Chapter 9 - Naraku's Undoing

A stillness in the morning woke Kagome and Inuyasha. The sun hadn't even risen yet and the gang was already heading for the mountain. "Are you sure?"

"Of course! I can smell Naraku anywhere!"

"Yes, I know, but remember. Kagura, Kanna, Hakudoshi and all the other incarnations smell the same."

"Nah, this is Naraku. I'm sure of it!"

Inuyasha ran faster as he carried Kagome on his back. Something wasn't right. It was too easy to find Naraku's hiding place, unless he wanted to be found. Sango felt uneasy. She leaned close to Miroku, "I don't know why, but I have this strange feeling that something happened to my brother."

"Hm, what exactly do you mean, Sango?"

"I-I'm not sure, but I just feel like... he's dead," Sango's eyes filled with tears.

Miroku held her close as they rode on Kirara's back, "It will be okay, Sango. I'm sure Kohaku's fine."

"Inuyasha?"

"Hm?"

"I sense a jewel shard close by."

"Is it Kohaku?"

"No. There's two of them. It's... Koga!"

"Hah, so the scrawny wolf-boy caught onto Naraku's scent as well, huh? Well, we'll just have to beat him there!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome held onto Inuyasha tighter. Something wasn't right about those shards. When the group got there, Koga was barely breathing.

"Koga, what happened?"

"K-Kago-me?"

"I'm right here, Koga. What happened?"

"N-Naraku. Took m-my shar-shards," his breathing became more shallow, "too p-po-powerful for me. I'm s-sorr-"

"Koga! Koga!" Kagome shook him, but no movement. Kagome's eyes filled with tears, "What is going on?"

Inuyasha took Kagome into his arms and let her cry. He looked down at Koga, "I promise. I promise to kill Naraku, Koga. Your death will not have been in vain! Hush now, Kagome. We'll bury him and continue on, okay?"

"Why? Why did he have to die?"

A ghostly figured appeared, Sesshomaru followed by Aun, Rin and Jaken. "So, the wolf died, did he?" Sesshomaru looked down at the pulsating Tenseiga, "You want me to save the wolf? Stand aside."

The group parted as Sesshomaru slowly walked to Koga's body. He gripped Tenseiga, saw the creatures from the underworld and slew them. Koga gasped loudly as his soul returned, "I have brought him back to life," he said looking at Inuyasha and Kagome, "I can only do this once with the Tenseiga."

Kagome came forward and smiled at Sesshomaru, "Thank you, Sesshomaru."

He quickly nodded and flew away, Aun following.

Koga coughed and sputtered, badly injured, but alive thanks to Sesshomaru. Inuyasha looked up where they had vanished, "Thank you, brother."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha, "There's a cave close to here, we can put him there until Hinta and Ginka get to him."

Inuyasha nodded and picked up the wolf, "I remember the cave. You guys stay here, I'll be back." He took off towards the cave. Once he got there, he was surprisingly gentle with Koga as he lowered him to the ground. He made a small fire and gathered a few rabbits who happened to be in the area.

"Why are you helping me, mutt?"

"Heh, because if I don't, Kagome would make me regret it. Here," he said throwing one of the dead rabbits at him, "you need to get your strength back. Hinta and Ginka will be here before nightfall, so they can take care of you from there."

"Inuyasha? Thank you."

Inuyasha nodded and raced back towards the others, his good deed done.

Naraku laughed evilly at the Shikon Jewel, whole, in his grasp. He couldn't believe he'd gotten all the shards. With his good fortune, his body reassembled quickly. "Inuyasha. Today, you will die."

Inuyasha walked quietly with Kagome, lost in his thoughts. Kagome, thankful to have Koga alive, was holding Shippo and having a cheerful conversation with Miroku and Sango. When she saw Inuyasha's face, she stopped, "Inuyasha? Are you alright?"

Inuyasha's head snapped, he forced a smile, "Sure. I'm fine."

Kagome didn't believe him, but didn't press the matter further, something was bugging him.

Shippo noticed the silent state and commented, "Geez, Inuyasha is such an idiot. Can't he see that Kagome is worried about him?"

"Hush, Shippo," Sango warned, but it was too late.

Inuyasha hit Shippo over the head, "Owww! What was that for?!"

"Hah! Do I have to have a reason to hit you?"

"Yes! Or I'll get Kagome to make you sit!"

He stiffened, "Look, I'm fine. It's just... I'm glad Sesshomaru came when he did, that's all."

"You were worried about Koga too?"

Inuyasha reddened and nodded, "Even though he tries stealing Kagome from me, I-I kinda started to like him." Kagome smiled, but kept her back turned. "That's why I couldn't fight him after what happened with Mukotsu and Renkotsu, when he chewed me for not protecting Kagome. I just... I just couldn't do it. I'd prefer he'd have hit me on the spot. I wouldn't have fought back. To lose Kagome... Would almost be... losing my own life."

The three of them looked at Inuyasha in shock, to hear him speak like this was unlike him. Kagome hugged him tightly. Sango, Shippo and Miroku looked at them with grins on their faces. Inuyasha's face turned redder, but kept his cool. "Let's continue on, shall we? We have a demon to destroy." At Miroku's command, they continued towards the mountain where Naraku had hid himself.

Dusk, the mountain loomed overhead in a startling contrast to a demonic presence, it was very lush with large green trees creating a canopy half-way up the jagged mountainside. A small freshwater brook teeming with fish along the west side of the mountain. The group stopped here to seek shelter for the night. Miroku, Shippo and Inuyasha collected firewood, while the girls set up camp. Once the fire was started, Inuyasha and Shippo went to the brook to catch fish for supper. Kagome had lost her backpack some time ago, including all the supplies she'd used previously. Inuyasha sat next to Kagome, keeping her warm from the cool mountain air. Once the others were asleep, Inuyasha jumped onto a branch of the tree they were under, lost in thought. Kagome stirred, feeling much colder than she had a minute ago. Realizing Inuyasha wasn't there, she looked up. He was watching her; he jumped down, "You okay?" She nodded, but shivered. "Here," he said taking off his robe, "you can use this as a blanket."

She took it, "Thank you, but..."

"But what?"

She shook her head, "Nothing. Forget it."

"Kagome..."

"I just wanted your body next to mine, okay? I feel safer that way!" Realizing she shouted at him, Miroku, Sango and Shippo awoke at her yelling.

"Oh, well, okay... I guess."

She blushed, but laid down with the robe anyways. The trio watched with one eye cracked as the two nestled together, almost as if they couldn't get enough of each other. The group fell back asleep and woke before dawn the following day.

Inuyasha and Kagome raced up the mountain, before long the ground began to shake as an enourmous spider split the mountain in half. "He's here!" Inuyasha jumped from boulder to boulder looking desperately to find a safe place for Kagome. He growled in frustration, then finally he saw it, a jagged rock just below him, "Kagome! I'm going to set you down on this rock, okay?"

"Okay. Be careful, Inuyasha. He has a full-" she broke off... "A full jewel?! Then that means... Kohaku's shard! Oh no! That means... Kohaku is... dead?"

"A full what?"

"The Shikon Jewel is whole again," she glanced at Sango, "if the jewel is whole, then Kohaku's is there too..."

Inuyasha growled and drew Tetusuiga, "You bastard! I will make you regret killing everyone we care about! WIND SCAR!"

Naraku's body, engulfed in light, shrieked and spewed out miasma from his mouth. "Hirikotsu!" The giant boomerang came flying around and breaking off two of the giant spider's legs. Unfortunately, this caused more miasma to spew out. Kagome shot a sacred arrow, purifying the miasma. Inuyasha sliced through a thick piece of skin.

"Kagome! Where's the jewel?!"

She searched, "On his back!"

He grinned, "Adamant Barrage!" Adamant spears flew out of the Tetsusiga and broke through Naraku's body, the jewel flew out.

"Inuyasha! He doesn't have the jewel anymore!"

"Kirara!" Kirara growled and raced towards the falling jewel. Sango reached out and grabbed it just before it hit a jagged rock. Instantly, Sango was overcome with the urge to kill demons. Miroku grabbed her arm, "Sango! Give the jewel to Kagome! Now!"

Kagome took the jewel from Sango and purified it instantly. Naraku screeched in frustration as his body began to disintigrate. "Meido Zangetsuha!" Inuyasha flung the Meido at Naraku, the path to the underworld opened at Naraku vanished before their eyes.

"Its over," Kagome said, tears falling down her face. She cried into Inuyasha's chest, "Its finally over."

Inuyasha held her as the Shikon Jewel was placed around her neck. They headed back to Kaede's village to enjoy some peace at last.

THE END