Finally finished the next chapter! Only like... one or two more to go! :D So close to the end... yet so far... :P
Sorry about the long delay, I've been busy with schoolwork and all that... the usual :P But, I managed to finally finish this so it's all good! :)
So... please enjoy and review :)
Chapter 16:
No More:
As Nozomi slipped through the dark castle, she started hearing the sounds of a battle out front. They were holding their end of the bargain. Nozomi smiled. It was strange having friends that will help you.
She stood up straight as she saw a doorway ahead of her. She could sense him in the room, waiting for her. She took a deep breath and stormed into it, glaring at Naraku as he came into sight. He was her Father by blood, but not by anything else. She wished that he wasn't her Father at all.
"Hello, daughter," sneered Naraku, staring at Nozomi as she barged into the room, "You must have been gone a long time, to look as old as you do now."
"Six years for me, Father," growled Nozomi, "I spent six years trying to figure out what to do with this… curse. You are not going to abuse this time travelling ability. I won't let you destroy Kagome and my friends!"
Naraku tilted his head. "Friends? What pathetic things to have. They are only a weakness, nothing more. I could kill those friends you have outside and leave you devastated, your ability mine for the taking."
Nozomi growled and said, "Go ahead. I love them as my family, but I won't stop what I came here to do because of them. This needs to end."
"And what are you going to do?"
Nozomi closed her eyes and let out a sigh before she death-stared Naraku. "I'm going to destroy it. I needed your evil aura to do it, and now that it's surrounding me… I can get rid of my time travelling ability, forever. I am the last one, and once I get rid of it, no demon will ever be able to time travel again!"
Naraku growled and moved towards Nozomi, his red eyes trained on the young woman. "You can't do that."
"I can. I learnt how too. I observed myself doing this very thing a year ago. It will be gone, Naraku!"
oOo
"Do you think she's alright?" murmured Shippo as he stared at Naraku's castle.
Kirara mewed in response and stared up at Shippo. The two of them had been left behind as the others went to fight. Sango had decided to leave Kirara behind this time, to protect Shippo.
"I hope so, too," mumbled Shippo, his eyes still trained on Naraku's castle, "She's come so far… I hope she doesn't run into Naraku or anything. She'll be alright… I hope."
oOo
Naraku growled as he watched Nozomi's body light up. She knew how to destroy the ability he wanted so badly. He surrounded her with miasma, but it didn't stop the bright light from erupting from her body. Naraku backed away from the girl, angry but unable to do a thing to stop her.
"You've been foiled, Naraku," growled Nozomi, her face not even visible amongst the bright light, "This power is nearly gone, and then you're big plan will be over."
"I have many plans," retorted Naraku, "You were only one of the many."
Nozomi laughed. "And now I'm not even one of your many plans. It's over."
The light completely erupted from Nozomi and was thrust off her body with immense force. Naraku covered his eyes and disappeared from the room, unable to endure the bright light. Once it dissipated, all that was left was a young half-demon on the floor. The time-travelling ability was gone, and so was Naraku.
Slowly the castle started to crumble, as Naraku realised he needed a new place to hide. He no longer needed the castle, or the girl inside.
oOo
"What's happening!" exclaimed Kagome as Kagura and her fighters vanished, "Did she do it?"
Sango frowned and looked up at the castle, seeing the last traces of a brilliant, white light. "I think she did. But where is she? Did Naraku get her?"
"Keh, stupid kid," growled Inuyasha.
Kagome suddenly muffled a scream and pointed at the tips. "It's collapsing!" she exclaimed, "But Nozomi is still inside! What if she's trapped? Inuyasha, we have to save her!"
Inuyasha growled. "Fine. You stay here, I'll go get her."
Kagome nodded. "Please keep her safe, Inuyasha!"
"Keh," was Inuyasha's short reply as he ran up to the collapsing castle to find Nozomi, wherever she was.