Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
"I'm sensing a sacred jewel shard at Princess Abi's nest," Kagome said, as Shippo and her rode on the wolf demon's back, "And it's huge!"
"That has to be Naraku." Kouga said, as he maintained a steady pace that allowed the other group mates on the firecat to catch up. "Especially since he took down the barrier that he put around the bird daiyoukais's nest."
"Does anyone else feel like this is too easy?" Sango said as she couldn't help but feel uneasy by the whole thing. "I mean, I know that Naraku is just trying to lure us to follow him so he can use Kagome to find the sacred jewel in the Netherworld, but I feel like it's too easy and that he may be planning against us."
"I know how you feel Sango, for I have been wondering the same since last night. Back when Naraku first removed his barrier from the bird daiyoukais' nest." Miroku said, "It feels like we are walking into a trap, but I'm not sure what else we can do about it other than refusing not to follow Naraku into the Netherworld."
"Right." Sango agreed, "If we choose not to follow Naraku then although we may think that we stopped him from getting that jewel shard, we really would have stopped us from getting the jewel shard. One way or another, Naraku will get that shard in the Netherworld, and then there will be nothing stopping him from getting the rest–especially the ones that we have, the ones in Kouga's legs, Kohaku, and that other last shard of the jewel."
Suddenly at this realization, the group realized exactly how much was at stake here if they failed to stop Naraku from getting that shard in the Netherworld. And as they traveled deeper and deeper into the forest, the group realized another issue—how will they get out of the Netherworld once they get in?
This issue was the worst of the two because it brought up the reality of not being able to come back from the world of the dead once they entered.
Feeling the mood of his travel companions go down as the emotions of anxiety, fear and slight hopelessness came in from the humans, Kouga simply kept his eyes forward and said with a unbothered face, "If we all just stick together, we will do just fine against Naraku. Kagome, as soon as we get there, lead us straight to the jewel shard's location so we will be able to get it before Naraku tries anything. And if he tries anything, I'll use my Goraishi on him to take him by surprise. Hopefully, my weapon is powerful enough to get through his barrier."
"Oh yeah, what if it doesn't?" Shippo asked, holding on to the wolf demon's back, "What if Naraku's barrier deflects it just like it has done to all of our attacks, even Inuyasha's wind scar?"
At the mere mention of the Inuyasha's name, the group reflected on their time with the InuHanyou. They realized that Inuyasha's sword has been the closest to almost defeating Naraku with its signature move–the wind scar– practically almost every time. However, this came to a stop as soon as Naraku developed his new and improved barrier that deflected the wind scar back onto Inuyasha and them several of times. Though, this didn't stop the group from wondering what would happen if Inuyasha was still with them and his sword had gain new ability to destroy Naraku's barrier.
'If Inuyasha was still with us, Myoga and him would've eventually found a way to strengthen his sword against Naraku.' Miroku thought, 'Especially since Inuyasha's sword has the power to absorb a strong demon's demonic ability. I wonder if Kouga's Goraishi can do the same.'
A few days ago, after their fight with Princess Abi, Kouga had led the group on a slight detour that took them to the wolf demon tribe's graveyard. This was to access the weapon of his ancestors called the Goraishi. A powerful weapon whose strength was rumored to be admired. Kouga believed that it was a good idea to seek after the weapon and use it against Naraku.
However, during these past few days Kouga hasn't had the chance to use the weapon on Naraku, since the group had recently got the weapon and didn't want to test it out on Princess Abi and her birds. This was because Kouga and the human group didn't know whether or not for sure if Princess Abi might report the Goraishi's ability back to Naraku and give the spider demon back his trident or Naraku himself was watching. Either way, Kouga didn't want to take any chances on Naraku finding out about his new weapon and strengthening his barrier to deflect it.
'However, I don't know if we made a good choice not testing the Goraishi out on Princess Abi. And what if Shippo is right? What if the Goraishi doesn't work against Naraku's barrier and then all of our cautious efforts would have been in vain.' Miroku thought, 'Then what? What will we do next?'
As if Kouga was hearing the thoughts of the monk, He said, "The Goraishi has another aspect of it that also led to its reputation of being a powerful weapon. The Goraishi has the power to activate a strong barrier around its user and his allies in the midst of battle. So with this barrier, if Naraku manages to deflect the Goraishi's lighting blasts, then we can use the barrier to protect ourselves from Naraku's wrath. After all, what good is a strong offense if it doesn't have a good defense?"
"Wow, really?" Kagome exclaimed in sweet relief, as she wanted to give the wolf demon a hug, "I didn't know that the Goraishi had the ability to do that. Then I guess there is no harm in testing the weapon out on Naraku. Boy, is he in for a surprise."
"Kagome!" Came the familiar loud voice of the tiny creature that landed on one of kagome's hands that were holding on to Kouga's body as the wolf demon ran.
Feeling an sudden itch on that very hand, Kagome watched as an growing in size Myoga sucked her blood until she smacked him, "Myoga, what are you doing here?"
Briefly taking his eyes off the road before him, Kouga glanced back the young miko and fox demon on his back before looking back onto the road.
Myoga hopped off of Kagome's hand and gripped her hair instead, "Kagome, is it true that Naraku is at Princess Abi's nest?" Watching as the young miko nodded, he continued, "This is not good then Tekkei would be there."
"Tekkei?" Shippo repeated before asking, "Who is that?"
"Tekkei is a bird belongs to a group of birds that live in hell." Myoga informed, "In other words she's connected to the Netherworld!"
"That makes a lot of sense of why Naraku sought after her then." Kouga said, turning the flea's attention to him, "But the question is if they are not on good terms, how will Naraku get them to open the path for him to safely go into the Netherworld?"
"Hello there Kouga," Myoga greeted the wolf demon that he had now been familiar with for the past couple of months since the serpent demon incident, "I'm not sure, but all I am know is that Tekkei is a brutally fierce and highly ranked demon. So I suspect that a path to the Netherworld is not something she'll so freely give unless you don't wish to come back to the land of the living. With that said, you have been warned!"
Before anybody could spot him, Myoga hopped off of Kagome's hair and hopped off somewhere in the distance until the sound of his hops couldn't be warned.
"Uh oh, If Myoga is running then that means…" Shippo said, looking back at the path before him only to be greeted by the sight of a humongous demon chicken that stood looking down on them from where it stood on the mountain it was on. And as soon as the bird saw them, it spit out a giant fireball towards them, "AHHH! LOOK OUT!"
Kouga and Kirara quickly dodged the fiery attack in time as the fireball landed on where they just were, cracked open and destroyed the area.
Smirking at another one of her enemies' arrival, Princess Abi smirked "Kouga have you come to die as well?"
"What do you mean by that Princess Abi?" Miroku asked after he hopped off the firecat and looked around for the spider demon, "What happened to Naraku?"
Besides him the demon slayer stood with her Arm ready on her weapon, while Kouga set Kagome down and stood before her.
"Sorry that you missed him," Princess Abi sneered, as she remained floating where he mother stood, "He's already dead."
"What? Dead?" Sango said, incredulously "You killed Naraku?'
"Yes indeed," Tekkei gloated with a smug look on her face, "Yes already in my belly."
"Uhh…" Shippo said, with a creeped out look on his face, "Does that mean you ate him?"
"I can't believe it." Kagome said, looking also a little creeped out by this fact.
"Don't take this the wrong way, " Miroku said, "But i can't believe that Naraku would have been beaten so easily."
"Oh?" Tekkei said in an intrigued tone as the smirk on her face widen, "Stay where you are and you'll be able to meet his remain in my belly as I devour you all." at this threaten, Kouga and the group besides them tensed themselves as they prepared for battle.
Raising her hand before bringing it down pointing at the group below her, Princess Abu yelled, "Kill them!" Suddenly a wave of demon birds from behind her rushed towards the group.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango yelled out throwing her large boomerang at the closest group of demon birds. Besides her, Miroku prepared to take out his wind tunnel.
"Since there aren't any of Saimyōshō around." Miroku pulling off the prayer beads off his hand, however he was interrupted by Princess Abi as she released poisonous gas ray at him from the trident that Naraku had given her at him. Miroku quickly dodged the attacked and moved out of the way as Kouga leaped out from behind him at quickly kick Princess Abi hard against the side.
Princess Abi gritted her teeth as she barely was able to block the attack with the trident. "Damn you Kouga." She hissed as she glared at said wolf demon., "Now die!" Before gripped her trident and using it to strike where the wolf demon was. However, Kouga quickly moved out of the way, before the blade of the trident could attack him.
"You're gonna have to do better than that Princess." Kouga said as he dodged yet another attack from the demonic bird-woman. However, when he went in to deliver another attack against his enemy it was blocked and this time Princess Abi used this as an opportunity to send a fireball towards Kouga's leg that was against her barrier. Kouga quickly moved his leg away and jumped back away from the demonic woman. As the two battled it out while the demon birds were attack the human group, Tekkei chuckled in amusement.
'It serves those lower ranked demons right–especially that half breed Naraku.' Tekkei thought, 'He was such a fool to even think that I, the great Tekkei, would ever help—' However before she could finish that thought, she suddenly felt unwell. 'Huh….W-What's this?'
Feeling all the pain suddenly concentrate on the top part of her head as it began to start budging, Tekkei thought, 'What's this?' before crying out immediately attracting the attention of her daughter and the wolf demon and the group of humans.
There they all watched as the bulge on Tekkei's forehead grew and grew until it busted open. And as it burst open, these long gray appendages appeared in the midst of the blood of the open wound rushing out towards the sky in a piercing movement. Tekkei screamed as she fell down and died.
Removing herself from her battle with the wolf demon, Princess Abi floated towards her fallen mother, "Mother!" She cried out in distress as she floated over her mother's body and watching as the long gray appendages begin to move like spider legs as the apparent 'dead' Naraku used them to hoist himself him from the gapping wound on the fallen Tekkai's head.
"Damn you Naraku!" Princess Abi hissed before lunging towards the spider demon who now had fully emerged out of the dead Tekkei's head and now had floated over said body, "How dare you? I'll tear you apart!"
With that, Princess Abi luged towards Naraku about to attack when Naraku only narrowed his eyes at her and watched as the trident in her hand glowed white. Suddenly the trident exploded and took half of her arm with it.
"Had you forgotten? That trident was originally a part of my body." Naraku smirked, "You have performed very well for me Princess Abi." Said princess growled as she rushed towards Naraku with the cry of the promise of death, "This is your reward. You shall not suffer when I kill you." with that said, Naraku's spider-like appendages rushed towards the princess and pierced her chest.
With a loud cry, Princess Abi screamed cried out as she died.
Horrified the group stared at the scene in shock.
"How horrible…"Miroku said, shocked at the way the spider demon brutally slayed the bird daiyoukais.
"He takes every advantage of them and then does this." Sango said horrified and disgusted at the spider demon's behavior, completely forgetting that the bird daiyoukais had betrayed Naraku first by attacking the castle where his incarnations were hidden. "How despicable of you Naraku."
"There's a special place in hell for someone like you Naraku!" Kouga called out, "You're really the worst of the worst!"
Not at all fazed by the words of his enemies, Naraku just said, "Come now, weren't you planning to destroy Princess Abi as well? The way I see it, you should be grateful." Naraku said, ignoring the harsh glares given to him, "Thanks to me the path to the border is open. You are all now able to travel down the border of the afterlife." He smirked, before lopping off Tekkei's head.
Suddenly a flash of bright white light engulfed the whole area as a large stream of blood rushed out of Tekkei's now open neck. On the ground, laid the discarded head of Tekkei.
The large stream of blood rushed down into the crack in the ground that acted like a river bank as the blood rushed through the large crack in the ground that stretched across the land.
The group watched in horrified fascination at this sight.
Although the river moved like a stream of rushing water, it smelt of pure blood. Having grown accustomed to the smell of fresh blood, Kouga looked down the river and asked, "So this river of blood is somehow connected to the Netherworld, right?"
"Yeah," Miroku said, still fascinated by the sight, "It would seem that river of blood will lead to the Netherworld."
As Kouga and the group continued to stunned at the bloody river, the twisted laughter of Naraku brought them out of their daze. Kouga and the group directed their attention to Naraku who was using his barrier to simply float upon the bloody rushing water.
Sensing the eyes of his enemies on him, Naraku looked around and said, "Why are you just standing there? This river of blood won't last and the pathway will close behind me."
"Looks like the chance we all have been waiting for is finally here," Kouga said, as Kagome quickly climbed on his back, 'Lets be on our way!"
With this said, Kouga jumped of the edge of the river bank and landed on one of the many boulders that behaved like stepping stones in the pool of blood. Miroku, Sango and Shippo soon followed after them on Kirara.
As soon as the group traveled the river of blood, they could hear the groans and moans of many distorted voices all crying out bitterly as if they were in hell. Confused by this, Shippo looked down and screamed as he held on to Miroku tighter.
"What is it Shippo?" Miroku said, before he finally noticed what had the fox demon so spooked, "What the…." Drawing the attention of Kagome and Sango to him.
Reflected in the river of blood were the distorted angry and sadden human faces who groaned and moaned as if in twisted pain. Disturbed by this sight, Miroku said, "Princess Abi's mother drank human blood. Those faces are probably the souls who bear a grudge towards her for their deaths."
"Think how many people were killed up until now." Sango said, "Just so Naraku can get his hands on the jewel shard." Not realizing that drinking human blood were originally Princess Abi and Tekkei's own doing to which Naraku later on offered to help quicken the process of how they got their blood. "Naraku is really a sick bastard for this."
"What gotta hurry and bring this to end quickly." Kagome said, looking around at the poor souls trapped in the river of blood, "Let's go guys!"
As they approached an area where the river of blood seem to go down into like a dark abyss. As Kouga and the group entered the abyss a bright white light engulfed them. However as soon as the light engulf them, Miroku felt the strong need to pray as he could hear the voice of Naraku saying something. Looking around, Miroku couldn't see the spider demon anywhere and it didn't seem that anybody else in his group heard the spider demon's voice. However, Miroku did and although he couldn't understand what Naraku was saying, Miroku felt a cold shiver run through his body as he soon realized what was going on.
"Guys, I hear Naraku chanting a wicked incantation against us right now." Miroku called out, much to the horror of the group, "I don't know what he has planned, but I'm going to pray to counter whatever he has planned for us in the Netherworld. Please only focus to the sound of my voice and nothing else. Don't not allow yourself to be distracted, keep your eyes closed and stick close to me until I am done praying."
With that said, Miroku immediately started reciting Buddhist prayers in order to combat the wicked incantations that Naraku was chanting towards them. Everyone in the group closed their eyes and only listen to the sound of Miroku's voice. Although they were tempted to open their eyes to see where they were going as they now felt like they were falling down, they decided to trust Miroku. Unknownst to them, a barrier was covering the group as the entered the world of the dead. So, while Kouga and the group didn't feel like they were falling anymore but now floating down, they knew that they were alright as long as they kept their eyes shut.
However, as they entered deeper and deeper into the world of the dead Kagome sensed the shard of the Shikon jewel.
Seeing a pink light in the midst of the darkness, even though her eyes were closed, Kagome thought, 'That light…it's a jewel shard.' Turning her head towards the source of where she felt the strong pull of jewel coming from. Making her head come to a stop, 'There!'
Opening her eyes to see the location of where the jewel shard was, Kagome opened her eyes and zeroed in one direction, "The shard…It's there in the wall of that rock!" referencing the wall of the mountain that was not to far down from where Kouga and the group was floating to. However, immediately after saying this, the sounds of Naraku's wicked laughter filled the air causing Kagome to realize her mistake. And before she could shut her eyes once more, Kagome felt an unseen force separate her from Kouga's back as she was lifted out of the barrier that had earlier surrounded her. Once Kagome was out of the barrier, Miroku stopped praying as he immediately open his eyes.
There he watched in horror as the unseen force that had taken her out of the safety of the barrier and had let go of her.
"Kagome!" Miroku called out, causing the others to open their eyes to see what was going on.
Kagome screamed a blood curling scream as she fell down past the clouds and into the void of darkness that made it seem that there was no ground. Kagome fell until she disappeared into the darkness.
Following the scent of Naraku, Sesshomaru stopped as he reached the makeshift river bank that was right under the headless body of a dead demon bird.
Analyzing the scene with his eyes, Sesshomaru looked around until he heard the voice of a woman say…
"Looking for Naraku?"
Sesshomaru's eyes went towards the direction where he heard the voice and was not surprised to see the wind sorceress who stood next to the body of the fallen Tekkei.
"Hey, Sesshomaru." Kagura greeted as she jumped down to where he was much to Jaken's annoyance and Rin's fright. Ignoring the 'wench' insult that came from the little imp-like creature, Kagura continued. "You're too late, Naraku has already used this path to cross into the Netherworld. Kouga and Inuyasha's former companions are chasing after him."
"And this path you're speaking of was through the blood of this demon bird?" Sesshomaru inquired, "However, judging from the manner of how you're speaking, it seem you know more something else"
"I do know something else." Kagura said, as she brought a fan to her lips and smirked, "Another path in fact, but it's dangerous though. Even you might not be able to cross that path alive."
"Is that so?" Sesshomaru said, intrigued about a path being so dangerous even posing a threat for even him, "Take me to it then."
"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you." Kagura said as she took out her feather and floated to the sky, "Follow me."
Sesshomaru flew up followed after Kagura with Rin and Jaken riding on Ah-Uh following behind the two. They flew for a while until they reached dry and deserted clearing where they landed. Once on the ground, Kagura began walking towards the entrance of this underground cave.
Turning back to look at Sesshomaru, Kagura said, "Come on, the path is right down here." As she walked down towards the entrance of the cave.
Sesshomaru left Rin outside the entrance of the cave before going down the path to follow Kagura with Jaken trailing behind him.
As the trio walked through tight entrance to the cave, it was musky and the ground was littered with skeletal remains of dead demons.
Walking past the skull of a fallen demon, Jaken said, "I got a bad feeling about his." To which his fear went on deaf ears as Sesshomaru and Kagura continued walking deeper into the cave.
Suddenly Kagura stopped and said, "Ok this is as far as I am going to take you. What you seek lies a bit far down."
Frightened by this, Jaken asked, "So you're just gonna leave us like this? Does that mean there is danger up ahead?"
" Hey," Kagura said, "I warned you about it being dangerous. You're on your own Sesshomaru."
Feeling his Tenseiga glow and shake a bit, Sesshomaru's grasped the hilt of his sword as if to calm it down. Once it did, Sesshomaru continued to walk deeper into the cave until he was greeted by the sight of two humongous stone guards standing before the huge closed doors. The two guards each had torches before the their feet that were already lit.
"This must be the gate that connects this world to the afterlife." Sesshomaru said taking moment to look at the doors before he walked closer to it.
However, as soon as Sesshomaru stepped a bit closer to the door, a loud mysterious voice asked, "Do you wish to pass?"
Startled by this, Jaken looked around in fright as he didn't see anyone else who could've asked that question, "Who spoke just now? The statue?"
And to answer his question, the huge and tall guard statue that asked that question opened one eyes to stare down at Sesshomaru and asked the question again.
And the instant that statute said that, the other statue opened its eyes to stare at the Sesshomaru and asked, "Or do you not wish to pass?"
Annoyed by what he thought was a dumb question, Jaken answered, "Of course we wish to pass, that is the whole reason why we came here."
"Then you shall pass." The stone guard said before coming animated along with his other fellow guard. Then the two tall and huge guards approached and unbothered Sesshomaru with malicious intent in their eyes.
Meanwhile, hidden behind the Cave's walls, Kagura stood watching, 'The only way to pass that gate is to allow yourself to be killed by the guardians and become one of the dead. And even if those two guards are beaten, f you force the gate open you'll be engulfed in a strange light that will turn you to stone. Now, what will you do Sesshomaru?'
As the two-guard approached Sesshomaru, took out other sword Tokijin to prepare for battle.
Feeling that the ground that she landed on was much softer than she expected it to be, Kagome patted around as she tried to get a feel of where she was.
However, feeling how incredibly soft and warm the ground where she had her hand was, Kagome opened her eyes and saw that she was in her room instead. 'What the…'
Looking around, Kagome sat up as she looked down at what she was laying on and was surprised to see that it was her own bed from home. 'What's going on? When did I get home? The last thing I remember was that I was falling after being taken out of Miroku's barrier.'
Remembering how she fell, a cold chill ran through Kagome's body as she continued to look around, 'Was it all really just a dream?' Kagome thought, 'Am I really back home?'
However, as if to answer her question, someone knocked on her on the outside of her bedroom door before they said, "Kagome? How long are you going to be asleep? School starts soon."
Getting up, Kagome went to open the door. Yet the moment she got out of bed, she noticed that she was still wearing her school uniform, 'What the…Did I really go to bed wearing my school clothes without changing? I guess I don't have to get ready for school.'
Hearing the voice of her mother call her name once more, Kagome answered and walked towards the door before opening it. On the other side of the door, her mother stood with her hand in the air in a position of getting ready to knock on her daughter's door once again but stopped as soon as she saw her daughter open the door.
"Oh Kagome. Good morning." Her mother Mrs. Higuraishi said, a bit surprised "You're finally up and you're already dressed up? Oh, well then I guess I didn't need to wake you up. Be sure to eat some breakfast before you head on to school."
"Ok, I will." Kagome said, as she nodded. "But first, i think I'm gonna freshen up a bit before heading downstairs. Ok, mom?"
"Ok." Mrs. Higuraishi said, "I'll see you after you're done."
Watching her mother go on back downstairs, Kagome headed towards the bathroom to freshen up for the day by brushing her hair and her teeth. Once she was done, she headed downstairs towards the kitchen.
"Hiya Sis!" Kagome's little brother Souta said, greeting his older sister with a smile before continuing to stuff his face with his breakfast, "It sure took you long enough you know. Mom went to go wake you up ages ago."
"Well, I still had to brush my teeth and my hair before coming down here you know." Kagome replied to her little brother, "What do you want me to do? Go to school with bed hair? Gross?"
"You think that's gross Kagome?" Her Grandpa asked, "I'll tell you what's gross. Going to with mud all over your body all because–"
"Okay Grandpa," Kagome said, interrupting her grandpas as she sat down. She didn't want to lose her appetite from hearing talk about her elderly grand parent's youth. "I'm about eat my breakfast now. Maybe later okay?"
And before her grandpa could say an objection to that, Mrs. Higuraishi gave an extra serving of his favorite dish–to which he happily enjoyed. Kagome sighed in relief as she picked up her pair of chopsticks.
"Hmm…I sure missed meals like these, unlike the one that I had to eat every day in the feudal era." Kagome said, as she held the pair of chopsticks over her rice ready to indulge in her breakfast. "Time to eat!"
However, before she could put the meal in her mouth, Kagome suddenly heard the rapid sounds of approaching footsteps approaching before a figure she recognized, suddenly entered the kitchen.
Determined amber-golden eyes met surprised brown eyes as Kagome locked eyes with the person who entered the kitchen.
'I-Inuyasha?' Kagome thought as she stared at the InuHanyou in shock. However, before Kagome could do anything, Inuyasha swiftly walked past Mrs. Higuraishi who was in the middle of asking the InuHanyou if he also wanted something to eat, to approach Kagome who was still staring at Inuyasha shellshock. 'No way. It can't be…'
Once Inuyasha was in front of her, he slapped the food out of Kagome's hands and from in front of her. "What the…" Kagome finally said in shock at the actions of the InuHanyou. "That was my breakf–"
"Kagome, wake up and do not be fooled," Inuyasha said sternly, not even caring that he interrupted the young miko. "You are not where you think you are. You are in the world of the dead and whosoever eats of the food of the dead shall remain here forever."
At this, Kagome was shocked, but then remembered her so-called 'dream'.
'So that wasn't a dream?' Kagome thought as the memory of her being forcibly removed from Miroku's barrier as she fell into the darkness of the Netherworld. 'And that really happened? Then that means…' Kagome looked down at the food that Inuyasha had knocked to the ground and gasped in horror at what she saw.
On food, Maggots wiggled and crawled all over the rice that was now yellow with blue molding all over it. Horrified, Kagome looked back towards her 'mother' and saw an angry dried out looking distorted human who now looked nothing like her mother glaring at her with harsh eyes. Instinctively, Kagome looked at her brother and her grandpa and they looked nothing like her grandpa and Souta and glared at her with the promise of death in their eyes.
Kagome screamed as she got up and backed away from the vile demonic creatures who pretended to be her family. However, because she wasn't looking into what she was backing into to, she soon backed into a wall with the demonic creatures who had already gotten out of their seats and were headed towards her with plates of foul-looking food.
However, before they could any closer to Kagome, Inuyasha stood before her as he shield her body with his. "I guess the family act is all over since your true forms have been revealed." Taking out his Tesseiga as it immediately transformed in his hands, "You're finished."
Raising his sword, Inuyasha struck the ground to release its power, Inuyasha yelled out, "WIND SCAR!"
Just then, rapid yellow wavelength power rushed towards the demonic creatures before destroying them to the point where not even their ashes remained as the creatures faded in the bright light that engulfed them.
Seeing the familiar appearance of the InuHanyou's back as he stood in front of her surrounded by the bright light from his sword, caused Kagome's eyes to water up as tears gathered in them. Feeling her heart tighten in pain as tears blurred her vision, Kagome walked forward a bit before wrapping her arms around the back of the InuHanyou. Hugging her good old friend tight, Kagome wept bitterly against his back as memories of the InuHanyou always rushing throw his life on the line to protect her filled her mind up until the last time she saw him. Remembering how coldly Inuyasha had looked at her that day as she said things she now deeply regretted, Kagome caused her to cry even harder. Kagome shook her head at this last memory of her dear friend as she continued to sob on his back.
"Kagome." Kagome heard the InuHanyou say, as she held on to his back, "It's ok, it's ok, I'm right here."
"No, it's not okay!" Kagome sobbed even louder, not even caring that she was getting his back wet with tears, "It's never okay!"
"I messed up okay!" Kagome finally said as she cried out, "I messed up. I should've believed you but I didn't, and I think about it every day. I'm so sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry!" Remembering those cold amber golden eyes full of nothing but hatred towards her flashed in her mind, causing Kagome to sob even louder, "Inuyasha, please don't hate me. Don't hate me! This whole thing was my fault. It was all my fault. I should have never sat in that lake. I should have never ever doubted you. I should have listened to you…but it's too late…it's too late now! I can't take back what I caused to happen to you Inuyasha!" Kagome continued to sob bitterly on the Inuyasha's back as Inuyasha just remained still.
Eventually, Kagome ran out the strength to continue crying, so she opted to remain holding on to the InuHanyou's back refusing to let go. It remained like this until sounds of distorted moaning and groaning could be heard all around them.
Suddenly, Kagome felt Inuyasha get back into battle position as the distorted sounds of those demonic creatures became closer and closer.
"Kagome," Kagome heard Inuyasha say, "I need you to do something for me."
Nodding her head on his back, Kagome said, "What is it?"
"Kagome, I need you to use one of your arrows to hit the sky." Inuyasha said, causing the young miko to remember the arrows that she had brought with her "It's the only way this demonic spell will end. Otherwise, these demonic creatures won't stop until they have made sure you eat what their food or have been killed."
Sniffing Kagome nodded and hesitantly released her hold on Inuyasha's back at the arrows in her arrow sack and then to the sky, Kagome grabbed one arrow and loaded. Aiming her arrow at the sky full of darkness, Kagome tried to shoot, however, her eyes filled up with tears once more as a memories of her doing this with the InuHanyou crossed her mind again. Not able to see well, Kagome shot her arrow but her arrow went up a few feet from Inuyasha and her, before landing back down a distance from them. The arrow that landed on the ground managed to destroy some of the demonic creatures that were approaching Inuyasha and Kagome from that direction.
"I-I'm… I'm sorry," Kagome said, sniffling as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. "It seems that I just can't stop crying. I thought that i was out of tears earlier, but it seems that I was mistaken.." More tears began to run down Kagome's face as she tried her best to wipe them.
Suddenly, Kagome heard the unmistakable sound of Inuyasha sheathing his sword. Then Kagome felt the warmth of Inuyasha's back disappear before it was replaced by the warmth of his hand. Opening her eyes to see what was going on, Kagome saw Inuyasha look at her with eyes full of sympathy and understanding as he tighten his hold of her hand.
"Kagome, it's ok. You're ok." Inuyasha said, his words speaking life to Kagome's wounded heart, "I'm here and right by your side just like I have always been." As the sounds of the demonic creatures grew closer and closer, Inuyasha said, "Shoot your arrow."
Feeling a surge of newfound energy and strength, Kagome nodded, wiped away her tears, and hesitantly let go, before loading up another arrow. Glancing over at the InuHanyou once more, Kagome turned her attention back to the sky full of darkness and shot her arrow.
This time the arrow flew in the sky until it was covered in the midst of the darkness. Suddenly a huge explosion of bright pink light broke swallowed the darkness of the sky and engulfed the entire area Kagome and Inuyasha were in. The power of the light was so strong that it wiped away every vile demonic creature that were now trying to run from it until they were completely erased.
In that moment, the darkness that surrounded the sky cleared up and was replaced with a gloomier but lighter sky. Taking her eyes off the sky, Kagome looked around and saw the reality of the world she was in. It was so gloomy, dry, and lifeless. As she looked around, she saw how the skulls of the dead both human and demon were piled upon each other to form several different mountains. Hearing the sounds of birds chirping, Kagome looked towards the source and saw a skeletal bird perched on a tree squawking for a bit before finally off.
As Kagome looked around, that's when it finally hit her. She was really in the netherworld, the real, real Netherworld, and not some imaginary place or some false copy up on the land of the living. She really was in the place of the dead. Trying to understand why she didn't properly understand this earlier, Kagome thought, 'Was it because of the spell that messed with my senses that I didn't realize this earlier?'
Turning to Inuyasha to ask him how he knew that this was the world of the dead from the very beginning, Kagome froze as she realized something else; something else that she failed to realize before.
What was Inuyasha doing in the world of the dead?
Kagome knew how she entered the world of the dead, but did not understand why Inuyasha was here.
Horrified at what she just realized, Kagome slowly turned to face Inuyasha and stopped as their eyes met. As stunned brown eyes met calm amber-golden eyes, the memory of something that Naraku had said to Kagome a while ago echoed in her mind.
'Once I get bored of Inuyasha's body, I'll turn him into a whore for a bunch of random demons. The thrill that overcomes me when I think of his face as he begs me for death." Naraku coldly said, enjoying the look of despair on the faces of Inuyasha's former companions and the rage-filled looks on Sesshomaru's and Kouga's faces as well. "And a desperate plea it will be. I have already seen that face once before, and I can't wait to see it again. I must say, the look of absolute desperation is quite becoming of him and I don't think I can get enough of it."
"...there's no chance you will ever see Inuyasha again. I'll make sure of it. Sure Inuyasha hates me, but he despises you just the same. He wants nothing to do with you all again." Naraku said smiling wickedly, "Meaning, if I kill Inuyasha off, you won't ever see him again. I'll tell you of his last moments of how he was raped by the demons once I was bored of his body. I won't even let you see his dead body.'
'No.' Kagome thought, shaking her head in complete disbelief as she covered her mouth in horror and disgust at the realization of why the InuHanyou was in the world of the dead. Immediately, tears began to fill up her eyes once again as she fought to wipe them as fast as she could. However, as Kagome tried to wipe away her tears, she felt like she couldn't breathe. 'NOOO!'
Looking back at her friend, Kagome wept bitterly as Inuyasha just remained there staring at her with a blank expression on his face. Kagome felt like screaming but didn't have the strength to do so. She could only fall to her knees and sob.
Suddenly the sounds of her friends and the wolf demon calling her name could be heard in the distance. Kagome looked over to where to source of the sounds were and glanced back at the InuHanyou who also stared at the same direction. In that moment as the sounds got closer, Inuyasha looked back at Kagome, who in turn was struggling to look back at him as she tried hard to wipe the continuous tears from her eyes that kept messing up her vision. And so the next time Kagome went to wipe her eyes from the tears that kept messing up her vision, Inuyasha was gone.
Panicking, Kagome looked around desperately for the InuHanyou.
Not finding him anywhere, Kagome's lack of breath was becoming worse and she wanted nothing more than to scream. In that moment, Kouga suddenly dashed forward and arrived before her. Without hesitation, Kouga knelt down to help Kagome stand back up, but Kagome refused his help.
"Kagome." Kouga said, confused and worried about why the young miko was acting like this, "What's going on? Are you alright? Kagome?!" But each time, Kouga tried to pick Kagome up, Kagome refused to stand up as she only sobbed louder.
"I-Inuyasha…" Kagome managed to say in between her sob. "I-Inuyasha…"
"What about Inuyasha?" Kouga asked, confused why the young miko was acting like this, "Kagome, what happened?"
"I-Inuyasha is here!" Kagome finally cried out, "He is here …Inuyasha is here in the Netherworld!"
Kouga felt his heart drop at this.
Inuyasha was here?
Removing his eyes from the young miko on the ground who was sobbing even louder, Kouga scanned his eyes around the area as if he was excepting to see the InuHanyou somewhere around the area–within Kouga's field of view.
When he didn't see the InuHanyou, Kouga looked back at Kagome and was about to tell her that she was mistaken until he remembered the words of Naraku.
Recalling the promise of wickedness that the spider demon declared over the InuHanyou, Kouga got up and continued to look around. Believing that he didn't check well enough, Kouga began to walk past Kagome and deeper into the surroundings. Breathing slow and hard as tears still fell from her face, Kagome just stared at Kouga as he walked away.
However, out of nowhere Kouga stopped walking and began to run. Kouga ran around each pile of skull each abandoned and dry structure and searched for Inuyasha as if the InuHanyou was hiding around those areas.
As Kouga did this, Kagome watched him until she heard her name being called by her friends. Turning to look at her friends who were now approaching her fast, Kagome tried to get up from where she was on the ground, before she fell back down.
Seeing this, Miroku jumped off Kirara before she could land and ran towards Kagome. "Kagome!" Miroku called out, as he knelt down before her and offered a hand of assistance, "Are you alright? We saw the light of your arrow from where we were and came here as fast as we could. Without it, I don't think we would have ever found you."
At this, Kagome suddenly recalled the words of the InuHanyou from earlier…
"Kagome," Kagome heard Inuyasha say, "I need you to do something for me."
Nodding her head on his back, Kagome said, "What is it?"
"Kagome, I need you to use one of your arrows to hit the sky." Inuyasha said, causing the young miko to remember the arrows that she had brought with her "It's the only way this demonic spell will end. Otherwise, these demonic creatures won't stop until they have made sure you eat what their food or have been killed."
And when she failed to shoot the arrow just as Inuyasha had instructed, Inuyasha just encouraged her to try again.
…Opening her eyes to see what was going on, Kagome was saw Inuyasha look at her with eyes full of sympathy and understanding as he tighten his hold of her hand.
"Kagome, it's ok. You're ok." Inuyasha said, his words speaking life to Kagome's wounded heart, "I'm here and right by your side just like I have always been." As the sounds of the demonic creatures grew closer and closer, Inuyasha said, "Shoot your arrow."
Kagome hyperventilated before she finally let out the scream she was holding since she found out the truth about the InuHanyou. Kagome continued to scream as she cried even louder startling the monk beside her and her other group mates.
"Kagome!" Miroku yelled, grabbing hold of the young miko's shoulders as he tried to shake her out of whatever trance she was in or under, "Kagome. Kagome, answer me. What's going on? Kagome!"
Seeing that the monk's efforts weren't working on the young miko, Sango jumped off of Kirara and ran to Kagome. "Kagome. Kagome what is going on?" Sango asked, kneeling down beside the monk who looked just as puzzled as she did, "Kagome?!" Sango repeated as her calls were quickly joined in by the monk and the fox demon who all tried to shake her out of it.
This went on for another moment before the trio stopped and immediately looked behind them as a very powerful demonic aura came upon them.
Suddenly, the sounds of Naraku's laughter filled the air. Interestingly enough, this sound caused Kagome to stop crying and Kouga to stop running.
"Well, well what do we have here?" Naraku sneered, as he floated down from the sky in his barrier, "Why the water works?"
At this, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara stood up and readied their weapons to prepare for a battle against the spider demon.
"Naraku," Miroku said, "Looks like you finally decided to reveal yourself after all this time."
However, before Naraku could make a snarky reply to that, he felt something approach him at an unforeseeable speed. And before Naraku could react, his barrier deflected what felt like a powerful attack against him.
Turning towards the direction of the attack, Naraku's surprised eyes met the demonic red eyes of Kouga's who had five large sliver claws on his hand.
"The Goraishi!" Sango said, "It didn't work?!"
Confused by the sudden appearance of the wolf demon and the intense feelings of grief and anger coming from him, Naraku shifted his arm into a makeshift scythe and extended his arm out of his barrier to attack Kouga. However, upon seeing Naraku make a move from him, Kouga allowed himself to fall down and land hands first on nearby a pile of skulls that he used to quickly flip himself onto a skeletal bird that so happened to fly by at that moment.
Kouga held the bird in place as it remained still flapping its wings to stay afloat in that one spot.
Crimson eyes meeting Kouga's demonic red eyes with teal pupils, Naraku extended his scythe towards the wolf demon to attack. However, before it could reach Kouga Naraku's entire arm that was outside the barrier was destroyed.
Surprised at what happened, Naraku immediately turned to look at the source of where that arrow had come from and locked eyes with Kagome.
From where she was on the ground, Kagome gave Naraku a death glare as she loaded up another arrow. "There's plenty more where that's coming from Naraku. You will pay for what you did to Inuyasha. However, instead of here in the Netherworld where you sent Inuyasha. I will send you to Hell." Firing another arrow at the spider demon, the arrow rushed toward Naraku only to deflect against the barrier and disappear.
"What do you mean by 'Naraku sent Inuyasha to the Netherworld'?" Miroku repeated, staring hard at the young miko, as the demon slayer and the fox demon just stood stunned at what they just heard. "Kagome what do you mean by that?"
"It means what you just heard." Kagome said, her voice raw from crying and screaming as she glared at Naraku with eyes full of anger, "Naraku killed Inuyasha. And he's here right now in the Netherworld. I am so fortunate that Inuyasha saved me from Naraku's plot to keep me stuck here, but Inuyasha can never leave because he's dead. And probably suffered a terrible death before coming here."
As the previous words of Naraku flashed before Miroku's, Sango's, and Shippo's minds, they turned and gave the spider demon dark stares as they finally understood why Kouga and Kagome had acted the way that they did.
Gripping his hand, not even caring if he die for using the wind tunnel, Miroku glared hard at Naraku, "Is this true Naraku. Did you really fulfill your promise and kill Inuyasha?"
However, much to the astonishment of everyone, Naraku didn't give them the reaction that they had expected from him. Instead, Naraku had a confused look on his face that looked concerned. Shaking his head 'no', Naraku removed his eyes from the group and searched the surroundings as if he was looking for something. And then almost as soon as he did that, Naraku then looked back at the group and said, "Inuyasha is still alive and well in the world of the living taking care of our son at my castle. As far as I'm concerned, I have not given him the promised death yet as I still have use for him."
However, Naraku remained quiet as he thought to himself who the Inuyasha that was in the Netherworld could be.
It seemed that Kagome was thinking the same thing because she yelled, "You're such a liar Naraku. Of course, it was Inuyasha. If it wasn't then why did that person take the time to save me when they could have left me for dead in your spell?!"
As soon as Kagome said this, Naraku realized that there is only one person who is capable of interfering with and destroying his spell-like what had just happened earlier. Somebody with immense spiritual power.
Realizing who that person was, Naraku remained silent as he stared at Kagome with emotionless eyes and smirked, "You mean to tell me that you of all people don't even know the true identity of the person you saved you Kagome. I must say, what a way to show your gratitude."
"Then who is it Naraku, if it is not Inuyasha!" Miroku demanded, drawing the spider demon's attention back to him, "Who else could it have been other than Inuyasha who soiled your plans just like he always has in the world of the living? We don't need to listen to your lies to know the truth of your crimes!"
"My, my," Naraku said, "It seems that in the situation, I am damn even when I tell the truth and damned even who I lie. It looks like I can't win in either situation now can i?"
"What was that?!" Sango yelled, wanting nothing more than to throw her weapon at the spider demon, "I dare you to say that again Naraku! Ever since we came in here, you sought nothing but our demise and made sure that we would be permanent residents of the Netherworld. Now when your plans have failed due to help from a dear friend, you want to stand there and deny your loss!"
"Face it Naraku," Kagome yelled, aiming her arrowing at the spider demon's barrier, "It's over!"
A twisted smile broke out on Naraku's face before he laughed a heartily loud laugh.
"Kukukuk…Who said that my plan failed?" Naraku said with a wicked smirk on his face, "Yes, I admit from the very beginning my plans were to get you trapped in my spell, but even though that didn't work out I still got what I originally came for." Revealing in his hand a dark shard of the jewel shard, "Thanks to you Kagome for revealing the location of the shard to me before you fell. I was able to get it while you all were occupied and distracted. And to make matters more interesting, you all seem to believe that I have already killed Inuyasha when I already said that I have not."
As Naraku said this, the red in Kouga's eyes seemed to fade away slowly as the looks on the others' faces remained the same. Naraku took a moment to laugh again before saying, "You fools don't get it, do you? Here you are powerless before me, and without a way to defeat me or even protect yourselves!"
Just then, multiple large green serpent heads of Naraku's came rushing forwards from his barrier to the humans who realized too late their mistake. However, the instant that Naraku had moved towards them, Kouga quickly jumped off the skeletal bird and moved towards the human as well but at a faster speed than the serpent heads and stood before them. As Kouga stood before the humans, he held his sliver-clawed hand up and a barrier immediately surrounded him and his group just in time for Naraku's serpent heads to deflect off his barrier as they slammed into it. Upon hitting the barrier, the serpent heads hissed and growled as they kept throwing themselves at the barrier.
"So you're back to normal, are you. And you have a new little trick up your sleeve." Naraku sneered, as he allowed his serpent heads to keep attacking the barrier that Kouga had up around the humans, "But let's see how long you can hold your little barrier up against me!"
As the serpent heads kept slamming upon the barrier relentlessly, the humans inside were relieved.
"Thank the gods for this barrier," Sango said, before she turned back around and went down on the ground to help her friend the young miko up, "Kagome are you alright?"
"Yeah." Kagome said, as the demon slayer and the monk helped pulled her back on her feet, "I'm just a bit dazed."
Keeping his eyes forward on the serpent heads outside, Kouga said, "Kagome, Naraku is telling the truth. Inuyasha is still in the world of the living."
"What?" Sango said, her emotions getting riled up once again at the mere mention of the InuHanyou's death, "How do you know that he's telling the truth? For all we know that he's lying."
Glancing back at the demon slayer before looking back at the Kouga said, "I could sense that he was telling the truth. Naraku's right. We were allowing how emotions to get the best of us and leaving us exposed to him to easily finish us off."
"So, are you saying that we are supposed to be thankful to him for letting us know about our weakness when he's the very reason why we were so emotional?" Sango said, becoming more upset by the minute, "Naraku has some nerve when he was the one who told us his plan for Inuyasha and then got defensive when we thought that he had killed Inuyasha? We have the right to be emotional!"
"No, that's not what Kouga meant. Sango," Miroku said, turning to face the demon slayer, "Yes, we have the right to be upset, but not to the extent that we allowed our emotions to carry us too and to the point that our entire lives were on the line was what Naraku was mocking us on." Taking a deep breath, Miroku sighed, "To be honest, I, myself, wasn't even thinking right. And even considered sucking Naraku in my wind tunnel. Doing such a thing would kill me right away with all the poison that Naraku would've released. And the more that I think about it, I don't even think I would have managed to suck him inside my wind tunnel."
"And I don't think I was alone." Miroku continued, " Sango, in your grief and anger, you were probably thinking of using your weapon against Naraku, weren't you?"
A bit embarrassed that her thoughts were discovered, Sango nodded, "The thought of me being hurt by my own weapon crossed my mind once, but I didn't want to let Naraku off for what I thought he did to Inuyasha. Now I realize that if I had fallen to my anger, not only I would've fallen victim to my weapon but also you two as well Miroku and Kagome."
"And the way that I left you guys to go attack Naraku on my own." Kouga said, "I left you guys exposed to Naraku's attacks, especially you Kagome when you shot that arrow. We all let our emotions get the best of us, but it's like what I said earlier before we battled the bird daiyoukais. The only way we can get through this is if we all stick together." Everyone nodded their heads in agreement as they tried to think of a way to survive Naraku's attack.
Suddenly in the far distance, there was a flash of light that appeared briefly in the form of a star before a light green large ball of light came crashing into Naraku from that direction. This only knocked Naraku to the side for a bit before Sesshomaru came rushing towards him with a sword in position to strike.
"Huh, it's Sesshomaru!" Miroku exclaimed, watching as the InuDaiYoukai approached the spider demon at a fast rate, "How did he get here?"
"I don't know," Kouga said, " but I'm glad that he did."
Without a moment to waste, Sesshomaru directly struck Naraku's barrier with his sword, but it deflected. Not deterred, Sesshomaru moved back but glanced behind him as he sensed Naraku's serpent heads coming towards him at a tremendous speed. Sesshomaru quickly moved out of the way and struck the creatures with his sword. In that moment, liquid miasma gushed out of the slain serpent's bodies and sprayed everywhere.
Unbothered by the liquid miasma as it splashed on him, Sesshomaru gave Naraku an uninterested glare, "You're not deluded enough to think that this pathetic miasma would have any effect on me."
Glancing down at the wolf demon and the human group who remained in the barrier now surrounded by the liquid miasma, Naraku smirked in amusement, "No matter if it doesn't."
"Liquid miasma!" Shippo cried out at the liquid poison quickly approached them. Shippo jumped off of the ground to hop on Miroku's shoulder. However, after a few seconds of not feeling the poison on his skin, Shippo looked down from Miroku's shoulder, "Huh? The barrier can even withstand the miasma?"
"Yeah, but we need a plan." Miroku said, "Otherwise, we are sitting ducks for Naraku's amusement until he decides what to do with us."
"But what should we do?" Kagome asked, finally speaking after being silent for so long. Looking, at the Miroku who was watching the battle between Sesshomaru and Naraku. "I could probably purify the miasma with my arrows. However, since this is a demonic barrier, I don't think that I can use my sacred arrows in here."
Thinking on this, Kouga turned around to scan their surroundings and saw an open cave behind them. "We could go into there. It'll be the perfect place to destroy the miasma and try to get Naraku out of his barrier. On my lead, Shippo transform into something that can float Kagome and I to the cave. Kagome and I can use our weapons to destroy the liquid miasma if it tries to follow us. Miroku and Sango get on the Kirara and stick close to me." Watching the group nod their heads in agreement at his plan, Kouga said, "Let's go!"
At this, Shippo transformed into a large pink round flying creature, while Miroku and Sango hopped upon Kirara. Kouga helped Kagome get onto Shippo, but then got on it himself. Once on. Kouga released the barrier and then jumped off of Shippo to use the Goraishi's thunder wave on the miasma. The attack struck the miasma as the liquid poison tried to come after the airborne group.
"He did it." Sango said, watching the attack destroy the miasma.
"Yeah, but look up there!" Miroku said, pointing the wolf demon's and the group's attention back to Sesshomaru's and Naraku's battle–particularly, the headless serpents which still moved about despite having a head.
However, this all changed as the headless serpents' heads grew back as if their heads were never chopped off. They growled and hissed at Sesshomaru while Naraku smirked.
"Looks like you'll have to keep chopping them down, Sesshomaru," Naraku said so smugly. "But each time you cut my body, the miasma will increase and everyone in this area will perish without fail."
"Is all that you have to say to me?" Sesshomaru said, raising his sword once more as if the spider demon's words didn't faze him. "You seem to think that I would hold back my sword for the sake of humans. I'm not nearly so sentimental." After saying this, Sesshomaru released another wave of power from his sword, destroying the serpent's bodies once more.
"Wow, Sesshomaru really doesn't care about us!" Shippo cried out, as the liquid miasma gushed out once again and this time headed straight towards the group, "Eeek! The liquid miasma is coming again!"
"Everyone get to the cave!" Kouga ordered, as he jumped off of Shippo and released another one of his Goraishi's attacks The miasma was destroyed again in an instant. While Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, Sango and Kirara made it safely to the cave.
Chuckling at the scene below him, Naraku looked back at Sesshomaru and said, "So it doesn't matter to you if everyone dies? Well, you're showing your true colors as full-blooded demon Sesshomaru."
"Naraku, the only person you need to worry about is yourself no one else for today you will be defeated by my own hand." Sesshomaru said.
"Oh, is that so?" Naraku said with a smug look on his face as he mocked the InuDaiYoukai, "Tell me how will you do that when you can't even penetrate my barrier?!" Naraku laughed a hearty laugh at the words of Sesshomaru.
Little did Naraku know, Sesshomaru wasn't buffing.
Suddenly Sesshomaru's sword was engulfed in a green color that caused it to glow. Raising his sword to strike, Sesshomaru said, "You see, while you were off getting more arrogant, I was off finding a way to defeat you and take Inuyasha away from you once and for all. I traveled far and all over until I found it. And for you to mock me when I speak, as if I am just another weak demon, is the fatal mistake you made that will lead to of your downfall today."
And with that, Sesshomaru swung his sword twice– both times releasing two rays of green light headed straight towards Naraku. The first ray was immediately absorbed by Naraku's barrier, however, the second ray completed destroyed the barrier much to not only Naraku's but also Kouga's and the group's surprise.
"I can't believe it," Sango exclaimed, "Sesshomaru really did it!"
Without a moment to waste, Kouga leaped into the air and released the Goraishi's thunder wave attack towards Naraku, while Sesshomaru released another of his green ray attacks. Both attacks hit Naraku.
Grunting out in pain, Naraku accidentally released the sacred jewel shard as it fell from his hand in the midst of the attacks. Pretty soon, all that remained of Naraku was just his head as his body was torn to pieces.
At this, Kagome immediately loaded up her arrow and shot it at Naraku while Sesshomaru and Kouga released another wave of their attacks. However this time. Naraku put another barrier up that deflected their attacks.
"It's over Naraku!" Miroku yelled, causing the spider demon's glare at him, "Don't forget Sesshomaru has struck your barrier once, if he does it again you are finished!"
Growling in anger, Naraku gave Sesshomaru a death glare before his head and mangled body started to disappear as his barrier glowed brighter.
Seeing this, Sesshomaru rushed to release another power of his sword, but it was already too late. Naraku had disappeared.
"Damn it" Kouga growled, clenching his hand into a fist as the demonic presence of the spider demon vanished, "Naraku got away again!"
Suddenly Shippo transformed and Kagome hopped onto him. They flew towards Naraku had dropped the jewel shard "But at least we got the jewel shard." Shippo exclaimed in joy, "Right Kagome?"
With a solemn look on her face, Kagome got off of Shippo and bent down to pick the jet black jewel shard. "Yeah."
Using Kirara to fly over to where Kagome and Shippo were, Miroku and Sango landed next to them. Upon reaching them, Miroku got off of Kirara and said, "We should all be proud of ourselves. Today was the first step towards victory over Naraku. Although we don't have the Tessaiga, we do have Kouga's Goraishi and the new power of Sesshomaru's sword on our side. It won't be long until Naraku's reign of terror will finally come to an end."
"Yeah, but how will we going to get back home?" Sango said, looking anxious as it seemed that the spider demon has returned to the land of the living. "I'm not too keen of becoming a permanent resident of the Netherworld."
"Me too." Shippo said as he looked around with a scared look on his face, "This place gives me the creeps."
At this, Sesshomaru just sheathed his sword and walked away.
"Hey Sesshomaru is leaving!" Shippo cried out, "Wait a minute, how did Sesshomaru even get in here in the first place?"
"That's a good question Shippo." Sango said, "Does that mean that there's a way into the Netherworld that Sesshomaru used?"
"We won't know unless we follow him." Kouga said, looking back at the group, "Let's go."
Walking through the doors of the Netherworld, Sesshomaru, Kouga, and the humans entered the world of the living. Upon arriving, they were greeted by the two stone guards who got on their knees and bowed before Sesshomaru
"Welcome back to the world of the living, He who wields the sword of the Netherworld." The stone guards had said to the InuDaiYoukai who looked unfazed by the honorable greeting, while Kouga and the rest looked stunned.
What had happened between Sesshomaru and the two stone guards that made them turn from mercilessly killing anyone who tries to freely use their door, to allowing Sesshomaru to do as he pleased?
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken cried as he ran to his master, "I was so worried about you. I'm so glad that you have returned!"
Ignoring Jaken as he walked past him, Sesshomaru headed towards the exit of the cave. Hurt the cold shoulder of his master, Jaken ran after the InuDaiYoukai while crying out, "Wait for me Lord Sesshomaru!"
Ignoring the scene before him, Kouga walked on with Kagome on his back as the rest of the group rode on the Kirara.
Keeping silent, Kagome reflected on her time in the Netherworld as she thought of the person who saved her.
Determined amber-golden eyes met surprised brown eyes as Kagome locked eyes with the person who entered the kitchen.
'I-Inuyasha?' Kagome thought as she stared at the InuHanyou in shock. However, before Kagome could do anything, Inuyasha swiftly walked past Mrs. Higuraishi who was in the middle of asking the InuHanyou if he also wanted something to eat, to approach Kagome who was still staring at Inuyasha shellshock. 'No way. It can't be…'
Once Inuyasha was infront of her, he slapped the food out of Kagome's hands and from in front of her. "What the…" Kagome finally said in shock at the actions of the InuHanyou. "That was my breakf–"
"Kagome, wake up and do not be fooled." Inuyasha said sternly, not even caring that he interrupted the young miko. "You are not where you think you are. You are in the world of the dead and whosoever eats of the food of the dead shall remain here forever.'
'Realizing who that person was, Naraku remained silent as he stared at Kagome with emotionless eyes and smirked, "You mean to tell me that you of all people don't even know the true identity of the person you saved you Kagome. I must say, what a way to show your gratitude.'
Thinking back on these memories and the words of the spider demon, Kagome looked back at the closing large doors that led to the Netherworld, 'If Naraku was telling the truth, then who was that, that disguised as Inuyasha to save me? Why did they save me?'
As the doors that led to the Netherworld closed, Behind them on the other side, there stood a figure in the far way distance. The figure with puppy dog ears on the top of his head wore distinct red clothing and had long sliver hair and amber-golden eyes.
However, suddenly the appearance of this figure changed into the figure of a young woman with a white top and a red hakama. Although her long black hair was loose in the front, at the back a white bow tied the rest of her hair in a low pony tail at the base of her neck. Solemn brown eyes looked at the closed doors that led the world of the living.
Kikyo stared at the door for another moment, before she turned back around and walked further into the dark gloomy midst of the world of the dead.
Author's note:
Hi dear readers!
Because of the number of reviews that I received from you guys last chapter, I felt so encouraged to write this chapter and the next one!
I'm still working on the next one so I hope that it'll come out soon.
As a note, some of the dialogue-not a lot- from this chapter was based on the episodes from 154-157. however, the location of the Netherworld is different than the anime. In this story, the group are not at the grave of Sesshomaru's and Inuyasha's father. They are somewhere else in the Netherworld.
So I bet you're wondering, why is Kikyo here?
Well, after watching the episodes of the anime and thinking about it, I kind of changed my mind and at the same time, I didn't change my mind. So Kikyo is not in the story but will be in some way. Besides this chapter and so on, she won't really have a direct influence on the plot.
Another question, if Kikyo was in the Netherworld why didn't she destroy Naraku's barrier with her arrow since she did that in the anime?
Well, she only was able to do that in the anime because she rubbed dirt from Onigumo's cave onto her arrows. However, since she's not alive and not moving on earth, her power is not strong enough by itself to destroy Naraku's barrier.
Why didn't Kagome rub the dirt onto her arrows? Because she doesn't have the same deep insight that Kikyo had on Onigumo in the anime.
The reason that Kikyo used the appearance of Inuyasha to save Kagome was because Kagome's spirit was rejecting her own image as Kikyo, so she realized that the person Kagome wanted to desperately see was Inuyasha. That's why disguised as him. This will be mentioned in the next chapter as well.
And last one, How did Sesshomaru enter the Netherworld? In the anime, Sesshomaru's sword Tenseiga allows him to freely enter the netherworld as freely as he likes. In this chapter, Sesshomaru's sword the Tenseiga is the one that allowed him to the Netherworld, and his other sword the Tokijin is what he used against Naraku.
Thanks again for everything. I'll see you all next chapter!
Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated!