InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes and Dust ❯ The Jewel Restored ( Chapter 11 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Co.

Chapter 11

The Jewel Restored

Inuyasha and Igongoro rushed off toward Hashima once again. Upon arrival, Inuyasha let Igongoro down and asked him to direct him to where Naraku's lab was. He guided him to an underground bunker, hidden beneath a small building located behind the main compound. He used a code to open the door, and they both entered. He turned a circular lock and lifted the heavy, iron tunnel door to the side. He leapt in, and Inuyasha leapt in soon after.

Once Inuyasha hit the floor, about thirty feet down, he saw Igongoro had run off down the tunnel with a lighter in his hand. He ran after him to keep up. The long shaft lead to many different tunnels that branched off in different directions. Each tunnel led down a different path. Their path, however, was quite the zigzag. He made sure to keep up, as the maze was complicated enough to make it easy to get lost.

“You've been down here quite often, haven't you?”

“I'm from the Nagasaki area, and I was here when the bomb was dropped. I was serving as an officer, though they had no idea I wasn't human. I was the only one here to survive the radiation, though it left deep scars.”

“How did you end up under Naraku's thumb?”

“He found me, soon after the bomb dropped. My skin was dropping off when he found me curled up on the ground. He told me he would help me if I served him. He helped provide me skin all these years.”

“I see. Makes sense that you'd be one of his most loyal servants. So, why help me destroy him?”

“Because I'm not against humans, I used to be one.”

“How did you end up being more than human?”

“He showed me how to couple with a demon in his command. The demon is who settled within me, lying dormant, just keeping me alive, and giving me above human abilities.”

“Such as invisibility?”

“Yes. He is a shy demon. He's not evil. He was under Naraku's control, helping him disappear for centuries.”

“No wonder why Naraku has been camped out here. Plenty of places to hide. Explains why I couldn't find him all these years.”

“I was the one who was staking out the energies, and he directed me to procure them for him and bring them.”

“I see. Well, rest assured, I'll find a way to free you from your bondage once I take care of Naraku.”

He stopped and turned to Inuyasha. “I feel free already. This demon is no longer under Naraku's control, and therefore is free as well. Once Naraku is dealt with, I will remain as I am.”

“You don't wish to rest, then?”

“No, I'm kind of a loner, anyways. I won't be any trouble. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind serving you, if you wish it.”

“Why's that?”

“Because you aren't out to harm others, save for Naraku who hurts others for his own benefit.”

“I doubt I'll need your help past today.”

“Well, if you do, you'll know where to find me after this.” He turned forward and led Inuyasha down the tunnels.

Soon, after a few more turns, they reached another large, cast-iron door. He scanned his cornea and the security lock on the door opened. “Stay here for a moment.” He whispered and then entered, only cracking the door shut.

Inuyasha looked through the crack, as he watched Igongoro look for his master. He then waved him in a moment later. Inuyasha entered, leaving the door open.

The room was crowded by shelves of what looked like supplies and a barrage of specimens in jars, vials and boxes. The room was noisy, as the machines worked and hummed. Naraku was there in the corner, spooning the dust from the vial into a round mold.

Inuyasha gestured for Igongoro to remain quiet, and to hide. Once he was out of site, Inuyasha entered the area, where Naraku was working.

“So, that's the dust you extracted from Kagome?”

Naraku turned and saw Inuyasha standing between him and the nearest shelves of specimen.

“How did you find me?” He started looking for his servant.

“Oh, don't bother, he's no longer your servant. He now serves me.”

“Oh, does he, now?” He looked off toward the side room, and saw a set of eyes watching through a cracked door.

“Yes, he does. I told him he is free once you no longer exist.”

“Oh, really? And how do you plan to wipe me from existence?”

Inuyasha eyed him and drew his sword. The blade became surrounded in bright light as it left the sheath, growing to two times its width.

“The Tetsusaiga. It's been quite a spell since I've seen that sword. I must warn you, I'm not as weak as I used to be, and I am about to become much stronger once the reagent forms the dust back into a jewel. I will then be unstoppable.”

“Yeah, we'll see about that.”

Inuyasha swung his sword and sliced him in half. However, Naraku didn't die. His body just hovered above the ground, reformed and he laughed.

“Round and round goes the circle of unending stupidity that clogs your brain. Do you not remember how hard I was to kill me back hundreds of years ago?”

“Yeah, yeah, but I still needed to take a stab in the dark, as you supposedly need the jewel, so I figured you were weaker.”

“No, I'm fusing the jewel together, so I can become invincible!” He shifted, and tentacles rose from his back. The tips of the tentacles opened, revealing mouths with teeth.

“Wow, you've gotten uglier, haven't you?”

He turned and saw the jewel had hardened. He used his energy to lift the jewel into his hand. It was perfect. It was as if the jewel had never shattered, or existed as dust. As it rose from the mold, it was a soft pink color. However, once it landed in his hand, and came in contact with his energy, it turned black almost instantly.

“Hand the jewel to me.” Inuyasha leapt at him, swinging his right hand.

Naraku punched him in the face, launching him back into the shelving. “The jewel is whole once again, and wishes to fuse with my body.”

“Not gonna happen while I'm around!” He leapt at Naraku once again, but that time he dodged. Inuyasha swung his sword, sending Kaze no Kizu his way. Naraku raised a barrier, and chuckled as the energy was dissipated.

“You're powerless to stop me, Inuyasha. This is the beginning of the end for you, and all of humanity. Once the world is cleansed of humans feeding upon it, the world will belong to us demons, and there will be no one to oppose us!”

Inuyasha clinched his teeth as he set his sword to turn a bright red color. He swung his sword again, destroying the barrier. He cut Naraku to pieces, and the jewel fell to the floor, rolling toward him. He picked it up and tightened his fist around it. “You're not getting your hands on the jewel again.”

“And how do you plan to use the jewel, Inuyasha? It has been tainted with my miasma, and you have no prayer of purifying the jewel. If you ingest the jewel, it will turn you into a monster, you can't want that.”

“I don't intend to use the jewel. I intend to keep it out of your hands”

“Don't tell me you've changed your mind on why you pursue the jewel.”

“And what if I have?”

“You no longer want to become a full spirit being? You no longer seek power?”

“I don't need it. I'm powerful enough.”

“Oh, really? If you use the jewel, you may be able to last against me. However, as you are now, you couldn't destroy me in a million years. Go ahead, satiate your thirst for power. The fight might get a little more interesting.”

“No.”

“Humor me, Inuyasha. This will be one hell of a boring fight otherwise.”

“We'll just have to see about that!” He lifted the sword, and it turned scaled green. He searched Naraku's demon vortex. Once he found it, he cut the vortex.

“You've forgotten, cutting my vortex does not work.”

Inuyasha leapt back. “Damn it!”

“These past few decades have caused your brain to become forgetful. None of your techniques work on me. Use the jewel, and you'll be able to fight me. Then, and only then, will you have a chance.” The tentacles spewed miasma into the room, in his direction.

“Yeah, then you'll ingest me, and win in the end anyways! Don't think I plan to fall into any more of your ridiculous traps, Naraku!”

Inuyasha shot the Kaze no Kizu one more time, and ran past Naraku toward the door. Naraku followed him. Inuyasha used his sense of smell to find he path out, and quickly ran through the maze of tunnels. Once he reached the outside, he leapt off, leaping from roof to roof of the abandoned buildings, toward the boat docked at the pier.

Naraku continued on his tail, and never let up. Inuyasha sheathed his sword and tried to widen the distance between them. Suddenly, something snapped at his ankle and he plummeted to the ground. He lifted his upper body and twisted to look over his shoulder to see Uisagi on the other end of the whip.

“I told you I'd come after you again if you didn't finish me off.”

“Uisagi, why are you still working for Naraku?”

Naraku landed beside her with a smug look on his face. “Uisagi was trained by me, and cannot deviate. You see, she's another human I saved from an early death by donating a demon entity to prolong her life, and give her abilities she wouldn't have had otherwise.”

“Uisagi, you do realize who Naraku is, don't you?”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“Then why would you work for such a beast? He kills humans for kicks!”

“I know who and what he is, and what he does. I am one of his most powerful subordinates.”

“So, what I had to say meant nothing to you?”

“I wouldn't say that. It's just, because he saved me, I owe him.”

“You owe him nothing.”

“Calm down, Inuyasha. Uisagi lives at my side, and she will only serve me. You see, the demon I implanted within her is a loyal demonic spirit of mine. He has served me for centuries, and nothing has stopped him from doing so. So, you see, Uisagi is mine for all eternity.”

“Uisagi! This entity cares nothing for you! If you deviate, he will destroy you!”

“Naraku takes care of me, provides for me. Without him, I am nothing!”

“You think he cares about you? Seriously?”

“I know he does! He saved me!”

“Only for you to be his bitch, and do his dirty work. He's the kind to lay everything on his subordinates and then gets off squeaky clean! You know you'll serve time if you continue to serve under him!”

“You think I care about that? To normal humans, I am an outcast!”

“Like I said, you created your own bed because you allowed them to tell you otherwise instead of proving them wrong!”

“You have no idea! No idea what I've been through!”

“That observation is mutual. I was born this way, and after my mother died, I had to fend for myself. My mother's vassals and family saw me as an abomination because I was born between a human and a spirit. I am not accepted in either world because I exist in both at the same time. You, however, your problems were only skin deep, but escalated inward because you allowed others to `make' you who you are today.”

“Shut up! You can't stop me from serving Naraku! If you don't stop trying to turn me, I will kill you!”

“You couldn't kill me before, and I'm not about to let you this time, either.” Inuyasha drew his sword.

“Now, come on, Inuyasha, not willing to fight me with your fists or your claws?”

“Not unless you drop that whip will I fight you without a weapon.”

She tossed her whip away. Inuyasha then sheathed his sword, and set it aside. “Naraku, you are not allowed to participate!”

She walked up to him and put her right hand on his cheek, and the other on his pants. “Maybe we can finish what we started. I promise not to poison you.”

He pushed her away. “I said, don't touch me.”

“So, you're not going to play nice?”

“I thought this was a fight, not a seductive porno.”

“Well, as I said before, I really like you, and I wish to make amends.”

“Not going to happen, you're not my type.” His eyes shot to Naraku who hadn't moved. He seemed to smile wickedly at the scene she was creating.

“Go ahead, Inuyasha, provide me with some sinful entertainment. She promised not to hurt you.”

“Not gonna happen. She already got me going earlier, and I'm not going for a third.”

“Aw. Come on. If you don't want satisfaction, then why not a lot me that luxury of coming at your command of my body? What say you make a true woman out of me, Inuyasha?”

“You want me to make a true woman out of you? Huh? Well, how about I do this,” He pulled her behind him. “Naraku, let her go. Pull that demon out of her, now.”

“Now wait just a damn-“

“Shut-up!” He said over his shoulder. “What say you, Naraku? I have the jewel, and I'm not about to give it up. Why not let her go? The jewel is whole now, and once you become a full demon, you will have no use for her, and will kill her anyways, as she is mainly human.”

“What'd you-“

“You honestly thought he'd keep you at his side, Uisagi? He plans to kill all humans, and rule over all demons on earth.”

“But, Naraku, you said-“

“It's as he said, Uisagi. I plan to rule only demons here in this world. Humans are useless beings, and are weak. They have no value.”

“But, I thought you said you cared about me, and what I did.”

“And you thought that would last?” He chuckled.

She fell to her knees. “Then all those men I tortured, all for you… they were-“

“My enemies, and deserved your talents.”

“No, they didn't. You poisoned my heart. You turned me into a monster.”

“And all for his benefit, not yours.” Inuyasha said over his shoulder. “Do you still wish to serve him now?”

“No.”

“You have no choice, Uisagi. If you refuse to act as I command, I will just simply command the demon within to do my bidding, and cast you out.”

“You bastard!”

Naraku chuckled under a mischievous grin. “Why are you so angry, Inuyasha? She means nothing to you.”

“You're wrong.” She looked up and he met her eyes.

“Inuyasha?”

“I've watched you for centuries. You pulled humans under your wing, like her, and used them. Then when they outlived their usefulness, you slaughtered them after telling them they would have everlasting life. You took their lives, and had no care in the world for what they were willing to sacrifice for you. You're not going to do that to Uisagi.”

“Oh, but it's so simple for me to do it. Watch.” He raised his hand and she screamed out in pain.

Inuyasha turned and knelt before her. He lifted her onto his lap and yelled, “Fight it, Uisagi! Fight!”

She contorted as the demon fought to destroy her spirit. “Uisagi! You're the strongest human I know! Fight that demon! Don't let it consume you!”

“You can't reach her. She's a hundred times weaker than the demon consuming her.”

Inuyasha looked at his hand, and used his nail to slit his palm. He then slit her palm and placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “Come on, Uisagi. Fight it, you can do it, and I'll help.”

She held onto his hand tightly, and he clinched his eyes shut. All the while, he continued to will her to fight. She began to calm gradually. “That's it, come on, girl, you can do it.”

“She's being consumed, Inuyasha. Your blood can't save her now. That's not her, that's the demon you're encouraging.”

“Shut up, we'll see just how strong my blood is.”

After a few moments of panting, her eyes opened. “Uisagi? Are you OK?”

“Inuyasha? What did you…?” She looked at their linked hands.

“I gave you my blood.”

“Your blood?”

Inuyasha nodded. “How do you feel?”

“I feel stronger.”

“So, she was able to overcome the demon, was she? Then I have no further use for her.”

He snapped his tentacle their way, and Inuyasha slashed it with his claws. He stood and faced him, protecting her.

“You will not touch her.”

“You have all the luck with the women, don't you, Inuyasha?”

“That's only because I have compassion, which is something you severely lack.”

“You've taken both of my subordinates from me. Congratulations.”

“Not needed.”

Naraku snapped his fingers, and Uisagi screamed again as what looked like miasma seeped out of her body. “I'll be taking back my most faithful servant, as he's served his purpose with you.”

Inuyasha knelt beside her. “Uisagi!”

She writhed as the noxious fumes shot from her body and sailed right back to Naraku's side. Once the gas had fully left her body, she fell to the side, and moaned.

“You're OK, Uisagi. You're free, now.” Inuyasha said to her.

She opened her eyes to see his gold irises looking at her. She sat up and hugged him. “Thank you for saving me.”

“You're welcome.”

“Looks like you gained another lover, huh, Inuyasha?”

“Let's get one thing straight, Naraku. I love Kagome, and that's it. I care about Uisagi, as she was betrayed by you, and rooked into doing your dirty deeds. There are different types of love, and each one is just as rich as the others.”

“Spare me your love talk, Inuyasha. I care not for emotional expressions. I only care for power, and respect.”

“Yeah, well, respect doesn't always go hand in hand with power, jackass.”

“Now hand me the jewel, or I will kill Uisagi in front of you.”

“You will not lay a hand on her, and I am not forking over the jewel.”

Naraku smirked and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, the miasma of the other demon surrounded Uisagi. Inuyasha unsheathed his sword and swung to dissipate the miasma. He sliced at the miasma to kill the demon, and protect her. Naraku sent a tentacle her way, and Inuyasha slashed it to pieces.

Suddenly, the pieces surrounded him, wrapping his arms close to his body. Inuyasha struggled to get free as the demon attacked her once again. Inuyasha slashed the tentacles away with his Sankontessou. He then scooped her into her arms and leapt off further into the trees.

Naraku followed. However, Igongoro stopped him in his pursuit of Inuyasha. “You're not going after him. You're dealing with me.”

~*~

Inuyasha looked back and noticed Naraku was no longer pursuing them. Once out of the trees, he knelt down on the ground and set her on her feet. “Get on.”

“What?”

“On my back, it'll be faster this way, trust me.”

She stepped around him, and straddled his waist. He tucked his arms under her knees, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He took off toward the boat. Once they arrived, Inuyasha sped off at top speed, and they doubled the distance between them and Naraku as he fought Igongoro.

A while later, they made it back to Tokyo, and Inuyasha took her to the hospital where Kagome was. He leapt up into the room through the window and set Uisagi down.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome said with a smile.

“Hey, you look great. The blood helped.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“So, wait… This is Kagome?”

“Who is this, Inu?”

“Kagome, this is Uisagi. She was a minion of Naraku's, but she's been freed.”

“Nice to meet you, Uisagi. I see that Naraku lied to me earlier.”

“What do you mean?” Uisagi replied.

“He said you broke Inuyasha, poisoned him, and killed him.”

“I did poison him, and I did do terrible things to him. Please forgive me.” She bowed.

“You did those things under Naraku's control, not of your own volition.” Inuyasha said.

“Inuyasha, stop. I did those things under my own volition. I was brainwashed by him. He told me that was all I was good for, and that I should do it well. He never told me what else I could do.”

“But you're free now, and you feel differently about what you did. That means you're a good person, and you need to heal your soul. Since you know what you did was wrong, you will begin to heal and find another path.” Kagome assured.

“You don't know me, Kagome. I've been through hell. I even slept with Naraku, multiple times. I was his mistress for a long time.”

“Oh, wow…” Kagome whispered.

“I don't know where I belong now, least of all with pure hearted people such as yourselves” She looked down.

“That's where you're wrong.” She looked up at Kagome. “This is a crucial time when you need community to heal. Inuyasha and I are alone, now that I learned my mother is dead. You are more than welcome to stay with us.”

“Who are you kidding? I'm not homeless, or anything.”

“No, but you need community. Friends.”

“Anything you need, Uisagi, and you'll have it.”

She smirked. “Even if I ask to spend time with your body?”

“Now, that I will refuse, but anything other than that, you can count on us.”

“Just joking. Damn, Inuyasha.” They laughed.

The door opened and Akitoki entered. “Inu, you're back. Glad to see you're OK. And who's this vixen?” He made eyes at Uisagi.

“Be careful, boy, I could be your first sin,” she smirked and sidled over his way. She licked her finger and ran it down his bare neck to the tip of the V on his scrub.

He chuckled, “Sounds like fun.”

Inuyasha shook his head and sat down beside Kagome. “You look as if this all never happened.”

“I feel as if I was here for no reason.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the jewel. “Here.” He placed it in her hand and the black jewel started to gradually lighten in color. “I knew you had abilities of your own. This is the fully reformed jewel. The dust from this jewel was what was removed from your body.”

“The energy from this jewel is immense!”

“Yeah, I stole it from Naraku, and he may be on his way to retrieve it. We need to find a way to protect it.”

“Or destroy it.”

“Huh?”

“I could make the one and only true wish my grandfather spoke about.”

“To turn me human?”

“No, I need to meditate with the jewel to find the right wish to make. I will need to be protected so I can concentrate.”

“I can do that for you.”

“She's ready to be checked out of the hospital, which you can do that yourself, since she's not on the logs, really.”

“OK, you ready to go to my place?”

“Your place?” Kagome asked.

“Yeah, I have a special room in the basement where you and the jewel will be undetected.”

“OK, let's go then.”

Akitoki detached the IV, and shut off the machine. He removed the EKG nodes from her chest and officially released her, as she truly had no doctor holding her there. Inuyasha handed her the clothes she wore earlier, and they allowed her to dress herself. Once she was dressed, He knelt down before her and asked her to get on.

“All right, hang on tight.” He tucked his arms behind her knees and she embraced him, and pulled off his bandana to kiss his left ear. She tied the bandana back on, and he leapt through the window.

“So, wanna have coffee?” Akitoki asked Uisagi.

“How about more than coffee?” He chuckled.

~*~

Not long after they left the hospital, they arrived back at Inuyasha's house, and they entered through the garage. His home was modern, with a fully loaded kitchen he supposedly never used, aside from the microwave. The ranch was spacious, and looked like a model home that had never been lived in.

He walked her to the door leading into the basement. He flipped on the switches for the lights, and led her down another flight of stairs that lead to a small room. He shut the door and flipped another switch. The light turned on, and she saw walls covered in protective sutras.

“This room, who set up the protection?”

“My friend Miroku is a descendant of a long line of Buddhist monks. This is where I had Kaede whenever I got suspicious if Naraku was nearby, or if I caught scent of him.”

“So, you want me to meditate here, then?”

“Yes. Stay here until I come to tell you the coast is clear.”

“OK.”

He stepped up to her and held her for a moment. “Inuyasha?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for everything. I really will do my best to end this.”

“I know.” He leaned down and kissed her. After a few kisses, he backed her up against the wall, and the kiss deepened. Their hearts raced as their mouths ravage each other's. His hips pressed her firmly against the wall, and he was finding it hard to control his need for her.

“I'm glad you're back with me. I'm glad I was able to save you. For once, you lived.”

He continued to kiss her deeply for another minute before he lifted her onto his hips, and ran his hands up her back under her shirt.

“Inu…” She put her hand on his red cheek. “I want you too, but I need as much energy as I can give to get the answer we need.”

He panted. “OK, I'll wait for you.”

“Thank you. I look forward to being with you again.”

They kissed again, this time more tenderly, and less needy. He set her down and stepped away from the wall. “Do your best, my love.”

She nodded. He left the room, and locked the door. She took the jewel out of her pocket and held it in her hand. She sat on the large pillow at the center of the room, and crossed her legs. She encased the jewel in her hands, and delved deeply into a meditative state.

~*~

Inuyasha reached the first floor, and looked through the windows. The house was quiet, and there was no movement outside. He sat down on the couch and watched the yard. He remained still, save for his ears shifting in different directions. His eyes darted to the digital clock on the wall to check the time.

`Please, Kagome, find those answers.'