A/N: It amazes me how many reviews I've already gotten for KKNB! I'm so happy you guys are enjoying this story so far. But, I feel like these chapters haven't been up to par with my other works, so I'm going to try to improve chapter quality from here on out.
(Also, I can't really remember how they got to the underworld entrance in the anime, so I'm going to have to wing it a little)
Enjoy!
oooOooo
Kaka Kara No Bourei
Part Three:
Revenant
oooOooo
This . . . was weird.
Really weird.
Glancing about nervously, Kagome tried to smother the butterflies tumbling around in her stomach. How did she always get wrapped up in crazy things like this?
Sure, she'd been to the underworld before, but, for some reason, this felt entirely different. Maybe it was because, now, she knew what was waiting for them on the other side.
Following his impromptu announcement, Sesshoumaru had explained succinctly that Naraku was going to utilize the pearl to reach the Inu no Taisho's grave and, once there, manipulate his fragments of the Shikon Jewel to call the general's soul back to his body. After this was achieved, the hanyou would have full control over the inu demon and use him to destroy his sons.
This was all speculation, of course, though there was little point in doubting Sesshoumaru. The plan certainly did sound like something the evil spider hanyou would come up with. What Kagome didn't understand was how blasé Sesshoumaru was treating the whole situation.
She couldn't believe he'd said there was nothing wrong. Pfft.
He wasn't worried. At all. Despite knowing that his father had been the most powerful youkai in all of existence, and that Naraku would soon be using him to carry out his will, the daiyoukai was acting . . . God, she didn't even know. Compared to his usual stoicism, he was almost giddy. It was like he could barely wait to have his father try and kill him.
She decided then that inuyoukai were insane. Completely and utterly insane.
Kagome sighed heavily and spared a look at Sango and Miroku, who were trailing behind her. The taijya had Kirara snuggled close in her arms, and Miroku was trying in vain to calm a quivering Shippou. The miko could feel the waves of anxiety emanating from her friends and wished she could say something to make them feel better. But what could she say? If Naraku succeeded in his plan, they'd all be dead before the day ended.
With another heartfelt sigh, Kagome turned away.
"Oi."
Kagome started like a skittish horse. "What, Inuyasha?" she muttered while pressing a palm to the racing pulse in her neck.
Inuyasha was silent as his ears twitched spastically. Then, "Stop sighing and shit," he demanded gruffly.
The miko narrowed her eyes at the hanyou's back. "Don't tell me what to do. I'm allowed to sigh if I want to."
"Yeah, well, it's irritating," Inuyasha ground out without looking at her. "Knock it off already."
Kagome's face flushed crimson. "If it bothers you so much," she nearly growled, "go walk somewhere else. I can't help being nervous, okay?"
"Feh, so what if you're nervous? Everybody's nervous except Lord Asshole up there." He pointed a clawed finger at Sesshoumaru, who was walking ahead of them and looking perfect like he always did.
Kagome's blue eyes flashed to her friend in surprise. Inuyasha was . . . nervous? And he admitted it? "Okay," she began slowly, "who are you, and what have you done with the real Inuyasha?"
The half-demon barked out a laugh. "Damn, all I was doing was trying to make you feel better, wench."
"I know," Kagome said with a smile. "And thank you."
Inuyasha's back stiffened as he crossed his arms. "Keh, whatever."
As she giggled, she heard Sesshoumaru suddenly call them to a halt. She peered around Inuyasha, her curiosity getting the better of her, and gasped.
The mouth of an enormous cave, seemingly fathomless in its depth, sat before them. The mountain it was carved into was so vast it was impossible to see the top from the ground, and Kagome gulped as Sesshoumaru turned and gestured she and the others forward. "I really don't want to go in there," she murmured quietly.
A rough hand clapped her clumsily on the head. "Nothin' to worry about, 'Gome. This time we'll kill that bastard for sure."
Kagome thought her eyes might pop out of her skull as she watched Inuyasha stride by. Now he was reassuring her? What is with him today?
Shaking her head, the priestess followed him into the dank cavern that would lead them to the underworld. She'd worry about his mood swings later. Right now, she was too preoccupied with trying not to pass out to concern herself with much else. Kagome pinched her arm, hoping the slight pain would help her clear her mind. Forget Inuyasha, she thought. What in the world is wrong with me? I've never been this nervous my whole life.
Battle didn't bother her anymore. She was so used to it by now she could practically shoot arrows with her eyes closed. But this . . .
"Get a grip," she whispered. "You've done this a million times before. It's no different from any other fight."
It was, though, and she knew it.
"Stop."
Sesshoumaru's rumbling baritone echoed eerily as they all paused in their steps. From where she stood, Kagome could see the fiery entryway to the afterlife not fifty feet away. And she could also see its two stone guardians, standing immobile on either side of it and holding vicious-looking weapons.
Oh, joy.
While the Inutachi stayed put, Sesshoumaru paced ever-so-calmly forward, his intense sun-kissed gaze never leaving the gate to the netherworld. As he approached, the colossal twin guards wrenched themselves away from the wall to block his path, their great gray eyes watching the daiyoukai warily. When he showed no indication of stopping, one chose to speak.
"Only the dead shall pass," he boomed. "Should you so wish to meet the other side, we will dispatch you and send your soul into the depths of the underworld. Turn back, or this will be your end."
"Keh, what is that bastard doing?" Inuyasha looked at his brother, who stood steadfast even while literally staring death in the face. He gave no clue as to what he might be planning, and just when Inuyasha decided it was time he stormed in with Tetsusaiga, Sesshoumaru moved.
It was so slight that his half-demon eyes barely registered it, but now Sesshoumaru's right hand rested on the hilt of his sword . . .
Tenseiga.
The half-demon's brows shot into his bangs. What was he going to do with that?
With movement so fluid Inuyasha couldn't help being jealous, Sesshoumaru slid his father's fang from the sheath at his waist. Once drawn, he presented it to the stone statues like an offering. "The Sword of Heaven," Sesshoumaru stated monotonously.
That was all it took.
The guardians each sank to one knee, shaking the entire cavern as they did. Rocky debris fell from the ceiling as they spoke in unison, "You may pass, Master of death."
Flicking silvery hair over his shoulder, Sesshoumaru beckoned to his companions. "Come."
After getting over his shock, Inuyasha immediately copped an attitude. "Oi, what the hell was with that? If you knew how to get by them then you shoulda just done it! Damn over-dramatic asshole . . ." Grumbling, he stomped towards the gate. "Come on, guys! Let's get this shit over with."
Kagome audibly gulped and tried to smile reassuringly at Miroku and Shippou, who sat trembling on the houshi's head. "Don't worry," she said. "It'll be fine." Glancing at Sango, who stood beside the extremely pale monk, she reached for the slayer's hand and grasped it firmly. "It'll be okay."
As she followed her friends into the abyss, Kagome repeated her own words silently like a mantra, trying to convince herself of their truth.
It'll be okay.
It'll be okay.
oooOooo
It wasn't okay.
At least, her entrance wasn't.
Kagome fell haphazardly onto the back of a skeletal bird, so hard the breath flew from her lungs. She lay still for countless moments, clawing aimlessly at the bones of the bird she rode as white spots appeared in her vision. Her lengthy dark hair whipped in an unnatural wind and she attempted to breathe deeply through her pain and panic. Damn, she thought bitterly. I forgot about the dropping-in part.
Sitting up, Kagome rubbed her abused spine and cast her eyes around. Numerous other dead-looking birds swept through the sky, and tall jagged rocks littered the ground like tiny mountains. They circled the site of the Inu no Taisho's grave, where his massive skeleton rested.
Only . . . it wasn't there.
Squinting, Kagome ignored the dread burning in her stomach. Gone. His skeleton was gone. There was no sign it had even ever been there. It'd just . . . vanished into thin air.
That could only mean one thing.
Suddenly, her ride swooped, rocketing toward the misty ground, and Kagome barely had time to find handholds. She leaned low and fought down the odd urge to scream and throw up at the same time. I'll never ride roller coasters again, she pledged disjointedly. Ever.
The flight abruptly leveled out as the bird neared the ground. Kagome saw it extend it's skeletal clawed feet and quirked a brow. "Um, what're you-"
They collided with the earth violently. The bird skidded across the dirt like an airplane on a runway and Kagome felt her teeth rattling in her head as they jerked to a stop. Her ride squawked loudly and shuffled its few feathers, and Kagome took that as her cue to get off. She slipped to the ground with one hand holding her aching head and waved vaguely in thanks as the bird took to the air again.
Blinking her watery blue eyes, Kagome took in her surroundings. From what she could tell, she was completely alone. She didn't see Inuyasha or the rest of her group, or even Sesshoumaru for that matter. With a heavy sigh she headed to where Inu no Taisho's body had once lain. There was no where else to go, and she figured that was the most likely place she'd find everyone else.
She hadn't gone two feet when she felt the familiar tug on her soul.
It caught her so off guard she stumbled. Whirling in a circle, Kagome peered anxiously into the sparse foliage, searching but riddled with disbelief.
There couldn't be a jewel shard here, let alone multiple jewel shards. Unless . . .
She didn't give herself time to think.
Dropping to her knees, Kagome crawled carefully through the yellowed grass. If Naraku was still here, then that meant he hadn't yet succeeded in putting Inu no Taisho under his control. If she could reach him, maybe she could somehow distract him long enough for the others to find them.
Following the pull of the jewel, Kagome flopped to her stomach and continued scooting along using her elbows. She didn't want to take any unnecessary risks, and while she wasn't exactly known for her stealth, she could at least try her damnedest not to let the hanyou spider see her. She had a feeling he hadn't bothered with his usual barrier, which only made things easier for her, but knowing her innate clumsiness there was a great possibility she could end up blowing the whole thing to high water by stepping on one of those pesky twigs.
Kagome crept ever-so slowly forward. She was extremely close now and she smirked. Naraku had no idea he wasn't alone.
Finally, Kagome spotted a break in the thin brush surrounding her and inched towards it. The call of the jewel was stronger than before, and she knew Naraku was just ahead, totally unsuspecting. Upon reaching her destination, Kagome folded her knees underneath her to peek into the small clearing where she felt the jewel shards.
She was a little unprepared for the sight that greeted her.
Naraku was standing in the middle of the meadow, his chunk of the Shikon held in the palm of his hand, and his face shone with triumphant.
At his feet lay the newly-remade body of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father, the Inu no Taisho . . .
And he was buck-ass naked.
Oh . . . my . . .
Kagome clapped her hands over her mouth and dropped down. Oh my god! she screamed inside her head. That was more of their dad than I EVER wanted to see!
While she wished desperately for eye-bleach, Kagome listened as Naraku crunched across the dry grass until he came to a stop at the Dog General's side. She chanced a look through her fingers and saw Naraku press his jewel piece to the skin of the Taisho's chest. The jewel reacted instantly, flaring up in a brilliant white light and illuminating the whole clearing.
Uh oh.
Fumbling for her bow, Kagome managed to slide it off her shoulder and whip an arrow from her quiver simultaneously. She aimed for Naraku, the bow steady in her hands and her arrow already glowing with bright spiritual energy.
But she was too late.
Impossibly dark clouds blanketed the previously clear sky, swirling ominously. Lightning cracked thunderously and incredibly powerful wind bent trees sideways and knocked Kagome completely over. Her bow and arrow were swept away in the gale and, cursing, Kagome wondered where the hell everyone else was. Surely they had to notice the sudden crazy weather!
And then, with an Earth-shattering roar, the inuyoukai lord's great and terrible spirit funneled into an enormous tornado. His awesome demonic aura was so heavy Kagome lost all ability to move as it weighed her down, and she could only stare in dismay as his unbelievable soul poured into his new body.
It shouldn't have been possible for one person, demon or otherwise, to hold so much within themselves. The former Western Lord's body arched up painfully, his lids snapping open to reveal blood-red eyes with electric blue irises, and Kagome watched in horrified fascination as his lips pulled back from his elongating teeth and he snarled so viciously it took all the miko had not to turn tail and run.
Six-inch claws shredded the hard-packed soil under the Taisho, digging deeply into the earth as he growled rabidly. His unbound hair tossed to and fro like a living thing, and still his immense soul fell from the heavens.
How can he take this? Kagome wondered. He writhed like he was being burned alive, and his soul pushed itself into the body with such force that hunks of the ground exploded and floated in midair. How could his body handle this when he was alive?
And then, without warning, blinding power struck the general so savagely that all the earth within a two-hundred foot radius caved in, creating a crater the size of a football stadium. The blow was enough to physically fling Kagome backwards into the trunk of a tree. Her skull bounced roughly against the wood, and distantly the priestess felt something warm trickle down her neck.
The last thing she heard before succumbing to the darkness was Naraku's malicious laughter.
oooOooo
A/N: Wow . . . Loooong chapter haha :D I didn't think I'd ever finish!
Please review!