A/N: Thank you starfire1994 and PrincessSakura220 for your reviews. And a thanks to the two that added this story or I to your lists.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
Her Knight
Ch. 23
There was no need to speak as they ran in tandem towards the poisonous cloud hovering over the nearby village. Words were unnecessary to the now tight band of warriors. Almost without thought Miroku and Sango climbed on Kirara to fly to their destination while Kagome and Shippou just as seamlessly grabbed ahold of Inuyasha and rode on him. Their date with destiny had come. The time when all who had fought Naraku would gather to finish the vile entity that had plagued the land for the last fifty years.
Coming upon the battlefield, they found those expected few waiting for them. Sesshoumaru stood staring Naraku and the last of his minions down while Kouga growled and his two helpers stood guard over Rin. Kikyo, now accompanied by Kohaku, also waited in the wings. Here too there was no need for words. Shippou went without protest to join Rin and Jaken.
Kohaku glanced between his sister and Kikyo, following both their cues to go with the other children. He had done his fighting; there was no need for him to struggle further. It was as he was making his way over to the wolves that Naraku struck. With one tentacle he took the shard keeping the young demon slayer alive. In that one instant, everything changed.
The final battle had commenced and nothing could prevent the shard hunters, demon lord, and ookami from defeating their nemesis. Kikyo was the first to fall, her energy having been spent mostly to keep Kohaku's shard pure. With her death came his salvation as her light revived him and allowed him complete freedom over his actions. No longer worried about the possibility of dying or of being controlled by Naraku, Kohaku fought the multitude of low level demons that tried to kill the other children. Even when others fell, too exhausted or too injured to continue fighting, still he pressed on knowing that now he was all that stood between Rin and her final death.
Shippou used his fox fire as much as possible but worried about the others in his pack, was unable to make successful progress. "We have to get back, Kohaku. Let the others deal with things. We're only going to put them in danger if we stay." The older boy nodded, backing up slowly so that he didn't give any ground.
"Go on, get out of here, I'll cover you," Kouga growled while slashing a path for the children to escape through.
Wordlessly the boys gathered Rin and an unconscious Jaken, using Ah-Un to make a fast getaway. Shippou glanced over his shoulder one last time, his eyes reflecting his concern for his new family. Kagome's eyes met his briefly, her smile giving him the courage to leave them behind.
Kagome watched as the children escaped before refocusing her attention on Naraku. Her arm and wrist ached from pulling on the bow string but she was determined not to give up. Several times she had had to dodge instead of shoot. Inuyasha was intent on giving her an opportunity to use her purification powers but Naraku had wasted several low class youkai to protect himself against her arrows.
"Damn him!" was echoed across the field as more than one person cursed his cowardliness and their inability to get a direct shot at the half demon.
"If you get a shot, take it, Kagome! Don't worry about these small fry." Inuyasha landed beside her after another batch of demons tried to take her out. "Understand, koiishi that no matter what happens, I love you. You've got your entire soul back. Nothing can stop you from purifying him."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome's eyes brightened and her power surged.
Kirara growled from behind them, wanting their full attention on the battle. She glared at the demon lord, wondering if he would make the choice that would turn the tide in their favor while returning to him his lost arm. Sango and Miroku fought next to her, their labored breathing becoming increasingly hampered by the miasma in the air. The nekomata cursed her current form and wanted with every fiber of her being the third form of her kind so that she could help her kittens win. Once more she roared, telling the dog demon now was the time he would have to make his choice. Defend his brother and Kagome, or leave them to fight on their own while he went after Naraku by himself.
Sesshoumaru heard the fire cat's call and knew what he had to do. He'd known from the first that his brother's miko would be the one to end Naraku's life. "Inuyasha's life is mine." The often stated claim was enough to distract the evil hanyou long enough for an arrow to pierce the armor protecting him. Using that bit of inattention, the demon lord charged, using a newly awakened Tenseiga to chop spikes off of Naraku's body. A slight miscalculation had the dog demon's one good arm knocked aside and without realizing it, he tried bringing what little of his left arm up to counter the mistake.
Only to have a bright flash of light push both he and Naraku back. For a brief instant all movement on the field stopped as they stared at the reemergence of Sesshoumaru's left arm. And a brand new sword that disintegrated everything it sliced. Naraku, quickly realizing what would happen if he reabsorbed his flesh cut by the gleaming white blade, left the pieces where they were. Knowing that if he went after either brother now, he was dead, he instead attacked the monk and demon slayer directly. The foul half demon remained silent, his usual taunts no longer affective against the crowd in front of him.
Both humans were becoming exhausted, the strain on their bodies too much. Sango threw Hiraikotsu one last time before a snake-like demon bit her in the arm. It was painful but no poison seeped into her system. Her weapon was almost impossible to catch and she was thrown back by the force it generated. "Sango!" Miroku could only watch as his beloved taijiya collapsed, unable to continue fighting. Kirara took a stance in front of the fallen warrior, impotent with rage. The monk joined her, already bleeding from one shoulder.
Just as she was going to make an attempt to change forms one last time, a gentle hand settled on her mane. The warmth of miko energy radiating from the young priestess surprised her, as it did not clash with her youki. "I need your help, Kirara." Kagome glanced over at Miroku. "You stay with Sango, try to put up a barrier for a few minutes. Don't attempt to use that kazaana again."
Miroku watched the swirling reiki around his young friend and nodded. "Go, I'll see to her."
"Right. Let's go, Kirara. I'm ready." High in the air above Naraku's current reach, Kagome took aim. "Now if the brothers would just move when I tell them to…" One white ear twitched and a head slightly tilted showing they had heard her. "Now!"
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha moved as one, separating so that they were out of the path of a bright glowing arrow coming from above them. The light streaking by blinded them and their father's fang was needed to create a barrier of protection from the force of the sacred power. Naraku exploded in a shower of pink sparks, leaving nothing but a memory and the Sacred Jewel. "Hn, your miko has done it, little brother."
"Of course," the younger Taisho returned, grinning proudly. They watched as Kagome landed and Kirara gratefully shrank to her smaller size. Miroku let down his defenses, reaching out to grab Sango's good hand. The kazaana was gone.
Kouga returned to the scene with the children, bending down to check on his pack mates while the others ran to the rest of their group. "I went and got them when the big explosion happened. The fox said they saw it on the other side of the valley."
They watched as Kagome and Inuyasha kissed, each making various faces either of happiness or disgust. The young priestess turned to find the Jewel, only to discover two glittering lights. "Oops."
"What do you mean, 'oops'?" Inuyasha asked, getting a bad feeling. The group stopped celebrating in order to watch as Kagome picked up two pieces of the Shikon no Tama.
"It only broke in two," she was quick to reassure them.
"Kagome!"
