InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Makai ❯ Her Sacrifice ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter Twenty-Six: Her Sacrifice

 

 

 

They followed Naraku's aura into a clearing several miles from Sesshoumaru's castle. The evil demon stood in its center, his incarnations on either side. Kohaku stood next to him. Sango let out a strangled gasp at the sight of her brother, but a gentle touch from Miroku made her focus on the fight again.

 

Naraku laughed at the group presented to him. The only real competition was Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sesshoumaru. His incarnations could take care of the others. He wondered who the strange female was standing next to the demon lord. Curious. A tense silence filled the air until Inuyasha charged, causing the battle to finally erupt.

 

Makai watched the battle being waged around her. She could feel her awareness growing. Bursting forth, a memory came. A memory of the power she truly possessed and her purpose in this battle. It is time, she thought solemnly. She called forth her power, allowing it to take possession.

 

Everyone ceased fighting as the air grew still. Turning, they saw strings of pure light leaving the necklace resting around Makai's throat. They began to weave around the woman, wrapping her in an iridescent cloak. Her eyes shown gold as the last of the strings connected, sending out a wave of light, momentarily blinding everyone. When their vision cleared they gazed at the awesome sight before them

 

She floated a few inches from the ground, her sable hair waving in an invisible breeze. She wore a white skirt that fell to mid-thigh, slits up to her waist for better mobility. Armor of diamonds encased her upper half, leaving her arms with range of motion. A pair of knee high white boots with deadly looking spikes adorned her feet. Power radiated from her.

 

“Your reign has come to an end, Naraku,” she said, her voice chillingly cold. Raising her arm, a beam of light shot from her palm rushing around Naraku to encase Kohaku. She drew the young demon slayer toward her, the fear evident in his face. Giving him a reassuring smile, she brought him into her arms.

 

“I am not going to harm you,” she whispered before yanking the jewel shard from his back. Sango screamed, rushing toward her fallen sibling but was held back by Makai's barrier. Gently, she cradled the dead boy, bring his mouth close to her own. She blew life into his body, eliciting a gasping breath from the boy as he was once more brought to life, free from Naraku's grasp. Smiling, she encased him in light and transported him to safety before facing her enemy.

 

“What have you done, bitch,” he snarled, enraged at not only losing a puppet but a shard as well.

 

“I freed him from you, Naraku,” she said in the same cold voice. Snarling with rage, he charged toward the female, intent on killing her for her actions. She dodged his blows, the tentacles he used brushing uselessly off her form. His incarnations were having a hard time fighting off the rest of the group. Growling, he lunged for her again, only to have her kick him in the face.

 

They continued to fight for hours. Naraku was growing weary, and he was making mistakes because of it. Furthermore, she'd blocked him from being able to disappear. One way or another everything would end today. He thought over all he knew about her. She had arrived with Inuyasha's group. No…she had arrived with Sesshoumaru. He remembered. She had stood close to him, as if they were lovers. Grinning evilly, Naraku came up with a way to get rid of the female.

 

“You may be able to protect yourself, human, but can you protect your lover as well,” he said darkly, a tentacle shooting at a distracted Sesshoumaru. Seeing what Naraku was doing, Makai raced toward her mate. If she tried to call out to him it would be too late. Dropping her protective shields, she put in another burst of speed, praying she would make it.

 

Sesshoumaru could feel the tentacle coming and knew he wouldn't deflect it in time. So it is my fate to die, he thought with resignation. Spinning in the hopes of keeping it from hitting anything vital if he could, he noticed a white blur out of the corner of his eye. Just as the tentacle was going to strike him, Makai got in front, her eyes meeting his. A strangle gasp left her mouth, a look of intense pain crossing her features as the tentacle tore through her heart and blood trickled from her parted lips. Looking into her eyes helplessly, he drew slightly away to see a tentacle protruding from her body.

 

The tentacle withdrew every so slowly from her body, like it was savoring the feel of her. As it exited, she fell limply against him, her breathing growing ragged. He could hear his brother charging as he gently set Makai on the ground. Touching her face with a silent question, he met her eyes. He could already see the life fading from her.

 

“Why,” he whispered brokenly.

 

“Because,” she rasped, taking in great gulps of air. Reaching up, she gently grabbed his hair bringing him down so she could tell him what he had to do.

 

“You are the one who is to kill Naraku,” she whispered gently.

 

“I can not leave you like this,” he said.

 

“If you do not kill him, this world will perish. Think of our daughter, Sesshoumaru. Surely you want her to live a happy life,” she said angrily, though the effect was lost by a coughing fit.

 

“Very well,” he said.

 

“I will protect you as long as I can,” she whispered before letting him stand again. Motioning to Inuyasha's mate, Sesshoumaru told her to watch Makai.

 

“I have to take care of something,” he said, leaping into the air. She shielded him from any blows Naraku delivered. She knew the demon was tiring. Slowly, she formed a mist around him, hindering his view of Sesshoumaru, while the demon lord was able to see perfectly. When Kagome shoots her arrow, kill him, she mentally told him. Telling Kagome what to do, she watched as the young miko took aim, concentrating her energy into the shot before releasing.

 

The arrow flew straight for Naraku's heart, though the piece of the jewel he possessed was in his back. He turned toward the arrow, pooling his energy toward deflecting it when Sesshoumaru burst from the mist, his claws sinking into Naraku's back and yanking the jewel away. The demon let out a horrendous shriek as Kagome's arrow pierced his heart, purifying him instantly. His incarnations quickly disintegrated into dust, blowing away in the wind.

 

Sesshoumaru landed by his mate, gently cradling her in his arms. He had foolishly forgotten Tenseiga in his haste to get this battle done with. He smoothed her hair from her fevered brow, his thumb gently wiping the blood from her lips.

 

“You never answered this Sesshoumaru's question,” he murmured gently. Seeing the question in her eyes, he smiled.

 

“Why did you save me,” he whispered. Smiling, she brought her hand up to cup his face, her fingers running lightly over its contours. She ran her thumb lightly over his lips, asking a question. Quickly complying, he brought his lips to hers, softly kissing her before searching her eyes again.

 

“Remember me, Sesshoumaru. Take care of our daughter, and tell her how much I love her,” she rasped.

 

“I saved you because it was your destiny to kill Naraku, not mine. And I couldn't let you die, it would have killed me,” she continued. Bringing his face closer she whispered her final words into his ear.

 

“I love you, Sesshoumaru. Goodbye,” she whispered as her eyes closed, the last of her life leaving her body. Her hand slowly fell away from his face, her head rolling back to lie limply over his arm as her body relaxed. The necklace she'd treasured dimmed, before going out, falling to the ground. Her appearance shifted back to what she had been before. That was how Makai died.

 

Sesshoumaru gently cupped her head, hugging her limp form to his body as a great howl of anguish left his lips, filling the now darkening sky. He quietly rocked her back and forth, tears leaving the demon lord's eyes for the first time since his mother had died. Great racking sobs shook his proud shoulders, his pain wrapping him in a shroud.

 

“Please don't leave me,” he whispered softly. I love you.

 

“Please don't leave me, my love,” he ground out as the pain continued to coarse through him.