InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Crushing the Spider ( Chapter 30 )

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

Chapter 30: Crushing the Spider

As Sesshoumaru took the first hits from his father, Inuyasha prepared to back his brother up.

For him, this was eerie. While his full-youkai brother had known their father, he never had, he'd only seen him the once, right after Sou'unga. So while he technically knew this male to be his sire, there was really no emotional connection at this point. All he could think was that, as much as he and Sesshoumaru had not gotten along 'til Kagome came into his life, he was still his brother, and he had no intention of letting anyone kill him.

Kagome knew that Izayoi herself was watching the battle between her mate and his sons, and so her attention was freely on Naraku. She waited while the dark hanyou stared at Kikyou.

"So, Kikyou. In the end, you joined with the cursed and will find your second end with them. It's too bad you didn't join me, instead."

Kikyou tilted her head and stared consideringly at him. "I have no desire to be on the losing end, Naraku, so I would never deign to join you."

He snarled angrily at her, then began sprouting his tentacles. Waving them in the air before the two miko threateningly, he grated out, "Then die with the rest of the losers, bitch, it no longer matters to me!"

Kagome increased the output of her purity, reaching out to envelop Kikyou in it's protective embrace. Glancing over at Miroku and Sango, she saw that they were doing quite well on their own, and focused all her attention of the evil in front of her. Bringing her hands together, and focusing her powers into them, she drew in a deep breath, then said, "Release your arrows, Kikyou, it's time for this bastard to die."

The arrow reached the hanyou first, and shattered against his shield, weakening it so that when Kagome's power reached it, it fell easily.

In the instant that his shield fell, all hell broke loose.

Steadying the shield she had around Kikyou, Kagome separated the two, leaving the one around Kikyou standing alone. Turning to her, she said, "Stay under this shield, Kikyou, no matter what. You cannot let him get to you, or I won't be able to purify our soul. If you stay under here, he won't be able to break through, okay?"

Kikyou nodded her understanding. Drawing back on her bow, she fired another arrow into the melee, determined to keep Naraku occupied and away from the others. "What do you intend to do?"

Kagome flashed a feral grin her way, dodging one of the many tentacles lashing around, she called back over her shoulder as she ran towards the dark hanyou's position, "I'm gonna piss him off, that's what I'm gonna do! I think I'll purify his youkai one by one - draw the torture out. After the things he's done to everyone, he deserves it!"

She gathered just a bit more power, and focusing it into her shield, she allowed the purity she was putting out to increase, and then calmly began to walk right towards Naraku.

The dark hanyou tried to thrust his tentacles through her, hoping that the more he battered her shield with them, the weaker it would get, but that wasn't happening, and he began to panic a little - he couldn't understand why things weren't going his way.

Suddenly realizing that he wasn't going to be able to batter his way through to her, he pulled back, wrapping his tentacles around himself protectively, letting out a screech when another of Kikyou's arrows hit him. Closing his eyes, he attempted to bring up another shield around himself - only managing a partial one this time.

Kagome kept moving forward until she reached his pathetic attempt to protect himself, and reaching a hand out, touched it, popping it immediately. As soon as she moved past it, she grabbed ahold of one of his appendages, and began pouring purifying power into it.

He let out a loud scream as one of the youkai that he had bound to his body was purified, immediately feeling just a slight bit weaker. In that moment, he knew he needed to get away, and he gathered his miasma around him and tried to escape...

Only to be trapped inside a barrier - but not one of his own making.

Kagome stopped and watched him for a minute, before looking over to the left, worried about her mate and his brother. She could see that, for now at least, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were holding their own - then turned and checked on Sango and Miroku. She found that they, also, were doing just fine.

Reassured, she turned back to her own battle. Naraku had pulled his miasma back into himself when he realized that she wasn't going to allow it outside her purity barrier, so it wouldn't be harming anyone else, at least at this point.

Kagome stared at him. Right now, they were at a draw. She wasn't sure what else he had up his sleeve, but the one thing she knew she couldn't allow was for him to escape. She had to keep him here. With another glare in the oddly silent hanyou's direction, she lobbed another blast of spiritual power at him, watching in satisfaction as one more of his youkai disappeared.

Kikyou watched the two, unsure of what Kagome was doing. Why wasn't she just finishing him off? She had no doubt that Kagome could do so, and easily. So what was she waiting for? Why was she almost lazily picking him apart one by one?

Naraku stared at her, not sure what she was trying to accomplish with what she was doing, but wishing she would quit, because purifying his youkai one by one was actually painful, and he didn't know how much more he could take. He tried to think through the pain - should he call his incarnation over here to deal with the bitch?

Casting a glance over towards the battle on that side, he frowned... there was no way to get him away from Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha - all his attention was on them.

"What is your purpose, Kagome? Tell me... you don't think you can actually win, do you?" He suppressed the pain, and spoke as he always did - with confidence. "Your seeming advantage at this moment is only an illusion, you know."

Kagome lifted a brow at him. "Really? And why would you hand out an illusion that would make it seem as though we were winning, instead of one that would convince us that you were winning, if that was truly the case?"

He snarled at her. "Because this way it makes it worse on you... to feel so close to victory, and then have it yanked out from under you."

She laughed, looking back at Kikyou, who could hear every word. "Did you hear that, Kikyou?" She turned back to face him. "He thinks he's fooling me... I can hear the fear in his voice - and the confusion. He doesn't understand why he's losing."

Kikyou just looked at him. "You are pathetic, Naraku. All this time, we have focused on this last battle with you, with concern and even fear, and yet, in the end... it's not even a true fight. We've all fought harder battles with lower level youkai." She put down her bow, and sat down. "This is a waste of our time... fighting you isn't even worth it."

He screamed in fury, that was one thing he couldn't stand - the truth being thrown in his face. But Kagome really had him tied down, he was pretty much helpless, and it all came down to his incarnation. It all rode on his unwilling slave now.

Kagome nodded. Good... he understands now that he can't affect the outcome of this battle.

"The only reason you aren't dead yet, Naraku, is that I want you to watch your final defeat. I want you to see your failure."

Tightening the barrier down on him, she made sure that he couldn't escape, and neither could his miasma... and then turned her full attention back to the battle between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha and their very reluctant opponent.

'Izayoi... are you there?'

'Yes, dear, and I can see what I need to see. Be ready, the time approaches. He is angered and is fighting the control of the shards - just a little more and I will be able to catch his attention.'

'Okay. Well, I'm ready, so just give the word."

She could feel the woman's agreement, and no more words were spoken as she watched the clash between the three Inu males. All three had injuries, and blood was flying - but it appeared that they were all matched together, and none could win this fight. At this rate, they would all fight 'til they died.

While Naraku would enjoy that, Kagome wasn't about to allow it.

She could see now, little places of hesitation on the Inu no Taisho's part, times where it seemed as if he was trying to stop himself from landing a blow, and as time passed, they became more frequent, and of longer duration, until finally...

'Now, Kagome!'

And Kagome let go. Immediately, her perspective changed, she could still see what was happening, only she had no control, and it was all distant.

Izayoi felt a shudder pass through her as she once again had a body of flesh and blood, and the overwhelming sensations almost fogged her mind completely, but in that moment, she resisted, and flung herself at her beloved.

"Iie! Koishii, no! Fight it - look only at me!"

At the sound of her voice, which had changed, and become the voice of his beloved, his attention turned from the battle with his sons, and he began to move towards her... and Izayoi let go again, letting Kagome back in. She called to the shards immediately, pulling them from his flesh and purifying them completely as the big Inu dropped forward to one knee for a moment, leaning on his sword, and Naraku screeched, enraged, but helpless to change anything.

Inuyasha's eyes had widened as he'd heard, for just that one moment in time, his beloved mother's voice - coming from his mate - but before he could even react, Kagome was back, and his father was down... but still breathing.

Sesshoumaru stepped back, still holding on to his sword, but hoping with all his soul that his father was back under his own control. He absently noted that the battlefield had become silent, save for Naraku, as the others finished off their opponents - and they waited for his father to look up, so they could see if Kagome and Izayoi's gambit had been successful.

When he finally raised his head, they all knew...

It had.

At that, every eye on the field turned to look at Naraku - who was still held by Kagome's barrier.

He was helpless... and this battle was over. All that remained was to decide how to finish him off.

---cCc---

Sesshoumaru stepped back, warily watching as the father he'd never thought to see again stood to his feet, still just as impressive as he had ever been, even with the wounds that he held from their battle.

"Do you do well, father?" he asked, voice as stoic as ever, but beneath it, everyone could hear the hope.

Touga looked at his sons, both of them, and then at the young woman who, for an instant, had allowed his beloved Izayoi to come through, and nodded absently.

"I am now, my son, thanks to Inuyasha's mate... and my own." He turned and stared at Naraku, for a moment, then looked back at Kagome. "Tell me, Lady Kagome, what do you plan to do with him?"

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, then at her friends, who had all moved closer as they had defeated their opponents, and then shrugged. "I guess that's what we need to decide, now. What do we do to him, that will pay him back for all he has done to others?"

Inuyasha moved over to his mate, and she grabbed his hands and pulled him over to her pack, then had him take a seat. He looked at her, then over at Naraku, who was still enraged, and still stuck, held within her barrier and unable to move.

"Well, I say we try to figure out the thing that would make him suffer the most." Kikyou walked in to join the group after Kagome let her barrier fall.

Kagome motioned for everyone to come and sit, so that she could care for everyone's wounds while she thought.

"What is it that he always attempts to gain everytime we come against him?" She was looking for a certain answer, and she got it... from Miroku.

"Control."

"Exactly. So it stands to reason that he would hate and fear losing it."

Touga nodded, impressed at the words of the young woman. His youngest had indeed chosen well.

"So, how do we take control from him?"

Kagome met his gaze and then looked around again.

"That's the question, isn't it?"

Sesshoumaru stared at Naraku, not moving his gaze, and you could see the wicked intent in his eyes.

"Perhaps we should make him serve everyone that he has harmed - in whatever way they choose."

The whole group stared at Sesshoumaru, and then turned and gazed at a suddenly horrified Naraku.

"After his youki has been completely taken away, rendering him back into Onigumo's form," he finished.

Kagome frowned. "That won't work unless we find Akago and return Onigumo's heart to him... otherwise he would just die... or maybe not." Something came to her then. "Perhaps I can give him another heart. That has possibilities..." she trailed off, deep in thought.

"Well, it's a good thing we aren't in any hurry, then... we can take as much time as we need to figure this out." Sango's voice was firm, and setting her weapons down, she began to assist Kagome in treating the groups injuries.

"I, personally, am perfectly willing to sit here 'til doomsday to figure out the best way to torture that bastard."

Inuyasha just grinned. "Yeah... me, too."

---cCc---

Kagome woke the next morning still curled in Inuyasha's arms, and immediately looked over the the place they'd trapped Naraku, to make sure he was still there.

He was.

He was sitting dejectedly, facing his captors, and it was obvious that the only reason he was facing them was because he didn't dare take his eyes off them, and as Kagome turned her head, she could see exactly what had the nervous look on the dark hanyou's face.

Sesshoumaru.

She had to laugh when she saw the deadly daiyoukai staring at Naraku... he kept his gaze trained on him, and the lack of expression on his face was probably causing him more nervousness than if he'd been glaring at him with hatred.

Shaking her head with amusement, she noted that their father was also staring at Naraku, and in that moment, she almost felt sorry for him.

How nerve-wracking, to be stared at so steadily by such obvious predators.

Sighing, her thoughts turned to what she was going to do with the jewel. Kikyou had already turned down being brought back to life - she wanted their soul purified so that she could rest in peace, and Kagome would do so as soon as Naraku's final disposition had been decided. That left her free to do something that she knew would be the ultimate joy for her mate - and his father...

Restoring Izayoi to life.

If anyone deserved it, it would be her, after losing her mate, and suffering through the first years of her son's life, and then losing her son due to the calling of the mate-bond. Now that her mate was once again alive, she should be too, and that's what Kagome was going to do, come hell or high water... and the jewel would cooperate, or else.

She grinned at that thought. Boy... I'm sure getting bossy, aren't I?

'Getting?! Sorry to tell you this, wench, but you were born bossy.'

Kagome turned her face and mock glared at her mate. "So, I've always been that way, huh? And to think, I was actually planning to do something nice for you..." she trailed off provocatively.

He hugged her tightly. "Keh. You still will, wench - because you love me."

She snuggled into his arms and smiled. "Yeah... I still will, because I love you," she said, softly.

"So have you thought anymore about what to do with Naraku?"

"Some. But it will be everyone's decision in the end, it's only fair. Besides," she frowned, thinking about it, "I have to say, some of the things he did turned out for the better, wouldn't you say? Even though that's not what he intended?"

"What?! What did he do that turned out good? You've gotta be kidding me!"

Kagome pouted up at him. "Well, if it hadn't been for him, we wouldn't have met, you know. Wasn't our meeting a good thing?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, and said, "You know that's not what I meant, wench, so don't try to turn that around on me. So what else do you think he did that's good?"

She tilted her head towards his father. "He brought your father back, Inuyasha... now you'll get the chance to know him. Isn't that good?"

Inuyasha frowned at that, realizing that she was right... but. There was a 'but' in there. "Keh. Maybe good for me, K'gome, but you know he's going to suffer without my mother. If it were me being separated from you like this, I'd want to die and go back to you. So..."

Kagome smiled brightly, and pulling away from his arms, stood up. Pulling the jewel shards from the little bottle that she carried, she said, "Don't you worry about that, Inuyasha. I've got that covered." Cupping her hands around the shards, she closed her eyes and concentrated, and with a soft pink glow, the jewel was once again whole.

Whole... and that means that Kohaku really is gone... like I thought. Well, I'll just fix that as well. Sango shouldn't have to suffer anymore because of Naraku's twisted mind.

Looking over at her mate, she smiled encouragingly at him as he stood and came over to her, and then she met his father's gaze, as the rest of the group began to sit up, knowing something was about to happen. Nodding at the Inu no Taisho, she spoke.

"I've decided what I'm going to do with the jewel. For my mate, for you, and also, for my sister Sango," she closed her eyes again, "I wish that Izayoi and Kohaku be given another chance at the lives they were denied." Gasps were heard from her friends, and a choked sound came from Inuyasha as the jewel glowed brightly for one single, incandescent second, and then faded away...

Gone for all time.

Opening her eyes as Inuyasha's arms came around her from behind in a desperate hug, she patted his arms, and grinned, feeling the sudden absence of Izayoi in her mind. "They'll find us... I imagine they'll awaken together and Izayoi knows where we are, so if we just sit tight, they'll get here soon enough."

"Thank you, K'gome," Inuyasha whispered, his voice choked, full of emotion.

"Don't thank me, love... it's not needed. I did it because she deserved it, you deserved it, and because your father," here she met his gaze again, "shouldn't be forced to be without his mate." She turned a glare on Naraku, who'd watched the whole thing with dismay.

"Especially not because some greedy bastard decided to mess up so many lives."

Sango laughed, tears running down her face, and practically tackled her. "You'll never know what this means to me, Kagome. After so long of almost no hope, to have all the grief lifted..." she broke off, unable to finish, and Kagome just hugged her.

Touga watched as his youngest son's mate brought his heart back to life - she was right, they had returned, because he could feel Izayoi, and once again hear her thoughts. It was a blessing he'd never thought of, and he knew he could never repay this young woman's open heart. His son had chosen well... and he could tell, just by watching them as he had most of the night, that they loved each other with everything in them...

Just as he and Izayoi did.

He glanced over at Sesshoumaru as he stood. Now if they could just get him to find someone...

Little did he know that Sesshoumaru already had someone in mind - she just had to finish growing up. He'd find out soon enough, though.

Moving over to where a laughing and crying taijiya was still hugging his son's mate, and Inuyasha himself was now standing to the side, he waited 'til the slayer had settled, then said, "I would add my thanks to my sons, young miko. Now both Izayoi and I will have a chance to know our son, and I will also get to have more time with my eldest. We will cherish this new chance that you have given us."

Inuyasha beamed at his mate as she smiled and bowed. "As I told Inuyasha, no thanks are necessary. I'm just glad that everything worked out the way it did." Sighing, she nodded her head in Naraku's direction.

"But now, we need to decide what we will be doing with him. Does he die, or do we make him into a servant, stripping him of all his youki, and turning him back into Onigumo - a simple man?"

Kikyou stepped up from the edge of the camp that she'd stayed in while the jewel had been purified.

"Yes... we need to decide, so that I can go on to find my rest. I am eager to do so," she said, with a tired sigh. "I have waited long enough."

Miroku nodded from where he was sitting still leaned against a tree, his shakujou leaned against his shoulder comfortably. "I agree with Kikyou. We need to decide his fate - and the sooner the better," he said, with a meaningful glance at his cursed hand. "I would hate to have defeated Naraku, and then still have been consumed by his curse simply because we took too long to finish him."

At that, Kagome's eyes widened. "I forgot about that! I think we'll have to kill him, or else we can't get rid of Miroku's curse."

As the group all gathered round and took seats, Kikyou shook her head. "No, he will be fine. Whether you kill Naraku, or simply make him human again, it is his youki that the curse is tied to, and once that's gone, so is the curse."

"Are you sure, Kikyou?" Inuyasha wanted to be positive - he didn't like the possibility of losing his friend like that.

"I'm positive, Inuyasha."

Kagome clapped her hands together, determination leaking from every pore. "So, then, what do we do with him? Personally, I like the thought of purifying his youki, and then making him be a servant to someone - make him be useful for once in his life," as the others all nodded.

"But how would we make sure that he doesn't do the whole 'making a pact with youkai and becoming a hanyou again' thing?"

"You can block that chance with your reiki, young miko. I know the way in which the hanyou was created - and I also know how to stop it. It isn't hard to do, and will prevent any youkai from tying itself to him ever again." Touga cast a glance at the hanyou, brow furrowed.

"If this option is the one that is chosen, I will take him as a servant, and watch over him, making sure he atones for his actions - as long as no one has a problem with this, of course."

He looked around as everyone shook their heads, rather wicked grins being sent towards the captured hanyou. "Good. Then is it considered settled? The Lady Kagome will purify his youki, block him from ever gaining any more, and he will become my servant in his human form."

No one dissented, and so Kagome stood. "Kikyou, do you want to come with me? I think of everyone here, you deserve to see him lose his power the most before I give you the peace you've asked for," she said, softly.

Kikyou nodded. "I do." She turned, then, and looked at Inuyasha. "So the time has come... I never thought to stand here in this way, and say goodbye." At his saddened look, she smiled, and reached out a hand to touch his cheek. "Don't be sad, Inuyasha. I know for a fact that my next life will be one of great joy."

She laughed as Kagome grinned and Inuyasha frowned, obviously not having really thought about it.

"I guess so," he said, glancing at Kagome. "Just be happy, Kikyou. That's all I want."

Kikyou bowed then, to him. "I will be, Inuyasha. I'll be very happy - and so will you, and Kagome, and that is how it should be. Farewell, my friend. Be well."

She turned then and followed Kagome into the barrier that held Naraku, as Kagome again protected them both with a new barrier of reiki.

As Kagome came to stand before Naraku, she tightened the barrier down, so that it surrounded him only, like chains, and made it so he could hear what she had to say.

"Naraku, for the crimes that you have committed against these people, and any others, it has been decided that you will be stripped of all your youki, and returned once again to your human form as Onigumo." She smiled happily as his eyes widened in horror.

"Once you are back in that form, you will be sealed from ever gaining youki again, and will become the servant of the Inu no Taisho. He will see to it that you make amends for your actions - you will no doubt spend the rest of your years doing so."

The whole group at that point came to stand before him, all determined to see him receive his just desserts - and witness his humiliation, as Kagome began adding more reiki to the barrier around him, until he was writhing in agony, as, one by one, the youkai he'd taken in were purified into dust.

Finally, he stood before them, bare of any youki, and Kagome dropped the barrier and placed her hands on his chest, sinking them in to the place that would hold his heart, and created a new one for him... as all the while, the proud, sadistic fool whined in shame for his downfall at his enemies hands.

It was a sight the people that watched would remember forever as their deadliest enemy was finally brought low before them.

As soon as his heart was beating in his chest, Touga showed Kagome how to bind him to his humanity, and it was done.

The greatest threat the world had yet seen was defeated, and the battle-weary group could finally find peace.

Breathing deeply, Kagome turned to Kikyou, and smiled sadly at her. "Are you ready, Kikyou?"

The elder miko merely nodded, and after taking one last glance around, stood, tall and proud before the younger priestess, and waited for her touch. Kagome gently placed her hands over Kikyou's heart, and pulsed a small amount of reiki into her previous incarnation's clay body - and they all watched as she smiled and faded away, leaving behind only a small soul orb that quickly found it's way into Kagome, and the other souls she'd captured that dissipated as soon as they were freed.

Now, it was over. Everything was done... and it was time to look to the future, as they all turned to watch two people walk towards them...

Kagome smiled. It had been worth it, all of it. All the pain, the tears, and even the blood... her presence here had really made a difference, and she was glad that none of what had happened had been in vain.

There were no more reasons for any of the people standing on the field to be haunted -

By anything.

The past was over, and the present cleansed, and the future was bright, and waiting for them to find it.