InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land ❯ Beginning of the End ( Chapter 14 )

Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land

Chapter 14: The Beginning of the End

By: TruSuprise

 

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all affiliated characters belong to Takahashi Rumiko. The views expressed herein are solely those of TruSuprise. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bright mid morning sunlight and warm, fresh air that filtered in through the open window woke Kagome from her sleep. The passing of the rainy period and the bright, late spring morning raised her spirits and the young woman yawned. `What would be better on a beautiful spring morning than a romp in bed?' She asked herself, making the influence that Inuyasha had been having on her apparent. Rolling over, she stretched out her arms underneath the feather down comforter expectantly to wrap around her lover.

 

When her arms met nothing but empty bed, Kagome's eyes blearily opened as she wondered why her mate had left the room that he had so affectionately dubbed `the love nest' or, more appropriately to his canine heritage, their den. Finally figuring that the constantly hungry Inu-Hanyou had not wanted to wake her up and had gone downstairs in search of something to eat that wasn't her, Kagome decided to get out of bed to find him.

 

Lifting up the covers, she shifted to slide off the bed and groaned as her hip harshly reminded her of her injury. Kagome lifted Inuyasha's large t-shirt up around her waist to examine the wound. It was clean and well stitched, and the special youkai medicines that her mate had applied were helping it to heal remarkably quickly, but she could tell already that the wound would continue to give her problems for weeks regardless.

 

Standing in front of the mirror and staring at her bedraggled face in the glassy reflection, the ghosts of the traumatic event of Naraku pulling the Shikon no Tama from her body replayed in Kagome's mind. She numbly acknowledged that with the new day, decisions would have to be made about pursuing Naraku. The night before, she and Inuyasha had almost come to blows fighting over who would and would not go to battle, yet Kagome was still eager to iron out the details, eager to put an end to the nightmare that the evil hanyou had created for them. But most of all, she was eager to make sure that Inuyasha's stubborn self wasn't still insisting that he try to defeat Naraku on his own. She was his mate, and she wanted to fight by his side, for he and his family, and for herself and her own family.

 

Kagome brushed her hair quickly and threw on a pair of loose shorts before she limped from the bedroom and headed down the hall. For as tough and strong as the Higurashi descendant was, the discomfort caused by her wound and her chilling memories of Naraku had given her an even greater urge to be with her mate. Only in Inuyasha's arms would she feel safe and protected.

 

Hobbling down the staircase by supporting most of her weight on the banister on her way down, Kagome made her way through the impressive entryway of the Western Mansion. After residing in the amazing Taisho mansion for over a week now, the ageless artifacts and priceless treasures had begun to blend into the walls, especially when she had been so busy becoming accustomed to living with the eclectic mix of youkai, hanyou, and her own kind, not to mention the tiring nature of having a hanyou mate.

 

Kagome stopped at the entrance of the kitchen and watched the scene that unfolded in front of her. The three children of the house were present and she silently watched them interact, oblivious to her presence. Shippou, in a set of tattered old sweats was balancing precariously on the counter top in what appeared to be a search for cereal. Meanwhile, Rin, in an adorable set of penguin pajamas, leaned over the kitchen table and seemed to be trying to cheer up a rather melancholy Souta.

 

Regarding the younger two children from afar, Kagome found it amazing that she had only known Rin and Shippou for barely a month's time and had become a part of their family little more than a week ago, yet she already felt so close to them. Shippou had become strongly attached to her, much to the annoyance of Inuyasha, while Rin was already looking up to the older woman as a role model after having quickly learned not to call Kagome `aunt'. Shippou and Rin were great kids, each of them willing and happy to call her their own family, and Kagome had been more than happy to reciprocate.

 

Kagome then focused on her brother. Souta. Her stomach fell as she remembered his pained expression from the day before when Kanna had saved him and subsequently forfeited her life at Naraku's hands. The young boy sat somewhat numbly next to Rin at the kitchen table, the pair of sweats he had borrowed from Inuyasha obviously too large for his smaller frame. By Kagome's observation, Souta still looked deeply troubled, but at least he seemed to be making an effort to heal by being with the group.

 

The Higurashi boy flinched as he felt the gaze of another on him. Looking up, he blushed and avoided eye contact with his big sister, feeling guilty for all he'd put her through. He had defied Kagome's worried pleas, he had stolen a car from his what was essentially his new family-in-law, and he had put himself and others in danger all over his feelings for Kanna.

 

Souta's turmoil was so great that Kagome easily felt the emotions rushing through his aura and she immediately understood his worries. The Higurashi heiress found, however, that she could not hold these things that he worried about against her brother. Had it been herself in Souta's position, Kagome knew that she would have done the same as he had, she would have done what her soul had urged her to do. Yes, she understood Souta and readily forgave him.

 

Finally gathering the courage, Souta tore his eyes from the kitchen table to look at his neechan and was surprised at what he found. Kagome acknowledged him with a bright, sympathetic smile that told him that, although she was still upset with him, she understood and didn't hold his previous actions against him. Souta knew that his sister was an accepting woman who was capable of forgiving and forgetting, but for her to forgive him so quickly shocked even him.

 

Not wanting her brother to linger on his thoughts, Kagome made a point of trying to be cheerful and carefree. “Good morning!” She called as brightly as possible as she finally made her presence known to Shippou and Rin as she loudly limped into the kitchen. Kagome happily headed towards her adopted son.

 

Rin jumped in shock and back pedaled away from Souta where she had been leaning over him, trying to cheer up the mourning boy. Her heart pounded from the surprise, she had been so immersed in trying to help Kagome's brother that she hadn't heard her aunt's approach. “Ka… Kagome baa-chan, good morning! How is your injury? Miroku-oniisan told me about it.”

 

Kagome stopped in her tracks to glare at Rin, her eyes narrowing. The young girl flinched under her gaze as she worried that her new pack sister was upset that she had been hanging on Souta. Suddenly, Rin brightened, a grin on her face as she caught her own foolish mistake. “I mean, Kagome-chan.”

 

The bright smile returned to Kagome's face instantly when the old woman's suffix was removed from her name. “Its not too bad, Rin-chan. Thank you.” She said happily, beaming at the young girl. Finally catching the blush on Rin's face, Kagome tipped her head in confusion. “Are you okay, Rin-chan? Your face is all red.”

 

Rin squeaked in surprise. “I'm fine! I'm fine. Just a little hot… that's all.” She said before glancing at Souta in embarrassment, thankful for a change that he wouldn't have noticed since he was currently in his own little world.

 

Stepping behind the preoccupied Shippou, Kagome jerkily reached her hand to the top shelf, cautious of her wound. She grabbed a box of Lucky Charms and handed it to him. “You really shouldn't eat such sugary foods in the morning you know.” She scolded playfully, ruffling the kit's hair.

 

Shippou gave his new mother his big, green puppy-dog eyes, and Kagome couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't an Inu-Youkai instead of a Kitsune-Youkai before she sighed in defeat. Shippou smiled and held the box to his chest triumphantly. “Thanks, Kagome kaa-chan!” He exclaimed.

 

Kagome returned the smile even brighter. To hear her adopted son call her mother always warmed her heart and reminded her of how accepted she was in their family.

 

Hobbling over to another cabinet, Kagome grabbed a coffee mug and reached for the carafe before she realized there was no coffee brewed. Holding the empty carafe in front of her, she looked at it oddly. “That's weird. First there's no breakfast, then there's no coffee. Is Jaken feeling alright?” She asked the children, worried for the little toad youkai. Kagome certainly didn't expect such things to be prepared for her, but it was a deviation from what she was used to at the Western Mansion, and she wondered what the occasion was.

 

Rin shrugged and sat down in the chair next to Souta, making sure to stay a respectable distance from him. “I haven't seen him this morning. I thought it was pretty weird too.”

 

Kagome approached the two at the table. Standing behind her brother, she ruffled his hair affectionately. He responded by turning his head and giving his sister a small, yet genuine smile. He was trying so hard to be brave and accept the death of his girlfriend as well as struggle with who she had been and what she had done. Kagome jabbed his ribs lightly in a playful manner.

 

“What about you, Shippou?” Have you seen Jaken?” Rin asked, forcibly tearing her eyes off of Souta's smiling face.

 

Shoveling a spoonful of the sweet cereal into his mouth, Shippou's eyebrow twitched from the sudden sugar rush. “No way, Jose.” He answered with a mouth full of cereal. “It's almost like everyone's left for a battle or something. Its not just Jaken, no one else is around either. Bunch of good-for-nothings.”

 

Kagome stiffened, her gaze shooting over to the kitsune. “What did you just say?” She asked sharply.

 

Shippou froze in his adopted mother's concerned expression. Finally, he pulled the spoon from his mouth and swallowed before he answered sheepishly. “I um…I... just called them a bunch of good-for-nothings. I'm sorry!”

 

Kagome sighed. “No, no, before that!” She clarified.

 

Shippou looked at her as though she'd grown a second head. “Um… I said, no way, Jose?”

 

Kagome glared at the little kit. She loved him, but the boy had obviously inherited some of his adopted father's hard headedness. “No, in the middle of the two!” She exclaimed.

 

“Oh!” Shippou exclaimed. “It's like everyone left for a battle!”

 

“Is that something they do often?” Kagome asked, her expression cautious.

 

“Well, if there is a youkai threat or a border dispute, sometimes one of them will go, but if the entire pack left, it must be a pretty big deal.” Rin explained.

 

Kagome stood frozen and tense. Had they all gone after Naraku? Why would Inuyasha not have taken her like she had insisted? She knew that he had been adamantly against taking her to battle with him, they had fought about it the night before, but Kagome was surprised and upset at just the thought that her mate might have left to attempt something so dangerous without even telling her he was going.

 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the diminutive toad youkai that came running into the kitchen, his webbed feet slapping on the floor. “I'm sorry, I over slept! Sesshomaru-sama had work for me to do all night! I'll prepare breakfast right away! French Toast!” He croaked.

 

Suddenly, Jaken slid into a statue-like stop when the glaring eyes of the children and Kagome pinned him in place. “What… you don't want French Toast?” He asked tentatively.

 

Instead of an answer, he had three young humans and a Kitsune-Youkai leaping and grabbing at him simultaneously. “What do you want with this Jaken?” He exclaimed as he scrambled from Souta's hold and furiously knocked Shippou's paws away with his staff.

 

“Get him!” Kagome exclaimed and lunged for the toad.

 

“Help!” Jaken croaked as he bolted from the kitchen, the four individuals hot on his tail.

 

* * *

 

Kikyou's eyes narrowed, the only indication that the increasingly unstable Naraku was approaching. Nevertheless, the former miko remained in the prayer position on her knees, the amount of time she'd spent meditating telling in the worn knees of her stockings. Her hands clasped in front of her suit jacket, Kikyou chanted silently in what was the remains of her cousin, Souta's bedroom. The mid morning daylight streamed in through the hole in the roof that her previous lover, Inuyasha, had blasted through weeks ago. The rays of sunlight illuminated the raven-haired woman as she concentrated on her prayer.

 

Kikyou heard the click of wooden soled shoes as they stomped over the debris in the littered hallway. Her senses picked up the unusual amount of jyaki that Naraku bore as his evil, unmistakable presence entered.

 

“Really, Kikyou, I thought you had left such bad habits behind. I know I taught you that prayers and good will are not what makes this world turn.” The dark hanyou said bitterly.

 

The praying woman took a moment to consider the hanyou that stood in front of her. She coolly pondered the angry, confused man who Onigumo had once been as well as the chillingly evil hanyou Naraku had become. She briefly remembered their unfortunate past.

 

It had been because of Onigumo's love for Kikyou that her long time friend had lost his temper and had almost lost his life. In fact, had it not been for Onigumo's decision to trade his mind to the youkai that haunted him in exchange for a living body, Onigumo himself would have never survived. And when Kikyou had fled back to the dying man's bedside after witnessing Inuyasha's betrayal, she had taken comfort in him, and soon afterwards, heartbroken and in need, Kikyou had fallen back on the love that she had always felt for Onigumo throughout their high school years but had never been able to express.

 

Back then, Kikyou had understood that Onigumo's life had been spared by youkai, her miko powers had been quickly alerted to their evil jyaki, and she had been well aware that the monstrous beings that were invading her love's body were only fit to be purified, yet she had held her miko powers in check. Instead or purifying him, Kikyou desperately and selfishly clung on to Onigumo, for she couldn't bring herself to lose another love after Inuyasha's painful betrayal.

 

Always in the back of her mind, Kikyou had hoped that she could help Onigumo conquer his dark half. Yet, as her love's mind became more and more tainted, Kikyou realized that she was too late. For even with the considerable miko powers she possessed, she could never find a way to purify the youkai within him while not harming what little was left of Onigumo, and as the youkai Naraku claimed all that was good in the man she loved, so too had Naraku poisoned her own mind, and before she knew it, Kikyou had allowed herself to become a cold, bitter woman. It had been too late for her to save Onigumo, and it had been too late for her to save herself.

 

Despite all the failures that ran rampant through her mind, still, Kikyou did not loose her concentration as she completed her prayer. She was stretching the limit of Naraku's patience and she knew it. Unclasping her fingers, she opened her eyes slowly as she came back to the world of conscious thought before she turned to the evil hanyou.

 

“Naraku-sama.” Kikyou said plainly. Looking into his eyes, Naraku held the same insatiable lust for her that they'd always held, a trait of Onigumo's that the dark hanyou had never been able to rid himself of. Yes, he wanted her, right here and right now, but there was something more, something else that needed to be addressed first.

 

Naraku frowned and held out the small, dark orb that was the jewel of legend, the weapon that the dark hanyou had devoted his entire life to possessing. “Tell me why I can not fully corrupt the Shikon no Tama. The jewel will not release its wish to me. I'm running out of time.”

 

Kikyou watched Naraku calmly. She wasn't surprised. In fact, before he had interrupted her, she had been praying that Naraku would not be able to utilize the jewel's full strength. Though it was true that all she had left to live for was a small amount of Onigumo that she hoped was still alive inside of Naraku, she did not want to be the hanyou's vessel of corruption. And so she had done the only thing left to her. She had prayed.

 

“You can perform a ceremony, one that will focus my jyaki to finish the corruption I've almost completed, can you not?” Naraku demanded to know, becoming upset with Kikyou's silence.

 

Kikyou did not know for certain what Naraku would wish for, but she knew that if she helped him to achieve whatever evil goal he had in mind, it would be the last straw. Her own salvation would no longer be a possibility should she continue down the dark path she had traveled for three long years at Naraku's side. The former miko knew all too well that, through her spiritual powers and administrative skill, she had already assisted in the demise of countless youkai and humans alike as Naraku's aid. Did she really want to continue to be a tool, did she want to be a witness, be an accomplice even, to the death and destruction she feared that Naraku might render with the help of the jewel's complete power?

 

“I asked you a question, Kikyou. Can you or can you not help me corrupt this jewel?” Naraku snapped, glaring down at the kneeling woman. “Such a task should be well within your grasp. After all, have I not turned you into the strongest, most feared black miko?”

 

Kikyou almost gasped at the revelation. Could it be possible? Even though she had been stripped of her miko title since aligning herself with a dark hanyou, it was true that she had retained her spiritual skills and had continued to practice her arts, not always for a just cause. Had she strayed so far off her path, allowed herself to be corrupted badly enough to become a black miko?

 

The former miko looked into the hanyou's cold, crimson eyes as though searching for an answer, and what Kikyou saw shocked her. The faintest shimmer of brown swirled inside of Naraku's crimson irises. There was no doubting the origin of the new color that fought for dominance in Naraku's eyes. It was the first sign that Kikyou had seen of Onigumo in almost an entire year, in which she had all but completely given up hope for him.

 

Apparently, she had been wrong. Onigumo was still alive inside his captor's body, still fighting the evil, still begging her for more time. And for that reason alone, Kikyou's will crumbled and she gave in to the dark hanyou's will.

 

“I can do it.” She replied.

 

* * *

 

Inuyasha fumed where he sat in the driver's seat, his eyes trained on the road before him as the mid morning sun shone over the mountains in front of him. No doubt as they rounded the next corner, they'd hit gridlock with the commuters heading toward Tokyo. How fitting that the throngs of humans would plan to toil all day long at their desks unknowingly while he would fight for the honor of his mate and pack and possibly even the world at large in the threat of Naraku's clutches.

 

He spared himself the heroics as his mind lingered on Kagome, and he hoped she was still soundly asleep in bed. No doubt she would be infuriated when she found out that he'd left without her when she'd already told him not to. It wouldn't take long for her to realize where he'd gone either, the Inu-Hanyou admitted with a pained expression. Yes, if he managed to live through this battle with Naraku, he then had to face the wrath Kagome herself, a battle her almost dreaded more.

 

“Ne, Inuyasha…” Miroku began tentatively, as talk had been non-existent during their voyage so far. “Are you sure that Naraku is still at the Higurashi Shrine?”

 

The Inu-Hanyou's expression fell blank and he almost slammed on the brakes in response to the houshi's simple question. Sure, he had assumed that Naraku was still at the shrine, as that was the last place he'd seen him, but really, Inuyasha had no way of knowing. He had been on autopilot since he had gotten behind the wheel and had set a crash course straight to Tokyo, but now, he was unsure of himself. The dark hanyou could have returned to his offices and home in Hiroshima, or he could be heading for the very center of Tokyo itself as far as he knew.

 

Sesshomaru sensed his half brother's hesitation. “This Sesshomaru knows enough not to let our chauffer take us in the wrong direction.” He said matter-of-factly. “Our own spies have confirmed that Naraku is still at the Higurashi Shrine. He has spent the last week destroying most of the shrine buildings in his search for the Shikon no Tama before he realized it wasn't there.”

 

Inuyasha growled and was about to snap at his brother for calling him a chauffer when Sango cut him off. “Destroying the shrine buildings?” She asked. “Poor Kagome, she'll be heartbroken!”

 

Kagura knitted her brow as she itched to ask a question, yet she held herself back. It was true that the Taisho Clan was welcoming and warm enough to her, especially considering that it was obvious that Sesshomaru wanted her as his mate. But for her own part, she had been trying to learn their ways, for not only were they fighting together for the same cause, but because these people might be her own family one day if she could ever get her life back in order. But Kagura also knew that the Taisho pack, the humans especially, were still cautious of her, not only for the fact that her sister was recently murdered at the hands of Naraku, but because she had once been aligned with the Southern Lord as well.

 

Finally unable to maintain her silence any longer, the wind youkai asked her question, albeit tentatively. “Speaking of Kagome-san, why is she not with us?”

 

Looking back at the wincing expressions of the houshi and the taiji-ya in the back seat behind her, and the even darker scowl of Inuyasha in the driver's seat in front of her, Kagura was about to ask if she'd said something wrong when Sesshomaru, sitting next to her, spoke.

 

“Inuyasha would not allow Kagome's participation. He claims it to be too dangerous for her.” The Inu-Youkai said in a demeaning tone.

 

Kagura raised an eyebrow. She knew that she probably ought to hold her tongue to stay in Inuyasha's, the pack's beta male's, good graces, but if there was one thing that Kagura didn't like, it was anything that didn't make sense, and this certainly fit such criteria. “But each of us has brought their chosen, and Kagome-san is a fierce warrior, I saw it myself. She could have held her own and been an asset in battle.” She argued.

 

Both Sango and Miroku swallowed audibly at Kagura's comment, but not over knowing that Inuyasha was about to get upset and fearing his reaction. No, Sango and Miroku were surprised because for a youkai to call two humans chosen meant that she could read such information in their auras. For although humans had no such instincts to drive them to locate their chosen as youkai did, Sango and Miroku had apparently been lucky enough to find their chosen in each other. Miroku opened his mouth, prepared to speak to Sango when an irate Inuyasha cut him short.

 

“Its none of your goddamn business!” Inuyasha barked at Kagura before addressing the rest of the passengers. “I refused to risk her life in battle, okay. She's not youkai so she has no obligation to fight next to me. She's human, and fragile, and already injured. End of fucking story!”

 

The hairs on the back of Kagura's neck stood on end and she clutched her fan tightly, causing the air surrounding her to suddenly come to life as she prepared to continue the argument.

 

She was stopped by Sesshomaru's calm, yet firm hand on her shoulder, though he reprimanded his brother instead. “Watch your tone, whelp.” The Western Lord growled menacingly to his brother.

 

Inuyasha knew it was futile to argue with his brother's intended mate, and the Inu-Hanyou lowered his head and flattened his ears in submission. Though Sesshomaru said nothing in response, the act alone satisfied the alpha male and he stopped growling at his brother.

 

Sango set her hand on Kagura's shoulder, and when the wind youkai turned to look behind her, the taiji-ya offered her an encouraging smile. “Come on, lets stop quarrelling, we need to fight together as a team to defeat Naraku, and we can't do that if we're at each others throats.”

 

“Sango-sama is right.” Miroku seconded. “Now that Naraku has the Shikon no Tama, we have no idea what we'll face when we arrive.”

 

Kagura lowered her fan to her lap and shifted in her seat as she tried to relax and let her anger go. “For all we know he's used the wish on the damn thing already. There's no telling how much power he has now.” She spat.

 

“You think Naraku would wish for power, even with as much strength as he already has?” Inuyasha asked, setting aside the spat with the wind user for the greater good.

 

Kagura nodded. “Well, after the research Sesshomaru and I did, we figured that Naraku would first absorb the jewel's power before taking his wish to make sure he'd get all the power that he could possibly drain from it.”

 

“Naraku is power hungry. If he takes all the jewel's power before even using its wish, what would he have left to wish for?” Sesshomaru asked the dark hanyou's former aid.

 

“More power?” Kagura asked with a shrug.

 

The car gently lurched, making it obvious that Inuyasha had floored the gas pedal. Seconds later, as he rounded the gentle corner of the highway, he was met with the first of the traffic back up of the Tokyo suburbs. “Fuck.” Inuyasha growled as he stepped on the breaks and slowed the car down to a painful crawl.

 

* * *

 

Rin and Souta ran while Shippou, in his balloon transformation, flew over the head of the toad youkai as Jaken tried his best to out run his assailers.

 

“Shippou-chan, now!” Kagome cried, her injury causing her to limp along behind the stampede.

 

Suddenly, the pink balloon that was Kagome's kitsune son made a distinct popping sound and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The kitsune-youkai suddenly materialized and landed on top of Jaken, pushing him down to the floor of the dining room.

 

The toad youkai slid on his face for a couple of feet before rolling onto his back. When he grabbed his ugly, gnarled staff and held it in front of his face, the children stood in front of Kagome protectively. Seeing no other alternative, Jaken readied to defend himself with his fire staff. “Nintou-” He began.

 

“Stuff it!” Kagome barked, stepping on Jaken's stomach to hold him in place, his staff falling from his hand feebly. “Souta-chan, Rin-chan, hold him down!” She ordered as her brother and niece helped to pin Jaken's flailing body to the floor.

 

Long had Kagome felt bad for the hapless, abused servant, but now that he was keeping vital information from her about her mate and her pack, she allowed her ruthless side to come out. “Tell me where they went.” She demanded coldly.

 

“Where who went?” Jaken stalled, feeling the immediate pressure of Kagome's foot reapplying itself.

 

“Where is Inuyasha?” Kagome ordered, holding Shippou above the toad to dangle his fluffy tail above Jaken's sensitive nose.

 

Jaken tried valiantly to hold his laughter. “I know nothing of that worthless half-breed!” He strained.

 

All present frowned. Kagome nodded and Rin and Souta applied pressure, squeezing hard on Jaken's little arms and legs while Kagome ground her foot harder into his stomach. “Tell me where everyone went.” She tried again.

 

Jaken wheezed as the air was forced from his lungs. “I've been ordered to keep my silence!” He huffed like an old man.

 

Kagome again stuck her son's tail in Jaken's face and Shippou teased the toad's nose with his furry appendage. Jaken lost his control and heaved a ticklish laugh, his face darkening from lack of oxygen. “They went back to the Higurashi Shrine to battle Naraku!” He gushed.

 

Kagome instantly released her foot, and the toad youkai wheezed heavily, welcoming the air back to his lungs. “Jaken.” She ordered. When the little youkai's beady eyes tentatively met her own and she was sure she had struck the fear of the gods into him, Kagome continued. “Do not let the children leave the Western Mansion. I'm going after Inuyasha.”

 

Jaken's pained expression was easily translated. He was weighing the consequences of disobeying his master or defying the woman in front of him. “Kagome-sama, you mustn't leave, I've been strictly ordered-“

 

“I don't listen to anyone's orders, Jaken!” Kagome barked, cutting him off. “I will not sit idle while my mate and my family… my pack,” she corrected herself, risk their lives.”

 

“But neechan…” Souta stammered.

 

“But nothing.” Kagome answered authoritatively, eyeing her brother, niece and son. “I want you all to stay here at the Western Mansion. No matter what, I don't want any of you leaving these grounds.”

 

Kagome said no more. She set Shippou down on the floor gently, ignoring the confused and worried expression of the children, and turned to storm out of the dining room.

 

* * *

 

Naraku led Kikyou roughly by the wrist, dragging her through the upturned and disheveled grounds of what remained of the Higurashi Shrine. She scrambled to keep up with the hanyou, breaking a heel of her dress shoe as they skirted around a large hole dug into the slate courtyard of the grounds. A backhoe sat in the bottom of the pit, the youkai who had once operated it now dead at the controls. Kikyou couldn't help but remember the scene four days ago when Naraku killed the otter youkai with his bare hands after he had told his boss that the hole he had dug in the earth had not yielded the Shikon no Tama.

 

“This ceremony will calm me and center my youki on further corrupting the jewel and unlocking the wish, correct?” Naraku barked as he jerked Kikyou by the wrist.

 

“Yes, Naraku-sama.” Kikyou answered flatly. She could not lie.

 

Naraku led her to the oldest part of the shrine grounds and pulled her into the most ancient building, one of the few still intact since the shrine's conception. Five hundred years in the past, the very building Naraku had chosen had been used to house and protect the Shikon no Tama by the miko of old. Kikyou could feel the centuries old residue left by the ancient energy of the Shikon no Tama harmonizing with the jewel now clutched tightly in Naraku's hand. Naraku slid the shoji door shut, already he had prepared the room for her, the fire pit had been lit and a neatly folded set of miko garments lay next to it.

 

“I only assumed you'd require the traditional garb.” He explained gruffly.

 

Kikyou nodded. “Ideally, I should also bathe and pray before the ceremony to purify myself.”

 

Naraku looked at her with piercing, cold eyes. “Purify yourself?” He spat. “You have long lost the opportunity for such nonsense. This situation is far from ideal, Kikyou. Already that unfaithful heathen Inuyasha and the rest of the Taisho clan are approaching. I need the jewel's power now!”

 

Though her expression remained calm and calculated, Kikyou flinched inwardly. “Naraku-sama…” She began tentatively, collecting herself. Normally, she would not think to question or challenge his wishes, choosing instead to be subservient. After all, it was he who had given her a reason to live after the pain of Inuyasha's betrayal. But as Kikyou looked into Naraku's crimson eyes and the determined, manic spark behind them, she could sense that he was close to losing his perilous grip on control.

 

Kikyou knew she had to tread carefully, yet there was a question that she was yearning to have answered. “What do you plan to do with the power granted to you by the Shikon no Tama, and what of its wish to be granted?”

 

The ex-miko had barely finished her sentence when she felt the pressure of Naraku's hand around her neck. The tiniest fraction on his strength lifted the tips of her toes from the floor, the weight of her body pulling on her delicate neck caught in Naraku's hold.

 

“Do you not want the demise of Inuyasha and his pack? Is that not why you came crawling to me in tears when he fucked another woman in plain sight, where he meant for you to see? Is that not what we have worked towards all these years, or would you so easily throw the help and money I've given to you away?” The dark hanyou roared.

 

Though Kikyou's stoic expression belied her confused and panicked emotions, the dark hanyou felt her rapidly beating pulse in her neck and it only served to make his youkai blood boil. He lifted her even higher off the ground to prove his point, the arm muscles underneath his neatly pressed suit bulging.

 

Kikyou could not speak with Naraku's hand supporting all of her weight around her throat. Her eyes had begun to water and her face had begun to turn a sickly purple, but she still managed to shake her head to convey that she would not dishonor all that Naraku had done for her. How could she?

 

Naraku shuddered as the blood of the many youkai that owned his body coursed through his veins, demanding that he finish off the weak human in his grasp. After all, other than her spiritual powers, business prowess and a vessel for him to release his seed, the woman was worthless to him. Yes, Kikyou's blood flowing over his hands would be a welcome release.

 

Suddenly, Kikyou felt Naraku tense as though his body had hit a skip in a record. In her hazy, fading vision, she saw Naraku's crimson eyes flash brown, and the next thing she knew, her body had hit the floor and she was gasping breathlessly for air.

 

While Kikyou recovered, Naraku turned his back to her, holding his fingers to his temple gingerly with one hand. In his other hand, Kikyou noticed the nearly black clouds of corruption surrounding the Shikon no Tama had lightened to a faded shade of gray.

 

There was only one thing that could trigger such a purification of the jewel while in Naraku's clutches. Shakily, with her heart in her throat, Kikyou stood and put her hand on Naraku's shoulder. “…Onigumo-kun?” She asked tentatively, her voice hoarse.

 

“Kikyou-san…” The man with his back to her whispered brokenly in return, the voice hoarse as though it had not been used in years.

 

Kikyou's heart soared and she grasped her hand tightly around his broad shoulder. She had feared that Onigumo had given up hope and had been completely conquered by Naraku, but the trace of Onigumo she thought she had sensed shortly ago in Naraku's had proven to be true. It seemed that after all these years, he was still battling against the collective youkai that had created the being now known as Naraku.

 

“Onigumo-kun.” Kikyou said hopefully, a welcoming and excited tone to her voice that she had not heard from herself in far too long.

 

Suddenly, the hanyou's body began to shake, he slowly turned, and once again, a cruel smile graced his face. Naraku slapped Kikyou's hand from his shoulder viciously. “Get your hand off me, woman.” He growled. “What I choose to do with the jewel's power and the jewel's wish is none of your concern. Your role is to help the business and satisfy my needs. The same role you've played all these years. Now get changed and start the ceremony before you make me loose my temper once more.”

 

Though shocked at the obvious retreat of Onigumo and the return of Naraku's consciousness, Kikyou quickly collected herself and began to strip off her clothes. She wanted to cry, to mourn for her love, Onigumo, but realized she had to maintain her cool. The mask she had worn since Naraku had broken her soul had to stay in place. It was obvious that the dark hanyou had not known that Onigumo's consciousness had broken through his carefully crafted barrier of control, and she would be a fool to mention it.

 

The knowledge that Onigumo was still fighting when she had thought he had given up, and the knowledge that it was clearly Onigumo who had kept Naraku from harming her too badly had given Kikyou hope. Perhaps she could try to help him save himself yet. For now, as she finished dressing, all the while Naraku's hungry eyes watching her, she would concentrate on fulfilling the Southern Lord's orders.

 

Naraku stewed silently as he watched Kikyou dress. Already he could feel the jyaki of the hoards of youkai that had begun to enter the shrine grounds, and he knew that many more were in the Tokyo area, waiting to be called to battle. Countless lower youkai had easily been made traitors to their own lands, sensing that Naraku, the strongest of the Lords in the power struggle, would be the victor, joining with the youkai already aligned in his territories. Yet for all his strength and the number of youkai on his side, Naraku worried. He was now without his detachments, the ones he had bound to himself, captives to his will. Kanna was dead, and though she was far away, he could feel Kagura's aura and he knew she had betrayed him. He would not have either of them to bend to his will, and that would be a handicap. Though he had accumulated the strength of the Shikon no Tama, Naraku knew he would have to spread himself across the Taisho clan, fighting in hand to hand battle those that survived his waves of minions.

 

He brushed off his worries, concentrating on making his wish, hoping that with the wish alone, he would have more than the strength needed to easily stamp out the resistance that the Taisho clan posed in his quest for domination.

 

Naraku eyed Kikyou, now fully dressed and kneeling in front of the crackling fire. He knelt down across from her. “First off, I want you to establish a barrier around the shrine. You have the patience I do not possess to tune your barriers to allow only certain persons in. Allow only the Taisho clan to break through your barrier. I want no others interrupting us.”

 

Kikyou nodded her understanding and closed her eyes. The beginning of the end had come.

 

* * *

 

Kagome had wasted no time. After changing into a pair of loose denim shorts and a simple t-shirt, she swung by the weapons room of the Higurashi Shrine and flipped a set switches to the large, overhead stadium style lighting, blinking as the lights flicked on with an electric hum. Walking as briskly as her injured hip would allow, Kagome browsed the displays of weapons, trying to decide which one to take. She cursed under her breath at the swords, staffs, and throwing stars. A machine gun or a bazooka would be handy, not these ancient weapons that required close range combat. She angrily noticed the empty cases where her pack members preferred weapons were missing from.

 

Finally, Kagome's eyes settled on a bow that rested in a glass case and she realized she had found her weapon. She remembered the story that Inuyasha had told her about the ancient weapon. It was the very bow that her ancestor had used to shoot her hanyou lover when Naraku's ancestor had manipulated them five hundred years ago. One might have thought such a weapon would be bad luck, but in Kagome's mind, she reasoned that it would be only fitting to use the tragic weapon to right her ancestor's wrong.

 

Lifting the cover to the glass case, the small lights that were pointed at the weapon made the polished, five hundred year old bow look pristine and supple. The traditional Japanese bow's formidable length made the weapon seem unbalanced and difficult to use, and that it was. Kagome had trained since she was a child, but although she did not devote an exceptional amount of time to practice, her skill seemed to come naturally.

 

Twining her fingers around the leather wrapped grip, slightly offset so not to be in the middle, but rather two-thirds position from the top of the arch, she gently lifted the wooden and bamboo weapon from its case. Simply holding it sent shivers through Kagome's body. She knew the bow held great spiritual powers and she could feel its aura and its need for revenge. For five hundred years the weapon had sat untouched, the memory of the death of its owner still fresh in its memory. Kagome said a short prayer to the bow and her ancestor to help guide and aid her in battle.

 

Knowing that she was pressed for time, the Higurashi descendant strung the bow over her back and threw its ancient quiver of arrows over a shoulder before dashing from the room, not even bothering to turn the lights off.

 

Checking to make sure the children were all still in the house as she had instructed, she crept through the kitchen and across to the garage, slipping through the door and shutting it silently behind her. Digging in her pocket, she felt the familiar piece of plastic, the key to the car that Inuyasha had given her. She was glad that he had sent someone to retrieve it for her.

 

Her mind worrying about and upset with Inuyasha and concentrating on the situation at hand, Kagome was completely distracted as she crossed the expansive garage to find her car. Opening the door and tossing the bow and quiver in the back seat, the smell of fresh leather bit at her nose, and she smiled as she turned the key and was rewarded with the sound of the engine coming to life. Pressing the button on the garage door opener, she waited for it to open before shifting to reverse and stepping on the gas.

 

Instead of rolling backwards as she had expected, Kagome was met with the grinding of gears. Startled by the loud noise and confused by her car's malfunction, she dropped the clutch and the car stalled violently in response. The sounds of the choking engine reverberated loudly against the concrete floors of the spacious garage.

 

“Where do you think you're going?” A voice asked from inside the car.

 

Kagome almost screamed in surprise at the unexpected, yet familiar voice. She turned her head quickly to be met with Kouga. The Ookami Lord was sitting in the small back seat of the car, her bow and quiver across his lap, his foot resting on the center console. He had been the reason the gears had ground, after obviously kicking the clutch out of reverse.

 

Her pounding heart slowed down to a normal rate and Kagome caught her breath before assertively asking, “Where am I going? How about what are you doing in my car?”

 

“And here I thought you'd be happy to see me.” Kouga replied, a toothy grin on his face.

 

Kagome's frown lessened slightly as she considered the Northern Lord. “Sorry, Kouga-kun, but I really need to go, Inuyasha and the others are in trouble, and-”

 

“I know.” Kouga said plainly, cutting her off.

 

“You know? Well what are we waiting for?” Kagome asked, again turning the key in the ignition.

 

Again Kouga popped the clutch and the car stalled once more. When Kagome turned back to look at him, hurt and confused, he had to resist the urge to pull her to him and give in to her so easily. For even though she stunk like Inuyasha, a cruel reminder that the two had mated, he still had feelings for the woman. Inuyasha's invisible mark on her held him at bay, the harsh reality of the fact that she was taken.

 

“I can't let you leave here.” He said. “I swore to dog-face that I wouldn't let you go after him.”

 

Kagome snorted. What her mate had done to her was no different than her telling the children not to leave the house. But she was not a child, she was Inuyasha's mate, and as such, she deserved to fight along side him when Naraku had been as cruel and ruthless to her and her family as he had been to Inuyasha's own.

 

“You can't make me stay.” Kagome replied simply.

 

Kouga raised an eyebrow at the challenge. Would she doubt the word of a youkai's promise? He had sworn to keep Kagome safe and not to let her leave the mansion, and he would stand by his word. He caught Kagome's defiant eyes where they looked back at him in the rear view mirror.

 

Realizing that Kouga would not allow her to back her car out, Kagome suddenly flung open the door and got out of the car, ignoring the pain in her hip as she tried to run. Even forsaking her bow, which Kouga held in his grip, she scrambled for the vehicle nearest her, a van that was probably used to tote the children around in. Hoping she'd be quick enough to get into the drivers seat and shut and lock the door before Kouga could wedge himself out of the small back seat of the R32, Kagome was sadly disappointed when the fast wolf youkai had pinned her against the side of the van.

 

“I told you that I can't let you go.” Kouga said, his voice sad as though he didn't want to act against her wishes. With his close proximity to Kagome, her body crushed to his own, Inuyasha's mark physically pushed against Kouga's aura, and the wolf responded by stepping back in respect, creating a small amount of space between their bodies.

 

Kagome was at a junction, she was about to either cry or scream, her emotions torn between sadness and anger. She wanted to be with Inuyasha and the pack she'd been adopted into to fight Naraku not only for them, but for herself, yet Inuyasha had very explicitly told her no and had even set up Kouga as a guard. Kagome was upset that Inuyasha wouldn't allow her to follow either her own heart or his own youkai tradition, and her growing concern for his safety was making her anxious.

 

Kagome wanted to, no, she had to be with Inuyasha. But first, she had to convince Kouga to let her go. “Listen. We can't just sit here, we need to help them. They can't win this battle on their own!” She argued.

 

The Northern Lord looked at her sadly. “I'm sorry, but dog-breath asked that I keep you here under any circumstances, even if he were to loose.”

 

“If he were to loose?” Kagome repeated quietly, considering the implications of losing her mate. Did Inuyasha really think that might be the result of the battle that he was about to face? “Kouga-kun…” Kagome began, but she didn't get the chance to express her thoughts when she suddenly doubled over in pain, clutching the wound at her hip.

 

“Kagome? Kagome, what happened?” Kouga asked hurriedly. Instantly he was at her side and supporting her. As she continued to grip her hip, clearly in pain, he lowered her gently to the floor. “Kagome?” Kouga asked again, worriedly.

 

“The jewel.” Kagome bit through her closed teeth, her eyes squinted from the pain.

 

As Kouga watched her clutching her side, he remembered her injury. “The Shikon no Tama came from inside you, but it's gone now. Can you still feel it?”

 

Kagome nodded, a tear running down her face. “I think… I think…” She had to fight the waves of nausea that came over her, a feeling she instantly associated with Naraku.

 

Kouga's strong, steadying hands on her shoulders comforted her and she fought to continue. “I think I still have a connection with the jewel even though its been taken from me. I think Naraku's drained all the power from it.” She said, her breath slowly coming back to her. “He's almost corrupted it. I think he's going to make his wish.”

 

Shaken up from her communication with the ancient weapon, Kouga nodded slowly.

 

“Kouga-kun…” Kagome said quietly, the pain slowly draining from her body as the Shikon no Tama ended its transmission. “I need to be with him.” She said simply. Kouga looked away shyly, knowing the `him' in question to be Inuyasha. “I just have this feeling that he needs my help, that they all need my help.” She explained.

 

Kouga managed to look at Kagome. After the scare with the Shikon no Tama, and Kagome's premonitions, he was sorely tempted to give in to Kagome. After all, even he knew that Inuyasha was in the wrong to bar her from fighting along side him, no matter what her weaknesses were. It was her right as a hanyou's mate to fight along side him, and more importantly, it was her right as a human to do as she so chose.

 

“Please, Kouga-kun, if you ever truly cared for me, please help me to help Inuyasha.” Kagome pleaded.

 

Kouga sighed loudly. He did truly care for Kagome, and though he hated to admit it, he cared for the life of her mate too. It was he who made her happiest. Although he actually agreed with Inuyasha, and wanted Kagome to be kept safe too, it killed him inside to see her hurt, knowing that she wanted to fight alongside him. She was an extraordinary mate and Inuyasha was a fool for denying Kagome her right to fight. But it wasn't Inuyasha's choice to make, it was Kagome's.

 

Suddenly, all that held back the Northern Lord was no more. “We're heading back to your shrine, right? I'll drive.” He said, lifting Kagome up and carrying back to her car.

 

* * *

 

“Fuck.” Inuyasha muttered as he turned the corner of Jinja Toori and was met with cars and vans parked on both sides of the street. Upon closer inspection, the street revealed to be littered with police cars and news vans. News crews lined the sidewalks, some in mid broadcast, most converging around the base of the steps leading to the Higurashi Shrine. The police seemed to be setting up yellow caution tape around the perimeter of the shrine property. A helicopter flew overhead.

 

“What the hell are the police and the media here for?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Are you blind, whelp?” Sesshomaru asked bitterly. “Look up to the shrine.”

 

Inuyasha's ears flattened, but he looked up the hill to the place he had gotten to know so well. When he saw the purple-translucent barrier that began halfway up the hill to the shrine, surrounding the grounds, Inuyasha let out another string of curse words.

 

“You know the news crews are going to swarm us as soon as we step out of the car.” Kagura commented. Since it was widely known that only youkai or humans with great spiritual power could erect a barrier, their approach would trigger interest. After all, not only were most of them obviously of youkai blood, but thanks to Naraku framing Inuyasha for the initial attack on the Higurashi shrine, the Inu-Hanyou would be easily identified as soon as he got out of the car.

 

Miroku shrugged. “There's nothing to be done for it. Just remember not to injure or scare anyone on your way through them.” As though his last comment wasn't directed at Inuyasha, Miroku caught the Inu-Hanyou's golden eyes in the rear view mirror. “We'll have to act quick and shield Inuyasha. The police will identify him immediately, and we can't afford to be slowed down.”

 

Inuyasha grunted his approval and gave up looking for a spot to pull over and simply double-parked close to the shrine steps. As the Taisho clan began spilling out of the SUV, a reporter with a mic in hand waved irritably at them before brushing his hand through his bangs and approached Sango and Miroku.

 

“Hey, your car is blocking our camera shots, and what's with the costumes? The anime convention is in Akihabara this year, so move it along already, otaku!” The reporter spat.

 

Kagura, Miroku, and Sango looked down at their clothes. Of course their battle dress would look like costumes, but each of them knew that such a comment would not be taken lightly by the alpha of their pack. As Sesshomaru circled the car, he stood in front of the rest of his pack and glared at the reporter, displaying his fangs and growling menacingly.

 

The reporter backpedaled, both physically and verbally as he recognized the powerful real estate tycoon. “Umm… err… please excuse me, Taisho-sama, I meant…”

 

The reporter fell over backwards and passed out in fear. His personal assistant turned to the cameraman, a shocked look on her face. “Tell me you weren't airing that.” She whispered.

 

The man with the camera turned his head slowly to look at the assistant. “Oops.” He said.

 

When the news crew turned back around, the elaborately dressed group was already on their way to the shrine steps.

 

Approaching the yellow police tape, the Taisho pack was stopped again, this time by a scrawny police officer, the others busy cordoning off the area. “I'm sorry sir, we do not understand the nature of the disturbance, or why a spiritual barrier of this nature has been erected. No one is allowed passage.”

 

Kagura raised an eyebrow. It took a mere gust of wind to knock the young man over and Sesshomaru instantly led them forward, slicing through the police tape with his claws.

 

Inuyasha broke from the concealment of the middle of his pack to lead them to the barrier, coming to a stop before it. He placed his hand mere inches from the vibrating spiritual energy and frowned. “The kekkai is Kikyou's doing.” He growled.

 

“Can you break through it? We don't have much time, more police officers are approaching.” Sango said hurriedly, indicating to the team of S.W.A.T. police rushing up the stairs. Kagura took a stand behind the pack, readying to use her winds to hold the disturbance at bay.

 

Inuyasha's fingers danced across the hilt of Tessaiga. It had been a long time since he had broken through a barrier, and he worried that he did not have the skill level necessary to break through Kikyou's. Wordlessly, the Inu-Hanyou unsheathed his sword and raised it above his head. It took only a mere thought of Kagome and his wish to protect her, and Tessaiga sprung to life, the withered, rusty blade transforming into a vibrant, menacing weapon.

 

Concentrating on the power surging through Tessaiga, he called upon its barrier breaking skills. As the blade turned red, Inuyasha leapt for the kekkai and squinted his eyes. He prepared to shout his words of attack and braced his body for the anticipated pain of hitting the kekkai if it didn't work. When he slid through the barrier easily before even naming his attack, he almost stumbled.

 

Inuyasha regained his footing and looked back at his pack with a lopsided smirk. “I think we've been invited.” He said grimly.

 

Sesshomaru frowned at his half brother and reached a hand out authoritatively to touch the barrier. When he was not met with the expected scalding pain, he turned to Sango and Miroku and pulled them each by their collars, throwing them into the barrier. They slipped through effortlessly. Next he grabbed for Kagura, who readied to call the wind to deter their assailants. “Leave them.” He said, and pulled her with him into the kekkai.

 

The pack stood together on the inside and watched as the police team approached the other side of the barrier, still at a full-fledged run with no signs of slowing. It was obvious that despite their efforts to hide him, Inuyasha had been spotted.

 

Miroku raised a hand, motioning to the humans. “I wouldn't do that…” He began. His words were not heralded and the first wave of humans smacked into the kekkai and collapsed in convulsions as the raw energy shocked them. Miroku sadly finished his sentence, “…if I were you.”

 

Kagura frowned, Naraku's jyaki had polluted the inside of the barrier and it was obvious that the others felt it too. Kagura ignored the police on the other side, their muffled shouts and gestures meaningless.

 

“The barrier was designed to allow us in.” Kagura said, reaching a hand towards the kekkai, but before she made contact with the purple-translucent barrier, she pulled her hand back sharply. “But it won't let us out.”

 

Each of the pack members nodded grimly. They understood that they had entered a battle to the death.

 

“Let's go.” Inuyasha said, leading the pack next to his half brother.

 

* * *

 

Naraku shook from the immense power that surged through his veins. Sensing that he had taken the last of the Shikon no Tama's strength, he spoke to the jewel. “Now that I've taken all your power, you are ready to give me my wish.”

 

The dark hanyou smiled evilly, the flickering light from the small fire dancing off the angles of his face as his deep voice cracked. “I wish to become a full youkai and be granted the power to dominate all living things. But first, grant me the power to bury the Taisho clan.”

 

Kikyou winced. Naraku's wish didn't surprise her, but chills ran down her spine to hear him speak his words. `Is his quest for power and need to conquer so great that he would want to dominate not only youkai, but the human race as well?' She asked herself. Her eyes had been shut since the ceremony had begun, being deep in concentration as she built and maintained the barrier and focused on centering Naraku's jyaki in order to fully corrupt the jewel. Had he managed to do it? She had been so deep within herself to have noticed.

 

The ex-miko cracked an eye open to see Naraku staring at the gray Shikon no Tama in his palm. He still hadn't managed to fully corrupt it, and by the look of his enraged eyes, it had not granted his wish either. It suddenly dawned on Kikyou that perhaps Onigumo was holding him back.

 

Naraku snapped his gaze towards Kikyou. “Your ceremony has failed! Why has the Shikon no Tama not granted my wish?” He roared.

 

Kikyou, exhausted and dizzy from the energy she had expended for the ritual, and the energy she continued to expend to keep the barrier in place squinted at Naraku as though she could barely see him.

 

“Onigumo.” She whispered detachedly, fighting her disorientation.

 

Naraku frowned. Though he looked calm, a vein in his temple bulged wildly. “I've told you never to mention that name in my presence!” He spat.

 

Staring at the unphased woman, Naraku realized that Kikyou's mind was still stuck in her spell, still trying to come back to reality. He took a moment to think things through. For Kikyou to mention Onigumo's forbidden name must have meant that what little was left of Onigumo still in his body had been trying to contact her without his knowledge. He smirked.

 

Long ago, after Naraku had realized that he could not rid himself of Onigumo's stubborn consciousness, the dark hanyou had put in place defenses to keep the stubborn human's desire to be good from tainting his own evilness. For Onigumo to achieve such a feat would have severely depleted the human's remaining strength. Perhaps now he would be easy to finally kill off. For the moment, Naraku decided, he'd let Kikyou's comment slip. The woman hadn't even known she'd uttered the forbidden name.

 

Suddenly, Kikyou snapped to attention, her slouched body uprighting itself on her knees. “They're here.” She said quietly. “Inuyasha's broken through the barrier.”

 

All thoughts of Kikyou and Onigumo vanished as Naraku wordlessly stood and exited the building, leaving Kikyou to recover from her trance-like state. He would deal with her… and Onigumo later.

 

* * *

 

At a brisk jog, the Taisho pack climbed the remaining stairs to the shrine. Entering through the torii, the traditional red wooden structure used to mark a shrine's entrance, the entire clan ground to a halt as he took in the remains of the Higurashi Shrine. Of the main buildings and the handful of outbuildings, few were left standing, and those that were still intact were worse the wear than when he had left them. Trees had been felled, holes and gashes tore the earth and the stone courtyards. The house was in ruins. Kagome would be devastated if she found out.

 

Kagome. The name of his mate spurred him on and the inu-Hanyou broke away from his slack-jawed pack as he sensed the location of Naraku's jyaki. He was about to make a beeline for the remains of the main shrine building when Miroku grabbed his shoulder.

 

“What?” Inuyasha barked, choking on his words when he noticed the houshi's strained features. His monk's senses were obviously picking up something before his youkai ones could.

 

“A large amount of jyaki, coming our way.” He said distractedly, his senses overwhelming him.

 

Kagura snorted. “No doubt Naraku's employed countless numbers of lower youkai to fight against us.”

 

Sesshomaru unsheathed the second sword strapped to his garment, leaving Tenseiga in its sheath. The life-restoring sword would do him no good in this battle. Inuyasha whipped Tessaiga from its scabbard, Sango unshouldered her Hiraikotsu, Kagura grabbed her fan from her kimono's obi and Miroku's hand tightened around his shakujou.

 

As the monstrous hoard of lesser youkai began flooding towards them from behind trees, from around the ruins of the shrine buildings, and from the earth and sky itself, each warrior of the Taisho Clan steeled themselves for the battle ahead. All thought processes had ceased to be, there was nothing left but the instinctual drive to fight, to protect each other and most importantly… to stay alive.

 

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood united in front of their pack, their swords held in defensive positions. Inuyasha growled. This was the day of reckoning. He would finally put an end to the terror that was Naraku, and once he had defeated the obstacle that threatened his happiness, he could finally be in peace and continue to live his life with Kagome, his mate.

 

The only other option available to him was defeat and death, both of which were simply unacceptable.

 

Inuyasha smirked at the screaming, raving hoard of lower youkai as it approached. “Bring it on.” He growled.

 

* * *

 

 

Authors Notes:

 

Sorry for the major delay in getting this out, everything in my life has been dogs lately between training and showing!

 

How did you like this chapter? Please review and let me know, I'd appreciate some feedback. Please? Next chapter should bring the climax, the battle between good and evil. Dun, dun, dun.

 

Special thanks for YoukaiMusashi, my awesome beta and kindred spirit. You've been such a great help to me, and you are such a great writer. I always appreciate your insights. Shirt! :)

 

 

 

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