InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Miko's Wish ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue

Kagome roused a bit as the sounds of the first birdsong of the day made their way into the small hut. Noticing that none of the rest of the hunting group were up and about, she rolled over, trying her best to return to sleep. But something was nudging at her senses, making it impossible for her to once more slumber.

She slowly rose from her futon as she gazed around the darkened room, her eyes locking onto the dozing hanyou that was propped against the wall opposite from her. She gazed lovingly upon him, but as the pull in her mind grew, so did the worried look on her face.

She had been so distracted by the unrelenting force that she didn't notice the pair of amber eyes that had now locked their gaze on her. She jumped a bit as his deep voice disturbed her thoughts.

“Kagome, what is it?” he asked.

“I'm not sure, but I think that I feel the other half of the Shikon, and its getting closer” she replied, the worry that she had been feeling etched in her voice.

“So the bastard finally came out of hiding” he replied as he rose to his feet. “We had better wake the others and prepare.”

Kagome merely nodded her head in agreement. Although she dreaded the confrontation, she knew it was necessary if they were to complete their quest. She had just tossed the sleeping bag off of her when Inuyasha turned towards her, a somber expression crossing his face.

She waited a few moments, knowing he wanted to tell her something, but as the silence wore on, she grew impatient.

“Inuyasha?”

He turned his eyes downward before meeting hers.

“Kagome, if something happens to me, I want you to get out of there. Go home and forget about this place. I don't want you dying if I'm not there to protect you.”

Kagome inwardly smiled at his words. “Don't worry Inuyasha. I'm sure everything will work out fine” letting her smile show through to her face.

Inuyasha turned his back to her words, almost annoyed that she could still be so cheerful when they were about to face the battle that would determine everything.

“You wouldn't be worried about me, would you, Inuyasha?” she asked, amusement radiating in her voice.

“Feh, in your dreams.”

With that, Inuyasha exited the hut to wait for their enemy.

Kagome went about the task of waking everyone, almost laughing out loud at the compromsing position that Miroku had place himself in. Deciding that she should wake him first so as to spare him a slap to the face, she approached the houshi, nudging his shoulder. Once he had opened his eyes, she released his shoulder.

“Its time” she replied, knowing he would understand.

She left him to join Inuyasha outside, leaving him to wake Sango. As she stepped out of the hut, she lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the now rising sun as it overtook the fading night sky.

Within a few minutes, Miroku, Sango, and her companion Kirara joined her outside, all prepared for battle.

“How close is he Kagome?” Miroku asked as he came to stand next to her.

“Pretty close. He's moving at a fast rate and should be here soon” she replied.

“We should move away from the village so none of the villagers are accidently involved” suggested Sango.

Miroku and Kagome nodded their agreement, but had only taken a few steps when the sound of feet rushing towards them stopped them in their tracks.

“Kagome! Where are you going?” a little voice yelled as he leapt onto Kagome's shoulder.

She gazed lovingly at the kit as she removed him from her shoulder to set him on the ground. “I want you to stay with Kaede, Shippo. This will be very dangerous.”

“He's coming, isn't he. Well, I can fight too” he replied indignantly.

Kagome reached a hand down to his head, smoothing out his bed tousled hair. “I know, but it would make me feel much better if you sat out on this one.”

Shippo put on his best pout, but soon realized that she would not be moved.

“Please, for me?” Kagome asked as she pouted back at him.

Shippo shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “Fine, but you better be back soon.”

“I promise. Now hurry back to Kaede and help her make breakfast. I'm sure we'll be starved after this.”

Shippo gave Kagome one last smile before he bounded back to the hut. She sighed in relief, glad that he hadn't put up too much of a fight. Although he had witnessed many of their battles, she did not want to subject him to any more if possible. With one more longing look at the kit, she returned her attention to the task at hand.

Her thoughts wandered to what she would do once this whole mess was complete. She knew that her family would expect her to stay home more often even if she had finished school, but she also knew that it would be difficult to be away from her friends that had become a second family to her.

Her thoughts were abandoned as Inuyasha's annoyed voice rang through the clearing. “What took you so long. He's so close I can smell his stench.”

“Sorry” Kagome replied as they took up their positions, each poised for battle.

Sango and Miroku stood in front of Kagome, staff and hiraikotsu out and ready. Kirara transformed into her larger size as she took her place next to her master's side.

Inuyasha took his place in the lead, the tension among the companions growing by the second. The anxiety was soon erased though as Inuyasha's curse reached their ears.

“Damnit! Not now” he growled, his nose lifted to the air.

Before anyone could ask what was wrong, a lone figure exited the forest.

“Sesshoumaru, what the hell are you doing here?” Inuyasha asked, unsheathing Tetsusaiga.

“That is none of your concern. My business is with her” he replied, fixing his gaze on the human that stood behind the group.

Kagome gasped when he locked his eyes with hers. She had encountered the Taiyoukai before, but he had never wanted anything from her besides her life. Before she could voice her question, he returned his glare to the inu hanyou.

“Lower your sword, Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha scowled at his brother, but conceded since he did not feel anything threatening from him at the moment. Inuyasha kept a wary eye on him as he approached their rag tag group, not trusting his brother's intentions.

“You, human. You are the protector of the Shikon no Tama, are you not?” he asked as he sized her up.

“I am” Kagome replied, trying not to let the nervousness she felt show in her voice.

“I have sensed Naraku in the area, and believe him to be heading this way. I will join this battle, if only to ensure that the cursed jewel does not fall into his vile hands.”

Inuyasha had just opened his mouth to protest when the sound of insects filled the morning air. The group turned their attention to the sky as the sun's rays were enveloped by the thousands of youkai and saimyoushou headed their way.

Kagome prepared her bow, notching an arrow as Sesshoumaru pulled one of two swords from his side. Without a moment's notice, the youkai descended upon them, turning the once peaceful clearing into chaos.

Kagome fired an arrow, sending streaks of purifying energy through the sky as she destroyed several of the oncoming youkai while Sango hurled her weapon at the withering mass, taking out more of the creatures.

“Kagome”, Inuyasha yelled over the noise, “Remember what I said and don't go too far away from me. Ok?”

Kagome nodded to him before turning her attention back to the rain of youkai. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha fought side by side, their swords tearing into the flesh of any youkai foolish enough to get too close.

“Kagome. Do you sense the Shikon?” Inuyasha asked.

She stopped firing arrows as she focused her senses. “Yes. It's near the edge of the woods. That's where Naraku is.”

Without a moment's hesitation, the brother's made their way towards the area, staining the ground with blood as they cut their way through. As soon as they reached their destination, a blood curdling scream resonated through the air, causing Inuyasha to turn on his heels.

Immediately recognizing the cry as Kagome, he began to frantically push his way back to her, but the mass of youkai had increased, making it difficult for him to return to her quickly. As he made his way towards her, he realized the cause of her fear. From his standpoint, he could see that Naraku had her slender body suspended in the air, her hands struggling to remove the tentacle that had wrapped around her throat.

“KAGOME!” Inuyasha yelled, his worst nightmare coming true.

Naraku's hystericle laughter floated to his ears, but he could not pick up on what he was saying to her over the roar of the battle.

“Now, now, my beautiful miko. Do not fight against the inevitable” he taunted as her hands began bleeding from the frantic attempts to remove herself from his grasps.

Sango turned, gasping as she saw the predictament that her friend was in. Without a moments hesitaiton, she slung her hiraikotsu toward her mortal enemy. Her weapon met it's target, knocking both Kagome and Naraku to the ground. Kagome rose to her knees as she tried to regain her breath, quickly noticing that Naraku had dropped his portion of the Tama. She scrambled forward, grasping the missing half in her hand.

This did not go unnoticed by Naraku, and just as she had stood, he extended another tentacle towards her, wrapping it around her slender ankle. At the same time, he sent another tentacle flying, aimed at the one that had caused him to be distracted.

Kagome tried to scream out a warning to her friend, but her vocal chords had become immobilized. She watched in horror as the tentacle flew towards Sango, turning her head so as not to witness the event when a pained grunt reached her ears.

She turned her tear filled eyes in the direction once more as she was yanked up, watching as Miroku sunk to his knees. He stood in front of Sango, the tentacle that had been aimed at her now impaling him. Sangospun around, her horrified scream burning in Kagome's ears as she gazed at her dying friend.

Kagome choked back a sob, a pain like no other filling her chest. She heard Naraku chuckle behind her before another tentacle whizzed past her, barely grazing her cheek. She once more watched as the growth approached her friend, feeling helpless to do anything. She screamed as it hit its mark, puncturing Sango through her neck. It was too much for her as Sango's limp body fell onto Miroku, both still as death took them.

“NOOOO!!”

She couldn't believe that this was happening. Never in her worst nightmare had she envisioned this. She was so distraught that she didn't even notice Naraku pull her closer to his body until his hot breath sent shivers raking down her back.

“Do not fret. That bastard hanyou and his troublesome brother will soon be joining them. If you behave, I might let you live a little longer.”

His words registered in her mind, overcoming the grief for her friends. She knew she had to do something, but she had no idea what.

She felt something pulse in her hand, realizing that she still held his half of the jewel. Without another thought she tore her own piece from her neck, clasping the two halves between her hands. She felt the energy rush through her as the jewel fused together, her eyes glowing an unearthly white.

“You will not touch them” she whisperd through clenched teeth as the power surged through her.

“And what will you do. You are completely powerless in stopping me” he replied, not noticing what she had done as his attention was drawn to the battling inus.

“It will be you who follows them in death” she replied softly as she began to focus the torrents of power into her hands.

As she was doing this, she watched as more youkai descended upon the brothers. No sooner than they had killed one, two appeared as their replacement. She knew that if something was not done soon that the two, although powerful in them selves, would be overcome.

Once she felt that she had gathered enough energy, she molded it into a ball, hurling it towards the hanyou that had her suspended. But being unexperienced in using her power in such a way, her aim was off. The energy grazed his side, but injured him enough to cause him to release her.

She fell to the ground, crying out as she felt her arm break as it collided with the hard earth. Ignoring the pain for the moment, she scrambled to her feet as she made her way to the still battling inu.

“You little bitch” he yelled in his anger. He extended anther tentacle towards her retreating form, intent on taking her life as punishment for her display of power.

She had just locked her eyes with Inuyasha's when she felt a sharp pain tear through her chest. She didn't even have the chance to fall to the ground before she was once again hurled into the air. She gazed down at the appendage that pierced through her chest, her blouse staining crimson as it soaked up her blood.

She barely heard Inuyasha scream her name over the ringing in her ears. She knew that she was lost, but she would ensure that Inuyasha would not meet the same fate. She clutched at the tentacle protruding from her as she pulled even more power from the Tama still held by her other hand. Blending it with her own, she forced it into Naraku, praying that he would finally die.

He tried to pull away from her, but no matter how much he tried, she would not allow herself to he released. He moaned in agony as the energy swelled inside of him. Tiny pockets of light pushed their way out of his body, purifying him from the inside out. Within a matter of moments, Naraku's body crumbled into ash, floating away in the morning breeze.

Kagome fell to the ground, landing with a sickening thump as the energy slowly died within her, returning to the jewel still clasped in her hand. Once the youkai realized that their master was dead, they retreated into the sky, giving Inuyasha the leave he so desperatly wanted to reach Kagome's side.

He rushed to her side, knealing before her battered body. He gently pulled her head into his lap, brushing the bangs off of her pale forehead. Sesshoumaru stood behind the two as he watched their last moments together.

“I'm so glad…Inuyasha…you're ok” she choked out as she gasped for air.

Inuyasha reached a clawed hand to her face, using his finger to wipe away the blood that had begun to seep from her mouth. He remained speechless, not knowing what to say to her. He had so much to tell her, but he didn't even know where to begin.

He watched as her eyes met with the sight of their slain friends, holding her closer as her body was wracked with sobs.

“If only…I wish I had been strong enough…strong enough to protect them” she whispered, her breathing becoming more labored.

“Shhh. There was nothing more you could do. We all knew the possibilities when we entered this battle” Inuyasha replied as he tried to calm her. He knew that she was dying, and there was nothing he could do for her but offer comfort.

Before she could whisper another word, her head lolled to the side, her pupils dialating as the life left her body. This did not go unnoticed by Inuyasha as he pulled her torn body to his chest. He tried to refrain from crying, but the pain inside was too much. His tears finally gave way, dripping onto Kagome's blood soaked body.

Inuyasha was so engrossed in his anguish that he failed to notice as Sesshoumaru stepped up to them, replacing the sword in hand with another.

“Step aside, Inuyasha” he instructed.

He was about to tell his brother to go to hell when the realization hit him as to what Sesshoumaru wanted to do. He reluctantly set her still body on the ground, moving to stand above her. He watched as his brother advanced on her prone form, sweeping the blade that was a twin to his own over her.

Both watched expectantly for any sign of life, and when none came, Sesshoumaru repeated the action. But she still remained dead despite his attempts.

“I believe that this was meant to be and no form of magic will bring her back” Sesshoumaru explained as he sheathed his sword.

The hope that had begun to build in him slowly extinguished. He turned his eyes expectantly towards the corpses of his other friends, wondering if his brother would at least try on them.

Sesshoumaru noticed this, but decided that what had taken place had been fated to happen.

“I'm truly sorry for your losses. I will take my leave.” Without another word he exited the clearing, glad to be rid of the battle and the smell of that girl's blood.