InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A New Sibling ❯ Escape from Naraku's Castle... ( Chapter 24 )

Chapter 24 already? Wow, this doesn't seem like it's taken so long to write, but it's been almost a year, right? Oh, well…

Here's the quote:

"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" - Zorg from "The Fifth Element"

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*Naraku's castle*

Ayumu and Kuzume quickly made their way around another corner in the giant maze-like castle, slitting the throats of two more guards. They continued down the hall, only to end up in a corridor they had already traveled down.

Kuzume huffed, "we've already been here."

"I know! But there has to be a way out," Ayumu yelled angrily back.

Just as they were about to try a different route, a dark shadow crept over them, blocking the light. As they turned around, terror ensued and they took off at a dead run down the corridor, trying their hardest to stay together.

Ayumu quickly took the lead, grabbing Kuzume's wrist to make sure they would not be separated. Just as they entered another courtyard, the angered eyes of the young lord were suddenly staring down upon them once more.

"Kya!"

*Outside the front doors*

Just as they passed through another barrier, allowing Sesshoumaru and Suzuka to resume humanoid form, a horrendous scream echoed through the eerie courtyard in front of Naraku's castle. Everyone looked sharply at the left side of the gigantic building, toward the sound.

Sesshoumaru started to walk quickly towards the door, "we have to get to them."

He took off, ramming into the door. It resisted him, throwing him back into the gates. Suzuka ran after him, bending over him to make sure he was alright. She helped him to stand, but he soon took off at the door once more.

As he went flying into the wall again, Kagome screamed, "stop it! You're not getting anything done!"

"And what do you," he stood once more and glared at her, "suggest we do, then, priestess?"

"My name is Kagome, and I suggest you three," she pointed to InuYasha, Sesshoumaru, and Suzuka, "try ramming it at the same time."

"Very well, Miss Kagome," Suzuka said as she stood next to Sesshoumaru and readied herself to run.

"Feh," InuYasha took his place on Sesshoumaru other side.

Sesshoumaru looked at them, and then decided to just go with it.

"Ready," Suzuka asked.

Both brothers nodded their heads once.

"Now," Sesshoumaru yelled.

All three took of towards the door one last time, ripping it to shreds. They went flying into the entry hall, barely keeping on their feet.

Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kelala walked through the destroyed mess, toward the three demons.

Everyone continued through the corridors, toward the scream from earlier.

"That was a clever idea, human," Sesshoumaru said to Kagome as the walked, "Kagome."

Kagome looked at him and smiled brightly. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru, lord of the Western Lands."

Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod and joined Suzuka in the lead of the group, leaving Kagome next to InuYasha.

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"They're here," Sesshoumaru stated, stopping in front of a door and placing his hand on its polished, wooden service.

He opened the door and they all walked into a pitch black room, the smell of moisture and rusting metal assaulting their senses.

"What's that smell," Kagome asked the darkness.

As if on cue, about three dozens torches around the room burst suddenly into flame, lightening the large dungeon like room. Across the room, about fifty feet away stood Naraku. To his left sat Ayumu, her ankles and wrists bound by iron shackles. She simply sat there staring straight ahead, not seeing what was in front of her. To Naraku's right sat Kuzume, in much the same predicament as Ayumu, but she was blind-folded.

Ayumu's head shot up to look in the general direction of the gang. They suddenly noticed that her eyes had a foggy look to them. Kuzume looked up, but couldn't see them, due to the blindfold.

"So, you have finally arrived," Naraku said as he looked down upon them.

"Release them, Naraku," Sesshoumaru shouted as he took a menacing step forward.

Naraku reached down, grabbing a handful of Kuzume's hair, causing her to whimper slightly under her breath. "Not so fast, demon lord. I have them both with me, and if you wish them not to be harmed, you will surrender to me, now."

Sesshoumaru and InuYasha began to growl deeply in their chests, Sesshoumaru taking a step back again.

"No, Sesshoumaru," Ayumu yelled. "We can take this abuse! Kill him now!"

"Hurry, Sesshoumaru," Kuzume joined in.

Naraku backhanded Ayumu, sending her sprawling to the floor. In the instant that he let his guard down, Sesshoumaru sprung into action. He cut off the hand that was holding Kuzume's hair and split the blindfold. While he was doing this, InuYasha unsheathed the Tetsusaiga and jumped at Naraku.

"Die, you bastard," he yelled as he sliced at Naraku.

Naraku sensed this coming and quickly jumped out of the way, rebounding off of the wall and jumping into the air, shooting tentacles at him. InuYasha jumped to the side, knocking Kagome out of the way as he went.

Sesshoumaru finished breaking the chains around Kuzume and helped her to stand. She ran over to Ayumu, drawing a sword.

"We could use your help, Sesshoumaru," InuYasha called out as he continued to dodge tentacles.

Sesshoumaru unsheathed Toukijin, and ran to stand by InuYasha's side. "I'm here. What do you want?"

Naraku sent a bundle of tentacles in their direction. As InuYasha destroyed the tentacles, Sesshoumaru jumped toward Naraku. He sliced through tentacles that got in his way. Finally reaching Naraku, Sesshoumaru decapitated the half-demon.

The battle ended as Naraku's lifeless body fell to the ground. Sesshoumaru walked over to Kuzume, who was helping Ayumu to stand. On the left side of Ayumu's face was a huge purple welt where Naraku had hit her, but it was already healing itself.

InuYasha raked Tetsusaiga through Naraku's corpse, either to make sure it was dead or to get even with him…

Kagome, Miroku, and Sango were all celebrating the victory even though they hadn't helped.

Sesshoumaru set Ayumu on his back, pulling Kuzume into a hug as Ayumu placed her arms around his neck to keep from falling.

Kuzume ended the embrace, saying, "we need to go quickly, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru looked at her in pure confusion. "We have defeated Naraku. Why are you in such a rush? We may take our time."

"Yes, we could, but," Kuzume looked toward Ayumu then continued, "something is wrong with Ayumu."

"Hey," Ayumu yelled from behind Sesshoumaru, "I heard that!"

"I meant with your eyesight. I don't think that Naraku did this," Kuzume said as she put her hand right in front of Ayumu's face.

Ayumu didn't react to the hand, making Sesshoumaru wonder about her.

"Fine, let us go," he said, walking over to the rest of their small group. "We must leave immediately," he said as he started to walk off with Kuzume at his heels.

Everyone started to follow cautiously.

"Why the rush, Sesshoumaru," InuYasha asked.

"Ayumu needs medical attention. I fear that she has gone blind," Kuzume answered for him.

"Oh, and InuYasha," Ayumu said, "when we get back to the castle, remind me to make you a nice, hot bowl of misu soup."

"Really," he asked with great eagerness.

"Yes," she replied, "so I can pour it in your lap while it's still steaming, because you fouled the air with your language."

They continued walking in silence with a few snickers here or there.

"I can walk, brother," Ayumu said once they were outside the gates. "He did not take away my ability to walk."

Sesshoumaru crouched, letting her slide off his back and stand on the ground. Once she was safely back on the ground, he continued to walk. Suzuka soon caught up with the stumbling Ayumu.

"Here," she said as she placed Ayumu's hand on her shoulder. "I'll lead you."

Ayumu snorted in disgust, but said nothing more.

Each demon transformed to get through the barrier, changing back once they made it safely to the other side.

"That was a clever idea," Ayumu commented after they were through.

Sesshoumaru and Kuzume nodded.

InuYasha called, "yeah, but you should've seen how we came in." He began to laugh before Sesshoumaru turned around and glared at him.

His glare was soon broken by an angered look, staring behind InuYasha. Ayumu tested the air as everyone looked back to find Naraku standing there, ready to attack.

Everyone tensed and began to prepare for another battle, but Ayumu pulled her hidden sword from its sheath.

She jumped up, pounding her sword into his skull to emphasize each word, "why won't you just fucking die, bastard?!"

Naraku was left in a bloody heap of flesh and bone.

"Let's hurry, before he comes back again," she said, not seeing the blank stares that she was getting from everyone.

Sesshoumaru picked Ayumu up bridal style. She allowed him to with only an indignant huff in protest.

Kagome climbed onto InuYasha's back with Shippo on her shoulder, while Sango and Miroku jumped onto Kelala.

They all took off toward the Western Lands once more, leaving Naraku far behind.

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Okay, another chapter down, only countless chapters to go! Yay! Wait, that's not a good thing…No!

Happy Reading,

Taiyoukai Ayumu of the Northern Lands