Ann scrambled across the ruins of Sesshomaru's castle towards the sounds of battle and the invisible pull of the Shikon Jewel. A mixture of fear and dread were a weight in her gut, but she continued forward. This was it. This was the moment she'd wanted for so long now; to face Naraku, to get revenge and finally find peace.
A tightness formed in Ann's chest. That was not the peace she wanted any more. She missed Ichiro and still regretted not being able to hold her child, but she could also see a future with Sesshomaru. She wasn't sure if he'd ever want a child with her, considering his thoughts on half-breed children, but if they did have a child together, it would go a long way in healing her heart.
The tightness rose up Ann's throat, making her choke on a sob. The unfairness of her situation made her want to rage but there was nobody to rage at. This was her life. She was a firm believer that situations were given to those that could handle them. She knew she hadn't dealt with her situation as well as she should have but Ann was determined to end everything on a good note. When she left this world, she would have no more regrets.
Carefully, she climbed down the debris to a bare spot on the ground. She had no idea where she was within Sesshomaru's castle grounds, because everything had been changed. Twisted wood and broken stone were everywhere. The acrid smell of smoke hung in the air. The pull of the Shikon Jewel led her forward, maneuvering along a path that wound through the destruction.
As Ann rounded a corner, a splash of color caught her attention. Green hair mixed with a splash of blood poked out from beneath a pile of rubble. Ann's breath hitched and her world became surreal as she realized what she was looking at. Scrambling forward, she pulled the rocks and broken wood aside to uncover Kai.
Kai's once beautiful face had been crushed beyond recognition. There was nothing left of her kind smile or warm caramel eyes. Her green hair lay in waves around her head, its sheen marred by dust and blood.
Ann shoved her fist into her mouth and bit down to muffle the cry of agony that rose up her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut and curled up on the ground next to Kai's body. Her free hand lightly stroked the dead demoness' hair as ugly sobs racked her body.
"Why her?" was the only coherent thought Ann could get through her head. "Why her?"
Ann wasn't sure how long she lay there, but when she could no longer cry, she sat up and looked down at Kai's broken form again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, laying her hands on either side of Kai's broken head. "I won't give up. I promise."
Forcing herself to her feet, she turned back to where she sensed the Shikon. It's pull was still strong but the sounds of fighting had died. Ann took a deep breath, knowing she was the last one left, and continued towards where the end of her journey awaited.
At the edge of the castle debris, Ann found herself at the narrow strip of green meadow between where the castle used to stand and the expansive forest beyond. Normally the grass grew tall and was mixed with colorful wildflowers that would move like waves in the gentle breezes that blew through.
Now most of the grass was smashed flat, corpses littering the once pristine beauty, their red blood a stark contrast to the emerald green around them. Other patches of grass had been burnt away, the blackened bodies of more guards still smoking from whatever had caught them on fire. Ann's nose wrinkled at the smell of cooked flesh, her stomach twisting unhappily.
"They are all gone," she thought, her gaze darting from one body to another, each of their names coming to mind. She had gotten to know these demons and had come to feel safe with them. They had fought and died for the selfishness of Naraku, for his need for power.
"So different from Sesshomaru," she thought, slowly moving out amongst the dead. "Sesshomaru's quest for power only involves those who insist on standing in his way, while Naraku seems to enjoy ruining lives."
The timbers of the castle behind her creaked, making Ann spin in place. Her blood chilled at the sight of Naraku, hovering just above the ruins but he didn't look as he normally did. He could have almost passed for humanoid.
He was dressed like a warlord with dark hakama, boots and a colorful jacket that swept down around his knees. Intricate armor covered his chest, abdomen and arms. Ann swallowed nervously, recognizing the armor as looking very similar to demon bones.
"He's cannibalized his own kind just to cloth himself," she thought, disgusted.
His long, black hair hung loosely down his back and, if he didn't look as if he planned on eating her in the next moment, his face would have been very handsome. His red eyes glowing triumphantly ruined the effect of his appearance though and his smile revealed too many teeth.
Above all else, Ann felt the presence of the Shikon Jewel. It called to the part of her that she kept safe. She cringed away from the sensation and focused on Naraku. A faint glow could be seen where his heart was.
"There it is," Ann thought, cringing even more at the sight of how corrupt it looked. It still glowed, but darkly.
"Ann," Naraku called, drawing her attention to him, his voice almost seductive. "I missed you. Did you miss me?"
Ann glared and spit on the ground.
"Nobody really misses a pain in their ass," she growled, fully turning to face him, her fists clenched. "So how could I miss you?"
Naraku's eyes widened and then he laughed, malicious glee filling his features.
"For a human, you can't seem to control what you say. How have you survived Lord Sesshomaru, I wonder?"
"Sesshomaru has my respect," Ann countered, her anger boiling up. "You never will."
"I would say he has more than that," Naraku remarked, his eyes narrowing, making Ann squirm, "but not for much longer." Slowly, he glided forward, his toes just inches from the ground, until he was within arm's reach.
Ann's muscles tensed, her feet subtly positioning themselves for a quick reaction, but she held her ground, her gaze never leaving his approaching form. Naraku lowered himself to the ground, his height overshadowing Ann. Internally she cringed at the malice that emanated from the demon in front of her. He also carried a scent that she couldn't quite decipher, but put her even more on edge.
"I want to leave," she thought desperately, her emotions twisting inside her making her want to flee. "I wish Sesshomaru was here." Swallowing her fear and apprehension, she straightened her posture, pushing her shoulders back.
"So," Ann said, a slight tremble in her voice. "What now?" Naraku tilted his chin up, looking down his nose at her.
"I suppose that depends on you," he said. "Will you fight, or will you accept your fate?" He reached out a hand to touch her face. Memories jarred Ann of cold, dead skin caressing her, making her jerk away from him and take several steps back. Naraku merely chuckled.
"You will fight," he stated, a cold smile creeping across his face. "I expected no less." His outstretched hand suddenly darted out towards her, extending beyond its normal length. Ann gasped, flinging her arms up in front of her face to block the attack only to be thrown back by the force of the strike. She crashed into the ground, tumbling for several feet before she managed to stop herself.
From her hands and knees, she glared up at Naraku. He hadn't come any closer but watched her as his arm returned to its normal length.
"Ann, you will have to do better than that," Naraku chided mockingly. "You have decided to fight. Now don't let me down." Ann's breath stuttered but she glared at him while rising to her feet.
"Courage, don't fail me now," she thought as she gathered her priestess powers at her core. She brought her hands up before her chest in a gesture like she was praying but then drew them apart from each other, a ball of purple glowing energy forming between her palms.
Her eyes narrowing, her fingers clenched, as if she was digging claws into her prey, causing the ball of energy to splinter into shards. Ann's gaze flicked to Naraku as she stretched her hands out towards him, palms flat. Like bullets, the shards began to fly at Naraku only to connect with a barrier that surrounded him. The shards of energy hissed and crackled as they disintegrated against his barrier.
Ann's jaw clenched as Naraku began to approach her again, chuckling darkly.
"How do I get past that barrier?" she thought, her mind scrambling. "I can throw attacks at him all day but it will just be a waste."
As Naraku drew near, Ann could see the spikes on his armor begin to lengthen. Her brow furrowed, as she tensed, drawing energy to her hands to form her blades. She watched as the spikes extended past the barrier. In a blink, they were hurtling towards her, disconnecting from Naraku's armor and coming at her like javelins. Ann swung her arms in wide arches, trying desperately to redirect the improvised projectiles but while she focused on them, Naraku closed the distance with her in their wake.
His tentacle-like arms ripped from his body. Ann's heart raced as they struck out at her like spears. She managed to block the first few strikes, dodging and blocking with Naraku keeping time with her, but then one of the tentacles made it past her defenses, stabbing her cleanly through the shoulder.
Ann cried out at the hot surge of pain that ripped through her body, blood splashing down her front. Her hand clasped onto the root and, enthused with her powers, burnt through the tentacle. Naraku's face pinched, his teeth gritting, as he continued his assault.
A sheen of sweat covered Ann's skin, her breath coming in gasps. A tentacle streaked past her thigh, slicing her like a knife, while another pierced her side. Still another aimed at her heart barely missed, as she ducked, slicing her neck. Her blood was wet and sticky, making her clothing cling to her and her vision blur.
"This can't go on," she thought, pulling on a large pool of her power to form her shield. Naraku's tentacles collided into it, disintegrating while the shield sparked and crackled. Ann dropped to her hands and knees, her breathing ragged. Naraku came to a stand still just beyond its border. His eyes narrowed but the smile was still on his face.
"You can't last in there forever," he said. "Either you will run out of energy or bleed to death, and then you will be mine."
"He's right," Ann thought, pressing a hand to the wound on her neck, trying to stop the bleeding. Her gaze had been riveted on Naraku up until this moment, but she broke the contact, dropping her gaze to the ground beneath her. The grass was still green here, a few small wildflowers unruffled by the fighting that had taken place here. Ann's blood was quickly creating a contrast though. It pooled around her, bright and ominous.
"How strange it is to see so much of your own blood outside your body," Ann thought, the moment surreal. As if in a dream, she ran her fingertips through the expanding pool, marveling at how it was still warm.
Naraku's chuckle caught her attention again. She flicked her gaze back to him, her vision swimming.
"Are you done," he mocked. "Just drop your shield and I will end this. Join me and make me the most powerful demon alive." Ann frowned but didn't respond. She refocused on Naraku's chest, allowing her vision to see the Shikon Jewel. It was complete, a perfect, glowing sphere but it was horribly tainted. Ann gritted her teeth.
"I have to get the jewel away from him," she thought. "It might be enough to weaken him although I don't think I'm in any shape to finish this fight. If I take the jewel, will it be enough to stop him, or will my effort be wasted?"
Struggling to her feet, Ann began to draw her powers to her core again. Her shield faded, making Naraku laugh.
"Is this it, Ann?" he asked, taking a step towards her. "One final attack?" Ann drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out while nodding.
"One final attack," she agreed. Terror encompassed her being. This was going to hurt, and she wasn't even sure if her plan would work. Her terror rose up, trying to overwhelm her, but she pushed it down. Before she could lose her nerve, she sprinted forward.
Naraku's grin widened, numerous tentacles rising from his body and slicing through the air towards her. Ann gritted her teeth, raising her arm up and flattening her hand like a blade. With one last leap, she dove at Naraku, her hand striking like a snake.
Ripping sounds filled the air, followed by grunts of pain. Ann could feel Naraku's hot breath panting on her, his red eyes burning into hers. Her hand was lodged in his chest, his flesh hot and moving. Against her fingertips, she could feel the smooth surface of the Shikon Jewel.
Naraku shifted, eliciting a whimper of pain from Ann. His tentacles had found their marks. Ann was pierced in so many spots that she knew there was no coming back from this but by the look in Naraku's eyes, she also knew that he was in trouble too.
Her free hand grasped his shoulder, providing leverage for her other hand to penetrate him further. Naraku growled, his tentacles squirming within Ann's body. She cried out in agony, her body spasming.
"Just give up," Naraku spat, his hands fisted in her clothing, trying to pull her free from his body. Ann's heart stuttered as her hand lost contact with the jewel.
"No," she thought, desperation taking over. "I can't let him win." Digging deep, she forced her hand forward and took hold of the jewel. Naraku's eyes widened as Ann took her powers that she'd gathered at her core and forced them into her hand that held the jewel.
The vile aura that surrounded the jewel lessened. It wasn't fully purified, but Ann wasn't worried about that. The remainder of her power poured out ripping through Naraku's flesh. In a flash of purple energy, he exploded, pieces of his body scattering all over the meadow.
The explosion sent Ann flying, the jewel still clasped tightly in her hand. She struck the ground, her body flopping helplessly as she rolled across the grass. When she finally stopped, she lay in a heap, barely conscience. Her gaze darted about until it landed on a piece of Naraku's flesh that had landed next to her. Her breath caught in terrified anticipation. She tried to move her limbs to be ready for when he reformed but they wouldn't respond.
A jolt of adrenaline ran through her body when the lump of flesh sizzled, slowly burning away. Tears formed at the corners of Ann's eyes, her body sagging in relief.
"It's over," she whispered, clutching the jewel to her chest. "It's over."