InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ambiguity ❯ Unity ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

~Unity~

 

A rumbling shook the earth below their feet. A fierce roar of the earth protesting the movement filled the air. Sango and Miroku both fell to the ground, staring with something akin to horror as a bizarre purplish light filtered from the crater before their very eyes.

“What's going on?” Sango yelled to be heard over the din, fumbling for her Hiraikotsu.

“I think…” Miroku replied, shielding his eyes from the light, “Yes! Naraku is emerging!”

The roar increased as tentacles began to crawl their way out and over the crater rim, similar to fingers grasping for a hold. Through the feelers shot a white feather and a silver blur, the former streaking towards Sango and Miroku.

“It's Inuyasha and Kagome!” Sango exclaimed as the feather descended. The hanyou and the miko coasted to the ground and dismounted. The feather shrank back into its original size before bursting into a fine white powder.

“Sango! Miroku! You guys are safe!” Kagome whispered, her voice barely heard over the incredible rumbling.

“Are you alright, Kagome?” Sango asked, rushing to her friend.

“Yes, I'm fine. Inuyasha's fine… we're both fine… thanks to Kagura…” the miko replied, suddenly looking melancholy.

“She's dead then,” Miroku stated, still staring at the spot where the feather had disintegrated.

“Yeah… she sacrificed herself,” Inuyasha replied with a shrug, “I always wondered why she would stay with such a bastard,”

“How does Sesshoumaru feel about that?” Miroku continued to question. He and Sango had seen the silver haired youkai enter the abyss shortly after Inuyasha had.

Once again, the hanyou shrugged, “Don't know, don't really care,” he turned to face the emerging Naraku, pushing Kagome slightly behind him, “Looks like we made him good and mad…”

A head and torso had surfaced among the rippling tentacles, a hundred times their normal size. The giant face of Naraku smiled cynically down at the five of them.

“So, the exterminator and the monk have arrived as well?” he laughed, a thunderous sound that boomed across the large, desolate plateau, “You think that three humans, a hanyou and a silly cat youkai can defeat me? I, Naraku, who now holds the almost complete Shikon Jewel? Ha! Then come at me! Try your best!” he laughed again.

“The Jewel is in his chest,” Kagome whispered to Inuyasha, peering over his shoulder at the monster before them. This was all her fault. If she had just gone back home and ignored the feeling of youkai then this wouldn't be happening…

`Come on, girl! You can't blame yourself completely! This was bound to happen sooner or later. Better sooner than try to prolong the inevitable, right? Besides, this is SO much more fun than studying, right?'

Kagome smiled sarcastically as Inuyasha nodded, drawing his sword, `Yeah… but studying is so much safer…'

Somewhere from over in the regions to the group's left, a green aura shot out and crumbled some of Naraku's tentacles.

“Sesshoumaru…” Kagome whispered. She could now see the stoic youkai, regal, proud and unflinching as tentacles assailed him, `He's helping us out?' then she quickly shook her head, `No… he's avenging for Kagura…'

And so the battle began. No amount of attacking could seem to get anywhere near the center of Naraku. Hiraikotsu couldn't get close enough; Miroku's Kazaana was useless due to the Saimyoshou buzzing around and sutras couldn't get close enough to the main body either. Inuyasha's Kaze no Kizu was in vain along with the Bakuryuuha, both of which were merely tickles to Naraku. Even Sesshoumaru was having a tough time; tentacles assaulted him so relentlessly that he was starting to become overwhelmed. Kagome felt completely useless. She didn't have a bow or arrows and even if she did, Inuyasha wouldn't let her use them, she was sure of. He—backed up by both Sango and Miroku—had demanded that she not move around so much because of her sulfur-induced fatigue. Kirara had been given the task of protecting Kagome from stray feelers, which tended to attack her when Inuyasha wasn't looking.

“Kaze no Kizu!” Inuyasha shouted for what felt like the hundredth time. Once again, the golden waves of energy did nothing in the effort to destroy Naraku.

Kagome sighed. She was almost bored with this. It seemed never ending. Her fingers itched to be doing something, anything, to help out.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted, scooping her up and depositing her away from where a tentacle had just slammed into the earth, inches from where she was just sitting.

She blinked, “Thanks,” she replied. She hadn't been aware of the assault until after it had happened.

“How are you holding up?” the hanyou asked, his senses scanning the area, his eyes fixed on Kagome.

“Just fine,” she replied. She could see in his eyes how tired he was; it was only the desire to slay Naraku once and for all that was glowing in his gaze, giving him the fuel to continue, “Are you okay?”

He shrugged, “Feh. Needed the exercise…” he drifted off, eyes fixed on a point over Kagome's shoulder. She watched him. That look on his face…

The miko whirled around. There, materializing not twenty-five feet from them was Kikyou, pale and ethereal as ever. The dead miko headed towards them. Inuyasha made to push Kagome behind him, but she resisted, nudging him gently in the ribs. Kikyou's emotionless eyes weren't focused on the hanyou, but they called to Kagome.

“Go, Inuyasha,” she reassured as the earth gave a mighty shake.

“Inuyasha! We could use some help here!” Sango called over the rumble.

Kagome could see the war inside him. The curiosity to see what Kikyou wanted raged with the want to jump back into the fray. Something about this struggle pulled at Kagome. How could he want to see Kikyou when all their lives were in danger?

“Go!” she pushed a little more forcibly.

Finally, the hanyou subsided. With a growl, he sprinted back to battle, releasing the Wind Scar as he went.

Kagome watched him go, before turning to face the priestess, “What do you want?” she asked.

It didn't seem as though Kikyou had heard her. Kagome was just about to repeat herself when she spoke.

“You'll never be able to defeat him individually,” she commented, eyes roving over the scene, “You must all unite your energy together. Only then can he be defeated.”

Kagome looked around confused, “Energy? What's that supposed to mean?” she demanded, failing to see the logic in the situation.

Kikyou grasped Kagome's shoulders, making her gasp and wince, “You must unite your powers, don't you see? Your full potential has yet to be tapped, because I selfishly hold part of it. All it takes is one shot, one shot and Naraku will be overpowered. He is not a god, he will fall.”

Her hands on Kagome's shoulders began to glow pink. It was then that Kagome understood, “Kikyou…” she whispered as the light began to heat and flood over her skin.

“I wanted Inuyasha's life. I have come to realize though, that I cannot have it if I wish for my death to be avenged. It was Naraku that killed me, it was Naraku that took time from Inuyasha's life. And then you came…” she paused, eyes shifting to the side, before returning to Kagome's, “And it was Naraku that brought you and Inuyasha together.”

Her body began to glow like her hands, pink at first, then slowly whitening. Kagome could only watch, too shocked to speak, as the priestess started to fade before her eyes, “Naraku's death means your life. Your life ultimately means mine. Inuyasha has pushed me aside as something of the past for you, and I have finally come to accept that. You must defeat Naraku, you must promise me that you will take care of Inuyasha. Together, you have the strength to defeat him, as him and I together created him…” her voice echoed, drifted as the light that had consumed her began to envelope Kagome.

“Wait!” Kagome shouted. She didn't understand. Combine powers? Defeat Naraku and live for Kikyou? What did it all mean? Why did she always have to speak in damn riddles?

Kagome could see the fuzzy outline of Kikyou's smile, “Tell Inuyasha that I will always love him,” she whispered. A flash of white light and Kikyou was gone, dust and clay scattered on the artificial breeze.

It was a moment that Kagome stood there, staring at the spot where Kikyou had been, before she felt it. A power, filling her like a balloon being filled with warm water, swirled through her veins, crept under her skin. And then she understood.

Kikyou had sacrificed herself to complete Kagome. It was the rest of her soul, filling up the emptiness that Kagome had come to accept. It was a powerful feeling and at that moment, she knew what she had been asked to do. It was possible, yes, but the execution… there was no other way…

“Inuyasha!” she shouted, running up to him and grasping his arm. She could feel the crackle of energy inside her, a pressure ready to burst at any moment, “I know how to defeat Naraku!”

That got his attention. He whirled around, “What?” he demanded, before suddenly looking over her head, “Where's Kikyou?”

Kagome looked away. She didn't have to say anything as a single tear rolled down her face. Despite the fact that she always felt that Kikyou was in her way and trying to ruin her life, the thought that the miko sacrificed herself to benefit Kagome's future was something worth redemption.

The hanyou nodded, pursing his lips, “Right,” he commented. He was quiet for a moment, then he whipped to face her, “So, spill it! How do we defeat this little fucker?”

She smiled through her tears, “You're going to have to trust me, okay?” she demanded, reaching up and holding his face to make sure she had his full attention, “And let me get on your back.”

He blinked, “What?” he shouted, “No way! You're gonna get yourself killed, aren't you?”

Kagome stamped her foot, “You have to trust me, Inuyasha! This is the only way!” more tears coursed down her face. She was about to put him through hell and he was making it worse for her.

He didn't understand why she was crying. He didn't know what she had planned, except that it was obviously so important that it was upsetting her. The desire to protect her from all harm and the want to make her stopped crying warred inside him for a moment. Women… their needs never went hand and hand…

`Just trust her, damn you! You know you do! She obviously is seeing something in this battle that you ain't! Just do it!'

He growled, “Fine,” he crouched down and let her climb onto his back, “What's your plan?”

His skin erupted into goose bumps when she stuck her hands inside his kimono and pressed them flat against his back, “Oi! What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” she whispered. He heard her take a deep breath, “When I say go, I want you to release the Backlash Wave like you've never done before,” she took another, more staggered breath. He could smell her tears, “Don't stop for anything, okay? Promise me! You can't stop for anything!”

Inuyasha nodded, still not getting why this required her hands in his kimono.

`Shut up and don't complain!' his youkai ordered.

`You're not the one who has to wave a sword with her hands all over you!' he snorted, gripping Tetsusaiga and widening his stance. He inhaled through his nose, letting everything relax, her scent filled him up, her trust in him, his trust in her, everything. He soaked it in and faced his nemesis.

Naraku's voice boomed out towards them, “What is this?” he laughed, “Pairing up now, in a vain attempt to defeat me? Try it! I welcome the challenge!” his maniacal laugh filled the plateau, rumbled the earth below their feet.

“Rush him,” Kagome whispered, flexing her hands against his back as the energy inside began to creep to her fingertips, “Run, NOW!”

With a vicious growl, the hanyou ran towards Naraku, heaving his sword up. He could feel a heat against his skin, getting hotter by the second, scalding his back.

“Wait for it…” Kagome commanded softly. She could feel his skin burning under her hands and more tears slipped down her face, “Wait…”

The hanyou gritted his teeth against the pain as it began to wash over his entire body. She made him promise that he wouldn't stop and he trusted her. But what the hell was she doing? He could feel her miko energy rushing through his blood, purifying him, weakening him more and more every step. His vision began to blur…

She saw out of the corner of her eye Sesshoumaru release an enormous blast of energy from his sword, Tokijin. The stoic youkai caught her eye and in that instant, she knew that he knew. He was helping.

“GO!” she shouted to Inuyasha, releasing all her energy through her hands, through him and out through his sword.

The burn was incredible, making his vision turn a shade of pink. It was only pure adrenaline that kept him from falling flat on his face. Never had he experienced such intense pain. It was like his very bones were on fire. With an almighty yell, Inuyasha slammed Tetsusaiga into the earth, “Bakuryuuha!”

Instead of the normal yellow streaks that issued from his blade, pink ones shot through. He knew then that Kagome had filled him with her energy so he could release it through his attack. The pink light shot towards Naraku, colliding with Sesshoumaru's green energy just before it hit. The blast was severe. For a heart stopping moment, everything was quiet. Naraku stared where he was hit in the center of the chest, Kagome stopped crying, Inuyasha let his sword fall, Sango, Miroku and Sesshoumaru stared.

Suddenly, this white-purplish light began to grow from inside Naraku. A piercing whistle filled the air. Naraku was screaming and the light was steadily getting larger.

“Oh shit…” Kagome swore, snapping Inuyasha back to reality. She had never sworn before.

`Run, you animal! RUN!'

He bolted, scooping up Kagome under the knees. How he managed to run as fast as he did when his whole body was completely drained would always baffle him. But he ran, the light rapidly trying to catch his heels, one thought in his head:

`Gotta get over the cliffs, gotta get over the cliffs…'

Kagome looked over his shoulder and gasped. The light was blindly, the sound intense, coming closer and closer… they were never going to make it… it was feet from them… she could feel the heat and white-hot burn…

“Osuwari!”

Down they went, Inuyasha wasting no time in pulling her close and covering her with his haori. The light washed over them, hot, sticky. Kagome felt like she was going to burn up. She moved as close to Inuyasha as she could, holding on tight and feeling like she was going to get blown away, `I hope this is it…' she prayed, `I hope this is the end of Naraku… I hope this isn't the end of us instead…'

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It felt like ages before the wind died down, but in reality it was only a few moments. Everything was unearthly quiet. Kagome shifted, opening her eyes and finding Inuyasha's face right there. He was as pale as death and for a full heart beat, she thought he might be.

“Kami… Inuyasha?” she whispered, “Inuyasha?”

Slowly, one bright golden eye opened to stare at her, and she breathed again, “Hey, oh kami…”

“What?” he asked, voice hoarse with exhaustion, eyes reflecting a fatigue that she had never seen before in anybody, let alone him.

“I'm sorry.”

He cocked a brow, “For what?”

She shook her head, “Just… I'm so sorry…” she touched his face. He was all clammy.

He closed his eyes at her soft touch, “Is it over?” he whispered, ears twitching.

She listened to the silence around them, “I think so… oh gosh I hope so…” slowly, she peeled herself out of the haori and sat up. Everything was bare and charred and there was no sign of Naraku.

Then she felt it. This… feeling of total content, like a dark shadow had been lifted from her soul and bathed with a pure light. She gasped, touching her chest.

“What?” Inuyasha questioned upon hearing her gasp.

“I- I can't feel him anymore,” she replied hesitantly, “His energy… I can't feel it anymore… I've always felt it, even when… even when no one else could…”

With a small whine, Inuyasha pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked around. Barren. Completely devoid of everything that had just been there. Gazing around the landscape, he could help but feel a quiet sense of loss. His whole life had led up to this moment, the moment of defeating Naraku, and now, it was over. Done.

Or maybe that sense of loss wasn't really loss at all, but freedom.

Or pure exhaustion.

Damn… he felt wiped.

“It's over?” he asked again, plopping back down to the ground and simply laying there.

She smiled down at him, “Yeah, yeah, Inuyasha, I think it is…” she looked up across the land again and suddenly squealed, waving her arms energetically, “Sango! Miroku! Over here!” she called, jumping to her feet.

`Kami, please tell me she isn't about to make me move…'

Inuyasha groaned, trying to sit up again. His head was spinning like crazy. For a brief second, he wondered if he was going to throw up or not.

“Don't get up!” Kagome squealed, trying to get him to lie back down, “I- just, don't move if you can't…”

“I'll be okay…” he muttered, slowly, very slowly, rising to his feet. He swayed, stumbled and she caught him before he fell, `I'll be okay when hell freezes over…'

“Kagome! Inuyasha!” Sango exclaimed, clambering off of Kirara and embracing Kagome. Both girls squealed and laughed, crying a little too.

“Is it really over?” Kagome asked, searching Sango's face.

The exterminator shrugged, glancing over at Miroku slowly, “Houshi-sama?” she asked, “What of your curse?”

Miroku stared at her for a moment, as if trying to comprehend what she was saying. Then, as if in a daze, he unwrapped his Kazaana. He grimaced, as if expecting it to suck him in. A small artificial wind ruffled his hair and then, with a small pop, his hand closed.

A collective gasp went around. Sango reached out and snatched his hand so that she and Kagome could fully examine it. Nothing, not even a scar.

“It's really over…” Sango whispered, looking up at Kagome, “Really, really…” she glanced at Miroku, then to Inuyasha, and her brow furrowed, “Inuyasha? You okay?”

Kagome whirled around. The hanyou had a strange sort of smile on his face. He was swaying on his feet and his skin was pale and damp. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, “Inuyasha?” she called, “Inuyasha?”

He blinked, eyes unfocused, as he glanced in the general direction of her voice, “Damn… it's really over. That fucking bastard is really fucking dead…” his voice was but a thread of sound. And the last thing he heard before the world went dark was Kagome calling his name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A/N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~