A/N: 'Ello again everyone. So, I'm going to warn you here, I've never really written a battle scene, so this is going to be my first real attempt at such a thing. I hope it turns out alright, and feel free to let me know if it doesn't so I can work on it! :-).
Without further adieu, on with the chapter!
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Chapter 16: Tamako's Spirit
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were insistent on finding Ryura and Kagome, to get the Kanju Jewel back before Tamako's body gave out. It was only a matter of time until it happened, a body cannot truly live without a spirit. It reminded him of when Kikyou was brought back too much for his liking. The way Kagome looked as her soul was taken from her. But this time, it was not taken into another body, but materialized into a jewel of pure power. They'd both felt the power emanating from the jewel, power of both demonic and spiritual origin, a mixture of the two, just like Tamako was.
Running along the forest with a purpose, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as his nose sniffed carefully for the smell of anything that might lead them to their destination. It'd been almost a day of running, and he hadn't stopped. His muscles were getting sore, but his brain urged his body on. He had yet to catch up to his brother, and wasn't even sure if he was going the same way in which Sesshoumaru went.
Sensing a familiar presence near him, he slowed his running to a stop, looking around the woods, his golden orbs darting from side to side. His right hand moved to rest on the hilt of tetsusaiga, a growl coming from his throat. "Ryura! Come out! Face me like a man! Or do you just like picking on women and little girls?!" he yelled, unable to hide the anger dripping through his voice.
"Inuyasha!" a voice called.
I know that voice... Inuyasha thought as his golden orbs moved to look at the woman standing before him.
Looking at her form, Kagome stood by him, her bow drawn and her arrow pointing at him. "You will do well to leave this place, Inuyasha." she told him in a flat tone.
Shaking his head, taking a step towards her, but stopping when her bow string was drawn back farther. "I can't. I can't leave you, and I can't just give up on our daughter. Its my job to protect the both of you! You asked for my help, remember?" he asked.
She kept her eyes to him, her fingers holding the bowstring as a small pink aura started to develop against the tip of her arrow as she charged it. "I asked for no such help. How can a half demon do to help me, anyway?"
The odd coldness in her tone made his heart sink as he took another step towards her carefully. "You asked me to free you from this...from Ryura. Kagome...you want to come back with me, you know it. This isn't like you, snap out of it." he insisted.
Holding onto her bow, her eyes narrowed a little. "Do not take another step closer. Or is it that you wish to spend another span of time pinned to a tree? Or perhaps should I succeed where Kikyou failed and kill you?"
Smiling to her, he looked at her, into her eyes. "You won't do it. You're my mate...you cannot do such a thing. Put the bow down, Kagome." he told her. Removing his hand from the hilt of his sword, holding both hands up slowly. "If you wish to shoot, I will not move to attack you. But, I don't think you'll do it. My Kagome wouldn't do it." he told her.
Seeing her fingers twitch a little on the bowstring, he took another step forward, carefully closing the gap in between them. "I am no longer yours, hanyou. You will remember that."
In her hesitation, he only smiled. Closing the gap between them, one hand moved to take her hand that held the bow, gently bringing it downwards. His other hand moved to rest on her shoulder, looking down into her eyes. "You know me, Kagome...you cannot kill me. I love you, please remember that.." he said.
Once he'd moved her hand down, his other hand rested on her other shoulder, gripping it gently. "I will save you, if its the last thing that I ever do. You will be set free from this...and you will come home, where you belong...with Tamako and myself. I cannot do this parent thing by myself..." he whispered to her.
Shaking her head, though she made no movements to move away from his fingers on her shoulder. "What you speak is impossible, hanyou. Ryura owns my body and soul. That cannot be broken."
A smile formed over Inuyasha's lips. "I think it can if you have not shot me yet." he said. Leaning slowly down, closing his eyes as he placed a gentle kiss upon her lips, letting his eyes fall closed as he felt it. It'd been seven years since he felt her lips against his, and he missed the feeling. Kagome had died, or so he thought. He'd kissed Kikyou after she'd been brought back, but it was nothing like this. Kikyou smelled like grave yard soil and bones, and her lips were cold and lifeless. But, Kagome's weren't. It was like she'd never died. So what really had happened?
She stood there quietly as he kissed her for a moment, not making any moves. A spark of recognition went through her eyes as she slowly closed them, her bow and arrow dropping from her fingers and landing on the ground with a small noise. Her fingers moved up to rest on his sides, gripping at his haori tightly. His arms slowly moved more around her instead of keeping his hands on her shoulders, bringing her up close to his chest.
Kissing her slowly until he leaned back. His hand found the side of her haori and pulled it gently to see the mark he'd left on her. Leaning down and kissing his fang marks slowly, opening his eyes halfway. "You are my mate. You belong to me, and no other man." he whispered to her, leaning back to look at her face, a smile on his lips. "You do remember..."
Blinking slowly in confusion, Kagome looked up at him, her fingers still on his haori. "Inu...Yasha..." she said softly, her eyes looking down a little bit. "Please...stop me. You have to. I don't want to hurt you." she said slowly, tears starting to rim her eyes.
"You won't, though. Just like I would never hurt you." he told her, smiling and bringing her against his chest, hugging her slowly. "I'll protect you and our daughter with everything I have."
With the mention of Tamako, Kagome's eyes widened, leaning back and looking up at him. "Oh no...oh nononono...I did it, didn't I? Oh kami, please...Inuyasha you...you have to get the Kanju back. You have to. She'll die. I'm sorry, I...I couldn't stop myself with him near...you must fix this before he gets near again. With that jewel...he's become stronger."
Moving his hands up to rest on her cheeks, making her look at him, wiping her tears with his thumbs slowly. "I will get it back. Tell me where he is and I'll end this. Tell me how to fix everything."
Sighing, Kagome looked up at him. "The blue jewel in his forehead...that is his weakness, the source of his power. He calls himself a god with that thing.." she said, letting out a scoff even as she said it. Shaking her head. "If you destroy that jewel you can free me. And get the Kanju back to our daughter. But...but if you destroy that jewel on his forehead, you must know...I will die. With it broken, my spirit can leave. My body is dead already..."
He shook his head. "I will find a way to bring you home. I promise you that." he said, closing his eyes halfway. "I will ask Sesshoumaru to use tenseiga if I must." he said. He'd never asked his brother for a favor, not once, but he would if it meant to give Tamako her mother back, to bring his mate back with him.
She only smiled slowly. "You would ask your brother for help, for me?" she asked, seeing him nod. Slowly leaning up to place a chaste kiss on his lips, closing her eyes halfway. "Go. Ryura is staying in a human castle he took over just down the road that way." she informed him, pointing down a road, looking back up at him. "And...Inuyasha. I'm sorry...if I do anything bad while near him. I can't control it. I can barely control it now."
Kissing her back slowly, he nodded. "I do not blame you for anything. I love you." he whispered. He was not good with words all of the time, except towards the two women in his life.
Reluctantly he let go of her face, taking in a deep breath of her scent before he stood up straight and took off towards the castle. He did not want to leave her, but he had to go to Ryura in order to ultimately save both her and Tamako.
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Meanwhile, back in their hut, Kouga sat watching Tamako's sleeping form. He hadn't moved from his post by her bed, and he refused any visitors into the hut. Looking down at the girl laying there, so helpless, it made him sigh. He wanted to do anything to help her, but he knew he couldn't.
After sitting there for so long, he'd only fallen asleep for a few minutes at a time, unable to reach a dreaming state in his worry. He was almost fearful of what he would dream.
When he saw movement, his eyes darted over to her. Watching as her eyes slowly opened halfway, he quickly moved up and was at her side in an instant, resting his hands on her shoulders and looking down at her. "Tamako? Thank Kami..." he said.
Though, her eyes were still a pure crimson color, no pupils to speak of. Looking up at Kouga with her eyes only opened halfway, a growl coming from her throat. Moving her fingers up to grasp his wrists tightly as he held her shoulders, growling at him deeper. Squirming in her bed, she bared her fangs to him.
"Tamako! Stop this. Stop." he said, holding her down on the bed as hard as he dared.
Her fingers gripped him, her claws starting to break the skin on his arms, glaring up at him. "Let. Me. Go." she growled out at him, her voice warped in her growls.
Looking down at her, confused by her voice, her growls to him. "No. Its me, Kouga. Come on Tamako, this isn't you. Just hang in there until Inuyasha brings back that jewel whatever." he told her.
"I don't give a fuck who you are. Let. Me. Go!" she growled to him.
She struggled against his arms, growling out. Bringing her up, he brought her into his lap and moved his arms around her waist, pinning her hands against her, his chest against her back. Resting his chin on her shoulder, looking up at her face. "Shh, I'm not letting you go, I'll never let you go. I promised." he said, sighing softly. "Fight this. You're strong, I know. You would not be my intended if you weren't." he said, trying to talk her demon down.
Though she kept struggling against him, growling out and whining. She was still smaller than him, and he was naturally a full demon. Her claws moved to dig into the skin of his arms, drawing a little bit of blood, causing him only to barely wince at her claws. Something inside her screamed at her when her demon tried to hurt him. After several minutes of struggling, slowly she collapsed against him, closing her eyes halfway. "Kouga..." she let out in a whine, her eyes still a blood red, the purple jagged stripes along her cheeks. Bringing her claws back to let go of his arms as she settled back against her.
Once she settled back, he let out a sigh of relief. Rubbing her arms slowly. Mutt better hurry...
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When Inuyasha arrived at the castle, he was the first to arrive. Taking the hilt of tetsusaiga and drawing it out into its transformed state, pointing it at the castle. "Ryura! Come out here and face me, coward!" he yelled, glaring up at the castle.
The doors slid open, Ryura slowly stepping out and smiling. "Well well, Inuyasha, I'm surprised you're alive. I'll have to punish Kagome for letting you escape in one piece. And without scratch at that."
Scoffing to him, Inuyasha looked up. "Keh, like my own mate would hurt me, Ryura. Whatever it is you've done to her, I'm here to put an end to it."
"You realize, that also will put an end to her life, correct? She will cease to exist without my powers keeping her in this world."
"She will exist! I'll find a way. But not with you!" he yelled to Ryura, holding up his sword as it gleamed over into its diamond form. "Adamant Barrage!" he announced, swiping his sword and sending hundreds of sharp spiked diamonds flying at Ryura's form.
The barrier that Ryura brought up actually deflected most of the jewels from hitting him, a grin came over his lips as he held up one hand, holding the red jewel that was sparkling, the same one that'd been taken from Tamako. "Thanks to your daughters power, your sword cannot hurt me, half breed. Soon, it will become my own, and I will rule this land."
Gripping tetsusaiga, watching the adamant barrage being deflected, making him growl. "Like hell you will! I'll destroy you for what you've done to my family."
"Half demons should never get the luxury of a family. A family is a human phenomenon. What kind of human loves a half breed? What kind of miko loves a halfbreed enough to conceive a child? Your miko is mine now, and you will learn that."
His sword transformed back into its normal tetsusaiga, glaring at Ryura, looking at the jewel on his head. "I do have a family! You're the one without anyone else. If you're done talking, just fight me like a man!"
"If you insist on rushing to your death." Ryura announced as he tucked the jewel back into his armor and unsheathed both his swords. Rushing to Inuyasha, charging a voltage attack. The electricity charged towards the half demon, causing him to fly back, slamming into a tree with a pained noise coming from his lips.
After a few minutes, he pushed his sword into the ground to stand up. Seeing another attack being charged at him, he dug his tetsusaiga into the ground, bracing himself for it as the electricity flew around him, gritting his teeth and growling. His fingers gripped tetsusaiga tightly, holding his ground. "Keh, one trick pony.." he muttered as the attack went around him. It'd hurt, quite a bit, but he refused to show it.
His tetsusaiga flashed to turn a brilliant red color, the demonic aura shining around it as he brought it from the ground. Holding up the sword in both hands, swiping it quickly. "Wind scar!" he announced again, using the same attack that Hakudoshi had not been expecting from him to break his barrier.
As the wind scar tore through Ryura's barrier, shattering it and starting to tear at Ryura's body.
The wind scar did not completely destroy him, only left Ryura panting and breathing hard against the ground, a growl coming up from his throat as his red eyes looked up at Inuyasha, growling. "H-Half demon...you will die." he said. Bringing his swords up, crossing them together in an X, a pink light starting to form in the space where the swords met.
There was something about that energy...it was pure, way too pure for a demon. Growling, he gripped his tetsusaiga.
"Watch as your daughters power kills you." he said.
Just then, an arrow came from the woods, covered in pink light, rushing towards the demon. It struck him against his shoulder, making Ryura let out a loud yell as the purified light tore through his skin, making him stumble back.
Glaring at the source, Kagome stood at the edge of the forest, holding her bow up at Ryura. "Bitch..." Ryura muttered, turning his attention to her.
Swiping his sword, sending the light back at Kagome, Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Kagome!" he yelled, running to her side as the pink light entangled with electricity struck the human girl, making her fly and skid against the ground.
Coming up next to her, he thrust tetsusaiga into the ground, moving his hands to bring her up against his chest. "Kagome.." he said, looking down at her battered form in his arms, gripping her slowly.
It was Sesshoumaru who showed up next, looking at the battered Ryura. Drawing his Bakusaiga, pointing it at Ryura. "It is time for you to die now, lowly demon." he said. Charging his sword and swiping it in his attack, the demonic energy stronger than that of tetsusaiga, taking over Ryura as his body began to disintegrate from contact.
Watching as Ryura disintegrated, Sesshoumaru walked over, sheathing his bakusaiga. Walking over, he knelt down and picked up the sparkling red jewel that laid on the ground where Ryura had once been. "For all the talk, I had hoped you to be a stronger enemy..." he said slowly as he stood up straight. Glancing over at Inuyasha and Kagome, he held the jewel in the palm of his hand.
Inuyasha held Kagome against his chest, gripping her and trying not to cry as she stopped breathing soon as Ryura disintegrated from Sesshoumaru's attack. "K-Kagome.." he said in a pained voice. His ears twitched as he heard his brothers footsteps walk over to him. Looking up at his brother, locking their golden eyes. "...Help her. Please, Sesshoumaru?" he asked, his voice pained as he said it. He was a proud man, never asking for help from his brother, but now he did.
Sesshoumaru looked down at his brother and the girl in his arms. Moving the jewel into his other hand, he reached to pull tenseiga from its sheath, looking down at Kagome, holding tenseiga over her slowly, looking for the imps of the netherworld. Once he saw them, he swiped his sword to slash them in half, watching as they disappeared.
Once the imps disappeared, Kagome drew in a sharp breath, her eyes widening as she coughed a little. Inuyasha looked down at her, a smile spreading over his lips. "Hey...bout time you woke up, wench." he teased.
Seeing the smile start forming on her lips, she leaned up to hug him around his neck, gripping his haori tightly and hiding her face into it.
His face looked up at his older brother, nodding slowly to him. "T-Th...Thank you...Sesshoumaru." he said slowly. He'd never once thanked his brother for a thing. Of course, his brother never once helped him, and he'd never asked for a favor.
The daiyoukai gave him a curt nod, offering Inuyasha the jewel. "Take this to your pup. See that she lives."
Taking the jewel, he nodded slowly. "I will..." he said, sighing slowly. "You...should...come...by and...see her. And Rin..." he muttered, his attempt at being nice to his brother.
"Perhaps." were his only word to his brother before he was gone.
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Kagome was out cold half of their trip home, so Inuyasha held her against his chest bridal style. For the first time in years, he was happy, truly happy as he held his mate while they walked down the pathway towards their hut. It'd taken him all night of walking, but as dawn approached, he could tell they were close.
Kagome stirred in her mates arms, yawning and snuggling her head into the crook of his neck a little, which just made him smile more. Wiping her eyes as she started to come to, looking up at him slowly. "Mm...are we almost there?" she asked quietly.
Nodding to her. "Yes, we are."
"You could have ran ya know...I'd have been okay." she said, moving her arms around his waist and cuddling up close to him.
Shrugging a bit. "Tamako's strong, she'll be okay. I didn't want to wake you." he said.
Sighing slowly, Kagome closed her eyes again as she cuddled close to him. "Is it really over? Or was that just a long, long dream..." she asked.
Smiling, he nodded. "Its over."
Walking in relative silence with her, content with just holding her as they walked. Once they got close to the hut, he lightly set her down on her feet, looking at her slowly. "Stay behind me. Kouga's in there, and Tamako is half transformed...so just in case, I don't want anything to go wrong."
"But...Inuyasha, I can put the jewel back. Come now, I've survived Naraku, childbirth somehow, and Ryura. I'll be okay with this." she told him, walking up to the hut with him. Moving the door aside, she stepped in, looking around. She hadn't been into the hut before, and she couldn't help from smile. It was cute.
Reluctantly, Inuyasha allowed her to enter the hut before him, nodding as he walked after her and lead her into Tamako's bedroom, his eyes resting on Kouga.
"Bout time, mutt! Where the fuck have you been?!" he asked, looking up and seeing Kagome, his eyes widened a little. "Kago...me..." he said softly. He'd thought she was dead, but she was standing right there in front of him. "How...?" he asked.
Only shaking her head slowly, smiling to him. "Its a long story I don't want to repeat right now." she told him. Taking the jewel from Inuyasha before moving to kneel in front of the two, looking at her daughter. Kouga still held Tamako in his lap in a protective embrace.
Looking down at her daughter, she sighed. "I am so sorry sweetie...I did this to you, didn't I?" she asked, brushing Tamako's hair out of her face, looking at the purple jagged lines on her cheeks. "I'll make it all better. Promise." she said. Bringing the jewel up, whispering a small incantation as she brought it to her daughters chest.
As Kagome started her words, Tamako opened her eyes, growling and squirming against Kouga pretty hard. But Kouga's arms tightened around her, holding her against his chest, his chin resting on her shoulder to hold her close. Kouga actually growled at the young girl fiercely. "Bitch, I told you to sit still." he growled at her, showing his dominance. It was how he'd kept her demon calm since she'd woken up a few times while they were gone. He would assert his dominance over her and speak to her in a language a youkai could understand. He'd informed her that she was his woman, and would do what he said, like it or not. It, of course, did not completely make Tamako bow. After all, he did not want a woman who would just bow under him whenever he said. He wanted a woman with spirit.
Growling, Inuyasha glared at Kouga. "Wolf! Watch what you call my daughter in front of me." he demanded.
But Kouga ignored him, growling at the girl and holding her still as Kagome muttered through the incantation. The jewel in her fingers slowly began to sink into Tamako's chest, causing her pupils to slowly appear in her eyes.
Her transformation was slow and somewhat painful for the young girl. She yelled out a little, her claws gripping Kouga's arms, ripping into his skin even if he didn't seem to notice. As her claws shrunk, they caused less damage. She was only gripping him, not trying to really hurt him at that point.
As the jewel slowly sunk into her and went into her system, her eyes started to close as she fell back against Kouga's chest, breathing hard.
Cradling her slowly, Kouga kissed the side of her head, smiling. "There you go. All better." he whispered softly to her.
Keeping her eyes closed, she curled up in Kouga's lap, her fingers moving to hug his arm a little, letting out a soft cry against him. "Kougaaa.." she whined.
He held her lightly, rubbing her arms, ignoring the other two in the room.
Once she was finished, Kagome looked up at them, smiling before she moved to stand up, looking at Inuyasha. "Lets go. We'll leave them be for a few minutes."
"Like hell I will!" he announced, earning a glare from his mate. Gulping a little, his ears lowered as he followed her from the room. He wanted to hold his little girl while she was brought back to normal. Not Kouga. But now, he also had his mate standing right in front of him, which only made him smile.
Bringing her into his arms, he hugged her slowly. "You suppose she'll be alright?"
Kagome nodded a little. "I hope so. I hope we both will..." she said, sighing a little before looking up at Inuyasha.
He smiled, content with holding her again. He had his mate back, and his daughter would be okay. He was fully content within that moment as he took in a deep breath of her hair.
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A/N: I hope this turned out alright! :-). Let me know how you feel. I'm glad people seem to love my story as much as I do! I love your comments! It urges me to continue writing down my ideas into this story.
Though, what is next for the group? Will Kagome be her same old self? And will Tamako be completely normal again? We'll find out.