InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bittersweet ❯ Vita mii mors est - your death is my life ( Chapter 1 )

Bittersweet

Chapter One: *Vita mii mors est - your death is my life*

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AN: I now have two betas, xnycz azn angelx and Dee, who is the greatest beta ever!!! She suggested a list of the japanese words I'm going to use. So here it is:

Miko - priestess (like Kaede, Kagome, Kikyou)

chan - endearment

san, sama - formal salutation

houshi - salutation for priests

hanyou - half demon (like Inuyasha)

youkai - demon

Kami - a spirit, like god

Whenever I use something new I will add it. I also will try not to use a lot of these words because it is a story written in english, it would be slightly unfair to expect a degree in japanese to read it.

I have deleted the next two chapters because they were unbetaed. I post them again when I think they won't frighten the readers away, hopefully next week. I really try to do the writing thing better so please be patient with me. On with the story...

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Kagome watched the battle, which took place in front of her. The rice fields and trees that had been there were destroyed, only an ever-present layer of gray, lifeless ash was seen. She looked for her friends and discovered Sango, who held the body of her dead brother in her arms. The demon slayer sobbed uncontrollably and pressed her face against his chest. The sad noise she made resounded in Kagome's ears. More tears shed because of the evil that was Naraku, she thought.

The young Miko stared at the jewel shard in her hand. It was the one that belonged to Kohaku, whom Sango now was mourning. He had pulled it out of his back during a brief moment Naraku had lost control over him. Kohaku had seen his sister and had decided to never hurt her again. Now he laid there, dead in her lap. Sango was now the last of her family.

Kagome tensed her fist around the shard and suppressed the tears that threatened to fall. The battle wasn't over; there were still enemies to fight off.

Not far away from where she stood amidst the ashes was Miroku. He was defending himself against the last few of Naraku's hornets from hell. His left leg was broken, but he still held out. Watching this, Kagome started to run to help him to destroy the demons. 'I will not stay and watch my friends hurting more!' She hadn't come very far when suddenly a black flash went down between her and the monk.

"Where do you want to go, little girl?" The evil voice of the half demon Naraku echoed menacingly behind her. She turned just in time to dodge another flash. Her skin was covered in dirt and blood, but she managed to stand up and face the vicious source of all the woe around her.

"Naraku..." she growled with gritted teeth.

"That's the name, little wannabe Miko. If you give me your shards now, your death won't be to painful." He grinned, but his cold dead eyes never showed any emotion.

Despite her overwhelming fear, Kagome stood upright. "Never!" she said and felt the Miko powers in her veins. The shards around her neck and in her hand glowed purple and an ethereal aura appeared around her.

"I will not surrender, you will never get the Shikon No Tama, because I won't let you!" She shouted bravely. Her long hair waved around her head, her eyes were full of energy.

Naraku wrinkled his mouth, furious. 'How dared this little nothing to resist me?! I am the mightiest demon that has ever strolled the earth! HOW DARE SHE??!!'

He lifted his arms above his head and with supernatural speed leaped at the girl. His left hand was clawed and directed at her heart. There was no way for Kagome to dodge the attack so she took a deep breath and shielded herself from the claw with crossed arms. 'I'm going to fight this monster. Long enough has he played his sick games with us.' Resoluteness filled her mind. The aura around her pulsed even brighter and sparks splattered when she met the full force of Naraku's wrath.

That moment the world around her became blurred. She couldn't make out her friends, who were strewn at large around the field of ash. She couldn't see the change of Naraku's facial expression from pure fury to something like anxiety while he tried to break her shield. Punching the purple barrier, rage grew within him. This was the only obstruction in his path to killing the Miko, finally.

On the other side of the battlefield Inuyasha just killed the last of Naraku's henchmen as he forced the power of Tessaiga through the skull of the big, ugly demon. Suddenly he sensed the Miko power that radiated from Kagome and looked up in time to see another of Naraku's mighty blows recoil from her aura. As fast as he could, he jumped in direction of the girl, afraid she wouldn't hold on any longer.

' Kagome!' screamed his heart. "Kagome!" He couldn't bear to see her in such immense danger. 'Stupid bitch! She should have waited at the edge of the field! Why does she always ignore me?' He sped up, afraid to not reach her in time.

Suddenly he came to halt in mid-jump and faced away from Kagome. His nostrils fluttered when he smelled the most precious scent that belonged to his former love. Kikyou was near.

There she stood among some dead bodies of evil servants. Her eyes linked with his and all he could feel was relief. 'She is still alive.' Her long, black hair flowed in the wind behind her, as did her Miko robes. 'Kikyou..' Inuyasha stared in wonder for part of a second. Then he remembered the other girl. ' I don't have time for you now. I have to save Kagome first. But please, don't leave me again.' He pleaded silently. But before he could turn to run the last meters towards Kagome, she lifted one arm and indicated him to approach. His eyes opened wide and became empty. Kagome's fight forgotten, he followed her order.

Although Kagome couldn't see them, her range of vision still blurred by the purple energy around her, she instinctively sensed the presence of her past incarnation. The parts of her soul that were still with the ancient Miko tried to embrace her spirit, to be complete again. She turned her head slightly and it was enough to see the shapes of both, Kikyou and Inuyasha deeply intertwined. Her eyes went wide and her heart broke just a little bit more.

'I should have known it..' she thought. 'He will always go back to her. He doesn't care if I am fighting or dying. He just wants to be with her..'

The barrier that surrounded her began to weaken. Naraku, who watched close, smiled evilly. His chance to break through would come soon. His attacks grew fiercer, only a few more blows were needed to break through.

Kagome was lost; all her will to win disappeared with her growing despair. She was alone. Inuyasha wouldn't come to help her; he has finally chosen Kikyou to be with. Kagome would always only be the unworthy reincarnation of his beloved.

The aura that surrounded Kagome shrank more and more until Naraku could see a little hole right there where her heart was. He gained all his strength for one final attack.

With an unhuman cry of pleasure, Naraku rushed forward as fast as possible. His face was warped in viciousness as he aimed for the heart of Kagome. His clawed hand passed the purple energy aura that encompassed the deadpanned girl. Just as his finger touched the fabrics of her shirt Kagome was torn out of her lethargy. The feeling of fear was overwhelming and panic got the best of her; furthermore, she just felt sadness and loneliness. It was to late. ' I'm going to die.'

Her eyes turned in the direction of Inuyasha and Kikyou, still embraced. Eventually she let them rest on the hanyou, who had become the love of her life. 'Good Bye Inuyasha..' Her last thoughts should be of him.

Suddenly Naraku's evil grin vanished and he was thrown back some meters. Between him and Kagome laid Kaede on the ground crooked with pain. The old woman had watched the battle of the young Miko and the evil demon. When she had seen the barrier falter she had rushed in the middle of them to save the girl's life.

"Kaede-sama..?" Kagome's voice sounded distant and despaired. Kaede squirmed slightly until she could see the girl's eyes. A big wound, like a hole, was in the front of her body just where her ribcage ended. Thick streams of blood poured from the gash.

"You have to defeat this monster, daughter, this is your duty. You have the strength.." she coughed, weakened fast. "Look inside of you, use the jewel. I know you can do it... be... strong..beloved.." With these words on her lips she died laying in the now bloodied ash in front of Kagome.

All the things had happened so fast, Kagome's thoughts and feelings were in turmoil. Rage coursed through her, as she saw the now dead body of her surrogate mother and teacher. 'He has killed her. He has killed her! He is going to die.' Nothing but this thought was left in her mind.

Her senses grew keener and she could feel the ache of her wounded friends. The tears still streamed down Sango's face mourning her brother, although she now watched Kagome. Miroku leaned exhausted with his broken leg against Kirara, who was covered in cuts and blood, one of her eyes painfully shut. In front of them laid the last of Naraku's poisonous insects, dead. Shippo laid on the other side of a little hill, formerly covered with green trees and grass. He was unconscious, but she could sense his heart beating.

'You will never hurt one of my friends again. No more dying today, besides you.'

Inuyasha floated now above the reopened entrance to hell, together with Kikyou. They were tightly interlaced, unalert to the world around them. When Kagome watched Inuyasha's gentle look directed at Kikyou, the rage she felt for Naraku was joined with longing and sadness.

"Well well, finally I got the old hag and you will be the next!" Naraku grinned, full of hatred and gathered his strength to attack again.

This was the last stroke needed. Inside of Kagome something snapped and the flood broke through. Rage and power flowed through her body, the purple barrier pulsed again brightly, back at its old strength, growing stronger. And then she felt the spark, her parts of the Shikon No Tama glowing hot against her chest. And not just her shards, Naraku too felt the power that radiated from her. His shards pulsated in beat with Kagome's. Fright spread out, visisible on his face. Kagome was lost in her world of feelings and impressions, finally connected to the jewel. She now knew so many things. She saw the fighting souls inside the jewel, saw Midoriko's purity, and she saw her own power. She knew what to do. With one motion of her hand she called all the Shikon shards toward her and all of them followed. Naraku's body was torn apart when the shards, like little spikes, breached his flesh. He was covered in blood. 'Just like my friends.. ', Kagome thought satisfied.

When the last shard was reassociated the jewel of four souls shone in front of her, completed, back to his perfect round shape. The light radiating pulsed in time with her heartbeat as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her task. Weakened from the loss of his shards Naraku could do nothing but watch terrified when a bright flash emitted from the Shikon No Tama and went straight in his direction. When it reached him, he cried out a last time, frustrated with defeat.

Kagome had used the energy flash to purify Naraku's demons. His human half was so intertwined with the demon power that it couldn't stand the loss. After only seconds nothing was left of the former human Onigumo and his unholy agreement with the demon hordes. Relief coursed through her.

But when she turned away, towards Inuyasha and Kikyou, she sighted. 'There are still things left to do.' Both were inattentive of Naraku's defeat. They stared at only each other, levitating above Kikyou's sinkhole.

Silence flew trough Kagome. The ethereal aura, that surrounded her was now bright like the sunshine. She took some steps towards the two lovers, the completed jewel hovering above her hand.

'I don't want him to die.' she thought sadly. 'I want him to be happy even when it's not with me.' She tilted her head contemplative. 'It hurts to see them together, but I want him to live. Kikyou is his first love, they went through so much. They both deserve to be happy again.'

With these thoughts she straightened her back and closed her eyes again. She now held the jewel with both hands high above her head and concentrated on the power that flooded her veins and the Shikon No Tama. With all her energy and love, she sent a bright, pink light towards Inuyasha and the dead Miko. The light was absorbed by their bodies and the entrance Kikyou had created foundered. Inuyasha's eyes fell closed. Slowly he was separated from the Miko's body of clay and bones and laid down gently on the ground. He looked like he was sleeping, huddled up in a fetus position. Kagome opened her eyes again and it was the most peaceful thing she had ever witnessed. She took a deep breath and a single tear escaped her eye. She then directed the light of the jewel towards Kikyou's shape above the ground. Seconds and minutes passed and the body absorbed all the energy Kagome could sent. The friends who now had gathered around her, watched astonished when the jewel decreased more and more. With one final bright flash the last energy that was the former jewel of four souls vanished in the direction of Kikyou. The Miko sunk to the ground beneath Inuyasha, motionless, sleeping. In the distance Kagome could hear her heart beat steadily.

When her task was fulfilled, she smiled a contented little smile and collapsed to the ground.

The battle was over, Naraku defeated, and the jewel had vanished from the face of earth. The friends who had witnessed, were amazed at the display of power. They gathered around the young Miko, who had saved them all. The dead bodies of Kaede and Kohaku were placed on litters to transport them back to the village where they would be buried honorably. Shippo who wasn't awake yet was cuddled by Sango. He wasn't hurt badly besides a lump on the head, he would heal. As would the others. No one spoke much. Miroku was brought by Kirara, starring in wonder at his now wholesome hand. His wind hole had disappeared with the death of Naraku. And for the first time in her life Sango hugged him dearly, sobbing on his shoulder and for the first time in his life Miroku didn't react like a lecher tried to grope her.

Inuyasha was the first to awake again. He arose to his feet and looked down at the sleeping form of Kikyou. His eyes were wide in wonder when he heard her heart beating and smelled her full of life again. He turned around to see Kagome arouse too, circled by their friends. 'Thanks to Kami, they are alive!'

He looked back towards the revived Miko and made a resolve. Affectionately, he discarded a strand of her long silky hair from her cheek, knelt down and lifted her up. Her light body in his arms he jumped away across the field of ash, avoiding the dead bodies of demons that laid all over the place. He finally disappeared behind the horizon, Kagomes look on his back.

More hugs were shared and more tears shed until they begun their way back. Kagome walked behind them deep in thought.

'Tomorrow I will go back to my world, where I belong. There is no reason to stay here any longer.' she sighted sadly. 'I will miss my friends. And Inuyasha. I won't regret the time with him here. I know I've done the right thing. They belong together and surely they will be happy...' She put her hand above her heart and clenched it into a fist. 'What if they find out? I don't want them to worry.' She snorted softly, lifted her head and starred towards the horizon into the light of the rising morning sun, wondering how many days were left until she would feel the loss of her parted soul.

END PART ONE

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Dees Note: This took me well over forty-five minutes to beta, DEFINITELY, one of my best works. I'm proud of myself. ^^; Heck, it's not even my story, I just checked the grammar. Slightly sad, but then again, maybe not.