A/N: I don't think I can ever say how much I appreciate everyone's support :) I hope you all like this new chapter!
Kagome's POV
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Chapter-Forty-Five: Rebirth
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Father and son met in a violent clash that shook the entire palace, and I gripped the pillar I hid behind for balance.
Sesshoumaru hadn't been bluffing. He had every intention to kill his father.
I watched, in horrified fascination, as icy whips sprouted from each of Sesshoumaru's fingertips and lashed out, the force knocking Izanagi back. The attack, though it left no mark, definitely had an effect.
From each place where the whips had grazed skin, ice erupted and spread at a startling pace, and Izanagi was visibly slowed. Sesshoumaru struck again, the snapping sound of his whips echoing eerily, and I had half a mind to turn away. How would this end?
The flooring beneath Sesshoumaru's feet suddenly exploded, sending him and debris flying. He flipped as he fell, and when he landed water enveloped him, gave him strength and speed, then he shot forward once again, moving so fast my eyes could not follow.
But Izanagi was ready for him.
Lifting a hand to the sky, Izanagi clenched his fist and smashed it fiercely into the stone-covered ground. At his command, lightning flashed through the ceiling and touched down in seven different places, wreaking untold havoc and stopping Sesshoumaru in his tracks.
I was counting myself lucky that Rin's castle was so large. The room we currently occupied was enormous. If it weren't for this, I would've been more worried about my own safety. Thankfully, their fighting was somewhat contained, and when the lightning struck it was nowhere near me. But, I crouched further behind my pillar. I was nothing if not cautious.
I chanced another look at the ongoing battle and felt my mouth drop open in amazement. Liquid whirlwinds whipped Sesshoumaru's hair free from its confines, and his clothes flapped haphazardly as the hurricane he had created grew in size and power.
Izanagi, however, did not seem impressed. His lightning struck again, and Sesshoumaru's hurricane was a perfect conduit. A raging tornado of raw power surrounded Sesshoumaru, lightning and water meshing together to form a killer typhoon, and then I could no longer see him.
I screamed.
Startled, Izanagi glanced at me, but I paid him no attention and prayed like I never have before.
Please . . . Sesshoumaru . . .
The wicked ball of light expanded and swelled, then flew toward Izanagi with such speed there was no possible way he could avoid it. He slammed hard into a rock column, slipped to the floor, and was still.
My legs wouldn't support me anymore. I sank to my knees, my entire body trembling, and waited with baited breath as Sesshoumaru and Izanagi's deadly combination dissipated, and my husband emerged unscathed from its midst.
But my relief was short-lived. With purposeful steps Sesshoumaru approached his father and grasped him firmly by the neck. I was too far from them to hear what was said, but then Sesshoumaru's palm closed over Izanagi's face, and all I heard was his unearthly screaming.
I couldn't take it.
I abandoned my hiding place and sprinted as fast as I was able across the hall. "Stop!" I yelled. Grabbing hold of Sesshoumaru's arm, I tugged for no other reason than to distract him. Izanagi's eyes turned glazed-over white, his skin pale blue, and I knew he didn't have long. "Please stop!"
Sesshoumaru made no move to release him. "If he wants so badly to be with Mother," he murmured darkly, "then he will thank me for sending him into the depths of the Underworld."
"No!" I cried in protest. Tears raced down my cheeks, and I almost lost myself in complete hysterics. "No no no! I can't take this, Sesshoumaru! I can't see you like this!" I pulled at him desperately. "You have to stop! You have to!"
Something in my voice made him look at me, and he hesitated for only a moment more before dropping Izanagi rather unceremoniously. "Kagome . . ."
I threw myself at him, wrapping my body around his tightly. "You were scaring me," I sobbed quietly. "You were scaring me."
He was silent, but I felt his quick intake of breath.
"Oh, my. It seems I missed quite the party."
Sesshoumaru went completely rigid, which spiked my curiosity. I cast a look to the woman who'd stumbled upon us, expecting Rin, and my mouth went dry.
This woman . . . this goddess . . .
Softly, so softly I hardly heard him, Sesshoumaru whispered, "Mother."
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A/N: Oh my lord . . . things are just spiraling out of control! XP
This chapter was extremely hard. I'm not the best at battle scenes, and I wrote it a little fast, so I'm sorry if some of you are disappointed. I think I need more practice.
Well, please review! They are my fuel ^_^