InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Children of Light ❯ Chapter 34 ( Chapter 34 )

Chapter 34

 

A sudden unusual feel of energy tugs at Sango's aura. She opens her eyes, stunned at the sight before her. Running across the sky is the shape of a large familiar wolf. The same wolf she had encountered earlier that day with the mysterious demon.

 

A jumble of thoughts begin quickly cascading in her mind as she wonders at the impossibility before her, but has little time to think on it as she immediately spies the fast approaching rocks below her. Mere feet from the crushing waves, Sango covers her head in an instinctive gesture. Her breath is suddenly knocked out of her as she crashes against something hard and oddly…soft? “Huh?”

 

Blinking her eyes open, Sango sees the familiar form of the dark wolf directly beneath her. Her hands grip tightly in its thick mane of fur. The ocean and rocks suddenly fall away as the wolf ascends back into the sky and heads towards the cliffs edge where a stunned Miroku and Kouga are silently waiting.

 

“But… how?” Sango gently pats at the wolf's fur, when the wolf turns her head to gaze at Sango. Their eyes lock. Sango gasps as her heart clutches in her chest.

 

“No…it… it can't be.”

 

A sudden light engulfs both Sango and the wolf. When the light fades, Sango looks into a pair of very familiar eyes. Eyes that had watched over her, that had been her friend in lifetimes before. Sango's heart and soul break open in pure joy as she immediately throws her arms around the wolf's neck. Only she is no longer hugging the wolf, as silent tears of joy and disbelief soak themselves into the fur of the now familiar form of her fire cat.

 

“Kirara.”

 

**********

 

Sango, Miroku and Kouga cling to Kirara's back as they head back to their friends and the battle raging with Naraku on the horizon line. No one speaks as they struggle not to think about what they think they are seeing, and what it could mean.

 

Naraku had just released a massive dark ball of energy that was infused with such a massive amount of power, neither of the three friends could ever remember feeling something that had ever come close to that level before. And chances were very good that Inu Yasha and Kagome were going to need help, and a lot of it!

 

No one expected the explosion of blue light, that was tinged with gold at its farthermost edges, to come hurtling out of the horizon and up into the sky. The energy dissipated as its immense power spread and rolled across the heavens like a blanket.

 

“What was that?” a wide-eyed Sango asked.

 

Miroku blinked, not entirely sure if he had actually witnessed the immense display of power. “I… I don't know. But whatever it was…wow!”

 

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

 

At ground Zero, nothing could be seen but a thick cloud of dust that obscured everything. The air was eerily still. Slowly, the cloud of dust begins to dissipate, and the sight of a large crater burned into the earth can easily be seen, two figures lie unmoving within its center. Naraku and his demon portal are nowhere to be found.

 

From out of the sky, a figure drops within the center of the crater, brandishing a massive sword that hums with unchecked power. Crouching low on all fours, the figure tentatively sniffs the air around him. His triangular ears swivel like radar on his head as he listens intently for the smallest sounds before approaching the unmoving figures. Satisfied that no danger is lurking nearby, he slowly makes his way towards the closest body.

 

The first beings cloak is mostly burned away as the scent of ash settles around the unconscious body. Sniffing tentatively, the curious being immediately picks up the scent of demon. Instinctively, he growls defensively low in his throat, baring his sharp fangs as he holds the powerful sword before him like a shield. Satisfied that the unconscious demon poses no threat, he makes his way towards the second fallen form nearby.

 

He pauses as he sniffs this new creature when the subtle scent of cherry blossoms carries to his nose. That scent. There was something…familiar…about that scent. Dark raven hair pools around the fallen figures face as he switches his sword, moving it to his non dominant hand, and carefully brushes a clawed hand across the unconscious beings face, sweeping the hair aside. He jerks back in mild surprise. It was a bitch. He's surprised by the sudden strong sense of familiarity he seems to sense from the bitch. Crouching low on all fours he sniffs her neck, where her scent is strongest.

 

An uncontrollable whimper escapes from the back of his throat. Something was not right here. The bitch needed to wake up. The bitch needed to tell him why she carried his scent on him and most importantly, why she carried his mark. Was this bitch his mate? Why couldn't he remember that? He nudges her with his nose, licking her cheek, willing her to wake up as the whimpering in his throat continues to escalate into a frenzied panic.

 

“Inu Yasha?”

 

Startled, Inu Yasha leaps into the air, turning to land himself between the unconscious bitch and the newcomers. His sword held in both hands at the ready. He immediately takes to a fighting stance, baring his fangs, growling threateningly as he eyes up the wolf demon, cat demon and the two humans who seem to be trying to talk with him.

 

“Sango, look!” Miroku points out the purple demon markings on Inu Yasha's face and arms and the unusual markings that seem to wrap around the Tetsusaiga. They could only mean one thing. Inu Yasha had transformed into his fully demonic state, and would attack if provoked.

 

“But Miroku, something's not right. He seems…different somehow, and the sword, look!”

 

Miroku nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I know, something definitely feels different but I don't know what it is. Still, he's transformed, and we need to be careful. I don't think he recognizes us.” It had happened on more then one occasion in the past, where Inu Yasha had been so powerfully thrown into his demonic blood lust, had been entrenched so deeply in the demonic spell, he could barely remember who he was or who his friends were. Fortunately, Kagome had always been present to help bring Inu Yasha's human consciousness back.

 

“But Kagome?” Sango's concern and worry for her unconscious friend was more then evident.

 

“Come on you guys, how bad can he be?” Kouga clearly remembered the fear that had washed over him when he had first encountered Inu Yasha in his fully transformed state in the alley. He couldn't believe the power that had radiated from the hanyou then. But not wanting to show his fear to the others, he stepped forward.

 

“Let's just make sure that she's al…” Before Kouga could take more then two steps towards Kagome, Inu Yasha snarled ferociously at the demon moving towards his unconscious bitch, and immediately dropped low to the ground, holding his sword aside. Spinning on his heel to gain momentum, he sent a kick flying right into the wolf demons chest. All the air was knocked from Kouga's lungs as he went flying backwards, skidding across the torn up field.

 

“Kouga!” Sango quickly made her way to his side. “We told you to be careful, are you okay?”

 

“Oi, I feel like a mack truck just hit me in the chest.” Kouga held the side of his head, willing the dizzy feeling to dissipate.

 

Miroku eyed up his agitated and fully transformed friend. “He didn't kill you. Interesting.”

 

“Yeah, lucky me.” Kouga groans, holding his stomach, willing the pain to finally pass.

 

Speaking softly, Miroku tries to calm the raging beast that he knew was tearing up his friend inside. “Inu Yasha, it's okay. It's us. We are your pack.” He made a gesture towards Sango, Kouga and the fully transformed Kirara at his side. “Pack. Remember?” He knew that on some level, Inu Yasha could understand him. It was whether or not he could remember that what he was saying was true or not, that would be the deciding factor.

 

Pack? Was it possible? Inu Yasha's confused and agitated mind swam with questions. He eyed up the beings before him. They seemed so mismatched. A wolf, a cat and two humans? Human. He turned his head briefly to eye the unconscious bitch on the ground behind him. But his mate was a human… or something close to it anyways. She emanated power. She was strong, like him. Yes, he would pick a strong bitch as his mate.

 

Growling loudly, Inu Yasha emits a sound, almost like a bark, as he turns and makes his way back to look on his bitch.

 

Miroku, not understanding what Inu Yasha had said, begins to take a step forward when he feels Kouga's hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his place. “Do you want to get torn to bits monk?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“He told you to stay put.”

 

“Oh.” Miroku gulped nervously. Not exactly relishing the idea of having a crazed and uncontrollable Inu Yasha at his throat.

 

Inu Yasha makes his way back to Kagome. Crouching low, but keeping his ears trained for any movement behind him, he begins to sniff his unconscious mate in an effort to determine her injuries. A soft groan and rustle of movement behind him causes Inu Yasha to whip his head around. The unconscious demon was waking.

 

Baring his fangs, Inu Yasha growls at the now rousing demon. Was this the demon that had hurt his mate? He sniffs the air. Her scent seemed to be clinging to him.

 

The cloaked demon, whose cloak was actually now tattered to bits and hanging haphazardly from him in burned and torn pieces, slowly begins to sit up. Sango eyes him curiously, as what remains of the cloaked demon's hood falls from his face, revealing his features for the first time.

 

“Am… am I dead?” Putting a hand to the side of his head, a sudden swimming sensation briefly filters through his hazy mind.

 

“Not yet buddy, but soon, if he has anything to say about it.” Kouga laughs at the shocked surprise on the demon's face. He was younger then any of them had expected him to be. His hair was long and an unruly reddish color. His long locks were tied back in a low pony-tail and his pointed ears immediately gave away his demon heritage.

 

Sango's mouth dropped open in shock. Could it be? Was it possible? But before she had time to react to the revelation before her, Inu Yasha leapt at the now conscious demon, the newly powered Tetsusaiga poised above him as he brought the powerful sword crashing down on the demons head.

 

With only moments to react, the barely fully conscious demon is only just able to roll out of the destructive path of the sword. Inu Yasha growls angrily, but quickly turns to face the demon again. This time, he would not miss.

 

“INU YASHA! NO!!”

 

A cry and a flash of movement from behind causes Inu Yasha's sword to halt instantly, hovering mere inches from the demon's face, as beads of sweat begin to form on the petrified demon's forehead. Kagome, who had stirred just as Inu Yasha's first attack failed, raced to the aid of the demon.

 

“Inu Yasha,” she repeated again in a calmer, softer tone, as she stepped between her mate's sword and the demon's unprotected form. Inu Yasha growled with annoyance. What was his bitch doing? Why was she being disobedient? And why was she interfering?

 

“Please Inu Yasha, remember who you are. He is family. He is pack.” Kagome extends a hand out to touch the demon on the shoulder.

 

But Inu Yasha was unsure, he was confused. He did not remember these people, this pack of his. He didn't even remember his mate, save for the fact that she carried his mark and his scent. His emotions and adrenaline were running at a supercharged speed and he couldn't make anything clear in his head. He was getting frustrated and angry. Why couldn't he remember?

 

Kagome could sense the confusion and irritation reflected in his stormy reddish eyes. She could also feel the power that seemed encased in this new form of his, and she could only imagine what had occurred to bring on such a state. She had never seen Inu Yasha like this before. In the past, when Inu Yasha had transformed into his full demonic state, he was usually able to retain his memories of her and Sango and Miroku. But she remembered that the first time the transformation had taken him over, he was confused and overwhelmed with the power, and could remember nothing of himself. It wasn't until Kagome had reached out to him, and had helped to focus his mind, that he was able to retrieve the memories of himself and of his life. If Inu Yasha had crossed over into a new state, it was possible that he could be suffering from similar effects.

 

“Inu Yasha” Kagome called softly, lowering her head to approach her mate, while turning her head so that her neck was exposed to him, to show her submission and her vulnerability. An approving rumble emanates from Inu Yasha's chest. He watches as this human woman, his mate, came closer to him. Her upturned neck was mere inches from his deadly fangs. If he wanted, he could have easily torn the soft flesh apart. But this was his mate. And a good bitch would never have fear of her mate.

 

He catches a whiff of her enticing scent and watches as she waits for him to signal his acceptance of her. He looks at her and growls his approval, as he lowers his sword slightly, shifting it to be held solely in his dominant hand while keeping it level with the demon on the ground, leaving his left arm free to pull her in. Kagome walks into his semi embrace as she licks his chin and nibbles at his jaw line. Her scent was so strong now, he could almost wrap himself up in it. It was so calming, so soothing. He inhales her scent deeply as he pulls her tighter into his embrace, rubbing his nose into the soft skin at her neck, grazing his fangs against the tender skin there. Kagome shivers as a delicious thrill runs down her spine. Catching the scent of her arousal, Inu Yasha growls with approval.

 

Her lips come up over his jaw as she lays little kisses in her wake. She reaches his mouth and presses her lips to him, waiting for him to feel her, to accept her. Immediately he opens up to her, allowing her calming energy to wash over him. She was like a hot fire after a cold bitter winter's night. He whined in the back of his throat as she continued to kiss him, arching her body into him, willing him to come back to her. His head swam with her heady scent, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to her. “Inu Yasha” she whispered softly.

 

His eyes roll back into his head, feeling the earth almost gave way beneath him. But she was there to hold his weight and steady him with her own. The haze from his mind finally begins to clear as he allows himself to be drowned in her essence. He pulls away from her as he looks into her eyes, the demon markings still clearly evident on his face and on the Tetsusaiga that was still held loosely in his hand.

 

“Ka…Kagome?”

 

Kagome laughs as she wraps her arms around him all the tighter, hugging him to her. “Yes, Inu Yasha, it's me,” she smiles warmly. She had been able to reach him, had been able to help him connect back to himself. Inu Yasha smirks as he spies the fearful demon that lay on the ground behind Kagome, looking a little shaky and uncertain.

 

Giving one of his trademark `keh's, he grins at the kitsune demon.

 

“So brat, still getting yourself into trouble I see.”

 

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

 

The reunion among the old friends had been brief, as Naraku was still somewhere on the base, but it had been warm and heart felt as Kagome embraced her once adopted son. Tears had streamed down her face as she allowed the now grown kitsune to hold her in an embrace that spoke of parental love, devotion and contentment. Both Shippou and Kagome had wondered if the two would ever be reunited again. But never in her wildest dreams had Kagome believed she would see him again, though her heart had ached for such a miracle since the day she had regained her memories.

 

Inu Yasha was hard pressed to hold back his own emotions, as in a rare moment of open affection, he had clasped the kitsune in a similar embrace. Hugging the little brat he had loved as his own son, who had grown into a man. Shippou, who had been shocked at first at Inu Yasha's public display of affection, returned the sentiments, as he hugged the hanyou that had taken him in after his own parents had been killed, who had loved him and protected him as his own son.

 

“I just love happy endings!” Miroku squealed, clasping his hands together in a very feminine way, causing the reunited little family to finally release each other and laugh at their relief of having found one another again.

 

“I still can't believe that it's been you the whole time.” Kagome said as she smiled proudly at Shippou, having to lift her head slightly to catch his eyes. He had indeed grown.

 

“Keh. It makes perfect sense to me.” Inu Yasha, who had returned back to his regular demeanor, with the exception of the new demon markings, crossed his arms across his chest. “Who else could get under my skin like that?”

 

Everyone hearing the light tone in Inu Yasha's voice, laughed at the typical Inu Yasha response.

 

Shippou had been able to briefly explain how he, Kaede and Kirara had come across the field where the last battle with Naraku had taken place 500 years earlier. How they had found the broken weapons of their friends littered among the field, but had not been able to locate the bodies of their loved ones. Kagome was surprised to discover that her own bow had broken at the precise moment when her own faith had faltered, and unknowingly at the time, had subsequently used her last remaining power to take everyone into the next realm, to be reborn 500 years in the future.

 

“I still can't believe that Kaede has been masquerading as Adeke all this time. How could I not have seen it?” Inu Yasha had felt hurt and annoyed that Kaede had not revealed her true identity to him after all the years he had known her as Adeke. His annoyance was mostly placated however, when Shippou reassured him that there were reasons why she wasn't able to reveal her identity to him, and that she would answer his questions, once they had finished with Naraku, once and for all.

 

“Speaking of,” Sango looked around her at the torn up field. “Where has he gotten himself off too anyways?”

 

The group shrugged. No one knew what had happened to Naraku after the blast, and they were all feeling a little uneasy.

 

“Hey, how long is dog face here gonna look like that?” Kouga nodded in Inu Yasha's direction, who in turn gave him an irritated glare.

 

“I don't know,” Shippou answered. “To be honest, I don't even know what's happened. I mean, I didn't think this was possible.”

 

No one had been able to explain Inu Yasha's transformation, or what it meant. The Tetsusaiga still carried its new demonic markings, and it hummed with a fevered power that no one in the little group had ever felt before. But Kagome had her suspicions.

 

“I think it's a lot like the first time you ever transformed into your demonic state, Inu Yasha.” Everyone knew that Inu Yasha had been nearly at deaths door the first time the transformation had overtaken him. He had been fighting Sesshoumaru when he was still young and inexperienced. His sword had been taken from him and the lives of his friends and Kagome had been in peril. Something had snapped in Inu Yasha in that moment. He simply could not allow his friends, his Kagome, to be hurt or in danger, regardless that this body had been near collapse. It was the drive, the need to protect the others, more then his own life that had caused his demon blood to break through and overpower him.

 

“I think when you knew I was in danger Inu Yasha, and you saw what was happening, you must have panicked, wondering if you'd be able to get to me in time. I also think that us having failed once before with Naraku, must have made you feel even more desperate to reach me and to get to him. I think the force of everything combined, our past and our present, simply pushed you into another realm within your demonic blood and the Tetsusaiga, sensing your need, merged with you instead of trying to hinder you. I think it sensed that you needed more power and that you needed it now.”

 

Everyone nodded. It made perfect sense, except for the fact that the Tetsusaiga was supposed to hinder Inu Yasha's demonic blood, not enhance it. But would Inu Yasha's new power help in the coming battle? Only time would tell.

 

“Now all we've got to do is figure out how to use this against Naraku.” Inu Yasha held the glass stone that Kagome had given him, the new jewel of this time, in the palm of his hand, before passing it back to her. Kagome had been shocked to discover that the little glass stone she had made, had indeed been the jewel that everyone had been looking for.

 

“It's so weird,” she mused. “To think we had it the whole time, and didn't know. I mean, I didn't think I was doing anything special when I made it. It just sort of happened. I wonder how it's supposed to work.”

 

“Well little girl. If you had over the jewel, I'll show you.”

 

The little group had been startled by the dark commanding voice behind them, but were not surprised to find Naraku, his band of demons, and an indifferent looking Kikyou standing on the open field behind them. Anger and frustration were clearly evident on Naraku's face, but so was his maniacal desire for the jewel.

 

“Now to take back what is rightfully mine.”