InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ An Inseparable Bond ❯ Defending Honor and Love ( Chapter 22 )

An Inseparable Bond

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

 

Summary: What is a miko to do when fate thrusts two troubled demons directly in her path? With her responsibility of reforming the jewel looming over her head, Kagome takes on the nearly impossible challenge that appear in the forms of a silver kitsune and forbidden child. Will the miko be enough to melt the ice around these demons' hearts or will their darkness over cloud her purity?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 22: Defending Honor and Love

 

“You honestly think you can defeat me?” Kikyou mocked, disgust flooding through her cold and dead brown eyes.

 

Kagome glared at her incarnation. “I'll do whatever it takes to keep my friends safe from you.”

 

“You sully yourself with the vile creatures of this world; you are a disgrace to all mikos and our ancestors.” Kikyou spat her eyes narrowing.

 

“Not all demons deserve to die Kikyou. Your heart is so full of darkness that in truth you have shamed our ancestors. Midoriko would never have wanted her children to kill the innocent.” Kagome retorted, feeling her anger rising. “Midoriko only fought to protect the innocent.”

 

“You are mistaken reincarnation. Why do you think mikos exist in the first place? We were born to rid this world of demons. It is our duty, not to assist the enemy.”

 

“We were born to keep the two races equal, not destroy them. Our duty is only to attack those with ill will. Hanyous are a prime example that humans and demons can live together in peace.”

 

“Hanyous are worst than demons. They are proof that a human lowered herself to whore around with a demon. They do not deserve to live.” Kikyou ground out, her eyes focusing on Inuyasha that stood in the stands behind Kagome.

 

Kagome's purification began to leak from her uncontrollably. Her anger had just about hit its peak and the little miko refused to listen to Kikyou degrade her friends any longer. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she glared at Kikyou with pure hatred.

 

“And as for you, you all will die slowly and painfully once I'm through with this disgusting excuse for a miko.” Kikyou threatened, her gaze now on Kagome's teammates.

 

That was the last straw. Kagome charged Kikyou with rage no one knew she was capable of possessing. Kikyou quickly focused her attention on Kagome as the young miko attacked with speed that could match a demon's. She skillfully blocked and dodged every attack and gathered her power into her palms before releasing it once Kagome dove in for another attack. The little miko's eyes widened as the power hit her in the stomach, pushing her back and completely across the platform. Her breathing a little more labored, she pushed herself back to her feet and glared at Kikyou.

 

“You play with not only Inuyasha's heart but mine as well,” she snarled as she rushed her once more. “You take Kohaku away from Sango when she just got him back!” Kagome yelled in anger, her power engulfing her fists as she threw swift punches and kicks at the miko. “You steal half of my soul,” Kagome ducked and tried sweeping her legs from under her but Kikyou jumps just in time and makes to kick Kagome while she's down. “And now you threaten my potential mates!” She yells once more as she tumbles away from her to avoid the kick.

 

“There is nothing you can do to stop me and once I'm finished with you, I will kill everyone you love and care for.” Kikyou smirked.

 

Kagome's powers went into a complete rage as they seemed to increase and fill the entire stadium. Kikyou's powers rose to match her opponent's and she allowed them to flail around wildly, purifying any demon that was unfortunate enough to be in its path. Glaring at Kikyou with all the intensity of her dark emotions, Kagome threw a barrier around the platform so that their uncontrollable powers were trapped within the barrier so no one else would be hurt.

 

“You hope to protect these disgusting creatures but your power will drain far quicker the longer you keep this barrier up. This fight will be over soon.”

 

Kikyou rushed Kagome, her dark miko powers completely engulfing her body as she attacked. Kagome dove back into a back handspring and once she landed, she fired a power sphere at the miko. Kikyou dodged effortlessly and fired her own attack, which Kagome also avoided. Kikyou landed on the opposite side of the ring and brought her hands in front of her chest and closed her eyes. She quickly chanted something Kagome didn't understand under her breath and the little miko's eyes widened. Dashing across the platform, trying to get to the miko in time before she could finish her spell, Kagome suddenly found her feet frozen to the ground in the center of the ring.

 

“Shit she can't move!” Yusuke panicked, rushing up to stand just outside the barrier. Kurama and Hiei were watching the fight closely. It was evident that Kagome was the underdog in this fight but that didn't mean their miko would lose. Kikyou knew spells and other tricks that she could use to her advantage but Kagome was smart. She was always creative in her methods to survive and they were positive she would be able to defeat her incarnate.

 

Kagome's eyes narrowed as she watched Kikyou closely. The miko allowed her hands to fall at her sides once more and she turned her gaze to meet hers. Kikyou shook her head with a triumphant smirk on her cold features as she prepared to attack once more. Kagome closed her eyes and held back her own smirk when she felt Kikyou's amusement. The miko thought she was giving up? She was far it… this fight had just begun.

 

“What the hell is she doing!” Inuyasha yelled, rushing to the bottom of the stands so he could stand just at the ledge. “What the hell are you doing wench! Open your damn eyes and fight back!” Inuyasha snarled.

 

Kouga, Ayame, and Shippo rushed to stand beside him and get a closer look as well. “Is she giving up?!” Kouga panicked.

 

“No… she has a plan.” Shippo murmured. Even though it looked like Kagome wasn't going to do anything, he knew better. After spending that week in Youko's den and watching her come up with multiple ways to escape, he knew she had something up her sleeve.

 

“Time to finish this.” Kikyou smiled coldly and gathered a large amount of her dark power into the palms of her hands. She released the power and everyone held their breath as Kagome remained unmoving with her eyes still shut. At the last second, a barrier flew up directly in front of the frozen miko and reflected Kikyou's attack right back at her. So shocked that she didn't have time to dodge, her own attack hit her directly and blasted her into the wall of the barrier Kagome was still holding up around the platform.

 

Scowling, Kikyou stood and glaring at the still frozen miko, she quickly fired several more attacks. Now prepared for her attacks to ricochet back at her, she was able to dodge and continue attacking. Kikyou knew that Kagome's barriers worked the exact same as hers. The individual that created the barrier still retrieved a degree of the attacks inflicted on the barrier. If she attacked enough, Kagome would run out of energy and not only would her barrier that surrounded the platform fall, but the one that was protecting her would as well.

 

Hiei and Kurama quickly caught on to Kikyou's plan as they saw the miko continuously assault Kagome's barrier. She was easily able to dodge the reflected attacks and Kagome was gradually losing power. All the attacks were starting to wear on her physically. The little miko didn't show her weakness though, she actually looked confident in herself as she continued to deflect Kikyou's attacks. Even though Kagome was keeping her expression unreadable, they knew their miko was in pain. She needed to think of something else soon or Kikyou would gain the upper hand.

 

As if on cue, Kagome changed up her game. Not only were Kikyou's attacks ricocheting off of the barrier that was protecting her, but they were also bouncing off the barrier that surrounded the platform. Kikyou's attacks were randomly hurling around the barrier and the dark miko had no choice but to halt her attacks while she tried to dodge her own. With this moment to breathe, Kagome concentrated on the binds that were holding her feet to the ground. Her eyes still closed, she continued to focus on not only Kikyou's location but where her attacks were headed as well.

 

Suddenly, she felt the energy of her attacks disappear and her eyes flew open. Kikyou was able to figure out how to absorb her power back into her body so they weren't a threat to her anymore. Kagome felt slight relief when she realized that even though Kikyou absorbed her power back, it still took a toll on her. It must be difficult to take unleashed power back and reform it. Knowing that she could no longer fire attacks at Kagome, Kikyou focused her attention on the spell that held the little miko's feet in place. She closed her eyes in concentration and began chanting once more.

 

Panicking, Kagome immediately fired a power sphere at the miko. Completely caught off guard, Kikyou was thrown back into the barrier wall and Kagome concentrated on holding her there and attacking the miko with more of her power through the barrier. The miko collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from her clothing and Kagome concentrated on breaking the spell on her feet once more while Kikyou was down. Unfortunately, the miko didn't realize that Kikyou stayed down for a reason. She remained unmoving so she could finish her chant unnoticed.

 

Shocks of Kikyou's dark power flowed through Kagome's body. She ground her teeth together as she squeezed her eyes shut in agony. The pain was indescribable. It felt as if Kikyou's power was burning her from the inside out. She felt her entire body rise in temperature and she felt as if her skin was on fire. She dropped to her knees, her hands pressing down against the ground as she tried to ride out the pain.

 

Everyone watched in pure horror as Kagome continued to take the pain and held back her cries of agony. They could feel her immense pain engulfing her aura and the attack was quickly draining the miko of her power as well. The barrier that was protecting her was the first to fall. All of her friends in the stands were now in the arena and rushing toward the barrier that just barely surrounded the platform still. Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara were all yelling at her already, making sure to not touch her barrier. They knew that if they started pounding on the barrier, if would just drain her energy faster.

 

Kagome ground her teeth together tightly as she forced her eyes open. Pulling her head up so she could glare at Kikyou, who was now standing and slowly forming a bow and arrow out of her energy, Kagome clenched her hands into fists. “This isn't over.” she ground out.

 

Kikyou laughed cruelly as she aimed her arrow directly at Kagome, preparing for the final attack that would end Kagome's life. “Die.”

 

“KAGOME NO!”

 

“MOM!!”

 

Just as Kikyou was releasing the arrow, she was suddenly shocked. The abrupt attack threw off the dark miko's aim and the energy arrow embedded itself into Kagome's shoulder before disappearing. Kagome winced from the immense pain but pushed it aside. A hiss of pain escaped Kikyou's lips as she also dropped to the ground in agony. Everyone stared at the two in confusion. What the hell just happened? Kikyou turned her angry eyes to Kagome as she grit her teeth against the pain.

 

“How are you channeling my spell like this.” She ground out her demand.

 

Everyone's shocked eyes turned to Kagome. She was channeling the spell's attack that she was feeling to Kikyou? How? From the looks of it, she was still getting attacked by the spell as well. The miko looked to be in even more pain than before actually. Was it because she was using more energy to channel the attack at Kikyou and taking the pain of the spell all at the same time? Not to mention the barrier that was around the platform to keep everyone outside safe was still intact.

 

“It's a little control manipulation trick I learned from training with Genkai.” Kagome smirked, though it was pain filled. “As long as this spell is harming me, you will feel its effects as well.”

 

“That's right Kagome! Give her a taste of her own medicine!” Rinku cheered from the sidelines.

 

Kikyou hissed in pain as she closed her eyes. Seconds later, the spell was gone and Kagome fell forward completely, landing on her stomach and breathing hard. She winced slightly but pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. Suddenly, she felt sharp pain in her stomach as Kikyou kicked her hard, sending her into the wall of the barrier. Her legs and arms shaking, Kagome pushed herself onto her feet and leapt to the side just in time to dodge another power sphere that was hurling toward her. Kikyou knew she didn't have the strength to put up a barrier around herself anymore, so she could resume to attacking Kagome from afar.

 

Trying to stand once more, she could feel she wasn't going to last much longer. She needed to end this now if she wanted to save her friends and loved ones. Kagome took a deep breath and stared at Kikyou with determination in her eyes. The dark miko snorted at her courage and fired several more attacks. Kagome tried her best to dodge all the attacks but couldn't avoid them all. Wincing in pain, she tried to push herself up but Kikyou was there before she could regain herself. The miko tightened her fingers around Kagome's throat as she lifted her up and off the ground.

 

Glaring up at her reincarnation, she tightened her grip further. Kagome squeezed Kikyou's wrist, trying to loosen her grip but it was no use. She couldn't breath and soon she would be weak enough for Kikyou to steal the rest of her soul.

 

“I'm going to purify them all slowly, their souls as well so there isn't a chance in hell for reincarnation.” Kikyou whispered up to Kagome, smirking at her cruelly.

 

Anger engulfed her once more and the last of her remaining power burst to life. “You will not harm any of them!” She snapped. Swinging her legs up, she kicked Kikyou in the chest hard enough to push the miko away from her and release her grip on her throat. Ignoring the excruciating pain that burned in her throat and the rest of her body, Kagome leapt to her feet as she pulled one of Ayame's throwing knives from her boot. She ran at Kikyou without giving the miko the opportunity to completely regain herself and shoved the knife into her chest.

 

Kagome pulled the knife from her chest and fell to her knees, trying to remain conscious. Kikyou's eyes widened as she stared down at Kagome in shock. She staggered back a few steps when suddenly white orbs began hurling from her chest where Kagome had punctured her flesh. She screamed in agony as all the souls she'd collected rushed from her makeshift body. Her cries were silenced as her body crumbled to ash. The souls hurled around the platform, still trapped within the barrier that Kagome had yet to drop. She sighed in relief and took the barrier down. She watched as the souls floated down to her and swirled around her before darting up into the sky. All but one disappeared from sight. The last remaining one hovered back down and seeped into the miko's flesh. After that, everything went black.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kagome woke to the feel of a cold wash cloth being placed on her forehead. Her eyes fluttering open, she smiled when her vision focused on Kurama. “Did we win?”

 

Kurama nodded slightly as he dabbed the wash cloth on her forehead before removing it. “After you passed out, Juri checked for a pulse. Since you were the only living fighter left, you won the fight.”

 

Kagome sighed in relief. “Thank goodness…”

 

“We were able to complete our mission and save Makai because of you.” Kurama murmured, staring down at her with proud emerald green eyes.

 

“I couldn't have done it without all of you…” she trailed off as she remembered Kohaku. “Is Kohaku alright?” She asked in a panic, springing up into a sitting position.

 

Kurama rested his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back down on the bed. “He is perfectly fine; Shippo and Inuyasha are with him right now. The spell was broken once Kikyou was defeated.”

 

Kagome allowed herself to relax once more as she closed her eyes in relief. Her powers seemed to be completely restored and her wounds were healed. Kikyou and Takeo were defeated and the human and demon realms were safe. Kohaku was no longer under Kikyou's control and he could live a somewhat normal life with her family, if he accepted. She saw Kohaku as a brother since she and Sango were so close. She would watch over her dear friend's brother in her place. She would protect Kohaku from now on.

 

“How are you feeling?” Kurama asked, catching her attention.

 

Kagome turned her bright blue eyes to the avatar and a soft, loving smile gradually made its way across her lips. “Could you let Youko out? I want to speak to him, and you, but he deserves to hear this in person.”

 

Nodding his understanding, Kurama closed his eyes and handed control over to his kitsune counterpart. Kagome smiled up at the worry that flooded through his beautiful golden eyes. “I'm sorry that I hurt you so Youko…”

 

“Kago-”

 

She interrupted him by placing her hand in the air, signaling him to be quiet. “Let me finish first.”

 

He sighed and nodded, gazing down at her as if she were all that mattered in the world.

 

“I should have known you or Kurama would betray me like that. I'm sorry for not believing in both of you more and because of all that you and Kurama have gone through because of me… I want you to take me as your mate first. You were the first to show your affection for me and although both you and Hiei waited all these years, I feel that you deserve to have me first. Since Kurama and you are one, you both may as well take me at the same time. You both can decide how you want to arrange that. Switch or one goes first then the other, it doesn't matter to me.” She said, taking a deep breath after her explanation.

 

Youko stared down her blankly for a moment before leaning down and kissing her softly. “I love you.”

 

She smiled up at him. “I love you too, I love all of you.” she giggled as Hiei and Yusuke happened to peep into the room to see how she was doing. She smiled to both demons as she got out of bed and pulled them into tight hugs. Everything was as it should be. She had her four potential mates here with her, alive and well. Her friends from the past survived long enough for her to see them again. Kohaku was going to get another chance at life, just as she had originally wished. The jewel was gone for good, never to wreak havoc on the world. Kikyou was gone and she had her complete soul once again. What more could she ask for?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A/N:

 

The end!!! That's all of it! Wow, I finally finished this! Thank goodness lol did you all enjoy it? I sure hope so cause this is one of my longest fics so far! 22 whopping chapters! I didn't think I could pull it off lol. Not to mention it's such a huge pairing… phew! Well be sure to R&R please! Let me know how you guys liked it. It was fun to write, that's for sure Until next time!! See you guys later!

 

~*Icyfire*~