InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cannot Be Broken ❯ Into the Darkness ( Chapter 28 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

InuYasha slowly opened his eyes and blinked rapidly as they grew into focus. He groaned in annoyance as his body was gaining awareness, as if waking from a heavy sleep. He stretched slightly and winced as a sharp pain itched from his throat. Dragging a heavy hand to his neck to rub the offending ache, he grimaced at how logy his whole body felt. Fortunately the heaviness was fading, as was the throbbing pain that had woken him. He breathed in deep and his breath caught. The scent of death and mud and blood overwhelmed him, as his senses grew stronger. His eyes widened in realization as he lifted his head and quickly looked around.

Kagome!

“Kagome?” His voice strained in an anxious rasp. Staring wildly around, he quickly hoisted his stomach off the ground in order to sit up. As he did so a soft weight slid off his back to fall beside him. Turning to look down at what it was, the shock bled the red from his face.

“Kagome…?” His voice shook uncertainly. Please god, no…. He stretched his hand to her upturned frame and touched her flushed cheek. She was still warm but her face held no life. “Ka… Kagome?” He nudged her softly.

Her body tilted from his prodding, but she gave no response.

He turned to lie beside her, searching her face for any signs of life. Stroking her cooling skin with shaking hands, InuYasha shook his head in denial. “No…no…. Kagome? Kagome, open your eyes…. Kagome?” He bit his lower lip and tears burned his cheeks as they flowed unchecked. He shut them in an attempt to fight the truth before him. He swallowed hard and opened his deep golden eyes to stare down at her in desperation. “Kagome? Please, Kagome. Wake up….” He began to sob. “Wake up, please wake up. Don't' be….”

He inhaled deep and sat up. “Kagome!” He shouted at her and shook her hard. “Don't be dead. PLEASE GOD! NO! DON'T BE DEAD!” He gathered her up into his lap and held her hard against him. Heart wrenching whimpers cut his throat as he looked blindly around. He rocked back and forth, her empty body growing heavy in his tight grip. His breathing grew louder and faster until the pain couldn't be contained.

The battlefield echoed over and over with his roar like screams.

His head collapsed onto her chest, his pain now a steady flood that poured from him. He cried softly over where her heart should beat. Lifting his head, he began to kiss her stilled chest, up to her neck then settled on her paling lips. He kissed them over and over, praying to give them warmth, wishing to have them kiss his back.

“Kagome.” He whispered brokenly. “I'm sorry… I failed you.”

“Such sentimentalities you mortals have. It would be quite endearing if it was not so foolhardy.”

InuYasha whipped his gaze around, his eyes flooding red at the sound of the voice. “Naraku!”

The dark haired man watched the hanyou solemnly. “I can never understand the obsession you mortals have toward flesh and bone. It is just a useless pot once all that was inside is gone. Throw it away and be done with it, and save yourselves the trouble and heartache.”

Glaring in seething hatred at the creature before him, InuYasha gripped Kagome's body to him hard before gently laying her on the ground. He gave her one last aching look and a soft caress before shutting his eyes and turning to stand completely before the man he was about to kill. “You…” he growled, “have never known pain like the pain I will give you today.”

Naraku rolled his eyes wearily. “I am beginning to wonder when mortals will grow beyond their ignorance.” His red eyes narrowed as he frowned at the hanyou. “You seem to make it a requirement for existence.”

InuYasha's eyes were still shut, but tightened as his body quaked in ebbing rage. An uneasy wind shifted through his blood caked hair. His voice was calm and gruffly deep as he spoke. “Enjoy these last few moments now. I'm going to kill you slowly, cutting you piece by fucking piece until I have bathed in all your blood.” His slow, hot ragged breath steamed the chilled air.

Naraku quirked an eyebrow and settled his gaze upon Kagome's body. “And to think, she used to sing the praises of humanity. She delighted in your fancies and …hmm… what did she call it? Ahhh, yes… innocence.” He looked over and brushed a snowflake from his shoulder nonchalantly, almost bored as he pondered. “I am having a hard time seeing where she saw that from.”

The inu-hanyou flashed his blood filled eyes open in bloodthirsty readiness. “You never knew her!”

Naraku busily straightened his robe, brushing dirt and blood from it, paying no head to the hanyou in front of him. “On the contrary, I know her quite well. But I seem to be taking this little matter of her death much better than others.”

A low growl cut into the bitter wind that cascaded around them. “I…will have … my revenge.”

The man smirked as his eyes flicked over InuYasha lazily, taking in the elongated razor like claws and the jagged streaks cutting across the hanyou's face. “My, my, to what do I owe the honor of this? Truly, InuYasha, being a full youkai becomes you.”

InuYasha grinned evilly. His fingers flexed in eagerness as he pounced at the false demon, only to swipe at empty air as the man shifted easily out of the way.

“We are still at that are we?” Naraku smirked. “Well, I wouldn't be me if it were otherwise. I seem to bring the worst out in people.” He chuckled as if to a private joke.

InuYasha landed hard and skidded to a halt. He crouched as he analyzed his options.

Naraku looked over at the miko's body and moved toward it.

“Stay the fuck away from her!” In a flash of silver, InuYasha ran toward Naraku, only to crash heavily against an invisible barrier. Falling back he growled heavily. “What the fuck…?”

Naraku chuckled softly and shook his head. Turning to look back at the hanyou he grinned. “Do you think only she was capable of such powers? Do any of you not understand? What she can do, I can as well?”

InuYasha snarled and tore his claws into the barrier to no avail as his enemy crouched over his mate's body.

“She was a pretty human, I will give her that.” Naraku lifted Kagome's arm and watched it drop. “A bit reckless in this life though. But I am sure she was much more fun in this life than her last. Midoriko was very serious.” He turned and smirked at the hanyou. “But just as stubborn. At least she had a slight understanding what she was and knew some of the powers she had. She burned my best robe before she did the stupid thing and killed herself.” He shook his head and looked down at Kagome in contemplation before standing. He sighed. “She always fights back for some reason. I'm hoping in the next life she'll come to grips with her destiny and just let me kill her.”

A furious growl howled over the barrens as InuYasha attacked the barrier two fold. “She will never submit to you!”

Naraku frowned. “Yes, I am beginning to think you are right. I had taken the initiative fifteen years ago to just take her when she was a child. But damned if she wasn't a spitfire back then. I am amazed how much power she could emit from such a tiny frame. Even now her powers have grown beyond what she was capable of in her former lives, especially since she denies what she is.”

“Keh… you killed her family, destroyed her home, slaughtered everyone she knew! I am surprised you are still alive.”

Naraku glared back at the brazen demon. “I had survived over a thousand years waiting for this moment. True, I was always overzealous whenever her aura called me. But she is capable of only destroying the demons that make my body. She could never destroy me, even if she wanted to.”

InuYasha's blood swirled eyes narrowed as he tested the barrier by raking his talons down it. “What the fuck are you saying?”

“Could the sun darken the night? Could water burn fire? Could death create life?” The dark man turned to look fully at the hanyou.

InuYasha growled but did not answer.

Naraku smirked. “Yes… they could and they do. It is their nature to rebel against their counterpart, just as it is their nature to be one with them. The miko may feel compelled to run from me, and have you protect her from me. But within her, she is also drawn to me. And soon, she will also be one with me.”

InuYasha ripped his claws against the barrier. “Never! She is mine!”

Naraku glanced down at the body. “What was her was mine.” He leaned down and hoisted Kagome up by the collar of her torn kimono. “But this… thing… is yours.” He tossed it through the barrier at InuYasha.

The hanyou leapt up and caught Kagome's body before she crumpled to the ground. Cradling her lifeless form to his chest, his body shuddered in uncontrolled wrath. “You fucking shit faced bastard. I'm going to kill you!”

Naraku growled slightly in annoyance. “Why is there a desire to destroy everything you don't understand?”

InuYasha flashed his glowing eyes to the offensive voice. “I understand that you are a bloodthirsty murderer, and you will be exterminated like a plague of vermin!”

Naraku frowned and looked around the battlefield. “So much violence. Why all of this for a shell of a girl?”

InuYasha stepped back softly and placed Kagome's body gently on the ground, watching her in turmoil. “She… was my mate.” His clawed hand traced her features, though it shook hastily. His body looked charged and his very countenance burned with murderous thoughts as he stood to face the barrier once more. “And you killed her.”

The dark man sighed. “No, unfortunately I did not.”

InuYasha growled, his body ready to lunge towards the barrier once again, but halted in shock as the next words that flowed from the man's mouth chilled his soul.

“You killed her.” Naraku looked bored as his eyes settled on Kagome's body behind InuYasha.

InuYasha's eyes widened as he searched Naraku's face for any semblance of treachery. His face contorted in pain filled denial and hatred. “You lie.” His guttural voice seethed.

“Had I been the one to take her soul, would I still be here?” Naraku frowned at the miko's body.

“How the fuck should I know?!” The inu hanyou paced back and forth along the invisible wall separating him from his vengeance. “Once you stole her powers, maybe the idea of fucking with me gave you hentai boy pleasures.”

Naraku looked stunned then laughed. “Why does everyone assume that? Take her powers? Her powers are my powers. It was just her life I wanted.”

InuYasha crouched down, glaring hard up at the man as his laughter died away. “You wanted her dead? Why?”

Naraku searched the hanyou's eyes as he thought about the answer. His voice seemed distant as he slowly chanted the verse. “In the blackness there was one, a border lined by fate… broken and condemned to life, deigned inside love and hate…. Concealed within dark and light, until death's sacrifice taken, the one will now cease to be, but powers will awaken.”

“The prophesy?” InuYasha growled. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Naraku looked at the dead body before him. “In this time, it no longer matters. It did not come to pass. She sacrificed herself to save you. She seems to have a tendency to do that.” He frowned.

For some reason he knew the villain wasn't lying. The hanyou hesitantly looked back to his mate's body. His eyes filled with sorrow and remorse as he remembered what had happened before he awoke. Kagome must have tried to revive him, but died just as he gained back his life. His claws dug deep into the palms of his hands, spilling blood on the frozen ground as her sacrifice hit him hard. “No….” His voice was pale and weak as his ears flattened hard against his head.

“Now I have to wait for another eon for her to come back, and I can't tell you how much of a bitch waiting that long is.”

InuYasha's ears flashed forward as Naraku's statement woke him from his glazed regret. He shut his eyes as bitter decisiveness pounded in his chest. He turned his back on Naraku to kneel before his lifeless mate. His voice was calm and cold as he spoke quietly. “You will never have to wait again.”

“Oh?” Naraku sneered. “And how is that?”

Gently the torn hanyou lifted Kagome's body into his arms and turned. Standing tall and proud before the barrier, InuYasha lifted his head to look stoically at a dark-eyed Naraku. The hanyou-youkai's outward appearance was identical to the coldhearted face of his half-brother, but inside, the broken heart of the inu thundered one last wish. Live, laugh… and love in your next life...my Kagome. “You say you have her powers? That she is like you?”

Naraku smirked and lifted his head to the heavens. “Finally! Someone understands!”

“I understand more than you know.” He hugged her tight against her chest. “And I know she will never be hunted again.”

In one swift movement, the hanyou leapt, breaking though the barrier to land in a crouch. In a move quicker than sight, he dropped Kagome and lunged for the creature before him. Tears fell unknowingly from blood red eyes as claws raked out and the end stood still.

****

It's dark.

This is the end and the beginning. It is always dark.

Where am I?

Do you not know this place?

… I… I don't know.

Then you will never know.

Who are you?

A flicker of silver wavered in the blackness.

I…I know you….

Yes.

Aura of blue glowed around her.

Otou?

The taiyoukai's blurry form focused into her view to stand before her in his full glory, whole and unmarked by the battle. His blue aura emitted a soft haze around him, but the blackness still surrounded them. Within his hand glowed, like the purest star, Tensaiga.

Kagome looked up at him expectantly. I don't… understand.

Sesshomaru's golden eyes looked down upon her in patience and understanding. Casting his gaze around them in silent wonder and solitude, he was reluctant to speak. This is … the boundary.

Kagome hesitantly looked around in the blackness. It felt like she couldn't see beyond her own nose, but at the same time she felt she was looking across the entire universe. It just went on and on, and she knew it had no end or beginning. It felt like liquid cold and warm silk across her skin. It smelled so rich and empty, that it reminded her of every memory she had.

She closed her eyes in wonder and awe, allowing her hearing to pick up a hint of blowing wind though she could not feel it. It hummed softly like a chorus of voices. She opened her violet eyes to it all again. Her body felt at one with this place, as if she was always yearning to be here, and now she was where she belonged. The wonder of it all swept within her that she was amazed how she had room for all the feelings that had come over her. But for some reason, it did not feel complete. A hollow recess within this place seemed to beckon to her to fill it. After what felt like a moment or an eternity she finally looked back up to the demon lord. How… did I get here?

Sesshomaru's eyes were closed in his own silent meditation before slowly opening them to look down at her. You died.

Kagome frowned in confusion. I… died? Flashes of the battle echoed around her as her memories awoke. InuYasha's lifeless form was her last vision before she became aware of this place. InuYasha?

Is alive.

Kagome nodded slowly in solemn acceptance before she again looked around and filtered in the darkness around her. I… have been here before.

Sesshomaru tilted his head in acknowledgment.

I have seen this place…. Visions of the animals she had tamed rushed to her. This was the place she called forth when she combined her essence with them, seeing it within the quiet recesses of their souls. Kagome blinked back the memories as another entered her mind that made her eyes widen in fear. And I have dreamed of this place. He searched for me here.

The inu youkai searched her face in quiet contemplation as if a dawning realization had settled within him.

Kagome looked up at him confused.What is this place?

This… is the boundary… the border between what we understand as life and death. Sesshomaru extended his hand behind him. The existing…. Then he extended his other that held Tensaiga towards her. And the existence.

Kagome looked from before her to her behind her, looking far into the darkness that Tensaiga pointed towards. Do you not mean existed?

Sesshomaru watched her intently. No. If you do not exist, then you are of existence. Whether you have existed or will exist matters not. That is a definition of time. And that does not exist here. He smiled slightly.

She slowly looked back up to him. Why am I here and not…?

In the afterworld?

Kagome nodded.

Her adopted father pondered for a moment. Perhaps this is where you make your choice.

Kagome frowned. My choice?

Sesshomaru bowed his head. To whether you choose to pass into the afterworld to eventually exist once more… or…. He turned his head behind him.

Kagome gazed into the darkness ahead of her, beyond her father's form. Or to go back?

Her father turn his head back to look at her in quiet acquiescence.

The girl cast her gaze around in confusion. But I have made my choice. I gave my life to InuYasha so he would live. I chose death, so Naraku would not take me and our people would be safe. Why would I come here? She then looked up at him in deeper mystification. And why are you here? Her eyes widened in saddened shock. Otou? Did you… did you die?

The taiyoukai glanced behind him and gazed into the darkness. My life still exists for the moment. He peered down at Tensaiga. It is this that has brought me here.

Violet eyes flicked over the sword intently as if searching its being for answers. They widened as the sword's aura flashed and wavered. It… it calls to me.

Sesshomaru nodded. It is of this place. The inu lord raised his golden orbs to seek her violet. And it is of you.

Kagome closed her eyes as she tried to take it in. Of me?

Tensaiga holds the power of this place. It can see those that pass into and out of it, and keep those from crossing the border into the afterlife. Just as you can.

Kagome bowed her head. How is this possible?

You and Tensaiga are of this place. This is where Tensaiga was created, for you created it.

Kagome's head whipped up. I what?

Sesshomaru ignored her question and looked into the darkness. What do you feel?

Reluctantly, the girl lifted her hands to her chest, breathing in deep and shivered as if overwhelmed. I know…Tensaiga and this…place. They feel the same. As if they share something.

Opening her violet orbs again she stared at the gleaming sword. It pulsed under her gaze and the darkness shimmered around her. It was if Tensaiga was a drop of water, and the darkness rippled from its force. Eddies of black waves passed over her father's blue aura, but absorbed into her. Her eyes widened at the realization since she had not been aware of it until now. I… I'm taking it in… the blackness. She looked up the demon lord. This… is what I see when I heal… this blackness…it becomes apart of me….

Sesshomaru nodded once. When those that exist start to die, they begin to pass through the boundary between worlds. This place calls to them, to pull them into the afterworld. At times, messengers of the nether realms pass through, to trap the souls. But they are not of this place. Thus Tensaiga can destroy them, and also absorb the essence of the boundary to heal and restore life. You do so as well. You pull the boundary back within you, closing the rift between worlds.

Kagome lifted her hand and watched as the swirls of darkness flowed into her. How?

Sesshomaru watched her. This place is of you. You are of the boundary.

Kagome looked at him. I don't understand.

Sesshomaru searched her form. Do you not feel it?

The young woman bit her lower lip but did not answer. She felt like she was apart of this place, but she also felt alone. As deep as she let herself fall into its embrace, she also knew it was devoid of something, something she was not willing to take hold of.

She shook her head violently. She could not stay here. She shut her eyes as if willing to find sanctuary.

Kagome? The demon lord looked at her then behind her.

Kagome reluctantly looked back to him and turned to follow his gaze. A faint redness glowed before her as the darkness opened in front of her to let in a hidden dawn. Casting her gaze into to the warming light, Kagome gasped at the sight. Swirls of every color under the sun mixed and ebbed within each other, separating and joining, swirling and dancing in chaotic prisms that faded in and out. She watched as the glow stretched deep and wide like a nebula before her, stopping at the edge of blackness of the boundary by which she stood.

Her eyes widened as the glow rolled and swirled. It was like an anarchic rainbow swirled mist that streamed and wavered like a thunderstorm. A multitude of voices in sync whispered to her beyond the boundary of light. In a gentle caress of warmth and love the word Shikon was breathed in and out of the nebula of light.

Kagome reached out to touch it in reverence. So beautiful.

A small fog-like wisp flowed out from the stream of light and weaved between her fingers. A child's giggle echoed around her that was so infectious that Kagome smiled back. The fog flowed back into the swirling mist and the entire mass began to spin. Strands of colors grew together to create ghost like shapes that flowed over towards her. Three human like forms stopped at the edge of the prismatic shield.

Kagome…. Her name whispered around her.

The girl blinked heavily as if from a dream and she reached out towards the figures with the palm of her hands extended.

The three forms stretched forward and caressed her fingers and palms. Slowly the forms defined their shapes, and the souls of the departed stood before her.

Sango… Miroku… Kouga…. Kagome smiled softly at them, then her face fell. This is the entrance to the afterworld.

Kagome…. Sesshomaru called to her from far behind her.

Kagome turned to him in perplexity. Why are you back there? Come! Look, they are all here!

Sesshomaru shook his head. I am not allowed. I am still bound to the living. It is only by Tensaiga I am allowed to stand at the edge of the border. I cannot pass beyond it.

Kagome frowned as she realized her father had not moved from that spot the entire time. She watched Tensaiga, lost in thought. Yes, I remember you saying. Tensaiga can see the border between life and death, and it can destroy the messengers that pass beyond it. Her eyes lit up. Otou! You are still alive. Tensaiga revived you. Can't you revive our people? The ones…. She looked back at her friends. The ones we lost?

No. They are not within my reach. They have already passed beyond the boundary.

Kagome gazed helplessly at her friends. Then what will become of them?

They will simply be. And perhaps they will exist again.

Perhaps?

I cannot say for certain how life begins or ends. That is beyond Tensaiga, and thus beyond me. Sesshomaru gazed at her intently. It is not, however, beyond you.

Kagome looked back at him. What do you mean?

You stand on the border. You can reach them. And you can bring them back.

Kagome looked into the darkness behind her father. Bring them back? But…how?

Sesshomaru shook his head. I do not know.

Kagome lifted her hand towards her friends. I don't know how to bring them back. Even if I did, I don't know if I could. I chose to die, to keep them safe. If anything, I should be with them. Her eyes drifted into the chaotic swirls, longing to fold into its embrace.

A soft growl rumbled behind her. Will that always be your choice?

Kagome turned to him confused. What do you mean?

You have taken this path before, Kagome. Do you not remember?

Kagome looked quickly away. No, I don't know what you're talking about.

Another war was fought before this and another miko had sacrificed her life.

Kagome lifted her eyes back into the light. Midoriko?

She also died to save her people. She also ended up here.

Kagome looked into the swirling depths of light, entranced. It felt safe. It felt serene. What other choice did we have? We couldn't go back. He was there.

No matter what way you decide, to be born again, or to go back, he will always be there.

She looked at the inu-youkai intently. You make it sound like he will never be stopped. That the only way to have all this end is to… to….

To give up your existence. Become one with Naraku.

I can't do that.

Then you will forever end up here. To chose life only to be hunted again. Your friends and family killed to protect you. Is that what you will choose?

Kagome looked at him stunned then horrified. But you were the one to protect me at all cost! You were the one who hid me from him! You were the one who said he must not kill me! Why do you say this to me now?!

Because you were not ready. Had he killed you against your choice, you would never have come to terms with what you truly are. Sesshomaru sighed. And because I never knew what you truly were. Now, in this place, I know. And now, you must come to terms with it as well.

Kagome closed her eyes in frustration and shook her head. No…. No more riddles. No more guesses. Why can't someone just straight out tell me what I am?!

The quietness seemed stifling before Sesshomaru replied. Because we cannot. Only you can decide what you are.

Kagome lifted her eyes to look in helplessness at her friends before closing her eyes once again. I am the Shikon no Tama. But what that is, I don't know.

…Because you are not complete.

Kagome blinked heavily to look over at her father. What?

Sesshomaru bowed his head solemnly. You will never know what you really are because you are not whole.

I don't understand….

Sesshomaru watched her closely. In the blackness there was one, a border lined by fate. Broken and condemned to life, deigned inside love and hate. Concealed within dark and light, until death's sacrifice taken, the one will now cease to be, but powers will awaken.

The prophecy? What does it mean?

Sesshomaru looked into the blackness around her.

Kagome turned around, away from the streaming tide of light and stood still. Again the darkness coated her, and overwhelmed her with a sense of hunger for completion. Her eyes flashed wide. In the darkness… there was one. Looking over at Sesshomaru, Kagome stared in awe. A border lined by fate. A border that separates the realm of the living from the realm of the dead. She looked at Sesshomaru then back at the opening to the afterworld. Broken and condemned to life? Are you saying I was the one and I was broken?

Silence answered her. Kagome searched the darkness blindly. Forced inside love and hate. She looked at her friends. They said my powers only occurred when I felt love. But what about hate? My power never worked through anger or hatred, only when I need to protect someone I loved. The only thing I know whose power come from hate is…. Kagome covered her mouth in shock. Naraku! But if that were true, then it would mean….

Her dreams echoed in the dark. She was here, in this place, with him. Kagome searched the darkness as the forgotten voices of her dreams flooded into her memory.

“You and I are one….”

“I will not be broken.”

“You already are.”

Kagome clenched her eyes tight, trying to deny the truth.

“I will fight you!”

“Fight yourself?”

She stumbled around, dizzy as the realization hit her hard. She swung her gaze to her father. Naraku! He… is he…?!

He is you.

Kagome's violet eyes stared into the darkness for a long time. Broken… and separated into love and hate, dark and light. Her eyes shown shock then sadness then acceptance as it all came to her. Eventually her eyes looked up at the inu lord. All this time I've been running from him… terrified… and I never knew why I always fought when deep inside me I just wanted to give in to him.

She looked back to the border that would help her pass into the afterworld. Every time we fought, I knew I could never defeat him. So I would sacrifice that life to hide from him in the next. No one was hurt, no one died. She looked back at Sesshomaru in deep sadness. Midoriko fought back, but even then I knew I could never destroy him. So again I come full circle. But this time, I did not want to die. I was not about to give up this life because I found what it is I wanted. She looked into the blackness beyond Sesshomaru. He has been trying all this time to bring me back here, where we belonged. To become one again. But I didn't want to.

Kagome turned to look at her friends. And because of it, I sacrificed the very thing that I am. But this time I will make right. She closed her eyes and spread her arms. The spirits of her friends were pulled back into the soul filled nebula as it rolled and rose like a massive tidal wave. Her blue-black hair lifted and flowed as the darkness swept into her, pulling the summoned souls with it. In a clash of power, light and color, all those sacrificed by Naraku flooded into her.

With death's sacrifice taken, the one will now cease to be. I will awaken.