InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou's Heart ❯ Attack Dog ( Chapter 11 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Chevalier Mal Fet 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.20.2015 | Pages: 11 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 348 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.20.2015 | Pages: 11 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 348 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I
don’t own Inuyasha; this is a work of
fanfiction
Chapter Eleven: Attack Dog Episode One: Naraku
He didn’t actually appear too terribly menacing but rather effeminate with his long flowing hair and face paint. However, Kagome knew that Naraku was a powerful and evil demon, capable of cruel manipulation and lord of a multitude of vicious fiends. When he and Inuyasha had fought before, Inuyasha had seemed near victory until Kagura had intervened. Naraku appeared to be alone, probably not true, but in his current state, Inuyasha didn’t seem ready to fight even a weaker enemy. Still, prudence had never prevented Inuyasha from fighting in the past. “Feh. At least you’ve saved me the time of going back to find you, you stupid bastard.” Inuyasha stood with some effort, disentangling himself from Kagome despite her protestations. “I was going to kill you anyways, but since you’re here now, I’ll do it that much sooner.”
“Half-breed, in the condition you are in, you’re not even worth my valuable time. I shall see that you are taken care of, but I do not think that I want your blood staining my silks.”
Inuyasha growled and would have launched himself at the demon, but Naraku waved, almost contemptuously, and a horde of demons appeared. There were all kinds, from the nearly formless to wolf-demons (probably defectors from Kouga’s pack). Several massive ogres knuckled along behind the rest, driving them towards Inuyasha. Kagome gasped at the sheer number of them, but Inuyasha just glared. Such a pathetic group would likely have never stood a chance against him had he been uninjured.
As the demons came thundering towards him, Inuyasha dodged to one side, running towards one end of the clearing. A wolf-demon reared up before him, slavering jaws snapping at his neck. He punched it in the throat and leapt over another. The hanyou slashed a worm-like fiend in half and somersaulted through a cluster of common monsters, not bothering to even pay them any attention. He landed near a scarred tree and knelt, seeming winded.
Kagome worried that his wounds were slowing him down, but he didn’t pause long. He stood again, Tetsusaiga in his hand, and smiled. Kagome had forgotten that she’d dropped the sword…which reminded her…where was that bow? As Kagome peered around for the bow and quiver she’d flung to the earth in her desperation to reach Inuyasha, the hanyou transformed the Tetsusaiga and gave it a few practice swings. He had never really gotten used to fighting with a blade. He tested it out on the nearest demons. It seemed to work well enough.
Four humanoid demons lay dead around him, one with its arm severed and two halved completely (one horizontally and one vertically). It wasn’t the same as using his claws, but the sword killed, and it kept him relatively clean. Very little of the blood had actually gotten in his hair, which was the hardest to wash. Satisfied with the carnage around him, Inuyasha decided to end the fight early. He didn’t think he could sustain his strength for any long period. Being careful not to slip in the entrails strewn about, he planted his feet and swung Tetsusaiga in a wide arc.
Everything in front of Inuyasha disappeared in a blaze of light. Demons were shredded into nothingness (a very clean solution, actually), and the very earth was rent as if clawed by a massive demon. He had been careful not to hit Kagome with the Kaze no Kizu, so many of the demons still survived, but they seemed too surprised to move. Inuyasha took the initiative, instead.
He darted through the stunned demons, slashing here and there as he passed, until he found Kagome. A few of the demons nearer her had decided that perhaps it would be safer killing her, instead. Obviously, they were wrong. With a single wordless shout, Inuyasha cut one in half with a diagonal slash. Ignoring the spray of blood, he kicked out and caught another in the throat. Without pausing to hear the crunch of bones breaking, the hanyou spun around and beheaded the last demon. All three were dead in seconds.
“Stay behind me, Kagome.” Inuyasha didn’t hear Kagome’s response, but why would she do otherwise?
Again, the world turned into a blaze of light as he unleashed Tetsusaiga on the remaining demons. As the roar receded, Inuyasha found only Naraku remaining. He grinned, but it quickly became a frown as he smelled more demons all around. Hundreds, perhaps thousands. He could see in Naraku’s eyes that the bastard had no intention of letting him fight any sort of fair contest. The evil demon would throw wave after wave of demons at him until he was too tired to swing his sword anymore. Well, Inuyasha would just have to make certain he could make one last swing at the end.
It seemed to go on for hours. Inuyasha destroyed wave after wave of demons, each draining more of his strength. Soon he’d have none left. He was still bleeding freely from his chest, having pulled the arrow out between blasts of the Kaze no Kizu. It had been getting in the way. The sword was uncomfortable in his hand. Inuyasha didn’t know if he’d ever get used to the thing. Of course, it’d help if his hand wasn’t broken. It hurt like hell, but so did his chest. He could complain when the fight was over.
Slowly, the demon waves were getting closer. Another blast obliterated at least fifty of the bastards. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as he realized that another group was nearly on top of him. He’d passed out for a split second from sheer exhaustion. Before he could destroy them, they were gnashing their teeth at his flesh.
Inuyasha screamed, the searing pain driving away any numbness exhaustion had brought. A demon gnawed at his right arm and another slashed its claws across his ribs. He ripped the face off one and tore the throat out of the one biting him. His broken hand wasn’t very useful for clawing or punching, but his elbow was still good. He drove it into the windpipe of a demon that lunged for him. Still, there were dozens more to kill. Inuyasha knew that he couldn’t kill them all fast enough.
Shouting for Kagome to run, he prepared for a last fight to give her the time she needed. It was all he could do for her, now. But Kagome didn’t run. She threw herself in front of Inuyasha as the demons leapt at him. He was blinded by a bright light, brighter than the Kaze no Kizu but without the roar of explosions. For several seconds after it ended, he couldn’t get the afterglow from his vision. But the demons were gone.
Only Naraku remained, shock plain on his face as he stared at Kagome. Inuyasha was even more stunned than he. What was that? How the hell had Kagome done THAT? He looked at her as if he’d never seen her before.
Episode Two: Reincarnation
Inuyasha still couldn’t believe what he had just seen. Kagome had unleashed a massive wave of energy that had completely unmade all of the demons attacking them. Only Inuyasha and Naraku had been spared the destruction, or lack thereof. The energy hadn’t destroyed the demons, but simply made them not exist, as far as Inuyasha could tell. Naraku was looking at Kagome speculatively, not in fear but as if trying to figure out the best way to utilize her powers for himself.
The spell that seemed to freeze everyone in place broke, and Inuyasha pushed Kagome behind him, facing Naraku at last. No more petty youkai to kill…well, just one more, but he WANTED to kill Naraku. Inuyasha hadn’t known of the demon’s involvement in Kikyou’s demise for very long, but he knew that he needed to put that ghost to rest. Besides, no one fucked with Inuyasha and lived. Except maybe Kagome.
“Impressive, girl. Very Impressive.” Naraku’s slimy voice seemed to slither through the sentences. “I expected much from you—How could I not?—considering your predecessor. But that? That was more than even I could have foreseen.”
Inuyasha grunted angrily, unsure what Naraku was talking about, but sure there was some sort of insult buried in it. He had expected Kagome to have powers? Kagome was chewing her lip nervously, and Naraku smiled insincerely. Inuyasha was just confused.
“What the hell are you going on about, bastard? Are you that desperate to gain a few more seconds of life before I rip your head off?”
Naraku looked slyly at Kagome. “Oho, so he doesn’t know? Clever vixen. You have him tied around your finger, don’t you?” He looked at Inuyasha with contempt. “But then, a dog SHOULD be leashed.”
Inuyasha glanced back at Kagome. She was definitely anxious about something. He growled in frustration. Naraku was just toying with them, now. He had nothing left but tricks to preserve his life.
“Shut up! I’m going to kill you now. Not quickly, but I’ll get to it eventually. First, I’m going to make you regret insulting Kagome. I know you’re trying to make me distrust her, but I won’t. Kagome would never betray me.” Naraku smiled again, but Inuyasha took a step towards him and he flinched slightly. “Second, I’m going to make you pay for what you did to Kikyou. You used us for your own purpose and made us think we were betrayed. YOU killed Kikyou! For Kagome and for Kikyou, I am going to tear you apart, piece by piece.”
Naraku was smiling grandly now. He gestured grandly at Kagome, almost bowing in his own grandiosity. “Oh, but don’t you see half-dog, You need only punish me once. Kagome IS Kikyou. Kikyou IS Kagome.” Inuyasha was stunned by the sheer strangeness of the words. It didn’t make any sense at all. Naraku shook his head. “Stupid mutt…The girl is Kikyou’s reincarnation. All along, you’ve been lied to. By the old priestess. By this girl. They knew all the time, and they used you…knew you’d follow at her heels like the dog you are!”
Inuyasha blinked in disbelief. Kagome…Kikyou’s reincarnation? It couldn’t be. But he knew it for truth instantly. Kagome didn’t smell surprised by the pronouncement, but more in dread of it being revealed. It had been fifty years, fifty years of pain. He hadn’t smelled Kikyou in so long…but Kagome smelled strangely like Inuyasha’s memories. She WAS Kikyou.
Had she really plotted with old Kaede all this time? Had they really meant to use him? No! He knew it wasn’t true. Perhaps Kaede, but never Kagome. He knew he could trust her. Why she hadn’t told him before, he couldn’t figure, but he knew she wouldn’t betray him. She loved him. Didn’t she?
As Inuyasha struggled with these thoughts, Naraku slowly came closer. Only a shout of warning from Kagome gave the hanyou time to evade the sudden assault of tentacles that swarmed him. Inuyasha was tired. He was hurt, badly and in many places. Still, he could fend off Naraku’s attacks, but he couldn’t seem to concentrate. His mind swam with visions of Kagome and Kikyou. Kagome as Kikyou. Kikyou as Kagome?
Who was she? What was HE to her? Inuyasha didn’t like the question that rose in his mind. Did Kagome love Inuyasha, or did Kikyou?
Episode Three: Inuyasha
Tentacles dove into the earth before Inuyasha, barely missing the distracted hanyou. Still more came at him from the sides. Inuyasha leapt high into the air, dodging the clumsy flanking attack. He shouted in surprise as a tentacle curled around his leg. It had come from under the earth. A trick.
The thing around his leg heaved, swinging Inuyasha down heavily into the ground. His vision went black for a moment, and he found himself being hurled through the air again. He was thrown backwards into a tree. It shattered on impact, splinters of wood and bark lacerating his body.
More tentacles grasped his arms and other leg. A fourth wrapped itself around his neck. The began to pull apart, stretching him and awakening pain in every wound on his battered body. And then, Naraku was before him, gloating face mere inches away. But Inuyasha couldn’t move to attack him at all. He didn’t have the strength left in his body to tear free of the bastard youkai’s hold.
“This gives me great pleasure, half-breed. You have given me an interesting idea as well. Perhaps I shall tear YOU apart, piece by piece. An arm first, perhaps? Or maybe a leg? Or perhaps something smaller?” Naraku grinned, sickly. “Maybe I should leave you alive for a while. I never had the chance to take Kikyou for myself…perhaps I should take the opportunity now? Tell me, half-dog…is the girl any good? I hope you’ve found out for yourself, because you won’t get the chance again. I could tell you after I’m done, if you like.”
Inuyasha growled in fury. If rage were enough to destroy Naraku, the youkai would have been rendered into a red mist by the sheer hatred in the hanyou’s eyes. The tentacle around his neck tightened, crushing the growl from his throat, but Inuyasha still glared death at his enemy. Tetsusaiga was pinned at his side, or he’d have transformed right then. Even still, his eyes flashed red several times.
Naraku seemed unnerved by the murderous eyes of the hanyou he held trapped. He pulled away slightly, wary of what Inuyasha might become. He knew of the savage beast the hanyou could become. Perhaps it would be better just to finish Inuyasha off quickly. He would always take his time with the girl after…
Inuyasha’s consciousness flickered, seeming almost to lapse into animal as it once had, but not quite able to sustain itself. If it would allow him to kill Naraku, he’d welcome the change. He had only taken Tetsusaiga to protect Kagome from the monster he could become. Kagome…
It was so hard to comprehend. Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyou. Inuyasha had loved Kikyou, so many years ago. She was dead and gone. Now she was back? Was Kagome Kikyou or someone else? Before, she had been only Kagome, and he had been happy. Should he be happier that she was also Kikyou? Should he not be happy?
Inuyasha let out a ragged shout of pain as Naraku pulled his left arm out of its socket. His vision went black, and he felt himself falling. There was nothing but blackness all around him. He could still feel all the pain of his battered body, but it was further away, almost as if it were a memory of the pain.
Kagome kissed him on the mouth. He kissed her back, a light kiss quickly become a passionate one. Inuyasha wanted her. He needed her. His hands flew at her clothes, pulling them off as fast as he could. Her shirt came over her head and there was Kikyou. Kikyou leaned back in and kissed him again. He held her waist and felt her body against his. Kikyou…
No, this wasn’t right. Kikyou was dead. Kagome was the one he loved, now. But Kagome WAS Kikyou, wasn’t she? Kikyou had wanted Inuyasha to become human, to live with her as a normal man and woman. For the love he felt for her, he had been willing to. It had never come to pass, but would Kagome want it too?
Kagome had seemed happy with Inuyasha as he was. She had wanted him as a hanyou. Always, Inuyasha had wanted to be either a youkai or a human, but with Kagome he hadn’t anymore. A human was not strong enough to protect Kagome. A youkai could not love her as he did. It was a battle between the two bloods to love Kagome, a struggle between animal desire and human compassion. But it was worth it every moment that he spent with her.
Pain lanced through his chest. He felt it being crushed. Inuyasha opened his eyes, vision slowly resolving into Naraku’s hated face. A tentacle had wrapped itself around his torso, crushing him back to consciousness.
“Ah, there are you half-dog. You left us, there for a moment. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of the pain I have planned for you.”
Inuyasha grunted something unintelligible, but he hadn’t couldn’t really find a word to describe his hatred of Naraku, anyways. He was helpless, unable to kill the one he hated most and unable to protect the one he loved more than all else. Inuyasha growled, ignoring the tentacle around his throat that tightened at the sound. Inuyasha hated Naraku.
Inuyasha loved Kagome.
Kagome loved Inuyasha.
Inuyasha was a hanyou. Kagome loved a hanyou.
That seemed to define all that he was. Inuyasha was Inuyasha. He wasn’t a human, a youkai, or even just a hanyou. He was himself, unlike anyone else. He loved and hated and wanted and needed. Inuyasha knew that, with Kagome, he never needed to be anyone but Inuyasha.
“I am growing bored of this game, half-breed. I am going to start tearing things off, now. You can listen as I rape the girl while you bleed to death. Listen to her calling out your name, crying for you to save her. It is time to die, half-dog!”
Naraku tightened his tentacles all around Inuyasha and pulled with every intention of quartering the hanyou.
“I am Inuyasha!”
Naraku was amazed when the hanyou shouted, briefly stunned by surprise. Inuyasha wrenched his arms together, pulling at the slackened tentacles. He grabbed the tentacle wrapping his right hand and closed his claws around it. With a tearing sound, he ripped the tentacle apart. Before Naraku could even react, Inuyasha slashed with his freed hand, claws slashing through the youkai’s throat. He felt every tendon that was severed, every drop of blood that came spraying from the demon’s neck.
Inuyasha tore through the throat of that bastard Naraku and closed his hand around his spine. With a single sharp pull, he heard it snap and break free. The tentacles holding him all went limp, dropping him roughly to the earth. Inuyasha staggered back to his feet, the world tilting wildly around him. He dropped the nearly-severed head along side the rest of Naraku and half knelt, panting heavily.
Naraku was dead. He’d killed the bastard at last. Naraku would never hurt Kagome. Kagome. Inuyasha turned around to find her standing where he’d seen her last. She hadn’t run away. She’d stayed for him. Idiot girl. Inuyasha smiled weakly. He forced himself straight and took a stumbling step towards the girl that he loved.
“HAHAHAHA! YOU FOOL, HALF-BREED! YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME? I CAN NOT BE KILLED! I AM NARAKU!”
Inuyasha twisted around to see Naraku towering behind him. He was easily twice as big as the hanyou now, and still growing. His head swung limply from his body, barely attached at all. But his eyes shone red and his mouth shouted in fury. Naraku’s face was screwed into an expression of absolute rage, and, even upside down, it made Inuyasha hesitate.
He couldn’t move in time. Tentacles flashed down at him, sharp as swords, from all directions. Inuyasha couldn’t believe he was going to die after so much. All he wanted was to be with Kagome.
Something shot passed Inuyasha’s face, straight at Naraku. It exploded into a brilliant blue flame that began to spread all along the demon’s form. It quickly engulfed Naraku entirely, as he screamed in pain and terror, flailing wildly in an effort to put out the flames. Nothing could save him. Within moments, Naraku burned away into nothing. No ash remained of the terrible demon, nor bone or even smoke. He was gone.
Inuyasha slowly turned back to Kagome. She still held the bow up, frozen by the spectacle of Naraku’s death. Kagome had saved Inuyasha with a single arrow imbued by her own sacred power.
Kagome had killed Naraku.
Episode Four: Kikyou
The great sacred tree rose majestically before Inuyasha. He had spent so many years staring at this tree. A single arrow lay imbedded in its trunk, aged and withered. That arrow had nearly pierced him, as well. Once, he had wondered if it would have been better if Kikyou had struck him down with that arrow as she had intended. So many long years of loneliness and pain he had gained from his quick reflexes. But he no longer wondered.
After all those years, he had finally found the reason he had survived. Inuyasha loved Kagome with all of his heart. He could not bring himself to compare his feelings for those he had felt for Kikyou, but that was probably right. He didn’t think it was possible to compare one love to another. He had since questioned whether or not he and Kikyou had truly loved one another. They had too quickly been willing to believe the other would betray them. Kikyou would never have been happy with Inuyasha as Inuyasha, and Inuyasha would never have been truly happy with Kikyou as a normal human.
He would never know what could have been. Inuyasha could only make what would be. Kikyou had been his first love. He would never forget her. With Naraku’s death, he had avenged her. Kagome might be Kikyou’s reincarnation, but she was not Kikyou. He would not cheapen her memory by pretending she was someone else or by comparing her to another.
Inuyasha would never forget Kikyou. But now, it was time to lay her to rest. Inuyasha reached up and grasped the aged arrow. It felt strange to the touch, otherworldly almost. He felt an odd sensation of duality for a moment.
Inuyasha pulled and the arrow came free from the sacred tree. For a moment he stared at the small scar that remained. In time, even that would be almost erased. Inuyasha turned away from the sacred tree and walked back towards the old well. Kagome was waiting for him.
Episode Five: Kagome
Kagome was still waiting at the well when Inuyasha arrived. She had been debating whether or not to return to her own time while she had the chance, but his return ended it. Inuyasha had been strangely quiet for the return trip to Kaede’s village and had quickly left for the forest with barely a goodbye. Kaede had gladly listened as they told of Naraku’s death. Well, Kagome had told. Inuyasha hadn’t said much.
She thought it was because of what Naraku had said. Now Inuyasha knew that Kagome was Kikyou’s reincarnation, so much seemed to have changed. He had been comforting after Naraku’s death, even close, but as they had began travelling again, he had become distant. Naraku had told him that she and Kaede had plotted to use him, manipulate him somehow. Did Inuyasha believe it?
Kagome knew that Inuyasha had loved Kikyou. It had begun to prey on her thoughts more and more lately. Ever since they had spent the night together. What if he only loved Kagome because she was Kikyou? He hadn’t known…but maybe he had felt it somehow, anyways? What did he feel now?
She wanted him to love her…but Kagome didn’t want Inuyasha to love her because she was someone else. Even if she were Kikyou’s reincarnation, which she still doubted a little, she wasn’t Kikyou.
As Inuyasha drew near, his eyes found hers and she saw a question there. She knew it was about Kikyou. Kagome couldn’t take it.
“Inuyasha, I know you think I’m Kikyou…or her reincarnation anyways. Kaede says I am, but I don’t really know if I am or not. I might be. I have holy powers. But even if I am…I’m not Kikyou! I don’t want you to look at me with Kikyou in your eyes!”
Inuyasha smiled a little smile and cupped her face in his hand. “Kagome…I love you, Kagome. You are not Kikyou. Kagome is only Kagome, as I am only Inuyasha. I love Kagome. I don’t care whether you’re Kikyou’s reincarnation or not. Whatever we felt for each other is fifty years gone. I won’t ever forget her. I can’t say that I will…but I don’t love HER anymore. I love YOU.”
Kagome blinked tears from her eyes. Inuyasha put his arms gently around her and pulled her to him. “I love you, Kagome.”
“I love you, Inuyasha.”
Kagome hugged Inuyasha back, feeling the warmth from his body and the beat of his heart with her own. Time seemed to have stopped completely. All there was in the world was that embrace.
Epilogue: Inuyasha
“Are you
sure, Inuyasha?” Kagome looked up at him questioningly.
“Are you sure you want to do this? CAN you even do
it?”
Inuyasha smiled at her. “I could never back down from a challenge, Kagome.” He looked down at the small jewel held out in her palm. “And yes, I do want to do this. I want this to be done with, finally and for good.”
She nodded, still uncertain, and placed the Shikon no Tama on the ground. Kagome walked back to Inuyasha’s side and gave him a small hug. He grinned and kissed her on the head.
“Stand back, Kagome. I don’t know what might happen.”
Inuyasha stepped up to the jewel and watched it warily. He truly didn’t know what to expect, but he had to end it. The hanyou hefted Tetsusaiga, weighing it thoughtfully. He grasped the sword in both hands and raised it high over his head. He swung down with all of his might, calling upon the sword for whatever power it might have.
There was a magnificent explosion of light, seemingly without any sound of any kind. It glittered and shone, visible for miles around. For long seconds, seconds upon seconds, the light was all that Inuyasha could see. Then, like a burst bubble, it vanished in an instant. Sound returned to the world. Birds sang and chirped. The wind rustled through the trees. Inuyasha heaved a great sigh of relief.
The Shikon no Tama was no more. Inuyasha had destroyed it. He wasn’t certain exactly how he had managed to, but hell, he didn’t know how he did half the things he did. He wasn’t going to let it bother him. They wouldn’t have to worry about youkai or humans trying to steal the jewel ever again.
Kaede had suggested that they use the jewel. Kikyou had long ago thought that a proper usage of the Shikon no Tama might purify it into nothingness. But Inuyasha had nothing he wished for. He had Kagome already. He didn’t want to be human, or demon. All that had been left was to destroy it.
Now, all that was left was Kagome. Inuyasha turned to her and grinned. “See, I told you it’d work.”
She shook her head. He hadn’t actually been so certain, but she let it slide. With the jewel gone, Inuyasha gave up the chance to become a powerful youkai. He said that he didn’t want to anymore. Kaede had seemed doubtful, but Kagome believed him. After all, that hanyou had just killed the most powerful few youkai around. He hadn’t needed the jewel at all.
Inuyasha was still grinning at her, but it was almost mischievous, now. What was he smiling about?
“Where were we? Before we were interrupted by that old woman at the well?” Kagome blushed and pretended not to understand. “Oh yes, I remember now…”
Inuyasha leaned forward and kissed Kagome on the mouth. It went on and on, until Kagome forgot about anything else. He took Kagome into his arms and kissed her as if he’d never stop. Inuyasha would make Kagome his. Forever.
The Beginning
< br> Well, that is the end of the story, if only the beginning for Inuyasha and Kagome. -Chevalier
Chapter Eleven: Attack Dog Episode One: Naraku
He didn’t actually appear too terribly menacing but rather effeminate with his long flowing hair and face paint. However, Kagome knew that Naraku was a powerful and evil demon, capable of cruel manipulation and lord of a multitude of vicious fiends. When he and Inuyasha had fought before, Inuyasha had seemed near victory until Kagura had intervened. Naraku appeared to be alone, probably not true, but in his current state, Inuyasha didn’t seem ready to fight even a weaker enemy. Still, prudence had never prevented Inuyasha from fighting in the past. “Feh. At least you’ve saved me the time of going back to find you, you stupid bastard.” Inuyasha stood with some effort, disentangling himself from Kagome despite her protestations. “I was going to kill you anyways, but since you’re here now, I’ll do it that much sooner.”
“Half-breed, in the condition you are in, you’re not even worth my valuable time. I shall see that you are taken care of, but I do not think that I want your blood staining my silks.”
Inuyasha growled and would have launched himself at the demon, but Naraku waved, almost contemptuously, and a horde of demons appeared. There were all kinds, from the nearly formless to wolf-demons (probably defectors from Kouga’s pack). Several massive ogres knuckled along behind the rest, driving them towards Inuyasha. Kagome gasped at the sheer number of them, but Inuyasha just glared. Such a pathetic group would likely have never stood a chance against him had he been uninjured.
As the demons came thundering towards him, Inuyasha dodged to one side, running towards one end of the clearing. A wolf-demon reared up before him, slavering jaws snapping at his neck. He punched it in the throat and leapt over another. The hanyou slashed a worm-like fiend in half and somersaulted through a cluster of common monsters, not bothering to even pay them any attention. He landed near a scarred tree and knelt, seeming winded.
Kagome worried that his wounds were slowing him down, but he didn’t pause long. He stood again, Tetsusaiga in his hand, and smiled. Kagome had forgotten that she’d dropped the sword…which reminded her…where was that bow? As Kagome peered around for the bow and quiver she’d flung to the earth in her desperation to reach Inuyasha, the hanyou transformed the Tetsusaiga and gave it a few practice swings. He had never really gotten used to fighting with a blade. He tested it out on the nearest demons. It seemed to work well enough.
Four humanoid demons lay dead around him, one with its arm severed and two halved completely (one horizontally and one vertically). It wasn’t the same as using his claws, but the sword killed, and it kept him relatively clean. Very little of the blood had actually gotten in his hair, which was the hardest to wash. Satisfied with the carnage around him, Inuyasha decided to end the fight early. He didn’t think he could sustain his strength for any long period. Being careful not to slip in the entrails strewn about, he planted his feet and swung Tetsusaiga in a wide arc.
Everything in front of Inuyasha disappeared in a blaze of light. Demons were shredded into nothingness (a very clean solution, actually), and the very earth was rent as if clawed by a massive demon. He had been careful not to hit Kagome with the Kaze no Kizu, so many of the demons still survived, but they seemed too surprised to move. Inuyasha took the initiative, instead.
He darted through the stunned demons, slashing here and there as he passed, until he found Kagome. A few of the demons nearer her had decided that perhaps it would be safer killing her, instead. Obviously, they were wrong. With a single wordless shout, Inuyasha cut one in half with a diagonal slash. Ignoring the spray of blood, he kicked out and caught another in the throat. Without pausing to hear the crunch of bones breaking, the hanyou spun around and beheaded the last demon. All three were dead in seconds.
“Stay behind me, Kagome.” Inuyasha didn’t hear Kagome’s response, but why would she do otherwise?
Again, the world turned into a blaze of light as he unleashed Tetsusaiga on the remaining demons. As the roar receded, Inuyasha found only Naraku remaining. He grinned, but it quickly became a frown as he smelled more demons all around. Hundreds, perhaps thousands. He could see in Naraku’s eyes that the bastard had no intention of letting him fight any sort of fair contest. The evil demon would throw wave after wave of demons at him until he was too tired to swing his sword anymore. Well, Inuyasha would just have to make certain he could make one last swing at the end.
It seemed to go on for hours. Inuyasha destroyed wave after wave of demons, each draining more of his strength. Soon he’d have none left. He was still bleeding freely from his chest, having pulled the arrow out between blasts of the Kaze no Kizu. It had been getting in the way. The sword was uncomfortable in his hand. Inuyasha didn’t know if he’d ever get used to the thing. Of course, it’d help if his hand wasn’t broken. It hurt like hell, but so did his chest. He could complain when the fight was over.
Slowly, the demon waves were getting closer. Another blast obliterated at least fifty of the bastards. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as he realized that another group was nearly on top of him. He’d passed out for a split second from sheer exhaustion. Before he could destroy them, they were gnashing their teeth at his flesh.
Inuyasha screamed, the searing pain driving away any numbness exhaustion had brought. A demon gnawed at his right arm and another slashed its claws across his ribs. He ripped the face off one and tore the throat out of the one biting him. His broken hand wasn’t very useful for clawing or punching, but his elbow was still good. He drove it into the windpipe of a demon that lunged for him. Still, there were dozens more to kill. Inuyasha knew that he couldn’t kill them all fast enough.
Shouting for Kagome to run, he prepared for a last fight to give her the time she needed. It was all he could do for her, now. But Kagome didn’t run. She threw herself in front of Inuyasha as the demons leapt at him. He was blinded by a bright light, brighter than the Kaze no Kizu but without the roar of explosions. For several seconds after it ended, he couldn’t get the afterglow from his vision. But the demons were gone.
Only Naraku remained, shock plain on his face as he stared at Kagome. Inuyasha was even more stunned than he. What was that? How the hell had Kagome done THAT? He looked at her as if he’d never seen her before.
Episode Two: Reincarnation
Inuyasha still couldn’t believe what he had just seen. Kagome had unleashed a massive wave of energy that had completely unmade all of the demons attacking them. Only Inuyasha and Naraku had been spared the destruction, or lack thereof. The energy hadn’t destroyed the demons, but simply made them not exist, as far as Inuyasha could tell. Naraku was looking at Kagome speculatively, not in fear but as if trying to figure out the best way to utilize her powers for himself.
The spell that seemed to freeze everyone in place broke, and Inuyasha pushed Kagome behind him, facing Naraku at last. No more petty youkai to kill…well, just one more, but he WANTED to kill Naraku. Inuyasha hadn’t known of the demon’s involvement in Kikyou’s demise for very long, but he knew that he needed to put that ghost to rest. Besides, no one fucked with Inuyasha and lived. Except maybe Kagome.
“Impressive, girl. Very Impressive.” Naraku’s slimy voice seemed to slither through the sentences. “I expected much from you—How could I not?—considering your predecessor. But that? That was more than even I could have foreseen.”
Inuyasha grunted angrily, unsure what Naraku was talking about, but sure there was some sort of insult buried in it. He had expected Kagome to have powers? Kagome was chewing her lip nervously, and Naraku smiled insincerely. Inuyasha was just confused.
“What the hell are you going on about, bastard? Are you that desperate to gain a few more seconds of life before I rip your head off?”
Naraku looked slyly at Kagome. “Oho, so he doesn’t know? Clever vixen. You have him tied around your finger, don’t you?” He looked at Inuyasha with contempt. “But then, a dog SHOULD be leashed.”
Inuyasha glanced back at Kagome. She was definitely anxious about something. He growled in frustration. Naraku was just toying with them, now. He had nothing left but tricks to preserve his life.
“Shut up! I’m going to kill you now. Not quickly, but I’ll get to it eventually. First, I’m going to make you regret insulting Kagome. I know you’re trying to make me distrust her, but I won’t. Kagome would never betray me.” Naraku smiled again, but Inuyasha took a step towards him and he flinched slightly. “Second, I’m going to make you pay for what you did to Kikyou. You used us for your own purpose and made us think we were betrayed. YOU killed Kikyou! For Kagome and for Kikyou, I am going to tear you apart, piece by piece.”
Naraku was smiling grandly now. He gestured grandly at Kagome, almost bowing in his own grandiosity. “Oh, but don’t you see half-dog, You need only punish me once. Kagome IS Kikyou. Kikyou IS Kagome.” Inuyasha was stunned by the sheer strangeness of the words. It didn’t make any sense at all. Naraku shook his head. “Stupid mutt…The girl is Kikyou’s reincarnation. All along, you’ve been lied to. By the old priestess. By this girl. They knew all the time, and they used you…knew you’d follow at her heels like the dog you are!”
Inuyasha blinked in disbelief. Kagome…Kikyou’s reincarnation? It couldn’t be. But he knew it for truth instantly. Kagome didn’t smell surprised by the pronouncement, but more in dread of it being revealed. It had been fifty years, fifty years of pain. He hadn’t smelled Kikyou in so long…but Kagome smelled strangely like Inuyasha’s memories. She WAS Kikyou.
Had she really plotted with old Kaede all this time? Had they really meant to use him? No! He knew it wasn’t true. Perhaps Kaede, but never Kagome. He knew he could trust her. Why she hadn’t told him before, he couldn’t figure, but he knew she wouldn’t betray him. She loved him. Didn’t she?
As Inuyasha struggled with these thoughts, Naraku slowly came closer. Only a shout of warning from Kagome gave the hanyou time to evade the sudden assault of tentacles that swarmed him. Inuyasha was tired. He was hurt, badly and in many places. Still, he could fend off Naraku’s attacks, but he couldn’t seem to concentrate. His mind swam with visions of Kagome and Kikyou. Kagome as Kikyou. Kikyou as Kagome?
Who was she? What was HE to her? Inuyasha didn’t like the question that rose in his mind. Did Kagome love Inuyasha, or did Kikyou?
Episode Three: Inuyasha
Tentacles dove into the earth before Inuyasha, barely missing the distracted hanyou. Still more came at him from the sides. Inuyasha leapt high into the air, dodging the clumsy flanking attack. He shouted in surprise as a tentacle curled around his leg. It had come from under the earth. A trick.
The thing around his leg heaved, swinging Inuyasha down heavily into the ground. His vision went black for a moment, and he found himself being hurled through the air again. He was thrown backwards into a tree. It shattered on impact, splinters of wood and bark lacerating his body.
More tentacles grasped his arms and other leg. A fourth wrapped itself around his neck. The began to pull apart, stretching him and awakening pain in every wound on his battered body. And then, Naraku was before him, gloating face mere inches away. But Inuyasha couldn’t move to attack him at all. He didn’t have the strength left in his body to tear free of the bastard youkai’s hold.
“This gives me great pleasure, half-breed. You have given me an interesting idea as well. Perhaps I shall tear YOU apart, piece by piece. An arm first, perhaps? Or maybe a leg? Or perhaps something smaller?” Naraku grinned, sickly. “Maybe I should leave you alive for a while. I never had the chance to take Kikyou for myself…perhaps I should take the opportunity now? Tell me, half-dog…is the girl any good? I hope you’ve found out for yourself, because you won’t get the chance again. I could tell you after I’m done, if you like.”
Inuyasha growled in fury. If rage were enough to destroy Naraku, the youkai would have been rendered into a red mist by the sheer hatred in the hanyou’s eyes. The tentacle around his neck tightened, crushing the growl from his throat, but Inuyasha still glared death at his enemy. Tetsusaiga was pinned at his side, or he’d have transformed right then. Even still, his eyes flashed red several times.
Naraku seemed unnerved by the murderous eyes of the hanyou he held trapped. He pulled away slightly, wary of what Inuyasha might become. He knew of the savage beast the hanyou could become. Perhaps it would be better just to finish Inuyasha off quickly. He would always take his time with the girl after…
Inuyasha’s consciousness flickered, seeming almost to lapse into animal as it once had, but not quite able to sustain itself. If it would allow him to kill Naraku, he’d welcome the change. He had only taken Tetsusaiga to protect Kagome from the monster he could become. Kagome…
It was so hard to comprehend. Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyou. Inuyasha had loved Kikyou, so many years ago. She was dead and gone. Now she was back? Was Kagome Kikyou or someone else? Before, she had been only Kagome, and he had been happy. Should he be happier that she was also Kikyou? Should he not be happy?
Inuyasha let out a ragged shout of pain as Naraku pulled his left arm out of its socket. His vision went black, and he felt himself falling. There was nothing but blackness all around him. He could still feel all the pain of his battered body, but it was further away, almost as if it were a memory of the pain.
Kagome kissed him on the mouth. He kissed her back, a light kiss quickly become a passionate one. Inuyasha wanted her. He needed her. His hands flew at her clothes, pulling them off as fast as he could. Her shirt came over her head and there was Kikyou. Kikyou leaned back in and kissed him again. He held her waist and felt her body against his. Kikyou…
No, this wasn’t right. Kikyou was dead. Kagome was the one he loved, now. But Kagome WAS Kikyou, wasn’t she? Kikyou had wanted Inuyasha to become human, to live with her as a normal man and woman. For the love he felt for her, he had been willing to. It had never come to pass, but would Kagome want it too?
Kagome had seemed happy with Inuyasha as he was. She had wanted him as a hanyou. Always, Inuyasha had wanted to be either a youkai or a human, but with Kagome he hadn’t anymore. A human was not strong enough to protect Kagome. A youkai could not love her as he did. It was a battle between the two bloods to love Kagome, a struggle between animal desire and human compassion. But it was worth it every moment that he spent with her.
Pain lanced through his chest. He felt it being crushed. Inuyasha opened his eyes, vision slowly resolving into Naraku’s hated face. A tentacle had wrapped itself around his torso, crushing him back to consciousness.
“Ah, there are you half-dog. You left us, there for a moment. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of the pain I have planned for you.”
Inuyasha grunted something unintelligible, but he hadn’t couldn’t really find a word to describe his hatred of Naraku, anyways. He was helpless, unable to kill the one he hated most and unable to protect the one he loved more than all else. Inuyasha growled, ignoring the tentacle around his throat that tightened at the sound. Inuyasha hated Naraku.
Inuyasha loved Kagome.
Kagome loved Inuyasha.
Inuyasha was a hanyou. Kagome loved a hanyou.
That seemed to define all that he was. Inuyasha was Inuyasha. He wasn’t a human, a youkai, or even just a hanyou. He was himself, unlike anyone else. He loved and hated and wanted and needed. Inuyasha knew that, with Kagome, he never needed to be anyone but Inuyasha.
“I am growing bored of this game, half-breed. I am going to start tearing things off, now. You can listen as I rape the girl while you bleed to death. Listen to her calling out your name, crying for you to save her. It is time to die, half-dog!”
Naraku tightened his tentacles all around Inuyasha and pulled with every intention of quartering the hanyou.
“I am Inuyasha!”
Naraku was amazed when the hanyou shouted, briefly stunned by surprise. Inuyasha wrenched his arms together, pulling at the slackened tentacles. He grabbed the tentacle wrapping his right hand and closed his claws around it. With a tearing sound, he ripped the tentacle apart. Before Naraku could even react, Inuyasha slashed with his freed hand, claws slashing through the youkai’s throat. He felt every tendon that was severed, every drop of blood that came spraying from the demon’s neck.
Inuyasha tore through the throat of that bastard Naraku and closed his hand around his spine. With a single sharp pull, he heard it snap and break free. The tentacles holding him all went limp, dropping him roughly to the earth. Inuyasha staggered back to his feet, the world tilting wildly around him. He dropped the nearly-severed head along side the rest of Naraku and half knelt, panting heavily.
Naraku was dead. He’d killed the bastard at last. Naraku would never hurt Kagome. Kagome. Inuyasha turned around to find her standing where he’d seen her last. She hadn’t run away. She’d stayed for him. Idiot girl. Inuyasha smiled weakly. He forced himself straight and took a stumbling step towards the girl that he loved.
“HAHAHAHA! YOU FOOL, HALF-BREED! YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME? I CAN NOT BE KILLED! I AM NARAKU!”
Inuyasha twisted around to see Naraku towering behind him. He was easily twice as big as the hanyou now, and still growing. His head swung limply from his body, barely attached at all. But his eyes shone red and his mouth shouted in fury. Naraku’s face was screwed into an expression of absolute rage, and, even upside down, it made Inuyasha hesitate.
He couldn’t move in time. Tentacles flashed down at him, sharp as swords, from all directions. Inuyasha couldn’t believe he was going to die after so much. All he wanted was to be with Kagome.
Something shot passed Inuyasha’s face, straight at Naraku. It exploded into a brilliant blue flame that began to spread all along the demon’s form. It quickly engulfed Naraku entirely, as he screamed in pain and terror, flailing wildly in an effort to put out the flames. Nothing could save him. Within moments, Naraku burned away into nothing. No ash remained of the terrible demon, nor bone or even smoke. He was gone.
Inuyasha slowly turned back to Kagome. She still held the bow up, frozen by the spectacle of Naraku’s death. Kagome had saved Inuyasha with a single arrow imbued by her own sacred power.
Kagome had killed Naraku.
Episode Four: Kikyou
The great sacred tree rose majestically before Inuyasha. He had spent so many years staring at this tree. A single arrow lay imbedded in its trunk, aged and withered. That arrow had nearly pierced him, as well. Once, he had wondered if it would have been better if Kikyou had struck him down with that arrow as she had intended. So many long years of loneliness and pain he had gained from his quick reflexes. But he no longer wondered.
After all those years, he had finally found the reason he had survived. Inuyasha loved Kagome with all of his heart. He could not bring himself to compare his feelings for those he had felt for Kikyou, but that was probably right. He didn’t think it was possible to compare one love to another. He had since questioned whether or not he and Kikyou had truly loved one another. They had too quickly been willing to believe the other would betray them. Kikyou would never have been happy with Inuyasha as Inuyasha, and Inuyasha would never have been truly happy with Kikyou as a normal human.
He would never know what could have been. Inuyasha could only make what would be. Kikyou had been his first love. He would never forget her. With Naraku’s death, he had avenged her. Kagome might be Kikyou’s reincarnation, but she was not Kikyou. He would not cheapen her memory by pretending she was someone else or by comparing her to another.
Inuyasha would never forget Kikyou. But now, it was time to lay her to rest. Inuyasha reached up and grasped the aged arrow. It felt strange to the touch, otherworldly almost. He felt an odd sensation of duality for a moment.
Inuyasha pulled and the arrow came free from the sacred tree. For a moment he stared at the small scar that remained. In time, even that would be almost erased. Inuyasha turned away from the sacred tree and walked back towards the old well. Kagome was waiting for him.
Episode Five: Kagome
Kagome was still waiting at the well when Inuyasha arrived. She had been debating whether or not to return to her own time while she had the chance, but his return ended it. Inuyasha had been strangely quiet for the return trip to Kaede’s village and had quickly left for the forest with barely a goodbye. Kaede had gladly listened as they told of Naraku’s death. Well, Kagome had told. Inuyasha hadn’t said much.
She thought it was because of what Naraku had said. Now Inuyasha knew that Kagome was Kikyou’s reincarnation, so much seemed to have changed. He had been comforting after Naraku’s death, even close, but as they had began travelling again, he had become distant. Naraku had told him that she and Kaede had plotted to use him, manipulate him somehow. Did Inuyasha believe it?
Kagome knew that Inuyasha had loved Kikyou. It had begun to prey on her thoughts more and more lately. Ever since they had spent the night together. What if he only loved Kagome because she was Kikyou? He hadn’t known…but maybe he had felt it somehow, anyways? What did he feel now?
She wanted him to love her…but Kagome didn’t want Inuyasha to love her because she was someone else. Even if she were Kikyou’s reincarnation, which she still doubted a little, she wasn’t Kikyou.
As Inuyasha drew near, his eyes found hers and she saw a question there. She knew it was about Kikyou. Kagome couldn’t take it.
“Inuyasha, I know you think I’m Kikyou…or her reincarnation anyways. Kaede says I am, but I don’t really know if I am or not. I might be. I have holy powers. But even if I am…I’m not Kikyou! I don’t want you to look at me with Kikyou in your eyes!”
Inuyasha smiled a little smile and cupped her face in his hand. “Kagome…I love you, Kagome. You are not Kikyou. Kagome is only Kagome, as I am only Inuyasha. I love Kagome. I don’t care whether you’re Kikyou’s reincarnation or not. Whatever we felt for each other is fifty years gone. I won’t ever forget her. I can’t say that I will…but I don’t love HER anymore. I love YOU.”
Kagome blinked tears from her eyes. Inuyasha put his arms gently around her and pulled her to him. “I love you, Kagome.”
“I love you, Inuyasha.”
Kagome hugged Inuyasha back, feeling the warmth from his body and the beat of his heart with her own. Time seemed to have stopped completely. All there was in the world was that embrace.
Epilogue: Inuyasha
“
Inuyasha smiled at her. “I could never back down from a challenge, Kagome.” He looked down at the small jewel held out in her palm. “And yes, I do want to do this. I want this to be done with, finally and for good.”
She nodded, still uncertain, and placed the Shikon no Tama on the ground. Kagome walked back to Inuyasha’s side and gave him a small hug. He grinned and kissed her on the head.
“Stand back, Kagome. I don’t know what might happen.”
Inuyasha stepped up to the jewel and watched it warily. He truly didn’t know what to expect, but he had to end it. The hanyou hefted Tetsusaiga, weighing it thoughtfully. He grasped the sword in both hands and raised it high over his head. He swung down with all of his might, calling upon the sword for whatever power it might have.
There was a magnificent explosion of light, seemingly without any sound of any kind. It glittered and shone, visible for miles around. For long seconds, seconds upon seconds, the light was all that Inuyasha could see. Then, like a burst bubble, it vanished in an instant. Sound returned to the world. Birds sang and chirped. The wind rustled through the trees. Inuyasha heaved a great sigh of relief.
The Shikon no Tama was no more. Inuyasha had destroyed it. He wasn’t certain exactly how he had managed to, but hell, he didn’t know how he did half the things he did. He wasn’t going to let it bother him. They wouldn’t have to worry about youkai or humans trying to steal the jewel ever again.
Kaede had suggested that they use the jewel. Kikyou had long ago thought that a proper usage of the Shikon no Tama might purify it into nothingness. But Inuyasha had nothing he wished for. He had Kagome already. He didn’t want to be human, or demon. All that had been left was to destroy it.
Now, all that was left was Kagome. Inuyasha turned to her and grinned. “See, I told you it’d work.”
She shook her head. He hadn’t actually been so certain, but she let it slide. With the jewel gone, Inuyasha gave up the chance to become a powerful youkai. He said that he didn’t want to anymore. Kaede had seemed doubtful, but Kagome believed him. After all, that hanyou had just killed the most powerful few youkai around. He hadn’t needed the jewel at all.
Inuyasha was still grinning at her, but it was almost mischievous, now. What was he smiling about?
“Where were we? Before we were interrupted by that old woman at the well?” Kagome blushed and pretended not to understand. “Oh yes, I remember now…”
Inuyasha leaned forward and kissed Kagome on the mouth. It went on and on, until Kagome forgot about anything else. He took Kagome into his arms and kissed her as if he’d never stop. Inuyasha would make Kagome his. Forever.
The Beginning
< br> Well, that is the end of the story, if only the beginning for Inuyasha and Kagome. -Chevalier