InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Delusions ❯ Chapter 27-30 ( Chapter 27 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Delusions

Chapter Twenty Seven

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Shippō could be seen flying back down towards the others. Before he reached the ground he shifted back into his usual form and looked at everyone. "What did I miss?" he asked, eyeing the bloody hole in Inuyasha's chest.

"Everything. How convenient for you to be away?" Inuyasha asked while knuckling Shippō's head. "Wha?! You told me to go!" Shippō yelled defensively. "And you better have picked up some good intel," Inuyasha said, folding his arms.

"Nothing has changed, it is still ominously quiet. I can feel dark energy pulsing from the area even more now than the night before. I think they are preparing something…" Shippō advised. "Yeah...us," responded Inuyasha. "Let's not keep them waiting," he concluded and motioned for everyone to head out.

Previously...

It had taken Sōrin and Amaya less than a day to return to the vicinity of which they had left Inuyasha and the others. Sōrin scouted ahead to find where they had reassembled, leaving Amaya to wait until he returned. He flew overhead in his owl form, something that was not totally conspicuous given the nature of the tree-lined landscape. He aimed to be as casual as possible, so as not to draw attention to himself. He swooped low and back up as if searching for prey.

When he closed in on the area, he saw their companions assembled and waiting it out. Knowing there was naught to be done, he went back to the place he had left Amaya waiting for miles away. She watched as he landed in a cloud of feathers and approached. "They are just waiting. The New Moon is on the horizon and Inuyasha won't attack tonight. We should wait here until tomorrow," Sōrin said.

Amaya sighed, "This is a lot of waiting. Is that all you people ever do? Hurry up and wait?" She seemed annoyed that this wasn't progressing fast enough to her liking. "Nothing should take this long," she grumbled.

Sōrin raised an eyebrow. "I cannot fathom how humanity advanced as far as you claim without anyone having a little patience." Amaya took in another breath and stared pointedly at him, but did not respond. "There isn't much we can do at this point and I would prefer to not get caught by Inuyasha," Sōrin said. This statement elicited a laugh from Amaya, "Ha! You're more afraid of Inuyasha than you are of this evil bad guy Naraku that everyone goes on about."

Now it was Sōrin turn to give Amaya a look. "Laugh all you want, but there is a reason Naraku is so careful and plotting and it is not because Inuyasha is such a walk in the park," he advised. He walked over to a tree and slid down to rest on it.

Amaya found a nearby tree and did the same. When she had settled she said, "I wouldn't know." Sōrin felt a twinge of guilt for his careless choice of words or rather the way they had made Amaya feel. He seemed to have a difficult time navigating the conversational waters without setting her off with some form of emotion or the other.

Perhaps he should strive to say nothing. Amaya, though, had other plans. "Tell me about him...about Inuyasha. He is like a father to you, right?" she asked. Sōrin had a thoughtful expression and responded, "Yes, I suppose so. I guess I never really thought about it like that," Sōrin began. "I remember that he was tough with me and always pushed me to do better. We never really had a typical family life like Miroku and Sango. In the beginning, when I was little, I was with them a lot, Miroku and Sango. He didn't seem to know what to do with me as an infant, I am told. But, as I got older, I would spend more and more time with him until we lived together. We would hunt and practice and assist the village with tasks they could not accomplish on their own. It seemed typical to me, though. Our life that is." He continued on with a retelling of life as he had experienced it with Inuyasha.

Amaya sat and listened intently as Sōrin told her more about her father. Aside from watching him, her face remained expressionless. "Well," she began when he had run out of things to say, "It doesn't sound all that atypical to me. With the exception of your demon hunting and such, you seemed to share quite the normal father-son relationship." She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Sōrin had noticed that this was her go-to move when she felt insecure. "Tell me about what life is like for you where you are from?" he asked.

"Pretty boring, really," she said simply. Sōrin eyed her quizzically and she laughed, "Right, I almost forgot you have absolutely no idea what it would be like. I go to school five days a week, I study when I get home, and I attend secret Judo classes that my mom is not supposed to know about."

"School? Study? And what is Judo?" Sōrin asked. Amaya rolled her eyes, "School is where children go to learn."

"Don't these children's parents teach them what they need to know? Are they all orphans?" Sōrin inquired.

"What? No! It's compulsory. Children are required to go to school to learn reading and math and science and other subjects." Amaya informed him.

"But you are not a child. Why do you go to school? Here you would most likely be married off by now," Sōrin interjected. Amaya groaned, "It's not like that anymore. First off, anyone under the age of eighteen is considered a child in the eyes of the law, and second, girls don't get married off. They choose whether or not to marry a man that asks."

"That doesn't make any sense," Sōrin said, scratching his head. "What? That girls have a choice?" Amaya asked with a smug smile. He quickly glanced at her, "No, that I would be considered a child."

"How old are you anyway?" she asked. "Nearly seventeen," he responded.

"Nearly, huh?" she teased. "I thought you might be older," she said quickly, afraid to offend him. Instead, he smiled.

"Let's just rest here and head out at dawn. That's when Inuyasha will make a move," he said trying to bring the subject back. "Ok," Amaya said quietly. She watched him from lowered lashes before closing her eyes and silently praying for her mother to be ok.

Arriving back at the castle, Naraku whisked Kagome into his rooms. He had felt his incarnations within the vicinity and knew that they were ready for the upcoming battle. But, if things went to plan, there would be no battle. Still, there were things to prepare. And yet, things were not going exactly to plan. Naraku mentally chided himself for letting this miko get to him. There was something about her that made him falter. Byakuya's interference and alteration of the woman's mind had not played into his hand exactly as intended. He was initially upset with Byakuya's scheming, but the end result was much more than he could have ever hoped for. Oh, it was beautifully played to see Inuyasha squirm after Kagome shot him in the heart with that arrow. He had been upset at first, thinking that she might actually kill the hanyōu ahead of schedule, but after giving it some thought, he realized that the timing was perfect. What made it even better was the fact that Kagome was not the first woman that Inuyasha had loved to do so. A smile formed on his face as he reflected on how that thought must have also crossed Kagome's mind as well to prompt her to do such a thing.

"Are you pleased, my Lord?" the miko inquired. She had noticed the half smile still affixed to his face. "I thought that I may have angered you by acting of my own accord," she offered. Naraku regarded her. 'Had I not ridden myself of my human heart?' he thought. He had done so in order to purge his feelings of love for Kikyo that the human part of himself harbored. He had been successful but also robbed of the satisfaction of killing her himself. This woman before him was different, though. She was not nearly as meek as the miko, though she possessed many of the same qualities that he knew that Onigumo had been drawn to. And, like a gravitational pull, he felt drawn to her almost involuntarily. He wondered if she knew that he was having an effect on him but quickly shook the thought from his head. "I was angry initially when it almost seemed that you had taken away Inuyasha's destruction from my hands," he said. He narrowed his eyes to express his displeasure. "However, your actions played out quite well." He almost felt satisfaction when she gave him a pleased smile, but it quickly dropped from her face and she turned away from him. "Naraku, I do not understand why Inuyasha would say such things to me…" Kagome said softly. 'Damn,' he thought. He should not have let their conversation go on as long as it did. He strode over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Humans could be manipulated by their emotions and sometimes their emotions were tied to their physical senses. Perhaps it would be prudent to distract her. "He would say anything to mislead you," he said and nuzzled her neck. Rather than lean into the gesture, she craned her neck away and pulled out of his embrace to face him. "A child? That is reaching," she said, "even for Inuyasha."

Naraku quickly thought of ways to snuff out this growing seed of doubt. "You're right, that is reaching. But consider it this way, what mother would forget a child?" he asked her. Kagome did consider it for a moment and smiled again. "You're right," she said. "It was just some random declaration to throw me. I will not be so easily misled." She stepped closer to him, "Though, I am having difficulties remembering us," she said with a pout. "Perhaps there is something you could do to jog my memory?" she asked a little seductively. He wondered if all humans were this physically driven. He no longer had Onigumo's memories to draw upon for basis, but he did remember the lust that the bandit had felt when Kikyo was present. It was similar to the feeling he was experiencing now. Except he no longer felt disgusted by the idea. In fact, he nearly welcomed it. He smiled knowing that this would be yet another item tacked to Inuyasha's ultimate humiliation before the killing blow. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner?

Kagome saw the look that Naraku was giving her. He must have been considering her suggestion seriously and the idea both excited and frightened her. She could not remember a scene playing out where she and Naraku had…..Instead, she had feelings - strong ones - associated with other memories. Anytime she focused too strongly on the details surrounding those memories she would get a splitting headache. She had determined that she needed to make new ones.

She reflected on earlier that morning and coming face to face with Inuyasha had invigorated her in the beginning. All of the pain she had harbored for many years finally seethed to the surface in a boiling roil. When she loosed her arrow into the bastard's heart it had left her feeling empty and shaken. Not elated, like she had anticipated feeling. He deserved it, though, she rationalized to herself. But The Void inside her yearned to be filled and an option now presented itself to her.

Before she could make a move, Naraku closed the gap between them and grabbed her by her wrists, lifting them over her head and pinned her against a wall before he lowered his head, possessing her mouth with his. Her lips parted and she could feel his tongue enter her mouth and stroke her own. Her body responded unexpectedly. She thought that she had wanted this, but it was off and somehow forced, yet she did not push him away. He released his grip on her arms and his hands moved down her body, one gripping her arm tightly and the other tangling itself in her hair and pulling her head back to claim her even further. She couldn't stop the moan that escaped her throat and that only seemed to incite Naraku's ministrations further. It was wrong, but she could not push thoughts of Inuyasha from her mind. She figured that intimacy would reignite and cement the images in her brain that were memories, but this was not going to plan. It was too late though, she had already set sail into uncharted waters with no anchor and no one to helm the wheel.

Chapter 28: Chapter 28

It did not take them long to arrive at the mansion that Naraku had selected as his headquarters. They had taken their time in preparing to leave, mostly due to Inuyasha's gaping chest wound. It was healing quickly, but there was not enough time for the wound to close completely. It would just reopen anyway once he confronted Naraku, but Inuyasha wanted to give it as much of a chance to close up as possible. He absently clutched at his chest while they went over strategy and the others pretended not to notice. It was unlike him to show any weakness or sign of pain. Shippō also pointed out that it was unlike him to utilize strategy, which prompted a punch to the kitsune's head. "Let's not leave much up to chance here...Is that ok with you, runt?" Inuyasha growled. Shippō rubbed the sore spot on his head - Inuyasha definitely was not pulling any punches where Kagome was concerned - and nodded, "Yeah."

When they had spotted the mansion on the horizon they could feel Naraku's demonic taint permeating the area. It was nearly enough to make them sick with nausea. Inuyasha was immediately glad that he had sent Amaya back to her time. This was not something he would want her exposed to. The taint, the battle, the fear of the unknown...nothing. He had already exposed one child to too much. 'Sōrin,' he thought. Inuyasha had sent him away as well. He feared that if Sōrin were exposed to Naraku, that Sōrin would be eliminated in some fashion. He still worried that even with the distance between them that Naraku's destruction may be refracted upon Sōrin, who was essentially a part of Naraku. Too many ifs. That had never really bothered Inuyasha before, but there was just so much more at stake now.

Once they entered the perimeter of the mansion they could see Naraku waiting. To his left, his many incarnations were staggered and also waiting. Each of their countenances differed from eager to apathetic. The white-haired girl-child whose features were blank, yet she held a bundle close that appeared to be an infant, stood stoically. Kagura, who looked as if she preferred to be elsewhere and waved her fan as if the weather were warmer. Hakudoshi, who had a wicked sneer painted on his child-like face, had his hands planted on his hips in anticipation of battle. Lastly, Byakuya, who stood closest to Naraku, wore a coy smile.

Inuyasha mentally counted off the incarnations in his head. There had been more at one time, but they had been dispatched and were not a worry. He hoped that Naraku had not cooked up anymore. Before he could finish his thought, Inuyasha's eyes fell to the figure on Naraku's right. Kagome…

"Kagome?" Inuyasha heard Sango whisper in confused terror. "What's happened to her?" Shippō wondered aloud.

Her head was downcast, all of the fire from earlier seemed to be snuffed out. Naraku had his hand possessively on her shoulder and smiled when he saw Inuyasha notice. "You've walked right into my trap, Inuyasha," Naraku taunted.

"As if we had a choice fucker," Inuyasha spat back. Naraku chuckled, "Kukuku."

"Hyuck it up while you can before I smash your fucking face in," Inuyasha snarled. He pulled Tessaiga from its sheath and pointed the blade at Naraku. "Let her go and I will maybe reconsider smashin' in your face and just dismember you piece by piece and obliterate what's left."

"Careful now, Inuyasha, do you really think I would allow you here and not have a few "tricks" up my sleeve," Naraku cajoled, putting extra emphasis on "tricks". He pulled Kagome into a firmer embrace. Her arms hung by her sides, limp like a rag doll that swayed with forced movements.

"Get your hands offa her or I'll cut em off!" Inuyasha yelled. "Kagome!" Even after screaming her name, she did not respond. "What the fuck did you do to her?" Inuyasha yelled. He did his best to fight back a new wave of nausea, however, this feeling was not caused by the taint but from the realization that had just slammed into him with the force of one thousand tons. "You...you…"

"Cat got your tongue, mongrel? I see you've noticed that Kagome makes a pretty fine match for me," Naraku taunted, pulling Kagome closer.

Inuyasha bristled and his vision became hazy and red, his sword lowering to his side. The bloodlust was upon him; he wasn't sure he would be able to pull out of it, nor did he really think he wanted to. Tessaiga kept things in check, but he was on the brink where he wanted to thrust the sword far away and give in to the berserk fury.

"Inuyasha! Don't give in! That's what he wants," Miroku yelled. The monk ran over and placed his hand tentatively on Inuyasha's shoulder, risking himself while Inuyasha fought off his rising yōki. Inuyasha "GET OFFFFFAAA ME," Inuyasha growled through clenched teeth. Miroku did not let go, "Think of Kagome!"

Sango stepped over towards Miroku and instead of pulling Miroku away from Inuyasha and to safety in case he did toss Tessaiga, she grabbed Inuyasha's other shoulder, "Think of your children," she said gently, putting aside her fears for her family. Shippō stepped behind Inuyasha and squeezed Inuyasha's sword arm, "Think of us, too, Inuyasha!"

Naraku waved dismissively with his free hand, "Yes, listen to your friends, Inuyasha. They are the voice of reason aren't they?"

Inuyasha gained control of his breathing, which was still coming in short, ragged breaths. He glared at Naraku through narrowed eyes.

"I am glad they are here to witness me putting you in your place...nonexistance. It's a shame your brother decided to turn tail, though. I would have enjoyed sending the pair of you out at the same time. Another time, then," Naraku ministered to a glowering Inuyasha.

"You seem overconfident, Naraku, like you are compensating for something," Miroku said. He brought his hand up in an open threat to use his wind tunnel. The monk knew that Naraku had the Saimyōshō lurking around but perhaps there would be time to pull Naraku in. He was close enough in range to do so. However, as Naraku turned his head to glare at Miroku, still by Inuyasha's side, the poison insects appeared in the area. Their buzzing wings could be heard slicing through the silence of the area.

"I compensate for nothing cursed one," Naraku sneered. "How is your hand? You seem to be favoring it so," he taunted. Miroku grimaced and clenched his hand tightly.

"Fuck him, Miroku, he's just trying to scare ya," Inuyasha said in a gruff, yet comforting tone.

Naraku maintained his cruel smile, "Despite all of your efforts, you still fail. Come and see…." he held out his free hand and revealed a nearly complete Shikon Jewel. The surface of the jewel glowed with a menacing, dark color.

"It's only missing one shard!" Shippō exclaimed. Sango's eyes grew wide in disbelief, "How could this be? How could he have attained so many?" Naraku snapped his hand shut around the jewel, absorbing it back into his body.

"It was not overly difficult," Naraku postulated. "I merely employed the use of my subservient and loyal followers to flush out the remaining shards." He gestured towards his incarnations to his left. Kagura could be seen lowering her gaze in guilt for the part she played. The remainder either stood fast or smiled at the praise. "Speaking of followers, Kanna, your services will no longer be necessary. Bring him," Naraku commanded. The small, white-haired girl walked stoically forward. She reached Naraku and held out the bundle to Naraku. He took it from her and held it to his chest, absorbing it into himself.

"Did he...Did he just absorb an infant?" Shippō exclaimed with disgust.

"Another piece of myself that is best kept close at hand," Naraku said simply.

Miroku gasped, "Inuyasha! Your shard!" Inuyasha, the dawning of realization upon him, reached for the shard that was no longer where he had placed it for safekeeping. "What the?"

"You fools thought that you could hide your shard from me? I knew where it was all along. It is even more amusing because had you left it in the girl's care, it would have made it more difficult to attain, yes, but you brought it right to me," Naraku said with sadistic mirth.

"So what?" Inuyasha yelled. "We saw it. You're still missing one dumbass!"

"Am I though?" Naraku asked, tilting his head to regard Kagome. She still stood lifelessly to his side, within his dark embrace. "You are an idiot Inuyasha, to be so blind to what's right in front of you. You've played right into my hand exactly how I wanted you to."

"You're so full of shit!" Inuyasha shouted. "You have nothing! Let go of Kagome and quit wasting my time!"

"No, I've grown rather fond of her and she of me," Naraku taunted. "I find it only fair seeing as how you've stolen Kikyō from me." His sneer had dropped to a hateful glare.

"What?! You hate Kikyō. You destroyed her!" Inuyasha said. He watched as Naraku pulled Kagome straight in front of him, interjecting her in between himself and Inuyasha. His impulse was to cut away the tentacles that appeared and enclosed her, pulling her closer to Naraku.

"It was thanks to you that I discovered the error of my ways and came to terms with Kikyō. I could never have her, thanks to you. But I will settle for her reincarnation. She has such a fiery temper."

"Kagome! Snap out of it!" Inuyasha yelled.

Kagome's dull eyes brightened for a moment and she peered up through her lashes, "Inu...yasha?" she said quietly.

Dark clouds began to fill the sky, casting shadows all around. A distant rumble of thunder could be heard and rain began to fall, saturating the area. Naraku nodded towards the group and his incarnations drew their weapons.

A purple barrier popped up around Naraku and Kagome which then lifted into the air. "Follow if you dare, Inuyasha. As if you have a choice, hnhnhn," he chuckled. The pair flew off, away from the compound of the mansion.

"Dammit! Motherfucking coward!" Inuyasha said. He sheathed Tessaiga and crouched low for a jump. Before taking off, Inuyasha looked to his companions who were assembled around him.

"We can handle this lot, Inuyasha. Go save Lady Kagome," Miroku stated. "You know it's what he wants," Shippō said.

"Watch your asses," Inuyasha said and jumped off in pursuit of Naraku.

Her heart pounded inside of her chest as she watched the events unfold before her. She wanted to help, but Sōrin had held her back. He told her to wait in the distance, unnoticed. "Why?" she demanded. "They need our help now!" Why couldn't he see that?

"If we make a move now, then we give away our position and the element of surprise," he advised her. They were both crouched low beyond the tree line that lay less than a mile from the mansion. "It's already a surprise," she told him. "No one knows we came back."

"Exactly, and I aim to keep it that way until we can use it to our advantage," he said without looking at her. He stared straight ahead, watching the moves that were made. They were too far off to hear anything, but it looked like some form of a standoff. "Is this normally how epic battles go? Lots of standing around and talking?" she asked, annoyed. "We are wasting time!"

He chuckled, "You sound like him right now. Less talking and more fighting."

She crossed her arms, "No one is doing anything."

He did not respond and left her in silence for awhile. Clouds came from seemingly nowhere and unleashed pelts of rain upon them. It was cold and she pushed away from the urge to shiver, though the cold did not affect her much. She watched miserably as her father made wild gestures and Naraku hold her mother hostage. She was aggravated by the concept of doing nothing. There had to be something to be done. Finally, they witnessed Naraku enclose himself and Kagome within his purple barrier and lift off and away from the main group. Inuyasha followed after momentarily. Once they were gone, Sango initiated an attack with Hiraikotsu, leaving Naraku's remaining allies on the defensive. They watched as the battle broke out. "Shouldn't we help them?" Amaya called.

"No, we should follow Naraku," Sōrin said. He grabbed her hand and helped her up. He led the way as they cut around the mansion, around the perimeter of the fight to avoid notice.

"How do you know where they are going?" she asked cautiously. She hadn't given it much thought before but now he must have been following Naraku's connection. He ignored her question and carried on. They walked about a mile east of the mansion in the rain. Amaya could feel her clothes begin to grow heavy with rain. This would have been uncomfortable for her had she been human. She had been having a difficult time trying to quit comparing her new senses and invulnerability to her former self. She knew she had to be strong for her mother and that meant giving into what Sōrin had called 'yōki', her demonic powers. She had to trust them. And she was trying to do just that, except she had a sinking feeling of what was to come.

Sōrin glanced back at her from time to time, ensuring that she was still following behind. His hair had stuck to his forehead and face with the damp rain. Drops rivuleted down the sides of his face to accumulate in his soaked suikan. He suddenly halted and raised a hand. "They've stopped up ahead," he said quietly.

"Ok, now what" Amaya whispered. She drew close to hear his response. "We look for an opening and then make our move," he answered. "We need to keep low and quiet. And then hope that we are not noticed too quickly."

"Got it," Amaya said.

Together they moved at a snail's pace toward where Naraku had drawn Inuyasha. Amaya wondered why Naraku would pull away from the others when it would have made more sense to stay within the safety of his allies. She wanted to voice this to Sōrin but bit her tongue. He was more battle-hardened than she and would grasp the strategy at play far better than she could.

"Wait, what is this odd mist?" Amaya asked. They had walked upon a wall of purple haze that screened the area they were headed to. Sōrin looked around, "I'm not sure. It must be a barrier." Amaya reached her hand out to touch it. "Don't touch it!" Sōrin hissed, but it was too late, she had already put her entire hand through the barrier. "Some barrier," she said dismissively. "It doesn't even keep anything out." She walked through and looked at Sōrin from the other side. He stood and looked at the barrier warily. Tentatively, he reached and poked the barrier. When nothing harmful happened, he took a breath and stepped through to join Amaya.

"That's unusual," he said, looking back at the strange barrier. The inside of the barrier had mirroresque properties and he could see an unusual reflection. Amaya thought it looked like a sheen of oil, with a tint of rainbow spread upon its sickly surface.

Sōrin grabbed her shoulder and directed her towards Naraku's position. They walked several yards before stopping. Sōrin still had his hand on her shoulder when his eyes flew open in shock and his grip tightened. "Wha?" Amaya began.

"I'm so glad that you could make it Sōrin," a disembodied voice said.

Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"I'm so glad that you could make it Sōrin."

"Who was that?" Amaya asked, concern in her voice. She looked around and saw no one. Sōrin's grip was still too tight, his eyes wide. Putting her hand to his, tentatively, she asked again, "What's going on?

"I….I shouldn't have come…." Sōrin said. He released his hold and dropped to his knees.

Amaya sank down beside him, "I don't understand." She looked around, but couldn't see anything through the rain.

"You were drawn to me, Sōrin," the voice said.

"No!" Sōrin yelled. "I came on my own! Not because of you!"

Amaya bolted up and moved to stand in front of Sōrin protectively. "I don't know what's going on, but I will protect you."

"How quaint it is to see a woman fight your battles for you. I suppose I should expect no less, after all, with you being subjected to Inuyasha's mannerisms."

Sōrin, angered by the quip, stood back up and shouldered past Amaya. "I'm not afraid of you," he shouted.

Inuyasha followed the bastard Naraku through the woods. Where the hell was this fucker leading him. It all made no sense but he had no choice but to follow. Finally, he saw that Naraku had stopped and landed somewhere below the foliage of the trees. He knew that this was a well laid out trap. He also knew that he could expect Naraku to be a little showy about how he aimed to defeat Inuyasha. Namely, completing the Shikon Jewel, but he still lacked one shard. He just did not know where that would leave Kagome.

When he landed, he saw that Naraku was waiting for him, barrier still up. He really was not taking any chances that Inuyasha would attempt to lash out, though he was wrong in thinking that Inuyasha would risk Kagome to annihilate him. Tessaiga remained sheathed by his side, for the time being. He looked around quickly to assess the area and noticed that there was a new barrier around the vicinity. Naraku must not want anyone else disturbing them.

"You must be wondering why I brought you here, Inuyasha," Naraku stated. He casually petted Kagome's head with his hand, as one would with a treasured pet. She was now alert but held a confused expression. She did not struggle within Naraku's embrace, which infuriated Inuyasha.

"Let her go, then you can tell me, asshole," Inuyasha said.

Naraku's tentacles withdrew and left Kagome standing on her own. She took a step forward and then over to Naraku's side.

"What are you DOING Kagome?" Inuyasha yelled.

"I don't know what to believe anymore…" she said with uncertainty. She glanced up at Naraku who returned her look with a chuckle directed at Inuyasha. "It seems you can see where her alliances lie. Though why you would come after her now after all of these years away is beyond even me Inuyasha," Naraku said.

"What the fuck?" Inuyasha growled. 'What was this crazy bastard up to he wondered?' He had to have made Kagome believe some really fucked up shit for her to be acting like this. He felt a twinge of guilt when he thought back to how he could have gone for her sooner and then she wouldn't have been so susceptible to memory alteration.

"I've let her go, now I will tell you," Naraku said. "In reality, I brought you here because I am waiting on someone else."

"What's that spose'd to fucking mean?" Inuyasha barked. All of Naraku's incarnations were getting their asses handed to them back at the mansion. Unless Naraku had some other ally hidden up his sleeve, but this would be one he had never met. He briefly felt a nervous twang when he thought of his brother, Sesshomaru. No, that wouldn't be it, he thought.

"I'm so glad that you could make it Sōrin." Naraku's voice boomed throughout the area.

"Sōrin?" Inuyasha questioned, in disbelief that his explicit instructions to the youth would be deliberately disobeyed.

"Yes, Sōrin," Naraku said, addressing Inuyasha with a clear tone. "You used him to locate me and I used him to manipulate you."

"You were drawn to me, Sōrin."

"Who's Sōrin?" Kagome said slowly, finally breaking out of her trance.

"Why, he didn't tell you? His love child with Kikyo," Naraku responded.

"WHAT?!" both Inuyasha and Kagome yelled in unison.

"That's a lie you bastard!" Inuyasha bellowed.

"Oh Inuyasha, don't play coy. Did you not raise this child given to you by Kikyo?" Naraku asked, his tone matter of fact.

"Don't listen to him Kagome! He's twisting things!"

"You see...he's not even denying it," Naraku said softly to Kagome.

Amaya could hear voices a short distance away. The yelling voice was definitely that of Inuyasha, she discerned. Sōrin must have heard them as well and strode deliberately for them.

"Sōrin, wait up," she called and ran to catch up with him. The rain was still falling heavily, making it difficult to see. Apprehension was building in her chest but She knew that her mother had to be near if Inuyasha were close by as well. He'd promised he would save her mother before he sent her away. She figured he would be angry with her for coming back, but he would understand eventually that she had to help.

Kagome was on the verge of saying something when she became distracted by the emergence of two figures from a sheen of rain. One was a young man, dark-haired and glinting eyes with a handsome face set into an angry grimace. The other was a young girl, of a similar age judging by her appearance, who bore long, silver hair and amber eyes. Realization struck her like a sledgehammer. She had pegged Sōrin for a male's name but the resemblance was uncanny. This must be Inuyasha's child!

"There is no denying that," Kagome said dryly, anger flushing her cheeks, gesturing to the girl.

"Amaya?" Inuyasha asked in disbelief. He immediately ran over to the girl. "I told you to go home!"

"Hn," Naraku growled from Kagome's right. His eyes widened with surprise at the sight of the emerged pair, as if he were not expecting both of them to arrive.

"Is that not the child you spoke of Naraku?" Kagome demanded. She clutched at his arm but he pulled away in annoyance and did not answer.

"Mother?" the silver-haired girl called out.

"Mother?!" Kagome repeated. This was incredulous. She wasn't sure what was going on anymore. Her head hurt so bad now and she grabbed at her temples.

The girl grabbed at Inuyasha's sleeve, "Inuyasha, what's wrong with her?!"

He held Tessaiga ready, "Seems like he fucked with her memories or something."

"He what?" she said with concern. The girl, Amaya was her name, looked straight at Kagome. "Mama? You don't remember me?" she asked in a pleading voice. She looked poised to run over to Kagome but when she made to move Inuyasha threw up a hand to stop her.

"Is this some kind of trick?" Kagome yelled. "Are you trying to fool what I see before my own eyes?" Her head began to pound as she tried to remember, though she battled the pain by asked incredulous questions. In fact, the girl did seem to resemble her. When she first saw her emerge she was overwhelmed by the sight of her silver locks and the golden eyes so she had immediately allowed the suggestion that this was Inuyasha's and Kikyo's child to consume her. Now upon second glance, she saw herself in the girl.

Tears shone in her eyes. "How could you forget me?" Amaya asked.

The question took Kagome aback and through her pounding head, she thought upon the girl's inquiry. Could she forget a child? If her memories had been tampered with...But wasn't the bond between a mother and her child supposed to surpass every earthly connection? In her eyes, it should have. But she'd never given much thought to children. And a child with Inuyasha? Ridiculous. Though, she had loved him enough long ago. It was pointless to deny that much. And why would he have come all of this way, after all of this time, to "save" her when she needed no saving. It was not making any sense.

When Kagome did not answer, she saw a tear slip down Amaya's cheek. She looked away from the girl to Naraku, who stood to assess the situation. It was clear he had not anticipated the girl's arrival. If that was the case, then who was the other youth?

Naraku's moment of surprise passed and he seized control of the situation at hand. "Sōrin," he purred, ignoring the girl completely, "It is time to end this once and for all."

The boy stood ready. He was unarmed, though poised for battle. That was until he reached out with his right hand and a staff materialized. He spun the staff around over his head and deftly planted the end into the ground with a loud thud that sent bits of earth flying from the impact.

"That staff won't save you," Naraku told him. "It's already too late."

"No," Sōrin said simply. "It's not over until I say it is."

"Dammit, don't attack him!" Inuyasha hollered to Sōrin. "Why didn't you listen and stay away, goddammit!" The consternation in his voice was clear.

Sōrin shot a glance at Inuyasha and frowned. "I'm not one to run away from my problems. I prefer to face them head-on."

"Oh, now you face them head on? How convenient!" Inuyasha growled.

Amaya growled, "Is this really necessary right now? Be mad at us later, ok!"

"Fuck," Inuyasha grunted. He took a deep breath and nodded to Sōrin, who understood the unspoken command and nodded back.

They both attacked together from opposite sides, weapons raised high over their heads and charging for Naraku. Naraku gave a soft chuckle and moved to step beside Kagome. He knew that putting Kagome in harm's way would circumvent any attack. Except, when he turned to pull her in front of him, she was no longer at his side. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sōrin apparate with Kagome near the other girl. Almost a second too late he saw Inuyasha, blade inches away, and summoned his barrier. Tessaiga's blow made the barrier shudder but held strong.

Kagome realized that she was now in the arms of a stranger. She made to struggle but noticed the girl staring at her. Sōrin released her and within the next second, she was in the arms of the young girl. "Mama," she sobbed. "Did….did he hurt you?"

Kagome was stiff in her arms but was soon overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness that she soon felt warm wetness flowing down her own cheeks. How could she forget this?

"Kagome!" Inuyasha exclaimed. He caught sight of her and immediately broke off his attack with Naraku. The demon made a hasty retreat into the darkness of the trees, possibly to regroup.

He landed next to her and pulled her from Amaya and into an embrace of his own. Tessaiga clattered to the ground noisily and returned to its old, unusable appearance.

"Damn you woman," he said softly.

She shivered in the rain, despite being in his arms. "I...I still don't…" she trailed off.

"It's okay," Inuyasha reassured her. "We'll figure it out."

Kagome wanted to cry more, the ache in her head began to ease now that Naraku had pulled back but she felt contempt for herself for forgetting. She wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but she was sure that this girl was hers and that Inuyasha was….he was... more than she could remember...

"Inuyasha, I…" she began. But her words dried up in her mouth as her brain tried to register the images she was seeing from her peripheral vision. The boy, Sōrin, was standing adjacent from her and watching as she embraced Inuyasha. At first, she thought he was looking on in disapproval, his eyes staring at her wide and intently. That is until she noticed the trickle of blood dribbling down his chin and his brows knit together in confusion. Her eyes slowly drifted down to land on his chest where two large, pointed tentacles were protruding, blood still dripping off of the tips. A strangled cough erupted from his lips and his staff fell from his grasp but dissipated before clattering to the ground.

Within the split second that had passed, Inuyasha turned his head to find what had Kagome so spellbound and jaw agape. "Sōrin!" he cried out with pain in his voice. Amaya gasped when she caught sight of the gruesome scene. Inuyasha turned swiftly, snatching Tessaiga up off of the ground to attempt to cut the tentacles off from behind Sōrin, where they snaked and writhed from within the darkness of trees.

As Inuyasha raised his mighty blade, the tentacles changed shape, their points curving inward. In an instant, Sōrin was impaled with the hook ends of those bloody tentacles and yanked back through the rain into the darkness of the fortress. "No!" Amaya screamed.

Inuyasha had gotten mid swing before his young charge was drug away before his eyes. "Fuck!" he swore. "Dammit Naraku, leave him out of this!" he yelled into the darkness.

"Why did he take him?" Amaya wailed, "What is he going to do with him? Is he going to kill him?"

Inuyasha gave her a compassionate glance. "...No" was all he said.

Kagome knew there that was a lie of omission and that Inuyasha was just trying to spare her from a horrible truth.

"Hnnhnnhnnnhnnn…." an evil chuckle broke from the cold, darkness. Naraku floated out from that darkness with Sōrin still impaled upon his tentacle spikes. His barrier was intact and he began to laugh loud and maniacally.

"Oh Inuyasha, you raised your own doom," Naraku laughed. "And the funny part is that you knew it! Hahahahaha."

"What does he mean Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. Her memories had still not returned and she wasn't sure if they ever would. It was very compromising to have one's memories replaced with false one.

"Sōrin is Naraku's discarded human heart," he said. "I had no idea...I hoped...that nothing like this would ever happen." He lowered Tessaiga, knowing he could not strike and risk hitting Sōrin.

"Then how could he be your doom?" Kagome wondered aloud.

"Another question I would be delighted to answer," Naraku said.

Before she could think, she too was ensnared by a tentacle wrapping around her waist and lifted her into the air, "Ahhh!" she yelled.

"Dammit, no!" Inuyasha exclaimed, whipping Tessaiga through the air and slicing through the tentacle. Kagome dropped to the ground with a thud. "Gah, it's like a hentai gone wrong!"

"Jesus, Mother! What have you been watching?" Amaya shrieked and eyed her mother dubiously.

Kagome saw another tentacle aimed at Amaya and pointed, "Inuyasha, look out!"

He swung the blade up and leveled the offending appendages that Naraku was sending out with his Wind Scar. "God damn tentacles everywhere!" They were coming in a barrage from every direction to which Inuyasha responded by twisting in the air and slicing through each tentacle as it came, occasionally decimating an entire group of attacking tentacles with Tessaiga's Wind Scar.

"Fucking. Naraku. Tentacle. Bullshit." Inuyasha grunted with each swing of his sword. "And stay down!" he yelled when there seemed to be no more attacking appendages. "This is ridiculous Naraku, you will run out of body parts before I run out of the determination to end you," Inuyasha said. Naraku had Sōrin's limp body dangling next to him, still impaled upon the spiked appendages. He seemed to have lost consciousness as the blood pooled below his feet.

"While I admire your tenacious alacrity, this ends shortly," Naraku assured him. He pointed to behind Inuyasha with his dark smile growing.

Inuyasha grunted and risked a glance behind him. Kagome, who had also been distracted by Naraku's onslaught, looked back as well. She gasped when she saw the reason for the smug smile. It was Amaya, being held with a short sword to her throat, blade pointed up into her jaw. The light from stray bolts of lighting glittered upon the metal in the darkness."Byakuya! No!" Kagome screamed. Naraku's right-hand incarnation stood behind the girl, a wicked smile alight upon his face. Amaya trembled within his embrace and she could not move her mouth to speak without impaling herself upon the blade at her throat.

"Now, Inuyasha, you have two choices…you can hand the miko over or I will kill the girl and then take the miko," Naraku said smoothly. "Both options will turn in my favor, but at least here you have the ability to choose which order the ones you love die in."

Kagome gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. Even though her memories were still not her own, it was pretty clear now how truly twisted the past few days had been for her. She felt used and angry and utterly powerless. 'No,' she thought, 'not completely powerless.' She still had some power left to her and that was the power to make this decision. She took a step forward and placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. He stared into her eyes and saw the decision she had made plain on her face, "Kagome," he said almost too softly to hear. With a soft smile, she shook her head and strode on to face Naraku. She wouldn't let Inuyasha choose between them.

"Good girl," Naraku purred. Once she had gotten to his side she turned around, her eyes downcast.

"Why do you need her?!" Inuyasha yelled. The rage that had filled him was being slowly replaced with something else, despair. He was caught in between a rock and an extremely hard place. Those he cared about were being flaunted in front of him and there was nothing he could do but watch.

"First, I wanted you to feel precisely how alone you truly are," Naraku gestured at Inuyasha standing alone. "Second, I wanted you to watch as I did this…." As he spoke Inuyasha watched as Sōrin was drawn closer to Naraku's body until he was directly in front of him. In an instant, a black void opened up within Naraku, his arms raising up to allow the entirety of Sōrin to be drawn inside him. Kagome raised a hand to her mouth in disgust and retreated several steps on shaky legs trying to process what was happening.

"NO!" Inuyasha screamed though he knew there was nothing he could possibly do. Behind him, he could hear a throaty wail coming from Amaya as she, too, watched Sōrin begin to disappear into the dark maw.

As he was being slowly absorbed, Sōrin's eyes popped open as if he could tell what was happening, despite being swallowed into nothingness. His arms scratched at the hook-like tentacles that had him tethered feebly. Ultimately he realized his actions were futile and emitted a painful scream that could be heard for miles. Had there been birds in the area, they would have all retreated in a unanimous effort to flee the heart-wrenching sound.

Sōrin was gone, completely absorbed by Naraku, who stood still smiling. Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to wipe that smile off of his face with Tessaiga, even in spite of the pain from his ward being absorbed into his most hated enemy, he was still capable of that much. Perhaps Naraku thought this would hurt Inuyasha enough to weaken him, but instead, it only refueled his rage that had temporarily dissipated. He bared his teeth in a loud growl, but he could not attack with Kagome still by Naraku's side.

She was eyeing Naraku in abject horror as he turned to regard her in turn. "Now, for you my dear miko," he said sweetly.

"What?" she asked, confused. He held his hand out to her and she looked at Amaya, still held by a silent Byakuya, and then at Inuyasha before she reached out tentatively and took Naraku's outstretched hand. He pulled her quickly in front of him, just as he had done to Sōrin but a moment ago. Kagome's eyes widened and tears flowed down freely as her mind raced. Was she to be absorbed as well? What kind of fucked up shit was Naraku playing at?

"You've kept it safe for me all of these years," Naraku said softly, as if to a lover and stroked her shoulder. She shuddered at his touch now. She could feel him lowering his face to her and closed her eyes once his lips touched the fabric of her haori. She could not look at Inuyasha now. She didn't want to see the look of disgust on his face now especially after what had been done to her earlier this day. That had at least been private torture, now there were witnesses to her humiliation.

She felt a sharp tug near her collarbone. The feeling shocked her and her eyes flew open and her head swiveled to her shoulder. She felt the tug even more clearly and almost thought that she was being pulled by some invisible force. Suddenly white-hot pain erupted from her shoulder and she fell to her knees, clutching at the pain. Red blood blossomed underneath her palm onto the drenched white of her haori. She looked up to see Naraku staring at his palm affectionately. Taking his momentary distraction she scrambled towards Inuyasha who met her halfway, pulling her into his arms before retreating outside of Naraku's immediate reach. But, Naraku had no eyes for them as he still stared at his palm where a darkness glowed.

"At last," Naraku said. He held out his other hand, not taking his eyes away from what was within his grasp and summoned forth the nearly complete Shikon Jewel.

"The last Shikon Shard," Kagome gasped. Despite her broken memories, she knew. "It was...within me," she said. "It's all my fault…"

Inuyasha regarded her within his arms, "It's not your fault."

"FINALLY!" Naraku bellowed. He held the now complete Shikon Jewel in his hand and the dark glade filled with maniacal laughter. As if on cue, the rain that had tormented the area suddenly stopped, leaving an angry sky with dark clouds that swirled and trumpeted thunder.

Chapter 30: Chapter 30

 

'That's it...the Shikon Jewel is complete,' Kagome thought. The thing that had drawn her and Inuyasha together in the first place and had kept them together, first by necessity, then by desire, and then by fate was now complete. Once it had shown bright and dewy, as innocent and luminescent as a freshwater pearl that lacked no imperfections. Now it was dark and filmy, glowing with an insidious radiance. Kagome absently wondered what it would look like once Naraku made his wish. Would the glow from the jewel encompass him? Would there be any sort of theatrics at all?

It was as if the removal of the Shikon shard had uninhibited all of her memories. Her thoughts were clear and now her own. Though her head no longer pounded, there was a heaviness upon her heart as the events from the past few days unraveled before her and the hand she played in them…She gasped once she remembered Amaya, still held captive behind her. She swiveled within Inuyasha's arms to catch sight of her daughter. "Amaya," she whispered with urgency.

Naraku was still enraptured with the completed Shikon jewel. His face was intent with lingering maniacal happiness. He looked closely upon the jewel as if he were listening to voices only he could hear. Byakuya, too, looked distracted, though he still held the blade close to Amaya's throat. Fresh tears glistened down her cheeks but her eyes were closed. Perhaps she had seen too much.

Kagome nudged Inuyasha into action but he quietly shook his head and tilted his head to a direction behind even Byakuya. She was confused as to why he would let this opportunity to save their daughter pass them by, "Inu?" she began but trailed off when she saw something. A figure emerged from out of the darkness, 'Who now?!' her mind raced. 'Could it be Naraku's other incarnations? What was the point of a barrier if EVERYONE could pass through!'

Whoever it was, Byakuya was not expecting them and did not hear them coming. He stared obliviously forward at the Jewel within Naraku's grasp. Even Kagome would not have realized anyone approached had Inuyasha not pointed it out. She tried to see past Byakuya but there was only a shadow. She allowed herself to open up to her senses and picked up a demonic energy, one that was not already present in the area. Could it be?

Byakuya's eyes bulged and he jerked a little, but not enough to thrust the blade into Amaya's exposed throat. Amaya felt his tension and burst from his slackening grip. She ran over to Kagome who pulled her into a familial embrace alongside Inuyasha. Amaya sobbed into her parent's arms. "Mama," she mumbled through a broken cry.

Kagome comforted her daughter, stroking her hair while she attempted to dry her tears.

"Hmph….Sesshōmaru," Naraku grumbled, finally breaking from the entrancement he had been caught in.

Byakuya's body crumpled before Sesshōmaru once he deftly pulled his blade free in an upward motion. Blood ran down to the point of his sword and dripped onto the sodden grass. With an effective grace, he flicked the blade to remove excess blood and smoothly sheathed it. He watched Naraku with careful eyes but said nothing.

"What's the point in a barrier if anyone can walk through it?" Inuyasha asked aloud.

Naraku grimaced in annoyance that his most loyal incarnation had been dispatched so easily. He tutted, "It served its purpose. How could I have drawn you all here otherwise? Sometimes it is the simple things that are complicated into something they are not."

"Is that so? You seem to be losing your calculated touch, Naraku," Inuyasha shot off. He pushed Kagome and Amaya behind him in a defensive manner and pulled Tessaiga out and held it ready. Sesshōmaru quietly stepped up to stand beside Inuyasha, quickly eyeing Kagome and Amaya with a side glance in stoic disapproval.

"I was lamenting to your brother of your inability to grace us with your presence Lord Sesshōmaru, but I see that you arrived just in time. Perhaps that wasn't such a coincidence, ne?" Naraku quipped. He had closed his hand around the jewel, hiding it from view in a jealous flourish. "I am glad for this opportunity to eradicate your bloodline with one fell swoop," he added.

Sesshōmaru's stoic expression did not break with Naraku's proclamation. "Naraku, even my half-breed brother with his inferior abilities is more than capable of decollating you. My presence here is to merely bear witness."

"I'm sure that's all it is. Let's just see how well he fares against my power combined with that of the Shikon Jewel," Naraku taunted, holding his hand out to reveal the dark but lustrous jewel. He stared at it intently and silently offered up his nefarious wish to the Jewel of Four Souls.

Whispers could be heard all around them in every direction. Kagome's head swiveled to catch sight of whoever or whatever was making the noises, but they were alone in the glade. The whispers grew more intense and a wind picked up from nowhere and buffeted around them, causing clothes and hair to rise and whip around.

"What's going on?" Amaya shouted over the wind and increasingly loud whispering voices. Kagome shook her head. She did not know exactly, but a wish had been made and it seemed to be reacting.

Within Naraku's outstretched palm, the jewel hovered and emitted a dark pulse. Naraku had a pleased grin plastered on his face and Kagome been able to hear over the wind she would have guessed Naraku to be cackling with evil laughter. They all watched as the Jewel grew to twice its size, still quivering with growth. A dark shadow flew from outside of the jewel and then immediately flew back inside. This happened several more times as the shadows multiplied, spitting out of the jewel and swirling around before re-entering in a subsequent rotation. Finally, one by one the shadows emerged from the jewel and slammed into Naraku, causing him to stumble around as each one entered his body. The entire time, Naraku's eyes would bulge with surprise or pain but the crazy smile never left his face.

All at once, the whispers and the wind died away. The Shikon Jewel fell from Naraku's clutches and thudded to the ground to roll several feet away. Oddly enough the sacred jewel now resembled the little Shikon replica that Kagome's shrine sold to tourists in the present, dull and harmless. It continued to roll close enough that Sesshōmaru stepped over and retrieved it. He held it between two fingers and regarded it with mild disgust and near contempt. His gaze moved from the jewel to Kagome and in a quick gesture, he tossed the tiny orb to her before turning to face the momentarily distracted Naraku. Kagome quickly pocketed the jewel.

Naraku hunched forward and cried out. This took everyone back for a moment, not expecting an outburst such as this from Naraku. He stood, teeth clenched, and wriggling could be seen from underneath his skin. It was as if the movement from different beings were within him and attempting to find a way out, the demons that had created Naraku were now battling for supremacy within the body it had created for itself.

"What the fuck," Inuyasha uttered in disbelief.
He and Sesshōmaru watched in disgust while Kagome and Amaya stood stunned into silence. This was not how any of them had expected the wish Naraku made to play out. "It's...it's like worms are brawling it out inside him," Amaya suggested. "I think I'm going to be sick," she added.

Inuyasha's eyes did not leave the monstrous calamity that was engrossing their enemy, "Me, too, kid." Sesshōmaru heard the comments and lightly scoffed.

A loud cry broke from Naraku and his flesh burst, lesser demons purged from his body. Bits and pieces sprayed and flew in every direction, covering the vicinity with dark visceral material that writhed on the ground as if it were alive.

To avoid the dispensed matter, they retreated several feet away. Looking back, a shape of flesh could be seen in the middle of the disarray. At first glance, it looked almost like flesh-colored putty that was not completely molded but it began to take shape. A figure stood up, stark naked with its back facing them. Skin was taut on the muscles that tensed and flexed while Naraku readjusted to this body.

"Inuyasha…." Kagome began, a thought forming, "What if this is no longer the Naraku we know?"

"What?" Inuyasha asked, confused at this notion. "What do you mean?"

"Look at his back, there's nothing there. No spider scar," she pointed out.

"Spider scar?" he repeated.

"Yes, when I was….when I was with him," she forced out, "He had a spider scar on his back."

Inuyasha considered this, "What does that mean?"

"It means," Sesshōmaru filled in, "that Naraku has expelled his humanity and is now a full yōkai. His appearance may even be altered to suit his new host."

"Wait...host?" Inuyasha asked.

"Those were demonic spirits that entered into his body. I'm guessing to grant his wish, whatever that was. Judging by the number of demon parts expelled, they took over," Kagome explained, trying herself to rationalize the experience.

"I don't fucking care what he is now. I will still kill him," Inuyasha growled.

They all watched the new Naraku as he turned his face to look at them over his shoulder, his dark locks gently fell over to his back in wet strands. His hooded eyes gleamed with red malice. He turned away and scanned the area before locating what he was looking for. He took a step further from them and stooped down to pick up a tattered remain of Naraku's clothing. When his body had burst, most of the clothing had ripped and fallen away as well. He took the rag, for that is what it now resembled, and tied it around his waist. Slowly, he turned around to face them.

"Oh no."

"Oh my god!"

"No!"

They cried in unison, despair in their voices. "S...Sōrin?" Inuyasha asked tentatively, his voice cracking with indecisiveness.

Sesshōmaru breathed deeply and hmph'd, "No...not anymore."

A corner of Naraku's mouth lifted into a smug smile. This new version of Naraku now wore Sōrin's face rather than that of the facade he had taken many years ago. Perhaps it was to dishearten those that Sōrin was close to or perhaps it was to make them believe something else.

Kagome's heart sank. With her returned memories, she knew that Sōrin was essentially a son to Inuyasha. Inuyasha was denied the opportunity to have a hand in raising their daughter, much to Kagome's guilt, but she was glad that he had the chance to try his hand at fatherhood by means of taking in a foundling. Even if the child had been delivered by Kikyō for him to raise before she passed. Kagome could not see Inuyasha's face and wondered if his facial expressions reflected the devastation that his body language so clearly showed. His ears drooped and Tessaiga was nearly falling from his grasp.

Naraku flaunted his new appearance, cracking his neck and assessing his new limbs with deliberate arrogance. "Oh, Inuyasha...don't look so surprised," Naraku uttered with Sōrin's voice. "I'm sure you were warned about keeping the boy away."

The tip of Tessaiga hit the ground lamely. "Sōrin…" Inuyasha uttered with the same velocity that he gripped his blade.

"Wait, if that's not Sōrin, then maybe it's not Naraku either," Amaya tried to ration out for everyone.

Naraku turned his head pointedly to look at Amaya. She shrank back under his cold stare. "Perhaps not," he related, addressing her question. "The Naraku you knew is…" he paused, still smiling, while he contemplated his words, "...evolved. I am no longer Naraku, though his spirit is still here. I believe I will continue to use his name, for convenience's sake."

"What if Sōrin is still in there?" Amaya asked.

"That is not a risk you can afford to take," Sesshōmaru advised, not looking in Amaya's direction.

"He's right…," Inuyasha confirmed, stunning the others with his admission. He strengthened his grip on Tessaiga and his ears, no longer drooping, stood erect with purpose. "Sōrin is gone...and that's my fault...but I'll be damned if I don't end this once and for all. There's no way I will let this fucking evil prick come between me and the rest of my family!"

"Inuyasha!"

"Kagome!"

Hearing their names, they both turned and saw their friends coming to join them. Miroku and Sango rode atop of Kirara. Shippō trailed behind in his kitsune form, with a rider atop, one that Kagome couldn't recognize at first glance. As they drew closer, they settled beside their companions and dismounted.

"Sango! Miroku! You're okay!" Kagome shouted.

"A little worse for wear," Sango reassured. She embraced Kagome, "I'm so glad you are okay as well, wait…" she hesitated, "Wasn't Sōrin standing there just a moment ago?" She pointed to where Naraku had been, "I thought that he was supposed to get your daughter back to the well and remain in the village?"

"I…" Kagome paused. They all turned back to face where Naraku had been. "He's gone!"

"Yeah, she just said that!" Shippō chimed in. He had shifted back into his usual form and hopped from one foot to the next in excitement. Next to him was a man dressed similarly to Sango. "Kohaku?" Kagome asked, uncertain.

Sango stepped over to her brother and smiled, "Yes, all grown up."

"Look, guys, I'm all for this nifty little reunion, but we have bigger issues," Inuyasha admonished. He grunted and scanned the darkness. "This is just fucking great," he snapped.

Miroku stepped to Inuyasha's side, "What might the bigger issues be?"

"First off, Sesshōmaru wasn't paying attention," he began to which Sesshōmaru responded by casting a sharp glare in his younger brother's direction. "Secondly, that wasn't Sōrin…" he trailed off.

"What do you mean?" Miroku questioned. Inuyasha seemed distracted and agitated. Miroku looked around to assess his surroundings and the situation. "What's happened here?" he asked once he saw the carnage. The body of Byakuya had crumbled to nothingness but left a dark stain where he had fallen.

"Something terrible," Kohaku provided. He looked around and walked over to the visceral material, bending down to inspect it. He reached down and touched it before bringing it closer to his face, rubbing the sticky substance in between his fingers to gauge the consistency. "yōkai died here...many…"

"Yeah," Inuyasha crossed his arms and looked at the ground, "all to make way for something new."

"What?" Sango asked.

"The Shikon Jewel...he finished it…" Kagome told them. "The last shard was...it was inside of me...he...Naraku...he absorbed Sōrin," she choked out.

"Wait...what?" Miroku questioned. "My wind tunnel disappeared, as did Naraku's incarnations." He brought his right hand up and flexed it in front of his face as if he were still in disbelief. "They all just crumpled into nothingness, the one that was left..." He began to look frightened, "We took that as a sign he had been defeated."

"N-n-no, not exactly," Kagome stammered.

Shippō raised his hand to signal his question, "But, if Sōrin were…" he gulped with visible discomfort, "absorbed...then who did we see? That was Sōrin I saw."

Sesshōmaru regarded the group solemnly, "One can only imagine the way the defiled Shikon Jewel reacts to an evil wish. I'm sure it took that form to torment the one that Naraku despised the most."

The newly arrived compatriots eyed the yōkai dubiously. "I thought he left?" Shippō whispered to Sango. With their sensitive hearing, both Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru picked up the whisper easily but only Inuyasha responded, "Yeah, it was planned. What good that does us now..."

The kitsune shrugged, "None, I guess."

Sesshōmaru stood stoically in cold silence, calm in the light of the comments and dark situation. His remaining hand rested on the hilt of his blade.

"Where is Sōrin now then?" Sango asked nervously.

Inuyasha glanced around, "He still goes by Naraku...and I don't know. He's probably not far and listening."

Everyone looked around in expectation that Naraku would appear suddenly, but he remained hidden for the time being, leaving his enemies second-guessing themselves. "What now?" was asked.

"The only thing we can do," Inuyasha responded and paused a moment to emphasize his next word, "...wait."

"Not for long I'm sure," Sōrin's, but now Naraku's, voice stated. "Though I am flattered you would hold out."

"Don't be too flattered. This is nothing more than cleaning up a mess I created. Nothing more and nothing less."

"You're expression tells me different, Inuyasha. Even your posture belies your true feelings. It is true that's why I chose this form."

"Fuck you! Show yourself, you coward"

"I assure you, Inuyasha," the voice said and the next thing anyone knew, Naraku was behind Inuyasha and leaning over his shoulder to whisper into his ear, "I am anything but."

Kagome gasped and pulled Amaya closer as she saw Naraku plunge his clawed hand through Inuyasha's back. No one had witnessed him appear. He had used one of Sōrin's abilities allowing him to apparate anywhere within several hundred yards.

Inuyasha attempted to draw a breath, but instead, the sound he emitted was more like a wet gurgle. His head dropped to see the hand protruding from his chest before it was yanked away and Naraku deliberately walked around to face Inuyasha. Clutching his chest, he dropped Tessaiga and fell to his knees.

Too stunned to scream or call out, everyone watched in abject horror. Even Sesshōmaru's stoic expression had broken into one of mild shock.

A silence permeated the area as Naraku brought his bloody hand up to his face and licked the red wetness off from his fingertips. A wicked grin broke upon his face as he carried out his morbid display.

"You sick fuck!" Amaya screamed and broke away from her mother to run over to Inuyasha's side. She knelt down and grabbed his shoulder to try and lend aid. He grimaced and felt around the ground for where he had dropped Tessaiga. Once his hand brushed the hilt, he gripped the tattered looking blade and used it to prop himself up. "You...bastard…" he said feebly.

"What? You don't care for the irony of your situation?" Naraku asked snidely. "Everyone you love or have ever cared about will soon die." He chuckled, "Isn't it grand?"

Inuyasha stood up, blood pouring from his wound. He pushed Amaya back and she gave an exasperated cry. "Stay back," he grunted with effort.

Kagome had felt planted in place. Partly from fear and partly from shock, but she steeled herself and strode forward. "Inuyasha, you cannot do this on your own!"

"No!" he growled. "I won't let anyone else die, dammit."

"You're hurt."

"I'm always hurt. I'm always bleeding. When has that ever stopped me?"

Naraku's smile dropped away from his face, leaving him with a blank expression. "I think I will kill the girl first. How about that? Let's start with one you won't miss as much and get our feet wet shall we?"

"No!" Kagome yelled. Inuyasha squared up in front of his daughter, holding Tessaiga ready. "Over my dead body."

"You're already halfway there," Naraku pointed out.

Sesshōmaru took a step forward and quickly drew Bakujin. "The time for words has ended. I grow tired of your endless games. Let's finish this now and be done with it."

"Lord Sesshōmaru," Naraku blandly addressed his new aggressor. "Did you not just tell me that you were only here to 'bear witness'? Does this mean you now consider me a threat? I'm flattered, yet again."

Sesshōmaru hmph'd disdainfully and picked up speed to strike Naraku down. He was met quickly by Naraku whose arm had morphed into a blade-like appendage. They clashed back and forth at breakneck speed for several moments, seeming evenly matched.

During his moment of reprieve, Inuyasha fell back to his knees. He placed a hand over the hole in his chest, panting and Kagome gripped his sleeve, hoping to offer silent words of hope while they watched Sesshōmaru battle with a newly envigored Naraku.

Kagome felt a nudge at her shoulder and chanced a look to see Sango by her side offering her a weapon, "I thought you could find some use for this bow." Kagome praised Sango's foresight. "I did a quick run through the estate before we came over."

Kagome grabbed the bow, quickly and reached for the quiver of arrows that Sango now held out to her. "Thanks," she uttered and shouldered the item while expertly pulling an arrow and nocking it. She turned her attention back to the fight between the scantily clad Naraku and Sesshōmaru. Their movements were a blur and it was hard for her to keep track. In the brief seconds she could make them out, she saw that Naraku had a smug smile. He seemed to be toying with Sesshōmaru whose eyes had narrowed into a look of determination rather than his casual, could-not-be-bothered countenance. She wondered if Sesshōmaru would be bested, but hoped not.

Inuyasha stood up straight, removing his left hand from the hole in his chest and coating his claws in his blood. He still gripped the hilt of Tessaiga with his right hand and steadied himself as he stood. He glanced down at the dark, dripping liquid and curled his free hand into a fist. Looking up, a calm determination settled over him. He took a deep breath and spared a glance at those around him. Kagome held her newly acquired bow at ready while Amaya watched lamely, clearly disturbed with the turn of recent events. The others, his close friends, and allies all had varied looks ranging from anger to apprehension. Taking note of everything around him and his own wounds he raised Tessaiga and slowly brought his bloodied hand to the blade. He coated the edge of the blade with his blood.

"What are you doing?" Kagome asked.

Not looking up, Inuyasha continued to wipe his blood on Tessaiga, "Making sure that this ends today."

"No!" Amaya yelled, "if we kill him, we kill Sōrin, too!" She grabbed at Inuyasha's haori, this time in a panic rather than her earlier concern.

Inuyasha considered his daughter for a moment, taking in a breath and resigning himself to the task at hand. "There is no other way."

"There is always another way!" She pulled at his sleeve as if holding him would change his mind.

"We do not have the time nor the luxury to determine if that is true or not," Miroku advised, speaking up from the ranks assorted several feet behind the family.

Amaya's head swiveled towards the monk and shot an intense glare in his direction. She turned back to Inuyasha, her eyes desperate and pleading. "Please, there has to be something."

Carefully, Inuyasha pulled himself out from her grip, though once she saw the resolve in his eyes, her hands dropped away on their own in defeat. He looked back to his brother and the form of his ward, now someone or something else, clashing and watched for an opening. Finding one, he rocketed towards his battling brother and nemesis. Naraku paused once he realized that Inuyasha was joining the fight. Without looking at Sesshōmaru, he blocked Bakusaiga and grinned. His remaining arm morphed into another blade-like appendage and he took a step back to await the brothers.

"Two for the price of one," Naraku said mockingly. "How lucky I am."

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. "Shut yer trap and die."

Sesshōmaru said nothing but watched Naraku with cool cognizance. Both of the Inu brothers gripped their respective swords. They glanced at each other, communicating silently, before moving to attack. He would never have previously imagined their coming together to battle side-by-side, but circumstances drew this to necessity.

Sesshōmaru went high, moving into the sky to deal an attack from above while Inuyasha threw a barrage of Wind Scar attacks from the ground. The attacks came so quickly and erratically that it kicked up mud and clods of dirt from where they hit. Inuyasha slowed and waited for the debris to clear, only to find Naraku well enough, grinning from ear to ear. He reminded Inuyasha of a giddy child who was only happy to indulge in a game of cat and mouse. His movements were fluid and graceful. He also did not seem to be tiring, while Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru both had to imbue themselves with resolve to maintain the ferocity of the battle they were trying to win.

Finally, the grin slipped from Naraku's face and he did something unimaginable. He stopped after an attack from Inuyasha had failed to connect and, once the dust began to settle, Naraku stepped out of himself leaving another form identical to his own. Sesshōmaru's eyes widened in shock and gasps could be heard from beyond their battleground. Inuyasha himself could not contain his surprised dismay, "What the fuck!"

"A puppet?" Kagome yelled in contribution. Inuyasha knew that it took longer than an instant for the old Naraku to form his puppets. That and they were usually just that, a puppet controlled by a puppeteer from a safe distance. This was different and Inuyasha could tell from the twin smiles that appeared on the twin Naraku's faces. "Surprised?" the two forms said in unison.

Inuyasha merely grunted and wiped his face with a sleeve. "Nothing surprises me anymore."

"This game is beginning to bore me," the two Narakus said. "This should even out the odds. Or, should I say, tilt them even more in my favor?" His laugh was eerie and the cackle of the two yōkai broke off just as suddenly as it had begun once the two autonomous forms moved to strike their respective enemies.

"Damn!" barked out Miroku. He absently gripped his hand where his wind tunnel had been. He remembered that his most useful battle tool, that had been his curse and weapon, was no longer there.

"That's it! We cannot let them do this alone. Their pride be damned," Shippō stated from beside Miroku. "We cannot Naraku win. This is it and I am not waiting around to see who Naraku plans to pick off next. Let's get our asses in there and help." Without a second thought, Shippō bared his fangs and left to join the fray. Sango pulled her boomerang free and jumped astride Kirara, behind her brother Kohaku who waited for her to join. The fire cat yōkai let out an ear-piercing yowl and flew her riders to assault Naraku.

Miroku stepped up to Kagome and her daughter. "Lady Kagome, there is no point in dawdling. When you see an opening, take a shot. I have a feeling that your sacred arrows will be the turning point of this battle."

"I can feel the demonic energy, and I can see it coming from the form battling Inuyasha. The other is just an extension; a copy. If you can direct everyone to focus their attacks on that one, I can eliminate it." Miroku hurried off to inform the others while Kagome never took her eyes off of the form of Naraku battling Sesshōmaru. She readied her bow and channeled sacred energy into the arrow. "Amaya," Kagome called without looking, "stay by my side. Let's go".

There was hesitance from Amaya, but she stayed close to her mother's side, not offering any protest for the moment. Kagome hoped that she had come to accept that the boy Sōrin was gone and that the enemy who had stolen his form needed to be eliminated. Kagome moved to where she felt she could get off the best shot and stood her ground. Amaya stood off to the side, her eyes darting around trying to follow the mayhem as Naraku battled 7 people with ease. She could feel her mother's spiritual power and marveled at it. She had never seen this side of her mother before and it amazed her. Her mother was mortal, not endowed with physical stamina, strength, or speed, but blessed with something great on its own. However, watching the boy she had grown close to battle her family and new friends broke her heart. There had to be something that could be done.

Kagome's arrow point moved as she followed the battle, waiting for her opportunity. She drew in a breath and loosed the arrow in an instant, hitting the target. The second form of Naraku was still wearing his grin and in mid-strike when the arrow hit him. The light grew from the spot in his chest where it had hit and expanded outwards, consuming the body with its light. Kagome did not hesitate and drew another arrow, releasing it seconds later, ensuring the copy's demise. Both of the Naraku's howled in agony. The light that consumed the copy momentarily distracted those who were engrossed in the battle.

"It's weakened! Strike the other!" Sesshōmaru yelled in an uncharacteristic display of anger and desperation. He moved with lightning speed towards Naraku, who quickly recovered from the destruction of his extension. The grin plastered on his face slipped momentarily before he renewed his assault with renewed vigor. "I will not be defeated. Not easily, not at all!" he boomed. His yell was loud, but the thud from the arrow that planted itself in his chest cut through his scream. He looked surprised but quickly ripped the arrow from his chest and threw the glowing arrow to the ground where it landed harmlessly and its light faded out to nothing. "Did I not just tell you that I cannot be defeated? Your spiritual arrows cannot purify me. Not with your tainted soul."

"Kagome's the purest person I know," Inuyasha yelled in defense. "Even on her darkest days, her light will cut through the darkness of your black soul and obliterate you into nothing!"

"Kekekekeke," Naraku chuckled. "Her soul, as pure as you claim it is, still feels the dark mark you and I left upon it. There is a reason that mikos of the highest rank are always maidens, hanyōu."

Kagome gasped, "That's ridiculous..." Inuyasha glanced at her guiltily and she met his look with defeat of her own. Her bow lowered a little and she wondered if there really was no way to defeat the monster Naraku. "This is merely a distraction tactic, converge on the abomination!" Kohaku yelled from the ranks surrounding Naraku. The group began their assault anew, striking and pushing Naraku back, blow by blow.

Their simultaneous attacks began to wear down Naraku. Where he began the battle with what seemed unlimited stamina, not allowing any attacks to land, he was now faltering and moving slower. Here and there an attack would land, though, their efforts did not physically show on his body. It was as if he was working hard to rebuild his form with each disabling attack and while any injury would heal, it was no longer instant.

After what seemed like hours, though perhaps they were really minutes, Naraku slowed and his injuries remained, no longer healing. Finally, there was a lapse in the battle. The group, who sported various injuries of their own, formed a semi-circle around Naraku. Sesshōmaru stepped forward slowly, assessing his enemy. "This has come to an end Naraku. You are finished, for all of your refusal to capitulate."

"Nothing you lot can do can exterminate me. I am the jewel and I have its power. Even if you can eradicate my body, I will only return time and time again until there is nothing left of you," he postulated.

Brandishing his sword, he regarded Naraku, "Then that is but a risk we shall have to assume." He raised his blade to lay out a final, decimating attack but faltered. "Move aside, girl," he said brusquely to Amaya who had run to place herself in front of Naraku during the brief interlude.

"Amaya!" Kagome yelled once she realized her daughter had placed herself in harm's way. "What are you doing?!"

"Get the hell outta the way, dammit!" Inuyasha screamed. He tensed and moved to be in front of Sesshōmaru. He wasn't completely convinced that Sesshōmaru would not run through Amaya to get to Naraku, so he placed himself as between the pair. "We already told you, Sōrin is gone. He's not coming back," he said a little more gently.

Naraku smiled a secret smile and stepped quietly up to Amaya's back. He stood a foot over her and looked down upon her silver locks. She had her arms splayed out in a defensive manner and she made a very easy target. "There has to be another way," she said softly, almost too quietly to be heard and Naraku placed a hand on her shoulder.

"NO!" Kagome yelled pulling another arrow to her bow, but she knew she couldn't fire it without hurting Amaya. "Get away from him, please!" she pleaded to her child.

Everyone watched as Naraku's hand shifted into the form of a small blade and moved to hover beneath the girl's chin, against her throat. "What a beautiful scene this will make as I spill the blood of this girl at your feet and watch the life drain from her eyes. And to think she came as a willing sacrifice to begin your suffering."

"I'm sorry," Amaya's small voice said. Tears ran down her cheeks and spilled onto the blade that now rested against her throat. "What's there to be sorry about, stupid child? You have given me the greatest gift...your family's suffering. You should have listened to them. There's no bringing your friend back. There is no other way."

Amaya turned quickly, her arms dropping to her sides; something Naraku wasn't expecting but not unprepared for. She made no attempt to run. "There's always another way," she said, louder.

"You keep saying that. I do not think it means what you think it means," he said with a barking laugh. He pressed his blade against her throat and looked up to his audience, a wicked grin on his face.

Amaya knew that this was the other way, whatever risk there was she took upon herself to save her family, her new friends, and possibly the soul of Sōrin. At her side, within her haori, she pulled out a single arrow. One that had been previously plucked from the chest of the monster before her and strewn casually and harmlessly to the side. Amaya knew that as soon as she felt the spiritual energy of her mother that she had inherited a strength from her, her strong spiritual power. Following her mother's earlier example and every ounce of strength, faith, and hope she could muster, she channeled pure spiritual energy into the arrow. She deduced from what Naraku had said that, perhaps, she could be the one to end this. Using both hands, she grasped the shaft of the arrow and plunged it into Naraku's chest.

At first, nothing happened. Naraku had taken a step back out of shock and put his hands to the arrow but made no move to pull it out, as if he were insulted anyone would demean his prowess by attempting something that clearly had no effect on him before. "Fool! I already told you that I can't…" he faltered. A white glow began to emanate from the arrow, slow at first, but then the light multiplied in intensity until it was blinding. Futilely, Naraku tried to pull the arrow from his chest but his attempts resulted in a scream as his flesh burned once he touched the shaft protruding from his chest. He began to scream. It started as a gurgle from within his throat until a deafening roar exploded from him. The light engulfed him and Amaya took a step back calmly.

Everyone but Amaya and Kagome shielded their eyes from the light. Quickly, the light collapsed in on itself leaving a glowing, pearl-shaped object floating in the air. "The Shikon Jewel!" Sango gasped, putting words to everyone's surprise. A hush had fallen over the assorted group after the impossible happened. The Jewel, which shown bright and pure, floated in the air in front of Amaya who stared at it, mesmerized. After a brief moment, she placed her hand out, as if to touch the jewel but was pushed out of the way by Kagome, who had used that moment to hurry over, before the Jewel could touch her skin.

Kagome grabbed the Shikon Jewel in place of her daughter and disappeared. The Shikon Jewel fell to the ground with a dull thump and it rolled away a few yards to rest near Inuyasha's feet. "KAGOME?!" he screamed. "NO!