange sensation. I felt . . . odd. I had a premonition type feeling, as if something was going to happen. And, by the way my insides felt, it was like a feeling of dread. The wind was blowing lightly, and the sky was a little darker. I glanced up at it and sighed, wondering what in the world I was worried about. I shook my head. Everything was fine. Nothing was amiss.
It wasn't long before I reached the tree, and when I did, I saw that Inuyasha wasn't anywhere near it, either. I felt a rush of confusion. Where could he possibly be? I'll check the Bone Eater's Well. That's the last place he could be. I thought, and started towards the field.
Once I was there, in the center of the field, I gazed around, seeing it was completely empty. The Bone Eater's Well was a short distance away, and I didn't see Inuyasha anywhere. "He's not here either . . ." I murmured to myself. "Well, he'll come find me. He'll follow my scent. I can just wait for him here."
I reached down, and looked at the Shikon no Tama. It seemed to glow brighter today than any other day I'd ever seen it, and I wondered why. I wondered if it was a warning of sorts, like a bad omen.
I was standing there, waiting, when I heard the quick rushing of feet behind me. It was fast, and it was rapidly approaching me. I released the jewel and was about to turn around, thinking it was Inuyasha trying to scare me for kicks, but whatever it was reached me first, before I could turn. I heard the sudden rush of air, and claws sliced into my right shoulder, golden light flashing. Pain erupted all along me, and I could feel warm blood burst forth. I heard the gasp escape my lips, and my entire body went numb with the force of the blow, and I fell forward, and the jewel flew from around my neck, and landed in front of me, a few inches away from my outstretched hand.
My heart was pounding, and I was growing colder, because I was losing a lot of blood. "What . . . no . . ." I whispered, as I saw a bare, golden tanned foot appear in my vision. I followed my gaze up, seeing Inuyasha standing before me, looking down at me coldly, his claws coated with blood. My blood.
"You . . . but . . . why?" My heart was breaking, and I couldn't believe my eyes. It didn't make any sense to me. I didn't understand. I could barely form words. I was shaking beyond belief.
"Don't tell me you honestly believed everything I ever said to you. How could you be so naive?" he stomped on my hand, as I tried to reach for the jewel, and he reached down, and picked it up in his claws. I was helpless to stop him.
"So you were . . . you were lying? All this time? After everything?" I demanded, tears of rage and pain stinging my eyes. "But why? Why would you?"
"It wouldn't be easy to take the jewel from you if you were suspicious, now would it?" he narrowed his eyes down at me, and his golden eyes, which I could see, just from last night, filled with love and tenderness, were now filled with emptiness, and hatred. "Did you really think I would give up this perfect opportunity to become full demon? To become more powerful? Why would I waste my time being with you, a mere filthy, human priestess? I've been shunned by humans my whole life. How could you be so stupid to think I'd want to marry one?"
The tears spilled over, and my rage overcame me. "You . . . you used me! You lied to me! How could you?"
He laughed, but the sound had no emotion, and it was heartless. "Nothing's fair in this world. Not even love. You wanted to purify the jewel, make it disappear forever? Well, I'm going to make it so that's impossible. I'm going to use it to slaughter the entire village, along with the demon slayer and the monk. It'll be drenched in blood, and it will never vanish from this world. Thanks for the favor, Kagome." he was laughing, as he turned and walked away, heading in the direction of the village.
"You . . . traitor! Traitor!" I screamed.
Inuyasha's P.O.V.
Kagome wasn't in the hut when I came back. I was just going out to the field to go find something for her for breakfast. I leave for five minutes and she's gone when I come back. Ugh, she's such a hassle to keep up with. I thought irritably, as I raced through the trees and in the direction of Goshinboku. I knew I would find her there, more than likely. Kagome was almost always at the tree when she disappeared suddenly.
When I reached the tree, I was genuinely surprised that she wasn't there. "I wonder where she went . . . It's not like her to just wander off." I murmured aloud.
I tensed as something whizzed past my head, dangerously close, and embedded itself into the sacred tree. I looked, seeing it was an arrow. I whirled around as I recognized the arrow as Kagome's, and I saw her behind me, and my eyes widened. She was pointing an arrow in my direction, and her normally soft, loving brown eyes were harsh and cold.
"Looks like I missed you, half demon." she said, and her voice was flat and cold, just like her eyes.
"What . . . what did you say?" I demanded. I couldn't deny the sharp stab I'd felt through my chest when she called me 'half-demon'. Of all the people to call me that, Kagome had never been one of them, and that was one of the reasons I loved her.
"I said half demon. Can't those ugly dog ears of yours hear what I said?" she snapped.
I was stabbed again in the chest with the pain. I gave a sound of shock and anger as my brow furrowed at her, and said dog ears flattened back slightly. "U . . . Ugly dog?"
She laughed, and the sound made me sick, because it wasn't Kagome's laugh. It was empty. "What, did I strike a nerve?"
"What in the hell is going on, Kagome?" I demanded. "What are you doing?"
"It seems I'm a better actress than I imagined. It wasn't really hard, making you fall in love with me, convincing you I wanted to spend a life with you." She replied simply, never once lowering her bow or the arrow she aimed at me.
"So you . . . you lied?" I snarled, and my heart was aching with pain and anger. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Kagome I knew, the one I'd met . . . she wasn't capable of this. This wasn't her. She couldn't do this.
"Of course I lied! How could you ever fool yourself into thinking that me, a human priestess of high stature, could fall in love with you, a weak, filthy half demon?" she demanded. "You're a fool indeed. It's almost sad, to think it was so easy, making you believe I loved you."
"But why? Why now? Why do this now?" I snarled, my clenched fists shaking in anger.
"What better time after showing my 'love' for you and turning down your suggestion to become human because I love that you're a half demon?" she was mocking me, and it stung with every word. "You're more defenseless to me now that you have ever been. And now, I will rid this world of you. You don't deserve to walk among all of us. Die, Inuyasha!" She shot another arrow, and I jumped up to avoid it, and into the branches of the Goshinboku tree, cursing violently under my breath.
"Begone, half demon!" She bellowed, shooting more arrows as I jumped from branch to branch, heading for the village.
I was enraged, as I ran. You lied to me! You deceived me, and made me fall in love with you! I'm going to take the Shikon jewel! I'm going to use it to become a full fledged demon, and nothing will stop me this time! I won't change my mind again! No more of this weakness! It's over!
Miroku's P.O.V.
"No, Sango, stop this!" I cried as I fended the woman I loved off with my staff. I had woken up just in the nick of time, to find her standing over me, bearing a sword. Rin and Kaede were up against the wall, standing back and out of the way in fear, as I fended Sango off. She seemed only concentrated on me with her sword.
Her brown eyes were glazed over, and her expression was blank as she came after me. I knew she had to be under the mind control of Hakudoushi, as Inuyasha had been once before. "Sango, snap out of it! You have to stop!" I blocked another slash from her with my staff, and shoved her back, and she stumbled, though she didn't fall.
"Mi . . . ro . . . ku." escaped her lips, and it was very weak. I knew Sango was fighting inside, trying to break the control.
"You can do it, Sango! Fight it! Don't let Hakudoushi tear us apart!" I blocked another swing, and I flipped my staff up, and knocked the sword from her hands, where it stuck into the wall.
I could hear villagers screaming outside, but I didn't have time to go out there to see what was the ruckus. "Rin, Kaede, go outside and see what's going on!" I called, and they ran out of the hut, leaving me with Sango.
Sango's eyes were still glazed as she stepped forward, and I tensed. I was shocked as she suddenly sank against me, her arms wrapping around me. I let her hug me, grateful that the spell on her mind was released.
I gasped as something sharp stabbed into my shoulder from behind, and I shoved her off, seeing she'd stabbed me with one of her hidden daggers. I grabbed Sango's wrist and flung the knife aside as well, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. "Sango, snap out of this!" I grabbed her shoulders and kissed her with all my might, and she struggled for a moment, before she relaxed, and her lips returned my kiss.
When I pulled back, her eyes were wide, and very, very aware. "Hakudoushi! He was inside my mind!" she gasped. "He tried to make me . . ."
"I know. But it's ok now. You're safe. But, there's no time to talk. Something's going on outside. We have to find Inuyasha and Kagome." I said, and she nodded as I tugged her outside after she grabbed her weapons.
Kagome's P.O.V.
I could hear the villagers screaming as I moved as fast as I could to the village with the wound in my shoulder. Blood was seeping from between my fingers as I held my shoulder, and I ignored the pain, gritting my teeth. I had to get to the village. I had to stop Inuyasha. I didn't have time to think about betrayal and love. I just had to stop him.
I could hear crashing all about, and villagers were running around with weapons, and I saw a flash of red up near the shrine, and I saw a pink glint. Inuyasha was flying through the air, and the Shikon no Tama was in his hand. He was dodging the arrows the villagers shot at him with ease, and when he glanced over and saw me, anger flashed in his gaze.
"This ends now." I said through gritted teeth, as I rushed forward, and drew my bow and arrow, and aimed it towards him. He landed on his feet a good twenty feet away, and looked at me over his shoulder, holding my eyes for a brief moment. Unlike before, his eyes weren't cold and lifeless, but they were filled with anger, and feelings of betrayal.
I believed in you. I trusted you. And you betrayed me. I thought, as I held his eyes, and aimed the arrow, toward his heart. I had to take him down.
Inuyasha's P.O.V.
I seized the Shikon no Tama from the altar where it rested, and I didn't bother to think about how or why it had gotten there. I wasn't thinking about that. I dodged the arrows that the villagers shot my way, and burst through the roof of the shrine, looking down at the jewel in my hand with satisfaction.
"I can finally become all demon, with this. No one will ever call me a half demon again." I whispered, my eyes narrowing. I saw a flash of white and red out of the corner of my eye, and I saw Kagome there, a fatal wound to her shoulder, her bow and arrow drawn, and aimed at me. Rage burned in her brown eyes, and they were no longer empty. I landed on the ground, twenty feet away from her, and I looked at her over my shoulder, holding her eyes.
I never doubted you. Not even for a second. And this is what you've done. I conveyed those words to her with my eyes, my hand tightening on the Shikon jewel in my hand, my heart aching. I still loved her, despite it all, but I had to do this. I had to take this jewel, so I could never love anyone ever again. So I couldn't be weak anymore. I turned away from her, so I could run. I would never look at her with eyes of tenderness again.
Kagome's P.O.V.
"Inuyasha!" When he turned away and leapt into the air, I aimed, and shot, hearing Miroku and Sango's gasps of shock from behind me.
I heard Inuyasha cry out, as the arrow struck his shoulder, and pinned him to the tree behind him. The bow slipped from my grasp, as the Shikon jewel fell from his hand, and landed on the ground. I made my way to it quickly and grasped it, and Miroku and Sango raced to my side.
"You . . . traitor." I looked up at Inuyasha. He wasn't dead, not yet. I hadn't used any type of special arrow on him yet, because I needed to confront him, before I killed him. I needed to have closure.
His hand grasped the arrow pinning him to the tree, and he bared his fangs at me. "You lied to me!" he snarled.
"Kagome! Kagome, what's going on?" Miroku demanded. "What are you doing?"
I ignored Miroku. I wouldn't be talked out of this. Inuyasha had to end, now, before my resolve crumpled. I seized my bow again, and grabbed an arrow, and stood, aiming it at Inuyasha, this time at his heart, to kill him.
"Kagome, no, why are you doing this?" Sango grabbed my arm, but I shoved her off.
"Stay out of this!" I ordered, never once looking away from Inuyasha.
"You never once cared about me. You lied to me. You wanted the jewel. You betrayed me!" I felt tears of anger and pain slip down my face, and the arrow shook in my grip, but didn't lower.
"I could say the same thing for you." Inuyasha managed to say, grasping the arrow in his shoulder more tightly. Though it wasn't a sacred arrow, it was still laced with spiritual power, and it was beginning to weaken him.
"I trusted you." I whispered, and my gaze softened for a moment, on him. I loved him. I didn't want to kill him. But he was after the jewel. It was all he was after. Nothing else. And he had shown he would kill me to get it. I couldn't allow him to exist.
Inuyasha's own golden gaze softened on me, and his tone was soft when he said, "It's funny, that this is how we met. And this is how you're going to end me? Then just do it. I don't have any regrets. Despite that it ends like this . . . I still love you."
My hands began to tremble, and more tears slipped down my face as I bit my lower lip. I had to do it. I had to kill him. "I love you." I whispered back, and released the arrow.
I heard Sango and Miroku scream, "NO!" but they were wrong.
My arrow embedded itself into the wood beside Inuyasha's head, and my bow fell from my hands. I fell to my knees, my tears splashing onto the ground. "I can't do it." I gasped. "I can't. Even if . . . even if it was all a lie. I can't kill you. I'm in love with you, Inuyasha!" I don't care if it was a lie. You were real. That part of you was real. You couldn't have betrayed me. You couldn't have. I know you, Inuyasha. I know that you were real. You were sincere, and we were together. You loved me. What I saw, in the field . . . it isn't true. It can't be! I refuse to believe it!
"It wasn't you." I said shakily. "It can't have been you. After everything . . . that Inuyasha in the field, that wasn't you! I know you, Inuyasha! I know who you are, and I know what you are! You aren't cruel! You're kind, and strong! You aren't capable of doing evil things like this! What I see now . . . that look in your eyes . . ." I lifted my tear stained face to his, holding his eyes. "That's you, Inuyasha. What I'm looking at now. And even if I'm wrong. Even if what happened in the field is really you, I won't kill you. I won't fight you."
His eyes shone, and then widened. "It wasn't you." he whispered, himself. "It was . . . it was fake! If it was fake . . ." He ripped the arrow from his shoulder, and when he was on his feet, he tossed the arrow aside.
"Inuyasha." I whispered, as he moved over to me and pulled me up into his arms. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent, my heart aching so deeply with love and hurt that I was overwhelmed. I was so confused, but all I knew was that I couldn't hurt him. I couldn't kill him or or hurt him anymore. I wasn't capable of it.
"It sounds like both of you were deceived." Miroku spoke up, finally. "I know both of you, and neither of you are capable of such deceit. You love each other."
"I can only think of one person capable of trying to turn you two against each other, like that. He tried to have me kill Miroku just a while ago." Sango said, her eyes narrowing.
"Hakudoushi." All four of us said together.
"So you figured it out, did you?"
I looked up from Inuyasha's chest, seeing Hakudoushi was there, on top of Entei, smiling down at all of us, as if proud of himself. Inuyasha began to growl, and I felt a rush of hatred. Hakudoushi had almost caused me and Inuyasha to kill each other, along with Sango and Miroku. His actions were cruel and unforgivable.
"Oh, come now. Don't tell me you honestly thought that I was incapable of something like this. I don't mind getting my hands dirty. And besides, it's so very entertaining to tear all of you apart and watch the misery and agony you go through. Your pain is so enticing. Your hatred feeds me, makes me stronger." Hakudoushi inhaled deeply, and then sighed, as if pleased.
"You sick bastard!" Inuyasha snarled, one of his hands from around me going down to grasp the hilt of Tetsusaiga.
"Don't be so hasty to fight me, Inuyasha. After all you wouldn't want to hurt Kagome, would you?" Suddenly Hakudouhi's form shifted, and instead of Hakudoushi on top of Entei, it was me, and I had a cruel smirk on my face. Inuyasha hesitated, and his hand released the hilt of Tetsusaiga. He couldn't even hurt a copy of me, and that just went to show that it had been Hakudoushi all along.
Hakudoushi changed back, and he was laughing. "How pathetic. And to think, it almost worked. I suppose I underestimated Kagome's feelings for you, Inuyasha. She managed to see through it before it was too late. Too bad. I would have loved to have seen her kill you."
"You will pay for the things you've done in hell, Hakudoushi!" Miroku shouted, his face flushed with anger.
"Is that a threat? Am I supposed to be scared? Don't test me, monk. I nearly succeeded in having the demon slayer kill you. None of you seem to truly realize what power I have. I can take control of your bodies in an instant, and have you do whatsoever I wish." Hakudoushi floated down closer on Entei, and he dismounted. "There's no need for you to get involved in this, Entei. Go. I'm more than capable of handling these weaklings on my own." The horse whinnied before it flew off, and I was relieved we wouldn't have to worry about the demon horse for now.
"I've had enough of your mouth! This ends now!" Inuyasha stood up and drew Tetsusaiga, and Hakudoushi raised an eyebrow.
"So you got a new toy to play with, did you? I suppose I should be impressed. Let's see how well you fight!" Hakudoushi twirled his spear, and just as he flew down toward us, Inuyasha leapt into the air, and slashed Tetsusaiga up towards Hakudoushi.
Hakudoushi laughed as Tetsusaiga bounced off a red demonic barrier that appeared around his body. Inuyasha landed on his feet, and he smirked. "I wouldn't laugh for long, Hakudoushi." Inuyasha growled, and I felt the strong rush of demonic energy as Tetsusaiga began to glow red. Inuyasha jumped into the air again and struck the barrier with the sword, and we all watched in amazement as it cracked, and then shattered into specks of red dust.
Hakudoushi didn't look perturbed. "I don't need a barrier to defeat the likes of you, Inuyasha!" He dove toward the hanyou, and his spear clashed with Inuyasha's sword.
Just then, the wound in my shoulder wanted to make itself known, and I gasped as the pain ached through me. I was going numb, and I had lost a lot of blood. Sango ran over to me as Miroku ran to help Inuyasha, and she said, "I'm going to have to make a tourniquet."
As she worked, I heard a rush of wind, and I looked up, seeing Totosai approaching. He was riding what looked to be a brown cow, with three eyes, and Totosai had his hammer in hand. He landed beside us, and jumped from the cow.
"Totosai, what are you doing here?" I asked, surprised.
"I could sense the demonic aura all the way from my mountain, and I figured all of you were fighting that demon you were talking about, the one with the barrier. I thought I'd come by and see if Inuyasha was capable of mastering the wind scar. If he can't, he won't win this battle." Totosai explained.
Hakudoushi shoved both Miroku and Inuyasha back with his spear, and I was shocked at how powerful he was, seemingly a child, shoving both of them back with what looked like ease. He twirled his spear, and slashed it up, and it cut into Inuyasha's arm. Inuyasha growled and blocked the next slash, and Miroku came at Hakudoushi from behind. Hakudoushi thrust his hand out and a blast of purple energy flew forth, blasting Miroku back with a cry.
"I have to do something!" I said, and grimaced as my shoulder ached.
"You can't do anything. You're too hurt." Sango chided. "I'll go to help. Totosai, watch over Kagome." Sango grabbed her Hiraikotsu and ran to join the boys.
Inuyasha clashed again with Hakudoushi's spear, and the two exchanged blow after blow, neither one of them lessening up in their force. Sango flung her boomerang in their direction, and Hakudoushi moved smoothly out of the way, and Inuyasha just barely managed to jump back.
"Stay out of this!" Inuyasha shouted at Sango. "Don't interfere!" Sango looked like she was going to protest, but she must have decided better of it, for she backed off, and returned to my side.
Hakudoushi blocked Miroku's staff from behind and shoved him back, and Inuyasha was running at him from behind. That was when I saw it. I saw the half smile on Hakudoushi's lips, and I knew that he knew Inuyasha was coming. At the last second, Hakudoushi whipped around and thrust his spear through Inuyasha's front, and I gasped, "No! Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha stumbled back, grunting in pain, and the end of the spear, protruding from his back, was coated in blood. Luckily, Hakudoushi had missed Inuyasha's heart by an inch or two. Inuyasha yanked the spear out and flung it, and snarled, "This isn't over yet!" and ran towards Hakudoushi.
"Go!" Miroku was coming towards them again, and he flung his spirit sutras. One of them landed on Hakudoushi's arm, and the demon growled in anger as it shocked him. He ripped it off and flung it aside, and cried out as Inuyasha reached him and slammed his fist into his jaw.
"Enough!" Hakudoushi bellowed, his eyes flashing red. He stood up, and a blood red sphere appeared around him, and though it was translucent, I could tell it was a barrier. But something was different about this barrier. It wasn't the same as the other one.
"Fine by me! I'll break through it!" Inuyasha came at Hakudoushi with the red Tetsusaiga, and all of us were shocked when the red Tetsusaiga glanced off the barrier.
"Did you honestly think that I didn't know you were gathering power? I was a step ahead. I strengthened my barrier, so that even your silly sword can't penetrate it. I am invincible." Hakudoushi said coldly, smirking at all of us. "And now, you die." Bolts of red energy flew forth, and struck Inuyasha, sending him flying. I could smell burning flesh.
Inuyasha hit the ground hard, and got up weakly, glaring up at Hakudoushi, his fangs bared. "Now what?" He muttered.
"It seems that the wind scar isn't going to be what determines the fate of this battle." Totosai commented. "There is another technique, a powerful one, that may be able to break that barrier and take care of that demon. But it isn't easily mastered."
"Why didn't ya say so earlier?" Inuyasha demanded, as Hakudoushi turned to fend off Miroku, who came at him with his staff. "What is it?"
"It's called adamant barrage, but the technique is highly difficult." Totosai went on. "And it's extremely dangerous. You might hurt your friends performing it."
"It doesn't matter!" I interjected. "Please Totosai, teach him!"
Totosai shook his head. "It cannot be taught. It has to do with the energy flowing through the user of the sword, and the demonic energy of the sword itself combining with that of the user to create shards of adamant that will fly and pierce."
"Sounds easy enough! I can do that!" Inuyasha boasted, looking down at Tetsusaiga. "Here goes!" He leapt at Hakudoushi, but once again glanced off the barrier. Sango joined in, and she, Miroku, and Inuyasha worked to break the barrier, but it was beginning to look more and more hopeless.
"You will pay for your insolence! All of you will die!" Hakudoushi's barrier began to glow, and once more, bolts of red energy burst forth, and struck Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha, sending them all flying in opposite directions with cries of pain.
"I can't stand by this any longer! I have to do something, pain or no pain!" I declared, standing up, ignoring my shoulder. I seized my bow and arrows, and ran forward, nocking one and aiming for Hakudoushi. I aimed at him, and shot, and blue energy sparkled around my sacred arrow, and it reached his barrier, before it pierced through, and struck his shoulder, shredding straight through it.
Hakudoushi looked down at his wounded shoulder, and then at me. "Insufferable wench." his barrier began to glow again, and what looked to be an arm with a hand formed of red energy reached toward me, and seized me before I could escape. I struggled, but my arms and legs were trapped, and I couldn't move, as the arm held me up from the ground.
I felt energy sear through me, and I cried out in pain, before I slumped, drained of my energy. "Kagome!" I heard Inuyasha shout from down below. "Let go of her, Hakudoushi!"
Hakudoushi smiled at Inuyasha, and lifted me up higher. "If that's what you want." he let me go, and I flew rapidly for the ground.
Inuyasha ran and leapt, and managed to catch me in the air gently. He landed on the ground and looked down at me with concern. "Are you all right, Kagome?" He asked.
"I'm fine." I whispered to him, though I was lying. I didn't know whether I was going to live or not, with the wounds I had taken so far.
Inuyasha laid me down gently, and turned to face Hakudoushi. "It's one thing to hurt me, but hurting my friends and hurting Kagome . . . you've crossed a line!" He bared his fangs, and Hakudoushi just smirked.
"Well, if hurting them is what it takes to make you fight, I would have hurt them a lot sooner." Hakudoushi goaded.
Inuyasha growled in anger. "Focus the energy . . . the energy of the sword . . . I can feel it. It's there." I heard a crackling sound, and I looked to Tetsusaiga, seeing that the blade had transformed, and was glittering and glinting, coated by what looked to be like adamant, or diamond. It was both beautiful and deadly.
"That's it!" Totosai outburst. "That's the Adamant blade! Perform it now, Inuyasha!"
"Silence!" Hakudoushi whipped in Totosai's direction, but it was too late already.
Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga and brought it down it a huge slash, and huge, spear like shards of diamond flew out towards Hakudoushi, slicing through his barrier with ease, penetrating it, leaving him vulnerable.
"No! I will not die like this! I will not die to you, a mere half demon!" Hakudoushi snarled, and his body began to glow, with another attack.
I nocked another arrow quickly and climbed to my knees, aiming at Hakudoushi with the last of my strength. "Now, Inuyasha!" I declared, and I shot my arrow.
Inuyasha leapt into the arrow, swinging the Tetsusaiga down in a slash, and he bellowed, "Adamant Barrage!" My arrow struck Hakudoushi's heart with a burst of blue light, and the shards of adamant shredded through his body, leaving nothing but chunks of his body floating in the air.
"I'll finish it!" Miroku raced forward and removed his prayer beads, and held his hand out towards Hakudoushi. "Wind Tunnel!" Hakudoushi was screaming in rage as he was sucked into the endless void of the wind tunnel, and his last words were, "This isn't over! The jewel still exists! This isn't over!"
I looked to Inuyasha, feeling my body slump with relief now that one problem was out of the way. But my relief was short lived, for the Shikon jewel around my neck began to glow a bright light. "What's happening?" I demanded.
The jewel began to float off my neck, and it floated away from me, into the air, of it's own will, and a bright pink light enveloped us all. When it vanished, everything around me was black, and none of my companions were to be seen. None of them at all. I was all alone, in blackness, and the Shikon jewel floated before me, glowing.
What now? I thought.
"What's . . . what's going on?" I demanded out loud. My heart was pounding, and I was weak. I couldn't fight anymore. There was nothing I could do.
"You are Kagome, correct?" The voice was loud, neither male nor female, and it emanated from the jewel.
"Shikon no Tama?" My eyes widened. "And if I am?"
"You pursue my demise, as you did that demon, Hakudoushi." the jewel answered. "I will not allow it."
"You . . . won't?" My brow furrowed. So the jewel has a will of its own. It's far more evil than any of us ever suspected. It's our final foe. How can I fight it, though? And where is everyone else?
"You are in a place where the others cannot reach you, and you cannot reach them. You are beyond their aid." The jewel answered my thoughts, as if it could hear them. "Tell me, Kagome, do you wish to see them?"
"Do I wish to . . ." What is it playing at? I thought, but then I realized. A wish! The Shikon jewel wants me to make a wish! This is what Inuyasha warned me about. There is only one correct wish. And when you make that correct wish, the jewel will disappear forever. But what is that wish? What's the right one? And if I don't make the right wish, what will happen?
"Why not be true to your heart, Kagome? You are frightened of this darkness. You are frightened of your fate. You wish to be free. Wish for freedom." the jewel suggested tonelessly.
But that's wrong. That can't be right. Because that wish would be selfish. Any wish that's selfish will taint the jewel. I thought, grasping my shoulder and grimacing from the pain. It has to be something selfless. Is it a riddle? A riddle I can't solve?
"What will you do, Kagome? Will you wish?" The jewel asked me. When I hesitated, it took advantage of the moment. "Does this darkness frighten you? Wish for light. Surely light cannot be a selfish wish."
"You see into my heart." I stated simply. "You know what scares me. You know what doesn't. And you fear me. Because I hold the power to end you right now."
"You hold no such power. You will give into your fear of darkness, priestess, before that happens. You have no clue as to the 'one correct wish'. How do you even know the 'one correct wish' exists? How do you know that every wish that you make is going to end in disaster? And how do you know that all of your wishes wouldn't end well?" the jewel was playing with my mind, and I was growing increasingly panicked.
"I . . . stay out of my head! Leave me alone!" I shouted at it, turning away.
"You let your fear rule you. Wish for courage. How is it selfish, to wish for courage, so that you may be stronger for those that you love?"
"I . . . I don't know . . ." I whispered, and my head was pounding.
"Make a wish, Kagome. You will be trapped in this darkness until you do. Do you not fear the darkness? It will consume you. I will not protect you from it." the jewel threatened, and I screamed as the darkness closed in on me.
"No! I won't wish!" I shook my head fiercely. I felt something cold touch my arm from the depths of the blackness, and shrieked.
"Wish, Kagome." The jewel threatened again.
"I . . . " It's either wish or die. If I die, then all of this will be for nothing. What do I do? I . . . I have to try to wish. I have to try.
"Kagome!"
I lifted my head at the voice. It was familiar, and I strained my ears as it called again. "Kagome!"
"Inuyasha?" I whispered. I could hear his voice now.
The jewel immediately sensed the change in my heart. "Inuyasha? Your heart yearns for him . . . for his warm embrace . . . for his touch. You know he will save you from the darkness. Do you wish to see him, Kagome?"
My heart was pounding, and I swallowed. I wanted nothing more than to see Inuyasha right now. I wanted him to save me from the darkness. "I . . . I don't know." I whispered.
"You wish for him. Is it so selfish, to wish to be with the one that you love? Make the wish and I shall grant it. You shall be with Inuyasha forever." the jewel promised. "Will you wish?"
"Kagome!"
"I . . ."
"KAGOMEEE!"
"Answer me, Kagome." the jewel commanded.
"No. I won't make a wish." I declared, and stood up, to my feet, glaring at the jewel. "Inuyasha will come for me. I know he will. He'll come."
Just as I said those words, there was a flash of golden light, and beam of light entered the blackness, and Inuyasha was in the middle, wielding Tetsusaiga, his expression fierce.
"You came for me." I whispered.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran towards me and kissed me fiercely, and I closed my eyes, relishing in his gentle touch.
When he pulled back, I held his eyes, and I knew what his eyes said, and I knew then, in my heart, what the right wish was. I looked to the jewel as Inuyasha wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and we faced it together.
"Shikon no Tama! I'm ready to wish now!" I called. The jewel pulsed. "Disappear! Forever!" I ordered.
The jewel began to glow brightly, and there was a mighty flash of pink light, and the jewel shattered, before dissolving to flecks of pink dust. The blackness began to draw back, and beyond it was nothing but golden light. I looked up at Inuyasha and smiled, and he smiled back, and I knew that if he hadn't arrived when he had, I wouldn't have made it through. I would have given in to my fear of the darkness.
"You did it." he said.
"No, we did it." I replied.
I looked forward with Inuyasha, and a beautiful woman appeared before us, garbed in priestess robes and armor. She was beautiful, and so very sad, as she smiled at us.
"Midoriko." I realized.
"You carried out your duty. You fulfilled your promise, and now I shall fulfill mine." she said softly.
I looked around me, seeing Sango and Miroku appearing, now. Miroku gasped as Midoriko waved her hand, and he ripped his prayer beads from his right hand, and looked down. The wind tunnel was gone. Sango threw herself into his arms, and he couldn't look away from his hand, stunned.
"My battle with the demons is done, and I can be at peace. Thank you, all of you." Midoriko said, and her form turned golden, and she vanished.
Everything around us was so warm, and the golden light flashed once more, before it vanished, and we were all back at the village once more. I looked to Sango and Miroku, and then up, at Inuyasha. "We did it." I repeated softly, and they all smiled at me. It was time for rest.
Hopefully it wasn't cheesy. I'm always worried about cheesy endings . . . but oh well. Most good endings are sort of cheesy anyway, so maybe it'll be a good thing if it is cheesy. If you love it or liked the chapter, please review and let me know! :D Thanks for reading. Epilogue is next.