Summary
She was going to have to be her own hero this time...
A/N: And here we go! I have been waiting for this moment for a long freakin' time now! But then, the plot would have been rushed if I had just done this sooner. I hope you guys can understand that. Sorry about how long everything took. Okay! Enough blabbering! Go read! Picks up directly where the last chapter left off.
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"Don't-!" the woman shouted, leaping towards the group that glanced up in varying states of shock. A roar surrounded Kagome as a barrier burst into life, gleaming red and black as it pulsed out. It threw everyone out of the way and caused the newcomer charging in to rebound almost painfully off of it. Byakuya absently helped the woman right herself as he watched his subordinate's blue eyes round in surprise when her gaze jumped from him to the woman. Her mouth formed words but he couldn't hear what she said. He could, however, make out when she tried to address him.
She looked unbelievably frightened, and that made his heart clench in protectiveness. He was supposed to be there for her! The barrier pulsed and darkened, hiding Kagome from view.
"Drop the barrier! I can fix this!" the woman snapped, glaring first at Miroku, whom recoiled visibly, then at the old woman that shook her head. It was another woman with long white hair and dark robes that answered her.
"We can't. You know how alchemy is. We can no more stop it than help it at this point, My Lady," she declared, shuffling forward a couple of steps and meeting their gazes fearlessly. "It is completely up to her now. She must have the will to survive, or she will fall and fade away."
"Tsubaki... Did you tell them to do this?"
The white-haired woman sniffed and turned away. "I may have been dark, but I was never strong enough to turn to the forbidden arts of alchemy. In that, perhaps you should ask the man that was so deeply entrenched in Naraku's schemes." All eyes turned to Kagewaki. Byakuya inwardly railed; as soon as this was over and Kagome was safe and sound, he was going to kill that man!
"I didn't realize it would sacrifice her own soul!" Kagewaki begged, cowed by the woman's fierce glare, "I only wanted to help Kagome-sama! Why would I try to kill the woman that literally saved my soul!"
"Lady Mid-!"
"Nii-sama! What's going on here?" Rukia chose that moment to appear at his side, a wide-eyed Sango stumbling after her. The former slayer kept going and stopped when she was almost right up against the barrier, clenching her fists as tears gathered in her eyes.
"Is Kagome in there?" the brunette hissed, instinctively reaching for her Zanpakuto. A hand on her arm finally snapped Sango out of her senses and she did a double take when she focused on the woman next to her. "Midoriko-sama? How-! What are... What are you doing here?"
"I was checking up on Kagome and found out her situation," the shinigami woman murmured, leveling a glare at the group responsible for putting the priestess in so much danger. "Had I known it was so dire, I would have intervened much sooner."
"This is no time to start blaming everyone," Rukia demanded, violet eyes flashing angrily as she stormed over to the barrier surrounding Kaogme, "What is important is to break down this barrier."
"It cannot be done," Tsubaki snapped, dark eyes glowering fiercely at the young noble. Rukia glared at the woman and opened her mouth to retort. Midoriko's hand on her arm stopped her.
"She's right," the older woman sighed, glancing at the black dome with a sad expression, "It is out of our hands now. Only Kagome can break it by destroying the seal."
"So what?! We wait?" Sango cried. Byakuya surveyed the other individuals around him and nodded when Rukia directed her imploring gaze at him. The two Kuchiki siblings made their way over to a clear spot and sat down.
"That's all we can do," Miroku murmured, glancing sadly at the barrier before holding out a hand for Sango to take. She angrily brushed it off and went to where her little brother was. And though the gesture made his heart ache, it wasn't as bad as it used to be when Rukia called him over to them.
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A groan passed through her lips as her eyes fluttered open. Everything hurt! Gritting her teeth, Kagome raised herself up into a sitting position, resisting the urge to cry out.
"Why do I hurt so much?" Focusing her gaze, the priestess sucked in a breath as she stared. All around her was nothing but darkness. The only source of light came from a pillar of dim light surrounded by a circled of flames, an incantation circle of kanji glowing golden, and a blue four-point pyramid. The former time traveler surveyed the seal that had been placed on her powers, seeing the intricacy for the first time. Geez, no wonder Miroku had told her to meditate.
"I know what the pyramid is. That looks like Tozanshou. But the others... I've never even seen either of these." Taking a few steps closer, she reached out to touch the blue barrier, flinching back when golden sparks flared up to deter her. Looking down at her hand and wincing at the redness surrounding it, the former time traveler glared and stubbornly jutted her chin out. "All right, then. If that's how it's going to be, then I'll just have to rip it down."
Closing her eyes, Kagome gathered the last of her soul's strength and prepared herself, sending one final prayer up.
'Please, one last time. Give me strength, Inuyasha.' Snapping her eyes open, she charged with a battle cry.
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Pale lids slid open, revealing golden amber eyes with cat-like pupils. Lifting his head, his silver ears twitched in preparation as a shiver skated down his spine. Someone was thinking about him, of that he had no doubt. Rising up on his feet, he dusted off his red hakama and rolled his shoulders, a cascade of long silver hair flowing down his back.
A rattling noise disturbed the charged silence and he glanced down at his hip in surprise.
"Huh? What's up? You sense it too?" The blade at his side pulsed like a heartbeat, the rattling starting to make his teeth jarr, and he removed the sword from its' scabbard to stare at the dormant fang. The fang of his father.
"What is it, Tessaiga? What's got you so worked up?" In a flash of sudden understanding, he let the blade drop from his hands and watching it burst into a bright shower of red sparks, disappearing from his side.
"Right. I get it now. We're still connected. She did pull you from the old man's grave, after all."
Raising his golden eyes to the bloody sky, he grit his teeth and stuck out his chin.
"You better not be doing something stupid, Kagome. It's the only reason Tessaiga would try to go to you."
"One last time, give me strength, Inuyasha." He swore he could hear her voice drifting on the deadened winds of Hell, and he took up his place pacing the Gate once again.
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It didn't take as long as they all thought. The resounding sound of cracking glass in the air had everyone on their feet and watching the blackened barrier with bated breath. Byakuya was absolutely still, his sister quivering next to him when the next crack rang out like a gunshot.
Suddenly, the entire barrier shattered, kicking up dust all around. The Captain could hear several coughs and alarmed reassurances, but his entire being was fixated on the shadow slowly taking shape in the center of the dust cloud. When it settled, no one was prepared for what was revealed.
Kagome stood as tall as her petite frame allowed in her white yukata with her head ducked and her long bangs hiding her face, ancient spiked armor decorating her slim shoulders and arms, a spiked chest plate covering her front. Additional armor draped down in the front, sides, and back, and a white fur was draped down her back to resemble a cape. Her hair was in it's usual tail and contrasted starkly with the white. In her hand was an enormous curved blade with a furred hilt, crackling with dark red and golden energy A blade that definitely didn't belong to her.
"Look," Sango gasped when she stumbled over to her former love, shaking Miroku's arms roughly and pointing. The monk didn't need her to gestulate, though, because he damn well recognized that fang.
"That's Tessaiga... But what's Kagome-sama doing with it? I thought it was Inuyasha's?" Miroku murmured faintly, dizzy from the amount of spritual pressure coming off of the tiny woman. Was this really their Kagome? The real Kagome?
"She looks like Sesshomaru with that armor," Sango countered softly before shaking her head, "but isn't that the Inu no Taisho's armor?"
Byakuya filed their conversation away for dissection later. Right now, he was trying to simply breathe through the pressure being put on his soul. 'Is this what her power was supposed to feel like? I can barely catch my breath.' Rukia dropped to her knees, unable to keep upright and breathing hard.
"Ka-Kagome?" Rukia whispered. Kagome's gaze snapped in the small noble's direction, and glassy golden eyes faded to familiar blue, the jagged blue stripe painting each of her cheeks peeling away as though is was being washed off by the wind. The armor disintegrated into tiny pieces, drifting off in the air, the fur fading before their very eyes. In the end, she was left in her yukata once more, the unbearable pressure in the air disappearing as her appearance became typical again.
The only thing left was the gigantic blade in her palm, pulsing red and gold. Raising the fang in the air, she gave it a soft smile and let it drop. "Thank you for your help, but you better head back to Inuyasha. I'm sure he misses you." It faded, leaving nothing in its' wake. Then, she turned that tired but satisfied smile onto the group of people around her.
"It's done. I'm free now."
It was as though the spell holding them in their places broke and the priestess was flooded with hugs and tears all around, being passed from one emotional person to another. Byakuya and Midoriko chose to wait until the rest of them had gotten their fill of the young woman. Rukia, on the other hand, barreled right in there with everyone else, squeezing the breath out of the woman that had become something of a best friend to her. Somehow, they were all giddy and laughing, thankful that the darkness was finally over. Tsubaki scoffed on the outside of the pile and turned, disappearing into the forest. Her job was done and the balance was restored. Now, she could put her past behind her and finally move on. Midoriko watched the dark priestess slip away and breathed a sigh of relief.
"You looked so incredible! I couldn't even believe it was you!" Rukia was babbling in Kagome's ear, an excited gleam in her violet eyes. She and the priestess were swept into a hug by Miroku, both women squealing and bashing him upside the head when he went in for a free grope. "How did you change your appearance so?"
"Well... I was channeling someone, actually," Kagome admitted, grinning sheepishly and rubbing the back of her head. "See, that blade belonged to the Inu no Taisho, and a part of him still resides in it. I was able to connect with that part and he gave me an extra boost in order to break down that barrier."
She was thrown to her back, pain searing through her body as she tried to stand. She was just too weak, damn it! She couldn't even make a dent and break down the Tozanshou!
"Why! Why do I always have to be so useless!" she screamed, pounding her fists in the darkness, tears building in her eyes. She had the will, but she just didn't have the strength to back it up.
Her gaze snapped up when she felt a pulse. A familiar pulse that sent tremors down her entire body. It couldn't be! The priestess blinked, and between one heartbeat and the next, she was no longer alone. The man kneeling in front of her looked so achingly similar to his sons that the nostalgia choked any words she could have spoken.
"My son, he heard your call, and though he cannot come to your aid this time, I may be of some assistance. You, who pulled my fang from me when my proud sons could not."
"Inu no Taisho-sama," Kagome whispered, awestruck by the demon crowding around her. He was huge, even in human form! "I need to go back. I have to. I can't let them down."
"I once asked Sesshomaru, and now I will ask you, little one. Do you have something to protect," the silver male murmured, a predatory glint in his golden eyes. The former time traveler stopped and thought, truly thought, about what his words meant. Flashes of all of her friends whizzed by, and she stared up at him with strong proud blue eyes and a determined pout on her face.
"Yes. I do."
He smiled, all teeth and arrogance, and rose to his feet, reaching out a hand to help her up. "Then let us see if you can grasp my fang, little warrior."
"But how did you manage to get Tessaiga?" Sango spluttered, gobsmacked that the Inu no Taisho had actually lended a hand to her friend.
"Inuyasha sent it to me when I asked him to give me strength."
"Ye can communicate with yon friend," Kaede asked, looking confused.
"No, but I like to think that he felt me calling for him." Taking a deep cleansing breath, she looked up at the sky and wondered if it had always looked so vibrant. Then, she finally gathered the courage to look over at her Captain. Those steely eyes were watching her very closely, notating every movement she made, every breath she took. She wasn't used to how intense his full attention was and she flushed, lowering her eyes. It seemed to be a cue, because her friends were backing off and giving her some space as the Captain made his way towards her, the former host of the Jewel following in his wake with a peculiar emotion swirling in her eyes.
"How are you feeling, Higurashi," the noble actually asked, considering the circumstances.
"Well, tired. And run down. Like I could sleep for a couple of weeks," Kagome answered, locking her attention back on him and giving him a smile that he was sure was meant only for him. It made his heart flop in a disconcerting way.
"Good. Because you are getting the lecture of a lifetime when we return to the Seiretei," he finished, reveling in the wince she portrayed. And once he was done lecturing her, he was going to lock her up in the Kuchiki Manor so she couldn't do something so stupid ever again.
"Kagome-chan? Lift your hands for a moment," Midoriko finally spoke, her brows furrowing and a sad look crossing her face. Kagome did as she asked and gasped.
Her hands were transparent.
"What's going on?" Miroku demanded, taking one of her hands and poking it experimentally. It was odd to see the tip of his finger go through her hand with only a little resistance and she snatched it back in a panic. Byakuya had stopped in front of her at that point, reaching out and laying his palm on her cheek. It was warm, but she couldn't feel the sensation as strongly as she usually did.
"Nii-sama? What's happening?" Rukia stared up at him with imploring violet eyes. The Captain absolutely did not want to believe what he was seeing, but the proof was right there.
"I had to use everything I had left to attempt to break the seal down. Even then, it wasn't enough," Kagome murmured, lowering her head in shame. She knew what would come next and she didn't want to see everyone's reactions.
"How badly did you damage your soul," the older priestess asked in a sad voice.
"... Really bad."
"Kagome?" Sango choked out, her eyes filling with tears.
"What... What's going on?!" Rukia asked again, reaching out and grasping Kagome's sleeve. It too was starting to fade.
"It can't sustain you in this form anymore, can it," Miroku deduced, clenching his teeth in agony. The blue-eyed woman shook her head slowly.
"What does that mean?" Kagewaki whispered hoarsely from the back. He was the only one brave enough to voice the question. Byakuya glared at the ground and fisted his hands tightly. How could he have failed this woman so badly?
"It means she'll disappear," the creator of the Jewel of Four Souls answered in a hard tone, glaring at the former shogun. "Forever."
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A/N: Now guys, there is a reason I chose to end it here. Because the next chapter is going to be just as dramatic, and I don't want to give anyone too many heart attacks in one go around. Anyways, I am so sorry about how long it took me to get this finished. It's been soooo slow for me here and my Writer's Block has been such a bitch recently! It's driving me crazy!
But, I hope you all enjoyed this update and that I'll see you soon. Please feel free to spam my email box with reviews!