InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Memories ❯ Tasteless Victory ( Chapter 21 )

Chapter Twenty-One

Tasteless Victory

Kagome stared in absolute horror. The crumpled body of her beloved lay but a few yards before her, faced down. Above him, the blood, from his fatal wound, slowly seeped through his clothing, soaking the ground, dying his silver hair red.

His undead eyes stared back at her horrified ones, one hand reaching for her, as though trying to touch her one last time...

...just ONCE more.

Blinded by shock and denial, the girl slowly moved forward, moving one heavy leg after another. One step...two steps...

Unseeing blue-gray eyes viewed nothing but the body of her love. Was he still here? Still by her side?

Or is this just his empty shell? His soul forever gone?

No tears came yet. They stayed dead inside her, stayed inside her heart. She experienced no pain, no contrition. Didn't the stories always say your heart breaks after the death of your love? Why did she feel no such emotion?

"Sesshou..."

She fell to her knees heavily by his side. Slowly, a trembling hand reached for his face. His golden eyes gleamed in the sunlight, gleamed as though he was still alive.

Ai...Aishiteru...koishi...

His final phrase, his final words. Her eyes shut tight, as she cuddled his body to hers. Still so warm, but so rapidly chilling. No, she must keep his body warm...Her Sesshoumaru promised her forever. Promised her he'd wait, didn't he?

"Sesshou..." she muttered again.

Still, no tears came.

"You promised, Sess," she stated, dead to the rest of the battlefield. Voices called out to her, seeming to be trying to tell her of something. And yet, she could do nothing more than rock her beloved's body. Nothing more than kiss his bloodied lips. "You promised me, Sess. So how can you leave before I do? Come back, Sess. I haven't answered your love yet...Come back, Sess..."

She opened her eyes, and stared at his dead eyes. "Can you hear me, Sess? Can you hear me profess my love?"

"KAGOME!"

The loud cry rang through the air. Turning, Kagome's eyes lit onto the oncoming attack from Naraku. Her eyes bore no emotion, no fear, no anxiety, as she felt the razors rap against her skulls.

"Sesshou...?" she whispered, as blood gushed out of her forehead, the razor tightly embedded inside her brain. Strange...why does she feel no pain? Her eyes drifted close, as she realized that she was leaving her body…

Her soul must be heading on to the Realm of the Dead. "Sesshou..." she muttered, spitting out the blood.

---

Child, why do you not listen...?

Kagome blinked. She was standing in her dream setting again. Just like before, was the gigantic tree of silver and blue. Her eyes warmed, as she hugged the bark. She really, really likes this tree.

But why was she dreaming? Isn't she dead?

She glanced around the rainbow meadow with searching eyes. Where was Sesshoumaru? Why wasn't he here with her?

Child, why did you not listen? Her tree asked.

"Listen?"

I had tried to guide you through the whole experience. Why did you not listen to me? Are you so eager for death?

Kagome blinked. So she IS dead. Well, that's alright. Her only question was, where was her Sess?

"I really miss Sesshoumaru..." Kagome blinked again. A painful lump arose from her throat. Her eyes burned as finally, finally, tears appeared. The protective wall of denial crumbled from around her heart, allowing all the pain and agony of watching her beloved die right before her eyes.

He had said he loved her...and she could do nothing to save him.

Her heart wept painfully, just as her tears did. They coursed down her cheeks, like liquid fire, as she huddled into a ball at the base of her tree. Her eyes screwed shut, as a fisted hand clenched at her heart.

He gave her his life...and she had wasted it.

The lump grew more painful, growing bigger and bigger, as she cried. Swallowing repeatedly, she tried to keep the pain off, but it kept coming. One time after another, she felt the fresh waves of indescribable pain course through her. How can the authors of books and directors of movies describe such pain? How can anyone try to get a measure of a true heartbreak when such agony cannot be compared to at all?

If you had the chance, my daughter, what would you do?

Kagome did not reply. Her tears came, hot and fast. Regret coursed through the colorful meadow, as she cried.

---

InuYasha and everyone else watched in complete astonishment as, at first, Sesshoumaru had died in the hands of Naraku. He had stumbled a few steps, trying to go to the frozen Kagome, but in the end-

"Ai...Aishiteru...koishi..." he whispered, letting out a mouthful of blood. His golden eyes had then frozen in their sockets, as he crumpled onto the ground, just a few feet from Kagome's feet.

The miko had remained frozen for a precious few seconds, as though she had expected him to just jump back to life. All fighting ceased, as everyone realized what had happened. Lord Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, had just died for a ningen.

Sango and Miroku headed for Kagome. They were about to touch her when she took her first step towards the fallen Lord. Her eyes remained solely on his body, showing no emotion, but a strangely emptied void. Slowly, as though her legs were made out of lead, she walked over to him.

Before dropping unceremoniously, beside his body.

Her eyes sought after Sesshoumaru's dead ones, trying to see if he had really departed the world. Had his soul gone? Is he really dead?

InuYasha swallowed, unable to look at her pained eyes for long. His eyes shifted then, to the dark hanyou. He had been responsible for all this pain, all this evil. Now his best friend's life hangs on a thread and her heart was shattered, perhaps, because of the death of her love.

How much pain must Naraku bring to this world? How much destruction?

He had just turned to the hanyou when he saw that one of his razors was already heading towards Kagome's direction. Alarmed, he darted across the field, praying that he could get there on time.

"KAGOME!" he cried, as loudly as he could. He prayed that she heard him. He prayed she would heed his warning.

Her head turned, as though to greet the upcoming blow. Within a few seconds, all that was left of Kagome was a crumpled body. Her hand still clutched tightly to Sesshoumaru's with Naraku's razor embedded into Kagome's forehead.

Her mouth opened slightly and her eyes dropped onto the body before hers. Mouthing his name soundlessly, Kagome dropped her gaze and fell onto Sesshoumaru's dead body, her blood slowly mixing with his brother's.

A tentacle came forward and snatched the remaining shards that he did not have.

Fury rushed to InuYasha's mind, as red clouded his vision. Behind him, he heard Sango cry out, as Miroku tried to keep her from rushing into the battle uselessly. Screaming out his own rage, he rushed at the dark hanyou. There was only one thought, now, that coursed through his mind.

"I'M GONNA FUCKING SEND YOU TO THE SEVENTH LEVEL OF HELL YOU FUCKING BASTARD NARAKU!!!!!!!"

---

I repeat, my Child, what would you do if you had a second chance?

"Protect them, wise-one," Kagome's broken voice rang through the quiet meadow. "Protect all those who are enabled to Naraku's dark and destructive hands."

How do you propose to accomplish that, my Child?

Kagome did not reply, but instead closed her eyes. Tearstained cheeks turned towards the tree barks, as she opened her eyes again. "With powers that are not my own."

A sudden wind blew against the meadow, the ancient tree. Its leaves ruffled, creating the all-calming sound of an oncoming wave. A single leave fluttered down onto Kagome's clenched hands.

Then...

A token of my powers. Do with it what you will. You are one of my Children, one of my Seedlings. Unlock that potential you've always had within you, my Child.

Kagome looked at her tree with teary-bright eyes. "Your Seedling?"

Your family is a descendant of myself. I am one of the ancestors of the Outlaws. I've been guarding me and my own for centuries. Now that the evil named Naraku is here to harm our people...

"So...you're my ancestor?"

I am...someone very dear and yet, not so dear. I have been present you're whole life, yet you have not, mine. But such matters are not important now, my Daughter.

Choose what you will. What will you do with that token of power?

"Can I come back to life?"

Yes.

"With my powers back?"

Yes.

"..." Kagome paused, as she thought of her wish. Her true wish. "Can I bring Sesshoumaru back to life?"

...Yes.

"Then, please, please bring him back..." Kagome swallowed, as her tears came into her eyes again. "...please allow Sesshoumaru enough power for him to defeat Naraku."

---

InuYasha spat out blood, as one of Naraku's many legs punched a hole right through his stomach. He was pushed back several paces, his hair and clothing was all covered with his blood. Pain erupted all over his body and yet, he refused to die.

"Just give up, InuYasha!" Naraku laughed, as he pushed the hanyou back. "I have within me the complete Shikon no Tama! How does a weakling, like you, hope to defeat one such as I?"

Tired, he stabbed Tetsusaiga onto the ground, using his sword to hold most of his weight. His dirty bangs covered his eyes, as he bit onto his lips. A trickle of blood continued to course down his mouth.

He panted, as he dodged onto of the legs, only to be hit on his back with another attack. Again, blood spurted out of his mouth and the wound on his stomach became all the more fatal. The world tilted, before settling again.

Silently, InuYasha turned an eye on Kagome, who still lay over Sesshoumaru's dead body. He then turned to Sango and Miroku. Miroku's left hand was nothing past his elbow. Sango had no choice, but to cut it off as Naraku let loose the trigger that started the hellhole to suck anything in the vicinity, including Miroku himself. Sango's head lay beside him, her body no longer attached to her head. Her neck was cut smoothly with absolutely no mark to her face. Where the rest of her body is, no one knows. Perhaps someone had tossed it aside. Perhaps it had been cut in such small pieces…it can never be brought back.

That had been Naraku's "gift" to Miroku. To allow him to forever keep the face of his love unmarred to his heart.

Miroku's eyes stared off into space, unseeing, as he clutched at Sango's head with his right hand. Both of his legs had been cut into several pieces. He was, even now, gushing blood onto the ground. His eyes turned duller and duller by the second. And slowly, InuYasha watched, as his final friend died.

Swallowing, InuYasha turned his attention back to the evil that had caused all this. No, he cannot die. He must defeat Naraku, if not for his friends' revenge, then for his hatred of him.

There is no way he could loose.

And yet-

He nearly cried out in pain, as Naraku came forward and attacked him again. InuYasha, due to his wounds, could not escape on time. He dropped onto the ground. His eyes dull, as his right hand continued to clutch at Tetsusaiga.

He looked up, and could do nothing more than close his eyes. He had promised Kagome to protect her-and Naraku had robbed him of his promise. Sango and Miroku had a whole life together after this-and Naraku had robbed them of their happiness. Kagome could have had her chance at a normal life-and Naraku, Naraku had ended it before it could begin.

So much pain.

How much, he wondered, would there be after this? What would Naraku do to the people of Japan?

Outlaws or not, Lords or commoners-they were all victim to Naraku now.

The razor came closer and was about to split the hanyou's head in two when-

"No."

Tired, InuYasha crumpled onto the ground, as he stared in amazement, as his brother took Tetsusaiga from him. The sword made no objection to his demonic heritage. It accepted him, as though it were his own.

"You will not kill InuYasha," Sesshoumaru stated, stepping between InuYasha and Naraku. "He is a worthy youkai-You, Naraku, are not. Therefore, you do not deserve to take the life of InuYasha."

Naraku blinked, shocked to see the Demonic Lord back to life. How had it happened? He had taken the Tai's heart from him!

Sesshoumaru gripped onto the fang, his eyes glinting madly. His eyes flickered to his beloved, who had lay on top of him with that bloody hole on her head. Rage filled his entire being from seeing all the harm Naraku had brought upon those he love.

"See now, Naraku, the true power of the Tetsusaiga!" He swung the sword out and felt something rip out of his entire being.

The fang let loose the attack, a combination of the sword's ki, and the purification powers of a certain miko. Naraku, who had not seen such power, since the legendary Midoriko, could only stand frozen, as the enormous blade swept through him.

His eyes turned towards Heaven, as slowly, his ki was ripped from his body. Slowly, all the demonic parts within his body-all those demons who had joined to create Naraku-was purified, placed forever in Hell.

The face of Onigumo remained.

The paralyzed man with a scarred body and face, he turned to the magnificent youkai before him. Does he envy him? Yes, oh how he does.

Even Sesshoumaru, Demonic Lord of the Western Land, had found love. True, encompassed love.

And I?

He slowly closed his eyes. His time in the Living Realm is over. His time has stopped. The Living and the Dead…The two cannot cross. Slowly, his breathing slowed. All he had wanted was her love.

But had he truly loved her at all?

His heart slowed, along with his breathing.

If I had loved her, he though, as he saw her beautiful face, before his unseeing eyes. Would I have brought her so much pain?

Kikyo...

---

Purification powers.

Sesshoumaru laughed, a mirthless laugh, as the dust of Naraku blew to the winds. Even Onigumo, the Spider Demon's original form, had died-to rot in Hell. Their ultimate enemy had just been destroyed. The Lands have won the war and the people of Japan are forever rid of the manipulative hanyou, who had so plagued them.

They had won.

Slowly, Sesshoumaru dropped the Tetsusaiga before InuYasha and walked over to his Kagome. The girl's frail body was paler than white, as she had lost all her blood to the earth.

He touched the magical blade by his side. Tenseiga didn't pulsate for there was no longer anyone to save. Her soul is no longer here. So how can he return it back into her body?

Gently, Sesshoumaru touched her bloodied cheeks. The hole on her forehead had darkened with the dried blood. Tears rushed into Sesshoumaru's eyes.

For the first time in history, tears poured out of the icy demon's eyes. Surrounding youkai watched in complete amazement as the Demonic Lord of the Western Lands showed his grief for all the world to see.

They had won.

He stared at the love that was now forever out of his grasp.

But if they had won, why did he feel like he had just lost everything?

Author's Corner

OK, first off a major apology to everyone. The long delay was NOT a planned action on my part. I had NO intention of leaving all of you in that part of the story for such a long period of time. (Mainly because I was afraid all of you would mob me, for the death of Sess.) My computer, firstly, died on me sometime after the update of chapter twenty. So, in addition of loosing my Internet, I was also unable to write anything as all my files were in my computer!!

However, after we got the computer working again, I realized that we just lost all my files. A complete BLANK on that computer. I still didn't put anything back in (the programs, I mean.). That computer is so dead, I don't even have MicrosoftWord on it anymore!! O.o

So now, I had to get my editor to please send me everything back!! Except, I didn't send her everything. Luckily, this chapter was one of the ones I sent. Again, I am terribly sorry for the long wait, and we commend you on your patience!!!

Secondly, school for me, just started on September 13. Now, I'll have to concentrate on school for a while, so updates will be reverted to my customary one update per week. As in, one STORY update, per week. I had hope to get FM finished before school started, but Fate just refuses to cooperate!!! ><

Thirdly, that was strangely interesting. The response I received from the last chapter either falls under: "WHAT?! WHY the HELL did you kill off SESS for?!?!??!" and the other one, "AHH!!! GET KAGOME TO KILL OFF THAT BASTARD NARAKU!!!" and the final category, "BRING HIM BACK!!!!!" I hope no one was disappointed that I had Sess kill Naraku…

And finally, I WANT TO GIVE MAJOR THANKS FOR THOSE WHO SENT ME SUCH SWEET EMAILS DURING MY LAPSE IN FANFICTION!!! Special thanks to those who reassured me of their patience, and did not rush me at all!! Thanks for all of your heart warming emails, and for your immense support!!!!!!

And also, to my editor, Wake-Robin, who had helped me out sooooo much!!! I owe you big time!!

This chapter was for you all!!!

Fanfiction

Wake-Robin: Well, that was a rather short rang. I had expected more from you…

Kagome Goddess Of Light: Heh, sorry for the long wait. Well, he came back to life!!! I really hope this chapter satisfied!!!

Inu.-sess.fan: Whoa…that's some major part on Kagome!!! Lol. Hope you weren't disappointed with the way I depicted things. I just wanted Sesshoumaru to do the final killing, and thought that InuYasha and Kagome should have a part in it as well. And this way, I can bring Sess back to life!! But I thank you, for your ideas!!!

SavedFromBoredom: Lol. Yes, here. I just brought Sess back. Wow, that was a major reaction I received from you…^^-

LionHeart823: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it thus far.

Tigeriskitty: {wince} I hope you didn't run off too far…So sorry for not updating faster…! I swear, it's all my computer!!!

Dark-death-angel: I proclaim, Naraku's ass has been kicked. I hope this chapter satisfied!!! Glad you're enjoying the fic so far!!

DemonWicca: I'm sorry and flattered that I made you cry. And I'm totally psyched that you liked my story. As for the happy ending…

Kitsune-dragon-inu: O.o I'm definitely no Sess-hater. (I love him! I love him!) And no, I've just completed the Epilogue, so FM will definitely be having one. Glad you liked the story!!!

Bladeliger: Nope, I don't like to end with a Sesshy-death. I love him too much to do that. And thanks for the review!

MoonlightPrincess: Thanks for that review!! I'm glad you liked it. And can you believe you're the only person who guessed it'll be Sess who'll do the ass-kicking in this chapter? ^_~

Tsuki Yume: Nope, that was not the ending of FM. No worries!

AyaYasha: I don't mind the repeating. I put it into my fics and stories mainly because it gives back more of the original feel to InuYasha. (Before all the translation and dissecting the entire series to pieces, I mean) And I've been doing that for so long, it's become more of a habit by now… Anyways, glad you enjoyed it!!

Kittymui: Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it!!!

Ptbear: Meh, so sorry for not updating faster…! Hope this chapter didn't disappoint tho!!

Kanemoshi: {sigh} That's what I was afraid of. I had hoped to keep them as IC as possible, but I just couldn't with that scene. Oh well, glad you liked it anyway!! ^^-

Sesshoumaru's Goddess: I am feeling so flattered right now… I'm terribly sorry for not updating faster…

Lakisha: Eh…does this chapter sort of cancel what you said last chapter? I mean, he's alive now…so no death necessary, right??

Crazy15: Sorry about that. Hope you still like tho…

Beatofangel: Glad you like!!! Thanks for your review!

Mediaminer

Amber Wolf: Well, Sess is back in this chapter…

Hishi: Yes, he lives!!! Lol.

ThatsMsDiva2U: I'm terribly flattered. Thanks so much for the compliments. You're making me blush a hundred different shades of red…!

Sallyo129: This slow update was not my fault!!! O.O It was my computer!!!! My computer, I tell you!!! Lol. Anyhow, glad you enjoyed the last chapter…

Haily: Thanks for the review!! Glad you liked!

Ptbear: Hii in here too!!! ^^-

CRyStaLtears: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks a bunch for the review!!!

Uraki: Thanks!

A Single Spark

Thanks for the reviews!!! Glad all of you enjoyed it!! And special thanks to those who helped me sort out my whacked computer problems!!!! ^.~

End

Yuki: WE THANK EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED!!!!!! LOVE YOU ALLLL!!!!!!!

Hachi: PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!

Happy Reading!!

Lots of greets,

Yukisora and Hachigatsu

Edited by: Wake-Robin