WARNING! Violent scenes ahead and sexual threat descriptions...
Sesshomaru had not rested, nor did he intend to, now that he knew where Kikyo could be found. His weariness was pushed back by a sudden rush of desperate hope. Kikyo was alive!
Hokai had confirmed it before his untimely death: Naraku had her trapped behind a storm. And Sesshomaru would rescue her.
Sesshomaru stopped only long enough to drag an exhausted looking Inuyasha away from an alarmed Kagome. He wished he did not need his younger brother, but the stakes were too high to worry about his pride. He was chilled and cut to the bone by his several un-healing wounds. His overexertion and lack of rest was causing him to feel foggy. These current worries meant he needed Inuyasha. If Sesshomaru fell in his effort to save Kikyo, he trusted Inuyasha to get her out.
Once Inuyasha realised Sesshomaru had found Kikyo at long last, his own fatigue had melted away. He grasped Tetsusaiga openly, ready to take on Naraku once and for all.
The brothers surged north like an unstoppable force of retribution, travelling as fast as the wind itself. Once they had reached the tip of the northern lands they stopped for a moment, surveying the storming grey sea stretching before them. Sesshomaru tried to remember where he had seen the tumultuous storm, it had twisted right on the edge of the sea, near the threshold between the sea and the land.
With no time to wait for Inuyasha to hop from island to island, Sesshomaru grabbed his brother by the scruff of his neck and began to fly out towards the water, Inuyasha dangling and complaining loudly below him.
The grey storm began to appear before them, hard to spot in the backdrop of an equally grey sky. The storm was whipping the sea up into a frenzy, a whirling pillar that was a sky-high twister that ripped and tore all in its path. It raged so purposefully pulling in breath was made difficult.
"This is it," Sesshomaru bellowed over the wrenching storm. Inuyasha stopped thrashing below him and tried to squint at their surroundings through the restless wind.
Flecks of snow and clumps of hail battered them both, but through the violent weather, Sesshomaru's sharp eyes spotted a dark land mass looming. The brothers raced through this storm as fast as bolts of lightning, aiming for the shadow of the ground. They pushed through the stormy debris and burst out of the other side, staggered by a sudden piercing awareness of a recklessly strong demonic aura.
They landed on the edge of a colourless beach, both their swords drawn. The scraggy island did not hold much, tufts of grass and sour looking shrubs. At the centre was a jutting rock formation, black as night and covered by webs at its base. The entrance of a cave could be seen gaping below, made more obvious by the spiders now pouring out of it.
"She must be inside. Don't aim Tetsusaiga at that cave Inuyasha, the whole thing could collapse if we are not careful," Sesshomaru shouted to his brother, watching the stampede of spiders charging towards them. "Right!" Inuyasha yelled back.
The spiders and demons converged on the brothers in an angry wave of legs, claws and fangs. Tetsusaiga and Bakusaiga were too explosive to use fully with the precarious looking entrance to the cave right in the middle of everything. Instead, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha hacked and sliced their numerous assailants. Sesshomaru cut through each leaping spider, his movements were jerky and his arms felt stiff. He had to hold on, had to fight his way through until Naraku revealed himself. Green blood and body parts began to litter the sandy ground.
And still more demons came: hundreds of darting spiders and other more human looking demons, armed with blades and bows. An arrow hit Sesshomaru's side as he fought, something that had never occurred before. Sesshomaru looked at the embedded shaft in amazement before pulling it out impatiently. Usually, he was so fast he could have caught a speeding arrow between his fingers. But right now he was woozy and slow, hindered by injury and fatigue. His vision began to fade in and out and he shook his head furiously, willing himself to focus. When Naraku was dead- then his vision could fail and his strength could leave him utterly, not before. He was covered in cold, gruesome dried blood, some of it his own, the majority splashing onto him as he cut each spider down. His whole body had been cut so deeply by Tsumetai that his skin held a permanent chill. The worst cuts were on his cheek and his right bicep, his arm sending a sharp throb of pain through him when he swung his sword.
The world around him became a horrifying convergence of jumping spiders, all jostling around him, all determined to kill him by any desperate means necessary. The spiders tried to bite Sesshomaru's skin, but never quite got close enough to sink their fangs into his flesh. Sesshomaru eviscerated them before any could succeed. When this type of attack failed, they tried spitting poison at Sesshomaru, until he was doused in foul smelling, poisonous saliva. Their poison was too weak to do much damage to him, but when it dripped into his open cuts they burned with a continuous sting. Sesshomaru hurdled over spiders and slashed the softer bodies of some of the humanoid demons that were preparing to rush him.
He must find Naraku whilst he still clung to his remaining dregs of strength. He felt worryingly light headed and his body was beginning to shake from overexertion. Inuyasha, who was uninjured and much better rested, was doing a more efficient job of killing the hordes around them with unbridled energy. If Naraku did not show himself soon, Sesshomaru may have to split from Inuyasha and try and root him out...
But then he could feel it, a surge of demonic power below them, creeping up towards the surface.
Sesshomaru slaughtered the demons scrabbling at him with a swing of Bakusaiga and leapt towards the now empty entrance of the cave. "Inuyasha, keep the spiders off my back. He's coming."
Inuyasha was encircled by demons, but was fending them off well. He never had a moments rest, the spiders were constantly attacking him, rearing and shrieking.
At last Naraku emerged from below, the shadows of the earth seemed to stick to him keenly. He looked the same in demeanour: arrogant, gaunt and smiling, wearing the face of the long dead Kagewake. Naraku was wearing a rather flimsy looking black kimono. He held no weapon and had no obvious demon parts protruding from his back like before, but the demonic aura around him was undeniably strong.
The storm around them was whipping Sesshomaru's long hair about. The dog demon stared at Naraku with a baleful hatred, his eyes bleeding red at the sight of him. He had hoped he would never have to look at the villains face again. Yet here he was, as if the last five years had never happened. "Naraku."
The hatred in Naraku's eyes was just as potent as Sesshomaru's, their abhorrence of each other mirrored.
"Sesshomaru, you've arrived at last. The hour is rather late, did you have trouble finding me?" Naraku taunted. His voice was light and amused, but Naraku's fists were clenched painfully tight and his face was pinched with enmity.
Sesshomaru fought the urge to transform into his true form and rip Naraku to shreds right there. He could feel his face trying to elongate, feel his fangs and claws itching to grow. He longed to give into his animalistic instincts and tear this devil to pieces. "As repulsive as ever, Naraku. Where is Kikyo?"
Naraku smiled and looked down to the side, like he could see right through the rock itself. "She's down below. You won't get to see her I'm afraid, you'll be dead before you reach her. I will personally see to that," Naraku said formidably, his demonic aura began to pulse threateningly.
A desperate and strangled hope swept through Sesshomaru. Kikyo really was alive. But what had Naraku done to her in the days that he had her captured? Sesshomaru gave Naraku a glare that promised death. "If you've hurt her…you'll regret it."
Naraku threw back his head and laughed. "I haven't tortured her if that's what you mean, we've been having fun. Would you like me to tell you all the fun things we've been doing?"
Sesshomaru's already chilled body went deathly cold with fear, he struggled hard to keep in control. The implication was clear, but he could not afford to dwell on it, emotional distress could turn into distraction. She was alive, that was all that mattered right now.
Sesshomaru pointed Bakusaiga at Naraku threateningly. "I don't listen to dead men walking. You'll die by my hands this very hour."
Naraku looked at the grizzly cuts on Sesshomaru's outstretched hand and on his cheek with interest, at his now tattered clothes and the deep circles under his eyes that visually confessed to all his lack of sleep. Naraku's own livid red eyes noticed how rigidly Sesshomaru was holding himself. Around them, Inuyasha tried to keep back the baying spiders, all of whom had become excitable at the sight of their master. They practically threw themselves at the half demon, an unrelenting mass of demonic power.
"We shall see," Naraku replied, holding out his arms as if he was about to embrace Sesshomaru. Naraku's eyes began to bubble grotesquely and split. A black leathery exoskeleton erupted from his back and began to cover his pale human skin. Spider legs burst from his hips and he began to grow at a monstrous rate. Naraku's human form was swallowed by glossy blue-black skin pricked with thick hair.
Naraku's smirking mouth was the last thing to disappear, replaced with two exceedingly large, curved fangs and swollen venom sacs.
Sesshomaru watched in grim amazement as he was dwarfed by Naraku, who had morphed into a wicked looking spider the size of a house. Sesshomaru gazed upwards, until all he could see was Naraku's new blood-red underbelly.
Sesshomaru backed up, re-energised by the newer, bigger threat before him. He did not fight his own transformation now, allowing his mouth to stretch back into a muzzle, his arms and legs growing to become fur-covered forearms and hind legs. His moko moko changed into a lashing tail and ruff around his neck. His paws released steel-hard claws and his red tongue lolled between his massive teeth as his red stripes became one around his black gummed jaw.
In his true form, Sesshomaru was as large as Naraku's new terrifying bulk. The two monsters circled around each other, their pacing steps making the island shudder. The demons and spiders still fighting with Inuyasha on the beach now fled like mice beneath their feet, Inuyasha chasing after them.
The gargantuan dog and spider hurled themselves at each other violently, screaming and snarling with unparalleled aggression. Naraku raised his front legs high in a creeping, defensive position as Sesshomaru swiped at him with his razor sharp claws, big as spears. Naraku's monstrous body stank of poison, a venom strong enough to cause Sesshomaru harm. Venom dripped from Naraku's fangs and puddled on to the sand in viscous strings, creating acidic craters.
The fumes made Sesshomaru's head swim, but he reared up on his hind legs regardless, lashing out with his nails. His scratches left some grazes on Naraku's front legs and body, but they were pitifully shallow. Naraku's exoskeleton was as strong as steel.
Naraku retaliated, swiping with his tarsus claws, three gashes found Sesshomaru's fur covered shoulder. A melting, burning sensation boiled on the dog demon's skin. Sesshomaru gave a growling shriek and sprang forward, biting Naraku's face. His teeth sank into half of Naraku's glittering eyes, pulverising them into hissing wet holes. Naraku gave a high scream of pain.
Sesshomaru leapt back to the safety of distance, his paws burning from the acrid venom he had been stepping in. As attacking Naraku's body was like clawing at unyielding iron, Sesshomaru had tried to go for his eyes. Three of the eight bulbous eyes had been reduced to empty sockets after his bite, but Naraku could still see. Realising Sesshomaru's intention, Naraku began to move more warily, scuttling this and way and that with an obscene quickness.
Sesshomaru chased after him, swiping parlously. Even in his dog form, his most powerful form, fatigue and injury still chewed at his reflexes. The cuts he had sustained had remained when he had transformed, stretched on his long body. They were partially covered by his fur but as painful and debilitating as ever.
Naraku surely knew this weakness and began to use Sesshomaru's stiffening slowness to his advantage. He darted away from each bite and snarl with a jerking effecaciousness, spitting poison everywhere he went until a toxic smoke rose all around. Sessomaru's own poison leaked from his jaws, offering some protection from Naraku's own secretions. The barren island had been churned into a cesspit of liquid venom. The demons around them were now wading into the sea to escape, harassed by a wary looking Inuyasha. Being half human, even he could not venture too close with the toxins now being thrown about.
The venomous smoke crept everywhere, causing Sesshomaru's scarlet eyes to sting and tear so much that it was difficult to see. Naraku had jumped into the acidic mist and Sesshomaru had lost sight of him in the fog. Sesshomaru barked belligerently with frustration, turning his head round and round.
Suddenly, Naraku leapt through the smog and dragged his fangs along Sesshomaru's back. Sesshomaru twisted away with a pain filled howl. Naraku bit his hind leg with a bite so powerful it punctured right down to the bone. Sesshomaru fell to the poison soaked ground, yipping weakly. Naraku scurried above him, clicking his pincers, emboldened by his successful attack.
Sesshomaru stared blearily up at Naraku's ruby red underbelly with his fading vision. The red skin looked thinner somehow, more fragile…
"No! Sesshomaru, I'm coming!" Inuyasha cried, pushing through the toxic clouds, retching and coughing violently. He was too far to help, a red dot a distance away from the two battling beasts. Naraku looked up at Inuyasha with a hiss, hatred for the half demon still discernible on his insect face.
Sesshomaru saw his chance. With all his remaining might he slashed his claws across Naraku's belly. As he suspected, the flesh underneath was more vulnerable and his claws eviscerated Naraku from beneath.
Naraku screamed and tried to run, intestines and webs falling out from the mess of his stomach. Taking no chances, Sesshomaru lunged up at Naraku's gigantic head, ripping his trachea apart with his teeth. Pale blue blood flooded out of Naraku's neck and he slammed to the ground next to Sesshomaru with a nauseating crunch.
Sesshomaru heaved his body up on shaking paws, his ruined hind leg trembling and burning.
Through sheer force of will, Inuyasha pushed himself forward, dodging the quagmires of venom and blue blood to crouch, breathing heavily, next to Sesshomaru's dog form.
The half demon looked up at the twitching spider apprehensively. "Is it over? Is he dead?" Inuyasha rasped. The skin that was not covered by the robe of the fire rat began to look red and irritated from the poisonous fumes.
Slowly, still bleeding profusely, Naraku shrank back down to his human form, until the blood from the bite marks in his neck inexplicably ran from pale blue to claret red.
Sesshomaru also reverted back to his humanoid form. He was gasping for air worse than Inuyasha was, nearly as much as Naraku was. His skin was coated in poison, blood and sweat. The dog demon was shaking so badly that just standing upright was hard going, but he stood above Naraku with a weak triumph. Nothing would make him miss this moment of victory.
"It's over for you," Sesshomaru told Naraku in a faint voice. His eyes were now a dull gold, his hair a mess of silver threads behind his neck.
Naraku lay in the sand, his injuries severe. His intestines were spilled out by his sides, made sloppy with his blood. Naraku chuckled, the blood tainting his mouth bubbled sickeningly. "It's not over for Kikyo, my…mark will be on her always."
Sesshomaru turned stiffly towards Inuyasha. "She's in the cave, find her." Inuyasha nodded and ran off, giving Naraku one last look of disgust. Sesshomaru collapsed to his knees as Inuyasha left, his wounded leg would no longer support his weight.
His muscles screaming in agony, Sesshomaru dragged Naraku towards him by the neck, pulling him through the sand. His claw immediately became slippery with blood. He would not lose a moment of witnessing Naraku's downfall. "Do you know how far I've come to kill you? You…You took her from me," Sesshomaru snarled, squeezing Naraku's neck so hard the escaping blood began to spurt with extra enthusiasm.
Naraku's face was paler than bone, but it was alive with the last sediments of his fading malice. He grinned horribly at Sesshomaru. "Do you want to know how many times I've had her? How many times I've delved between her legs? My soul…is intertwined with hers forever now. She'll always remember that you couldn't save her from that…"
Sesshomaru clamped his hands over Naraku's smirking mouth, his words wounding Sesshomaru more than any poison ever could.
"Silence! You are nothing!" Sesshomaru roared. In a fit of rage and pain, he hit Naraku's dying face over and over until his face was bloody, until the malevolent light died in his red eyes. Naraku gave one last choked cackle, and then became still.
Sesshomaru forced himself upright, staggering with pain. He heaved and pulled Naraku to the side of the shore and reached for Bakusaiga, drawing the sword with a sharp, ringing sound.
"Go back to hell, where you belong," Sesshomaru said to Naraku's corpse, his voice thick with his hatred. He swung Bakusaiga at Naraku's body and his sword released a furious explosion of vivid green power. Naraku's body was obliterated in the blast, a blast so large it engulfed the sky and sent a tsunami-like wave into the sea.
Whatever pieces of Naraku were left he collected, throwing them into the agitated water. Sesshomaru was determined that no demon would ever again bring Naraku back from the grave. What remained of his worst enemy would be swept out into the ocean, never to return.