InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ After-effects ❯ Naraku's demise ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Well, I don't own Inuyasha and the gang, as you've already probably guessed.

Author's note: Well, here you are people, my first work that's more than one chapter long... and also not a sad and tearful story, though you might not actually believe it when you reach the end of this chapter he he he. In any case, I hope you enjoy it and, without further ado, on with... After-effects.

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Prologue : Naraku's demise

 

Shippo stared intently at the cooking pot currently warming their evening meal. His stomach growled loudly as the enticing aroma of the food reached his nostrils. The day had been a long one indeed and the fact that Naraku had been able to retrieve the two jewel shards in Kouga's legs weighted heavily on everyone's morale.

 

--Flashback--

 

"Inuyasha, how much further do we have to go?" asked a frustrated Sango.

 

"The hell should I know?" he snapped back. "No matter how far we go the scent is always the same."

 

What the hanyou said was true, he had picked up their enemy's scent over two hours ago and so far there was no sign that they were getting any closer. "He's trying to tire us out!" he thought suddenly. "And I've been walking right into his trap all along!" he mentally slapped himself. Realizing his mistake, he slowed down to a walk and started to look for a suitable place to take a break.

 

"Inuyasha? Why are you slowing down?" asked a confused Kagome.

 

"We're taking a break," he answered gruffly before spotting a small clearing not far away. He immediately changed course and headed toward it.

 

He was currently carrying her on his back like he often did when speed was of the essence in their travel, so she couldn't see his face when he answered. Had she been able to however, she would have been surprised to see him fuming.

 

"A break? But Naraku will get away!" she exclaimed, unable to understand the hanyou's decision.

 

His frustration, already at a dangerous level for falling in their enemy's deception, exploded at that last question. He dropped her unceremoniously to the ground and turned toward her. "He's been close for two hours!" he snarled before slumping down against a nearby tree.

 

The other watched in amusement and anticipation as Kagome narrowed her eyes dangerously before picking herself up and making her way to the sulking hanyou. "Inuyasha?" she said in a sweet and innocent voice.

 

Hearing her tone, he instantly knew something was wrong with her. Cracking an eye open, his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the look she gave him. He barely had time to realize what was coming before she said the word.

 

"Osuwari!" she snapped and he instantly crashed to the ground. "That's for dropping me," she yelled. "Osuwari!" she repeated, making him eat dirt once again. "And that's for yelling at me," she said before stalking off and sitting against a nearby rock, her back to him.

 

"Stupid wench," he muttered under his breath when he was finally able to sit up again.

 

"I heard that!" came Kagome's reply causing the hanyou to stiffen in anticipation of another dirt eating session. It never came however and he eventually relaxed back into his usual sitting position. "Feh!" he spat before resuming his sulking.

 

"I swear, with all the fighting those two generate, it's a wonder we're not dead already," sighed a very discouraged Shippo.

 

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about this argument, Shippo," spoke Miroku with a pensive look on his face. "What puzzles me more is the reason for this sudden halt, not that I'm complaining, I was starting to grow weary…" he stopped in mid sentence as something suddenly clicked in his mind.

 

He turned to look at Kirara who was breathing relatively hard from the constant running. His gaze then swept over Sango who sported the same weariness as himself. Kagome was in no better shape and it was obvious that Inuyasha was not as fresh as a daisy either. "Two hours and we're not getting any closer," he thought as the hanyou's last words came to his mind.

 

"Houshi-sama?" asked Sango, intrigued by his sudden silence.

 

"Let's sit down and get as much rest as we can," he eventually answered. "I believe I know why we've stopped," he finished while settling down comfortably on the ground.

 

"Really now," said the demon slayer once she had found a comfortable spot out of the monk's treacherous hand.

 

"I think that Inuyasha has grown suspicious of the fact that the scent has remained unchanged for so long," spoke the monk softly. "I'm also willing to bet that, even now, the scent is not getting further away," he finished, looking at Shippo pointedly.

 

It took a second for the little kitsune to understand Miroku' unspoken question. His face lit up quickly however and he started to sniff the air. "What the… The scent hasn't changed at all since we stopped," he answered frowning in confusion.

 

Sango furrowed her brow at this declaration and started to think of a reason for this strange phenomenon. "It's almost as if the trail is moving with us," she reflected. "But why? Why would he keep us running like that?" she asked herself. "Wait… Keep us running? That's it!" her mind finally clicked.

 

"He's trying to wear us out!" she exclaimed, suddenly understanding.

 

"Exactly," answered the monk. "Which means that he is probably planning to attack us," he finished somberly.

 

As minutes ticked by however, it became apparent that the monk's prediction were not going to come true anytime soon. "Why isn't he attacking!" cried Shippo, unable to stand the wait any longer.

 

"Calm down Shippo, it's no use getting impatient," said Sango calmly, while polishing her hiraikotsu. "But you do have a point though, I wonder what exactly he could be waiting for," she reflected out loud.

 

She didn't have to wait long for her answer as a tornado suddenly came whirling in the small clearing where they were currently camping in. It calmed down instantly and out of it came none other than Kouga, the wolf demon.

 

"Well fancy meeting you here Kagome," he exclaimed as he made his way to her.

 

"Kouga? What are you doing here?" she answered surprised at seeing him.

 

"Well…" he started before a white haired hanyou suddenly blocked his path.

 

"Get away from her," growled Inuyasha, visibly pissed by Kouga's presence.

 

"Keh! Move away mutt-face, I have no business with a half-breed like you," he snarled back not impressed a bit by the hanyou's display of anger.

 

It was Kagome who broke the exchange by stepping between the two quarreling males. "Alright that's enough, both of you!" she exclaimed angrily, separating them.

 

Meanwhile, Sango had been watching the exchange with very little interest. It was always the same thing when Kouga was around. He would try to get close to Kagome, Inuyasha would step in and Kagome would eventually break the two apart. "He was probably following Naraku's trail, like us," she thought. A frown appeared on her face as she realized that the direction he had come from was totally different from theirs. "We were coming from the south and he came from the east, something's fishy here," she reflected. "It's almost like Naraku wanted us to meet with him," she continued to think.

 

Her eyes suddenly widened in horror as her brain put two and two(or rather two and one) together. "Kouga! Kagome! Get away from each other!" she yelled, jumping to her feet and grabbing her hiraikotsu in the process.

 

Her warning came too late however, because a swarm of tentacles appeared out of nowhere and quickly made their way to the two people. Not waiting for a reaction, she threw her weapon in the fray, successfully destroying the first wave of appendages.

 

While Sango's swift attack didn't destroy all the tentacles, it did buy enough time for the three people to get over their surprise and successfully counterattack. By the time she reached the group, most of the oncoming tentacles had been disposed of.

 

"Goddamnit you two! I said to move away from each other," she snapped while slashing a tentacle in two with her katana. "He wants the jewel shards, if you're standing together it makes it that much easier for him to get them!" she continued frustrated that no one was listening to her.

 

"Well what do you suggest we do then?" asked Kouga, while clawing the last appendage in two.

 

"We split up, you go with houshi-sama and Kirara, while I stay here with Inuyasha and Kagome," she said pointing to the coming monk and the cat youkai.

 

"You better keep her safe mutt-face or I'll have your hide after this," launched the wolf youkai as he headed for his designated position.

 

The hanyou simply growled in annoyance, too intent on his surrounding to bother with answering Kouga. The two groups took defensive stances as they waited for the next attack to come. Instead, an ominous laugh filled the air around them, chilling them to the bone. "Well, congratulation for seeing through my little scheme demon slayer," taunted the voice. "However, I'm afraid it will not be quite enough," it continued in the same mocking tone.

 

Then, out of all the corner of the clearing they were standing in, ten forms walked out of the trees, surrounding the two groups. Each had a white baboon fur covering their body and sported tentacles instead of arms and legs.

 

"Naraku you coward, why don't you come yourself instead of sending puny puppets against us," yelled a very angry Inuyasha.

 

The only answer he got was the laugh of their enemy, pissing him even more. The circle was growing smaller and smaller however, forcing the two groups gradually together.

 

"Damnit! Go to hell you stupid puppets! Kaze no kizu!" he yelled as he launched his attack toward one of the approaching enemy. The surrounding ones quickly put all their tentacles in the path of the wave, forming a wall. It blew up on contact, but it had served its purpose: the hanyou's attack had been deflected. Almost instantly, the tentacles regenerated and the puppets continued their advance.

 

"What the hell?" said Inuyasha, looking in surprise at what had just happened.

 

Kagome, who had been silent until this point suddenly spoke up. "Inuyasha, fire again, I have an idea," she whispered to him.

 

"What idea?" he asked perplexed.

 

"Sango, you aim at one of the puppets on the left, I'll aim at one on the right. We'll use the brief moment when the wall is destroyed to strike," she explained quickly. Both faces lit up in understanding and they immediately prepared their blow.

 

"Kaze no kizu!" yelled the hanyou and again the attack was sent forth toward the enemy. The wave connected with the wall of tentacles, blowing it apart and effectively opening the way for the girls' attack. Both weapons flew through the hole and two puppets turned to dust as the arrow and the hiraikotsu struck home.

 

The unexpected loss of their comrades brought the other puppets to a halt. Seeing this, the others quickly pressed their advantage and darted toward the opening created by the attack. The first to reach the hole was Inuyasha. However, the puppets had had time to recover from their surprise and one had managed to block the escape path of the group. The hanyou started to hack and slash at it, but was unable to land a successful hit. His ears then picked up a familiar noise and he barely managed to jump out of the way as Sango's returning weapon sliced the puppet in front of him neatly in half. With that unexpected blow, they were finally able to burst free of the enemy circle and regroup.

 

"Alright, everyone behind me," snapped Miroku, unwrapping the prayer beads around his right arm. "Kazaana!" he shouted and effectively sucked in the 7 remaining demons.

 

"I don't like this, he didn't send the saimyoushou," reflected Kagome, a frown on her face.

 

Her doubts were well founded as the monk suddenly collapsed, gripping his right arm in pain. Naraku's ominous laugh sounded again at seeing their misfortune. "By the way, did I mention that I managed to incorporate the saimyoushou's poison directly into my puppets?" he said in a mocking tone.

 

"Bastard! Show yourself!" yelled the hanyou angrily.

 

"All in due time, my dear Inuyasha, all in due time," he taunted one last time before his scent disappeared without a trace.

 

"Dammit! He's gone, that coward!" Inuyasha snapped again.

 

"Inuyasha, we've got to get my backpack quickly, Miroku needs the antidote," pleaded Kagome visibly alarmed by the monk's condition.

 

"Well I suppose I'll be going now since that bastard's gone," announced Kouga. "I'll be seeing you later Kagome," he said taking her hands in his, earning him a loud growl from Inuyasha.

 

He had barely made it to the end of the clearing when a tentacle suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pierced him through the chest. He was then lifted in the air before anyone was able to do anything for him.

 

"Let… go… of… ME!" snarled the wolf demon before delivering a powerful punch to the tentacle, severing it in the process. He fell right in front of a last forgotten puppet. Before it had time to react, he tore into its chest with his hand and crushed its heart. He then fell to his knees in pain and started coughing up blood as the demon in front of him dissolved away.

 

"Kouga!" screamed Kagome at seeing the youkai's predicament. She started to make her way to him, but was stopped short when a powerful gust of wind suddenly swiped through the clearing. After it had cleared, Kagura was standing a few feet away from the wolf demon.

 

"Well, well, look what we have here," she mocked.

 

"Kagura!" Kouga snarled. Gritting his teeth, he managed to stand up shakily to face his opponent. Seeing Inuyasha making a move to strike at the wind sorceress, he stopped him. "Stay out of it mutt-face, this one's mine!" he spat before launching himself at Kagura.

 

She easily sidestepped his blow however and while he was off balance, she launched her own attack. "Fujin no mai!" she spoke, waving her fan in front of her. At such a short distance he was unable to dodge and the blades tore at him viciously. To his horror, two of them sliced his legs and the jewel shards embedded in them flew out. The wind picked them up in midair and they landed perfectly in Kagura's hand.

 

"Well, I'll be taking those as a souvenir," she said before flying away and leaving a disgruntled group behind.

 

--End flashback--

 

Kouga had left shortly after, refusing any kind of treatment from Kagome. It was obvious that he was extremely angry at himself for losing his jewel shards. So that left them to head back to Kaede's village to ponder their next move. It was a slow progression though, as Miroku was still feeling the effects of the poison and was unable to walk properly. And now, here they were, camping for the night in a small clearing about half a day away from their destination.

 

"Kagome, is it ready yet?" asked the little kitsune after the girl had stirred the stew and tasted it.

 

"Yes it is Shippo-chan," she answered with a smile and proceeded to fill plates and hand them over.

 

He was about to take his first bite when he noticed the gloomy atmosphere hanging around the camp. Sango was feeding a barely conscious Miroku with downcast eyes. Inuyasha was wolfing down his food, but it lacked the usual enthusiasm. For her part, Kagome was barely touching her plate. "This is stupid," he thought. "It's almost like we already lost."

 

A mischievous smile appeared on his lips as an idea formed in his head. "So Inuyasha, what are you going to say to your mother when you see her?" he asked in an innocent tone.

 

"Huh?" came the hanyou's intelligent reply.

 

"Well, when you die, what are you going to say to her when you meet her in the afterlife?" he continued still playing innocent.

 

"The hell are you talking about runt?" Inuyasha answered furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

 

"Well, since Naraku almost has the jewel to himself, it's obvious that we don't stand a chance against him," he sighted feigning discouragement.

 

His remark had the desired effect because almost instantly, Inuyasha grabbed him by the tail and lifted him to eye level. "Who said anything about losing against him," he said his voice dangerously low.

 

He crossed his arms and averted his gaze, clearly unimpressed by the hanyou's attitude. "Well, with Miroku out of commission, I don't see anyone here capable of putting up much of a fight," he answered, bracing himself for the punch he knew was coming.

 

At his last retort, it seemed as if time stood still for a second. Every eyes in the clearing looked at him in surprise and even Inuyasha was too dumbfounded to react immediately. "Why you little…" he snarled, his surprise being quickly replaced by boiling anger. He was about to hit him squarely on the head when Sango's laughter stopped him.

 

"Oh god, Inuyasha, you should have seen the look on your face, it was priceless," giggled the demon slayer.

 

He looked blankly at Sango for a moment as if not comprehending her reaction before Shippo snorted, trying to suppress his own laughter. This brought him out of his trance and his anger suddenly exploded. "SHUT UP!" he yelled throwing the little kitsune at the girl and stalking in Sango's direction. This only caused more laughter as the pair made their escape and the hanyou started to chase them around the clearing.

 

Kagome watched the display in amusement for a moment, barely suppressing her own giggles before looking at Miroku who sported a small smile on his lips. "The little fox may not know how to fight, but he might just have given us a chance," said the sick monk in a low voice.

 

She only nodded in response before shifting her gaze to the running trio in front of her. And as she looked at them, she felt courage flooding her being once again. "You can come Naraku, we're ready for you," she thought, as a look of fierce determination graced her features.

 

********

 

A few hours later found everyone asleep around the dying embers of the fire. On the surface, everyone appeared to rest peacefully, but if one looked carefully, he could pick up signs of uneasiness all around camp. For one thing, Sango was sleeping in her combat uniform instead of her traveling outfit. Then there was Kagome who was not in but on her sleeping bag, her bow in hand and arrows slung on her back. Inuyasha, for his part, had his eyes closed but his ears twitched wildly at every suspicious sound that could be heard. Kirara was dozing off in her battle form close to Sango and even Shippo was sleeping in a sitting position, ready to bolt off at the first sign of danger.

 

Everyone was so on edge that when a swirling noise was heard, they all jumped to their feet in an instant. It was Inuyasha who deflected the incoming object with the Tessaiga. The blow in itself had been pretty harmless, but the fact that it had been Kohaku's weapon filled them with dread.

 

Sure enough, a few seconds after the assault, Sango's brother appeared followed closely by Naraku himself. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're all awake," he said in a low and menacing voice.

 

"Keh! You stink so much that no one with a nose would be able to sleep within a mile of you!" taunted the hanyou.

 

"Ever the flatterer I see," Naraku responded with an evil smile. It vanished however when he looked carefully at the group. "Interesting, it looks like they might actually put up a fight," he reflected.

 

"Anyway, I came here to make a deal with you," he continued and allowed himself a small amount of amusement at seeing their dumbfounded face.

 

"What sort of deal could you possibly hope to make with us?" asked Kagome, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

 

"It's quite simple actually. If you give me your jewel shard, I'll spare you the agony of watching Kohaku here die," he answered with his malicious smile.

 

"And I suppose you're planning on keeping your end of the bargain by killing us first, am I right?" rasped Miroku, barely able to stand.

 

"Well thought, monk," he started. "And if you're nice enough, I'll even consider making it a quick and painless death," he mocked.

 

"In your dreams!" cried Inuyasha. "Kaze no kizu!" he yelled sending a wave of energy toward Naraku. It was deflected however, when the evil youkai erected a barrier.

 

"Well then, say goodbye to your friend here," the demon answered, totally ignoring Inuyasha's attack. He then plunged his hand in the back of the boy beside him and extracted the jewel shard.

 

"NOOOOO!!!!!" yelled Sango, as her brother's lifeless body fell to the ground.

 

"Sango…" spoke Miroku softly. He was about to place his hand on her shoulder when she suddenly started to laugh. It was a cold, bitter and totally humorless sound that could even compare to Naraku's own laughter.

 

"Naraku," started the demon slayer in a low and menacing tone. "You played your hand well, setting us up with Kouga and then stealing his shards right in front of our eyes. Then coming here and killing my brother before we had time to recover. All this for the sole purpose of breaking our spirit so you wouldn't have to fight."

 

"It won't work however," she said settling her gaze on the demon in front of her. "Tonight, you're going down!" she exclaimed icily.

 

Everyone was taken aback by the fire that burned in the demon slayer's eyes at that moment, even Naraku raised an eyebrow. "Well then, give it your best shot," he mocked to hide his surprise.

 

"With pleasure," snarled Inuyasha with a feral grin as his sword started to change color. "Akai Tessaiga!" he yelled, effectively destroying the barrier erected by Naraku.

 

Kagome and Sango didn't waste the opportunity and quickly launched their attack. Both weapons hit home and the combined power of the arrow and the hiraikotsu tore the demon in half. Their victory was short lived, however, as he immediately started to regenerate.

 

"You cannot defeat me," he smiled wickedly before launching a swarm of tentacles at the group.

 

They all proceeded to fight back but the more they cut, the more came at them. Eventually Miroku, already weak, was sent flying across the clearing by an oncoming appendage. He hit the trunk of a tree hard and fell to the ground unconscious.

 

"Houshi-sama!" cried Sango before another tentacle grabbed her foot and she was hoisted in the air effortlessly.

 

For their part, Kagome and Inuyasha were very close to being overwhelmed. Only the frantic hack and slash of the hanyou prevented the endless swarm of tentacles from reaching them. It was then that a huge serpent appeared out of thin air and descended on Naraku.

 

"Petty tricks will not affect me," declared the demon before one tentacle swiped casually at the illusion and destroyed it.

 

"If only I could distract him for a second," thought Shippo from the bush he was hiding in. As he looked at the raging battle a leaf fell on his nose. He stared at it as an idea formed in his head. He could feel his feet shaking at what he was about to do. "I'm just a kid, why do I have to fight?" he whined before launching himself at the demon.

 

"Shippo! No!" yelled Kagome when she spotted the patch of red fur running toward Naraku.

 

Her warning fell on deaf ears though and she could only watch in horror as one of the appendages slashed at the advancing form. She was surprised however when there was a puff of smoke and the kitsune was replaced by a leaf. Almost immediately after that another Shippo look-alike appeared followed by another and another. Pretty soon a swarm of kitsunes was assaulting the tentacles.

 

"You are starting to annoy me, you little runt," hissed Naraku as he swiped most of his tentacles upward at once, throwing all the illusions in the air in the process.

 

This move gave Inuyasha the opening he needed though and he wasn't about to miss it. "Kaze no kizu!" he yelled. The evil youkai barely had time to realize what was happening before the wave hit him full force. There was a bright flash of light and he exploded into tiny fragments.

 

"Shit, this isn't working," panted the hanyou when he saw that the parts were converging back together.

 

"It's useless to fight him like this, we must find his heart and destroy it," said Sango now back on her feet.

 

"Don't you think I…What's this?" asked Inuyasha as his foot connected with a glowing red orb.

 

"That would be my heart," answered a woman's voice coming from the trees behind them.

 

"Kagura," snarled Inuyasha. "What are you doing here?"

 

"Simple, I know where Naraku's heart is. If you give me my own heart back, I'll take one of you to it," she spoke quickly.

 

The hanyou creased his brows in suspicion but before he could answer, Kagome spoke up. "Fine, I'll go, quickly Inuyasha, give it to her."

 

He looked at her like she had just sprouted another head. "You're crazy!" he said not believing what he had just heard.

 

"There's no time! Hurry!" the schoolgirl exclaimed growing desperate.

 

"Dammit! I can't just let her go like this! If something were to happen to her…" he thought desperately. "But… someone has to go! Someone who will be able to destroy this bastard's heart." His mind was racing, trying to avoid the conclusion he knew was coming. "Miroku and Shippo are out of the question and I can't go without Naraku coming after me. That leaves Sango and Kagome. Sango's strong physically but… she doesn't have the spiritual power needed to strike Naraku's heart… That leaves…" He felt his own heart constricting in his chest as he realized that there was only one possible course of action.

 

"Inuyasha! Please!" cried the schoolgirl frantically when he didn't answer.

 

He shifted his gaze from Kagome to the growing mass of Naraku. "I swore I'd never let anything happen to her…" he thought desperately as he clenched his fists so tight that his knuckles turned white. "I'm sorry Kagome… This is the only way."

 

"Fine…" he whispered, feeling his very soul shattering into millions of pieces. "Kagome can go, but Kagura, you will get your heart only when you bring her back safely and Naraku's dead," he continued in the same tone.

 

Kagura looked at him for a few seconds before answering. "Fair enough," she said before throwing one of her feathers in the air and lifting off with Kagome behind her.

 

Before she was out of sight though, the schoolgirl caught the moonlight reflecting something on the hanyou's cheek. "Is that… a tear?" she thought. "Oh Inuyasha… I'll be back, I swear, I won't let you down!" and with that, her eyes hardened with steely determination.

 

For his part, the hanyou, was starting to feel his pain turning into rage very fast. With his last amount of control, he turned to Sango and was surprised to see that she was sporting an expression similar to his.

 

"This bastard is NOT leaving this clearing alive, you hear me," he whispered in a tone that would have frozen the blood of any opponent.

 

"As long as there is breath in my body, he WILL NOT budge," she shot back in the same tone.

 

And with that they both charged at a nearly reformed Naraku.

 

********

 

"Kagura, if you know where Naraku's heart is, why don't you destroy it yourself?" asked a perplexed Kagome.

 

"Feh! Naraku knows I'll betray him the first chance I get, so he put seals to prevent me from approaching," she answered.

 

"And how do you know that I will be able to pass through?" she asked again.

 

"I don't, but it's not exactly like we have a choice now do we?" the wind sorceress shot back sarcastically.

 

"How far exactly is it?" she inquired after a few seconds of silence.

 

"Geez, woman, do you always talk that much?" snapped Kagura. "Look over there, it's the castle's barrier. The heart is within." she said pointing at a purple dome.

 

The schoolgirl simply nodded at this and gulped. The jyaki inside Naraku's castle was so strong that no human could hope to stand it for very long. There was also something about all this that she didn't like, but she couldn't say exactly what, so for now, she simply ignored it to concentrate on the task at hand.

 

A few minutes later, they landed in the courtyard and already Kagome could feel the toxic vapors affecting her. Kagura on the other hand was peering left and right suspiciously as if expecting something to pop out of the darkness and leap at them.

 

"Is something wrong?" asked the schoolgirl, confused by the sorceress' behavior.

 

"It's nothing, let's hurry," answered Kagura. "Something's off today, I just wish I knew what it is," she thought as she headed off.

 

Kagome nodded doubtfully and they started to walk down a number of corridors seemingly at random. They finally stopped in front of a door that had a strange symbol on it. Kagura opened it to reveal a small room with a pedestal in the back. On it was a black sphere that was pulsating with evil energy.

 

"This is Naraku's heart, the seal won't allow me to enter," said the sorceress simply.

 

Kagome nodded at this and tentatively brought her hand forward through the door. Seeing that nothing happened, she tucked an arrow on her bow and took aim.

 

"Time to end this!" she said fiercely right before firing. It never reached the mark though. It slowed down almost as soon as it entered the room and simply fell on the ground a mere seven feet in front of the girls.

 

"Looks like I'm going to have to get closer," gulped the schoolgirl before taking her first tentative steps toward the pulsating sphere.

 

It was like walking through jelly. The very air around her seemed to press against her body to prevent her from advancing. With every step she took, the resistance increased and pretty soon she was unable to even move her feet. "Dammit, I… will… not… LOSE!" she yelled, letting loose all her anger and frustration.

 

Kagura watched in awe as a bluish aura suddenly enveloped the girl in front of her. As she screamed her last word, the sorceress was suddenly thrown into the wall as a powerful blast of miko energy knocked into her. When the dots in front of her eyes cleared, she could only gape at what she saw. Where the door had been, only a gaping hole remained. The walls and the floor were bent like something had pushed them outward and smoke was rising from a few planks. The only thing left untouched was the altar with the heart on it.

 

For her part, Kagome was starting to feel dizzy. The heavy use of her power and the jyaki were taking their toll on her, but she gritted her teeth and pushed it all back. The seals were gone and she wasn't about to waste her opportunity. Tucking another arrow, she aimed and fired again. This time, it was stopped by a purplish barrier that appeared about four feet in front of her target.

 

"Impressive girl, I didn't think anyone was powerful enough to break the protection seals," said a voice in front of her.

 

Then out of nowhere a huge creature materialized. It stood over seven feet tall and had green scales all over its body. Its head was vaguely draconic and sharp fangs could be seen sporting from it's mouth. On the hands and feet of the creature were long sharp claws ready to be used against any intruder.

 

"Now I'm afraid that you're going to have to die," it snarled, before launching itself at her with surprising speed.

 

Kagome didn't even have time to move before the claws tore her flesh apart. Strangely enough, there was no pain as she fell on the ground. "Is this how it's supposed to end?" she asked herself with a certain amount of detachment before unconsciousness claimed her.

 

******

 

When she opened her eyes, she was alone in a very dark place. All she could see around her was black as far as the eye could see. "Where… am I?" she murmured confused. "Am I… dead?" she whispered again incredulously.

 

Her eyes widened in horror at this realization. "No… please… it's not true, I can't believe it!" she thought frantically. But as she looked around her, she could see nothing that would bring her the slightest hope that she was still alive.

 

"I… failed," she whispered, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. "Shippo, Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Inu…yasha I… failed you all," she cracked before her knees gave way.

 

"Get up, wench!" came the hanyou's gruff voice causing her to look up in surprise at seeing him standing before her.

 

"Yeah, Kagome, I believe in you," said Shippo's voice right before his form materialized.

 

"You can still do this, Kagome-chan," said the shape of Sango.

 

"We're all with you, Kagome-sama," said the monk as he too appeared before her.

 

"You guys…" she said, her gaze sweeping from one shape to the other.

 

Memories then started to flash before her eyes. Miroku talking about the curse on his right hand. Sango crying over the loss of her brother. Shippo sobbing in his sleep, calling for a mother that would never come. Inuyasha, fighting desperately to avenge the woman he loved fifty years ago. Herself, watching helplessly as the hanyou she so desperately loved crumbled after losing himself to his demon side.

 

"So much pain… and all because of Naraku," she thought as anger like none she ever felt before exploded in her.

 

"I can't allow him to hurt anyone any longer!" she screamed in her mind as a blinding blue aura started to surround her.

 

******

 

On the outside, Kagura was in a very difficult situation. The guardian demon was currently holding her by the throat about ten feet above ground, cutting off her air supply. His maniacal laughter was cut short however when a bright blue light illuminated the room. Two pairs of eyes turned to its source in surprise to find Kagome glowing with miko power and about to launch an attack at the undefended heart.

 

"Damn, she's still alive!" exclaimed the demon in panic before throwing himself desperately between Kagome and her target, letting Kagura drop to the ground in the process.

 

He managed to reach his destination just as the schoolgirl fired. He hastily raised a barrier in order to divert the oncoming wave of purification energy and braced himself for the coming impact. A battle of will then began as the ray connected with the barrier. At first it appeared to be a stand-off, but after a few seconds, the demon's shield started to bend under the pressure of the schoolgirl's onslaught.

 

Kagura looked in complete disbelief at the display before her. "Where is all this power coming from?" she mused, taking in the girl's appearance and the pool of blood at her feet. "She lost so much blood that she shouldn't even be able to stand, let alone fire something that powerful," she continued uncomprehending.

 

Her train of thought was cut short however when a snapping sound was heard and the barrier gave way completely. It was followed shortly after by a howl of pain from the demon as the energy tore at him and headed for the pulsating sphere behind him.

 

"At last… It's all coming to an end," thought Kagome with relief.

 

It was unfortunately short lived as her vision started to blur and her knees began to shake violently. "Please! Just… a… little… more!" she hissed through clenched teeth. But her body would not listen to her pleas and she collapsed on her knees, her purification beam dissipating harmlessly into thin air.

 

She lay there panting, trying desperately not to pass out from sheer exhaustion and pain, for a long time. Eventually though, she could feel her awareness returning and with it the realization that someone was talking to her. She raised her head to see that Kagura was standing over her with a worried look on her face.

 

"Ka…gu… ra," she said between two heavy breaths.

 

"Well, good to see you're still alive, girl," said the sorceress with a note of admiration in her voice.

 

"Guar… dian?" asked the schoolgirl laboriously.

 

"He won't be bothering anyone anymore," answered Kagura while stepping aside to reveal a smoking corpse burned beyond recognition.

 

"You know, that last shot was pretty impressive," added the sorceress once Kagome's breath had settled.

 

"Yeah, but… it took everything I had to pull it off," replied the schoolgirl.

 

"Damn, if only we could strike now, it's completely defenseless," snapped Kagura in frustration.

 

The miko's ears perked up at this last remark. "You know, you're right, it is completely defenseless," said Kagome, a confused frown on her face.

 

"What do you mean?" asked the sorceress, puzzled by this cryptic observation.

 

"Well, if his heart is so important, why on earth is it protected so poorly?" answered the schoolgirl even more confused.

 

"Poorly? You're kidding, right? That thing almost killed us!" exclaimed a bewildered Kagura.

 

"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that it's unlike Naraku to leave something so important lying in the open where everyone can see it," replied the schoolgirl calmly.

 

Kagura frowned a bit, seeing the truth in the wounded girl's words. "Well what could it all mean then?" she finally asked.

 

"I don't know, but I have the nasty feeling that everything so far moved exactly as Naraku planned it," answered Kagome.

 

Both girls were silent for a moment, trying to make sense of everything that had happened so far. "Have you noticed anything unusual about this place lately?" asked the schoolgirl eventually.

 

"Well…" she began frowning in concentration. "Something's not right, what is it?" she mused furiously. As she looked at the schoolgirl, something struck her. "She's alive! That's impossible the jyaki should have…Wait the jyaki… That's what's been bugging me!"

 

"The jyaki… It's lighter than usual," murmured the sorceress a feeling of dread suddenly creeping up her spine.

 

They looked at each other in surprise for a few seconds. It was Kagura who spoke first this time. "It's starting to make a lot of coincidences," she said voicing their common thought.

 

"You wouldn't happen to have found out about this room recently would you?" asked Kagome, growing more suspicious by the minute.

 

"Yesterday…" came Kagura's astonished reply a moment later.

 

"Add the fact that your heart is suddenly in our possession…" began the schoolgirl.

 

"And everything just seems a little too convenient," finished the sorceress.

 

"Well then, what do you say we actually do something unexpected for a change," shot Kagome as she got to her feet, ignoring the dizziness washing over her.

 

"What do you have in mind?" asked a puzzled Kagura.

 

"Naraku spent a lot of energy to get rid of his heart. What would he say if we suddenly gave it back to him?" asked the miko with a wicked smile.

 

"I'll say, that ought to tick him off," answered the wind sorceress with a similar smile creeping on her face.

 

With that said, Kagura headed for the pulsating sphere and neatly wrapped it in a cloth. Once it was done, she turned to the schoolgirl. "Let's go," she said simply and headed off.

 

Kagome turned to follow, but as she took her first step, her vision suddenly wavered. She caught herself on the wall before she could fall, but as she looked at her still bleeding wounds, she became painfully aware of just how serious her condition was. "I promised Inuyasha I'd be back," she remembered and felt some of her strength coming back at the thought of the hanyou. "Just a little longer," she thought as she pushed herself off the wall and headed off to follow Kagura.

 

********

 

"Kaze no kizu!" cried Inuyasha, only to have his attack deflected again by the demon's energy blast.

 

Things were looking bleak right now for the team. Miroku was standing shakily to one side of Naraku, waiting for an improbable opening. He had managed to land one blow so far when he had regained consciousness, but that was it. Sango was on the other side panting heavily and holding her broken katana in a defensive stance. Her hiraikotsu lay on the other side of the clearing, severed in two. Kirara for her part was lying on the ground, breathing laboriously suffering from broken ribs. Inuyasha himself was barely standing up. He was breathing hard and he had more cuts and bruises on his body than he could count. In fact the only one not hurt was Shippo, but that was simply because he had not taken an active part in the fight. Not that he didn't want to, but since his little stunt in the beginning, all his illusions dissipated as soon as they entered the clearing and he wasn't foolish enough to try to take the demon head on with his limited strength.

 

"I grow tired of this, time to end this sorry excuse for a battle," said Naraku suddenly.

 

With that he made a swiping gesture with his right arm, sending a myriad of purple energy balls to the people surrounding him. They all screamed in pain as they were thrown back several meters and landed hard on the ground.

 

"Pathetic really, hardly worth my time," he said bored and turned to leave.

 

"Where… do… you… think… you're… going!" spat Inuyasha between two laborious breaths.

 

The evil hanyou turned around and raised an eyebrow in surprise at what he saw. His three opponents were struggling to their feet. Blood covered their bodies from their numerous wounds. They were barely able to stand; even Inuyasha had to lean on his sword to keep his balance and yet, despite all this, they were still willing to continue the fight.

 

"And what, pray tell, do you think you can do in this condition?" he asked in a mocking tone.

 

"More than you can think!" rasped Sango with fire in her eyes.

 

"Never underestimate the human heart," added Miroku, equally determined.

 

"Oh yes, speaking of heart, I wonder how Kagura and that Kagome girl are doing with my own," retorted Naraku.

 

He took a second to enjoy their surprised expressions before continuing. "Come now, you didn't honestly think that I hadn't noticed?" he added amused.

 

"You… knew?" breathed the monk in confusion. "He knew and he didn't make any move to leave?" he thought as his mind frantically searched for an explanation. "It's almost like… he doesn't care what happens to it." Horror suddenly filled him as he understood what their enemy had been up to.

 

"You planned everything," breathed the monk in astonishment. "The loss of Kagura's heart, Kagome's departure… Everything," he continued in a dead tone. "You manipulated us so that we would be the ones to destroy your heart."

 

"Impressive, monk, looks like you can actually use your brain once in a while. Too bad it's a little too late for that," taunted the demon before his ominous laugh filled the clearing.

 

"So tell me Inuyasha, how does it feel to know that you sent your woman to her doom?" he taunted mercilessly.

 

Inuyasha barely even heard that last remark. When Miroku had voiced his realization, his face had gone blank and betrayed no emotion. "I did this… I sent her to her death…" he repeated over and over in his head. "I… didn't even tell her how I felt," he agonized. "Please, Kagome… show me he's lying… show me you're still alive…" he prayed desperately.

 

Oddly enough, his plea was answered when the wind started to twist around the evil hanyou, raising a thick cloud of dust in the process. "Kagura, just what do you think you're doing?" asked Naraku in annoyance.

 

"Blocking your view," came the answer right before an arrow connected with his chest. It was a strange one though as instead of the usual pointed tip, it sported a rounded end draped in a white cloth.

 

As soon as it made contact with the evil hanyou, it started to glow purple. The light quickly grew so intense that everyone had to cover their eyes not to get blinded. When it died, Naraku was on his knees panting with a look of surprised horror on his face.

 

"My heart…" he said bewildered. "It's… back."

 

"Now, Inuyasha!" came Kagome's frantic cry from behind them. "Strike now while he's vulnerable!" she repeated urgently.

 

The sound of his love's voice sent electrical current coursing through his body. "She's… alive!" was his only thought as relief and happiness flooded his being. It was quickly wiped away by the reality of the current situation though. As he saw their enemy on his knees, he could suddenly remember all the pain and suffering they had endured because of him. An emotion like none he ever felt before burst into him. Rage, anger, hate -- it all mixed together and flooded his being, making him forget his wounds. His eyes held a dark gleam as he leveled his gaze on the demon in front of him. "You're through… Naraku," he spoke in a dead tone that froze the blood of everyone who heard it. "KONGOUSOUHA!" he yelled as he swung his blade.

 

Still reeling, Naraku was unable to dodge the coming wave of crystals. They hit him exactly where the arrow had, sending waves of agony coursing through his body. A bloodcurdling scream escaped him as the diamonds tore his flesh apart and found their way to the very thing he had tried so hard to get rid of: his heart.

 

He continued to yell, his voice rising in pitch as his body disintegrated until there was simply nothing left but a small black sphere. Cracks started to appear on it and it pulsed violently as if trying to keep itself whole. It proved to be a futile effort because a second later, it shattered into hundreds of pieces which in turn dissolved into nothingness.

 

******

 

An eerie silence fell on the small clearing. No one dared to believe what their eyes had just witnessed. Miroku was the first to recover from his surprise and quickly unwrapped the prayer beads around his right arm and looked at his hand intently.

 

"Houshi… sama?" asked a curious Sango when he didn't move.

 

The monk showed no sign that he had heard the girl's question. He continued to stare at his hand like he was hypnotized. Worried, the demon slayer started to limp her way to the unmoving Miroku. "Houshi-sama!" she repeated more firmly when she reached him.

 

This time the monk heard and he shifted his gaze to her. The look he sported on his face was strange. It was a mix between disbelief, relief and hope. "It's gone Sango," he whispered. "I'm… free," he finished right before collapsing to his knees.

 

The demon slayer could only smile at this, her own torment dimming in the face of the monk's happiness. "Yes you are…," she finally answered as she sat beside him. "… Miroku-sama," she finished shyly.

 

The monk snapped his head in her direction, clearly surprised at hearing the demon slayer say his name. Before he could reply however, the voice of Inuyasha pierced the silence.

 

"KAAAGOOOMEEE!!!!!!"

 

******

 

As soon as Sango had spoken, the surprise holding the hanyou in place dissipated, replaced by a sense of urgency. "Kagome…" he thought frantically as he scanned the landscape and sniffed the air trying to locate her presence more precisely. It wasn't long before he spotted her, leaning against a tree and looking positively exhausted.

 

He wasted no time and in two leaps he was in front of her. His heart stopped when he saw the state she was in. Her normally shiny black hair was now dirty with a mix of blood, dirt and sweat. Her white and green clothing was stained dark red as the blood continued to flow from her wounds. Her skin was now a deadly shade of white and the fire usually burning so strong in her brown eyes was almost completely gone.

 

"Kagome…" was all the hanyou managed to say.

 

"Inuyasha…" murmured the schoolgirl, before collapsing in the arms of the hanyou. "We've done it, haven't we? We won," she said, her voice weakening with every word.

 

"Yes, Naraku's dead, but don't talk Kagome, save your strength, I'll take you to Kaede, she'll patch you up for sure," answered the frantic hanyou.

 

"I'm happy… that I was with you… in the end," she murmured weakly. "I… love… you," she finally whispered before going limp.

 

"No, Kagome! KAAAGOOOMEEE!!!!!!" cried Inuyasha as his heart shattered in his chest.