InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Endings: Absolution ( Chapter 42 )

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

Chapter 42: Endings: Absolution

Kagome winced as her body began to fall, the rocks a painful reminder of the extensive bruising covering her body - compression bruising from being taken by the Obake not once but twice.

Fortunately, before she could fully hit the ground, Inuyasha swooped in in a flurry of red fire-rat and silver hair, gently settling her poor, abused body to his chest and burying his face in her hair, inhaling madly.

"Kagome," he whispered. "Gods, woman, you scared me so badly. For a moment there, I thought I'd lost you." His voice was low, anguished, and she shuddered, love for her mate filling her so swiftly it almost hurt.

"I'd never leave you, Inuyasha - not ever. Where you go, I go," she whispered back, finally. "You can't keep one soul separate from itself forever, you know that."

He nodded after a moment, but he still couldn't get the fear of losing her out of his mind. He loved her way too much to even think of not having her near.

And then the fact that it was finally, finally over began to sink in... and he noticed that he could feel eyes on him. With one last shuddering inhale of her beloved scent, he lifted his head and turned to meet the eyes of the male that was watching solemnly.

"So... you're the new guy, eh?" he asked, knowing who the male was, since he carried a part of their soul. "What's your name, then?"

The male blinked, then smiled uncertainly. "I... don't know. I guess I don't have a name now."

Kagome turned her head on hearing the voice and smiled at the handsome young youkai male. "Sure you have a name... it's Hikari. Don't you think it's a good name for how you came to be born?"

The one now known as Hikari blinked, then his smile widened. "Light," he breathed, awed. "Yes... it's a very good name." He stood and bowed to Inuyasha, then, and introduced himself. "I am Hikari."

Inuyasha chuckled as Kikyou and the others moved forward, everyone but the elder miko and Sesshoumaru looking on with confused, suspicious gazes at the young kitsune male standing next to Kagome and Inuyasha where the Obake had once stood.

With a tiny giggle, Kagome noted the odd looks from the group, and her eyes met Kikyou's as the miko also laughed, then looked at the kitsune and blushed.

"Hey everyone," Kagome said softly. "This," she gestured to the young male, "is Hikari. When I was inside the Obake, I touched his soul, and found four pure souls trapped within his evil one." She looked sadly at Koga, then. "One of those was Hakakku."

Koga and Ginta both whined softly and looked away with pained expressions; Hikari looked at them and whined back, causing the two to snap their heads around and stare at him in shock. He'd spoken in the ookami language.

"I was able to take those four souls and combine them into one new one, and give them a body created from what was left of the purified Obake," Kagome explained, seeing the wolves confused expressions. "So, even though Hikari looks kitsune, he carries Hakakku's soul, along with the other three souls, and a part of the soul that Inuyasha, Kikyou, and I share, as well."

Koga stared at Hikari, then his gaze swiveled to Kagome, awe and gratitude shining in his eyes. "So... a part of Hakakku is still alive, then?"

She nodded, as did Inuyasha. "Yeah," she said, a soft, happy smile on her face. "He's just part of something bigger, now." She glanced sideways at a still blushing Kikyou, and noticed the rapt look on the miko's face as she continued to stare at the handsome pseudo-kitsune.

She bumped her elbow into Inuyasha's stomach, and when he looked down at her questioningly, she flicked her eyes towards Kikyou. He followed her gaze... and grinned knowingly when he caught the look on Kikyou's face - one that was being returned with full interest by the male in question.

Sesshoumaru had listened to the conversation, and he had to admit, he was in awe of the little priestess being held so lovingly by his otouto. His brother had chosen well - this woman was a credit to their house. Now, if only he could be so lucky as to find a mate as worthy...

"Tell me, miko - did any pieces of the creature escape?"

At that question, everyone froze, and immediately, Miroku, Kikyou, and Kagome were scouring the area for any sign of an evil aura - no matter how small.

It took a few minutes of searching, but then Kagome's dismayed expression said everything that needed saying. "Yes," she muttered. "I can feel several small auras - they're in different locations." Then her expression darkened. "Kikyou... there's a part... it carries almost pure traces of Onigumo."

The two miko exchanged long looks - everyone could guess exactly where that one was going.

"I think," Kagome said slowly, "that since I got Naraku, for what he did to me, you should destroy Onigumo - since it all started with him and his evil intentions towards you."

Kikyou looked long and hard at Kagome, making sure that she was sure. "Kagome... I think he hurt you worse than he did me in some ways - are you certain you wish to let me do this?"

Inuyasha let out a growl, then, startling everyone. "Oi - ain't anyone gonna ask me?"

Kagome shot him a look from under lowered brows. "No, why should we?"

"I was just as betrayed as any of you by that bastard, ya know!" he snarled.

Kikyou and Kagome shared remorseful looks. "You're right, Inuyasha," the elder miko finally said. "Do you claim that kill?"

Before he could say anything, Kagome spoke up. "Why don't you both go... like I said, I've already gotten Naraku for what he did, so... it's only fair that you two get what's left of him."

Inuyasha looked down at her, astounded. "You mean... you'd let me go with Kikyou - without you?"

She looked confused at his question. "Of course I would... why wouldn't I?"

Miroku chuckled, then, and everyone turned to look at he and Sango almost in surprise - the two had been very quiet. "Inuyasha, why do her words surprise you? Kagome has always trusted you with her heart and her life. Did you think that would change now?"

Everyone chuckled at that, and Kagome squirmed lightly in her mate's arms. "Okay, Inu, put me down. You and Kikyou chase after the Onigumo part, and I'll go chase down the others." She stumbled slightly as he put her down, hissing in discomfort.

These bruises are going to take a while to heal, she thought. But at least we've assured that I'll have that time - plus everyone else has injuries, too, though none of them seem any more than minor, thank kami.

"Maybe you should go alone, Kikyou," Inuyasha said, with a low growl as he watched kagome wince in pain. "Kagome's really hurting..." he trailed off.

At that, Kagome straightened and cast him a firm look. Pointing in the direction that the Onigumo portion was in, she pointed, sternly saying, "Move, Inuyasha. Take Kikyou and go. I might be sore, but I can handle it." She gave him no room to argue, and finally, he kissed her briefly then moved off with Kikyou, heading for the last piece of the bastard that had started the whole thing.

Once he was gone, Kagome slumped a little again, making everyone aware that she was indeed in some pain, but she didn't let that stop her. She looked over at Sesshoumaru, and met his gaze. "There are several other small parts of the Obake's flesh - I suggest we split up and destroy them before they manage to get away." At the daiyoukai's nod, she pointed in the opposite direction from what Inuyasha and Kikyou had gone, and said, "There is a piece that way, if you want to take it."

He inclined his head and then was gone, leaving Kagome to quickly point out the rest for the others, and in short order, she was standing alone, Hikari having gone with Koga and Ginta. With a pained sigh, she grabbed her discarded bag and bow, and took off after the last piece into the second cavern. It wasn't too far ahead of her, and with her flashlight on, she quickly found it.

It didn't take much to dispatch it, and once it was done, she sat down wearily, needing to take a short rest before she even attempted to rejoin the rest of her companions back in the first cavern.

She hoped everyone else found their prey as easily as she had hers...

Especially Kikyou and Inuyasha. After all, those two were the very beginning of what had ended here today, and for it to truly be over, they needed to be the ones to finish it.

She had no doubts that they would.

Kikyou was quickly able to pinpoint the aura belonging to Onigumo, and Inuyasha grabbed her, flinging her onto his back and taking off after it. Within a a few minutes, they found what they were looking for, and the hanyou skidded to a halt, both he and Kikyou completely grossed out by what they were seeing.

What was left of what had once been Onigumo was little more than formless flesh, bubbling and hissing as it crept along the rocky ground. Pale, diseased looking, yet oddly recognizable by the miko staring at it, it proved to be very aware of its surroundings when it shifted, and formed a face - one with a mouth... and not much else.

"Sssoo, Kikyou, you are still drawn to me," the rippling flesh on the ground before them spoke, it's voice a ruined, gurgling mockery of the once-thief's voice. "Do you enjoy seeing me this way?"

"Be silent, Onigumo," she said, as she slid from Inuyasha's back and stepped from behind him to face her enemy. "I did not come to trade cheap insults with the likes of you."

There was a wet-sounding chuckle from the mass on the ground. "Then you have come to send me to hell, yes?" it mocked. "Perhaps I am ready for that journey now. I won't fight you, that's certain. Choose my fate as you wwwill - life, or death."

Kikyou looked at a disgusted Inuyasha, and said, "Do you want to be a part of the final blow?"

He sent her an insulted look. "Keh! Of course I do, or I woulda just stayed with Kagome!"

She shook her head, the once more addressed the puddle on the ground. "No, Onigumo, your fate is worse than hell. You are going to join the rest of your soul in oblivion." As the creature hissed with shock, Kikyou looked at Inuyasha and said, "I'm going to perform the spell to dissipate his soul. Once I'm done, you can destroy the flesh. Sound good to you?"

He nodded. "Let's do this, so I can get back to my mate," he said firmly, gazing with disdain at the leftovers at his feet.

Kikyou didn't bother responding, simply beginning to chant the spell that would destroy what was left of the soul of Naraku/Onigumo, Inuyasha listening almost with vengeful satisfaction as a loud screech filled the air, and the corpse-flesh before them began to pulse in time with the cadence of her voice. As her voice rose, a dark, almost black soul orb began to lift from the disgusting flesh, leaving its body waxy and dying behind it as it was pulled completely away and held in place by Kikyou's power.

As it froze before them, Kikyou's voice changed, becoming dark, dour, the power of the spell she was using beginning to dissipate what was left of the former spider hanyou. The aura of fear and terrifying pain from the soul was disturbing, and Inuyasha could tell it was trying to fight the spell - but it was just as obvious that it wasn't working, and with a final throb, the soul dissipated completely, flashing out of existence with an almost insect-like screech that left both holding their ears.

Once it was gone, Kikyou slumped a little, tired, and said, "Go ahead, Inuyasha, destroy the flesh. We don't want to leave any trace of it behind."

With a lethal grin, Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, then swiped his claws through the air, releasing his youki at the what was left, and with nary a sound, the flesh disintegrated, leaving no trace that it had ever existed behind.

In that moment, both Inuyasha and Kikyou felt as though the wieght of the world was finally off their shoulders - they felt light, and no longer burdened by a painful past as they had for so long. Laughing, they almost fell into each others arms, hugging each other happily for a moment before letting go, and stepping back. After a moment, a grinning Kikyou wrapped her arm around Inuyasha's and tugged him along.

"Come on, Inuyasha, let's get back to the others."

And the hanyou happily complied, Perfectly content to be heading back to his mate and his friends.

Now I'm not a prisoner of the past anymore - and neither is Kikyou.

Now, we're both free.

It's about damn time...

Ten minutes later, Inuyasha wasn't smiling any longer, rather, he was feeling very irate with a certain wench that wasn't where she was supposed to be - as in, with the rest of the group.

By the time he and Kikyou made it back to where they'd left the others, everyone else was already back, save Kagome, and immediately, Inuyasha went on a rant as he took off after her scent and aura, planning to read her the riot act over taking off alone.

Dammit, wench! What the fuck do you think you're doing taking off like that!

There was no real answer, merely a wordless feel of weariness and pain, and that completely stopped any more grousing by him - he hurried to her, huffing in irritation as he saw her sitting, slumped over in a pained huddle on a rock waiting for him.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," she sighed. "I was gonna be back before you, but after I killed that piece I came after, I was just too exhausted to move again."

"Keh," he growled softly. "I swear, wench, if you pull something like this again, I'll... well... I'll do something you won't like." She giggled a bit at his words, and he scowled down at her as he swung her up into his arms, grabbing her bag and weapons and slinging them over his shoulder before moving off, heading towards the others. "Don't think I don't mean it, woman."

"I know, Inu, I know. Like I said, I'm sorry," she said placatingly, and he eyed her for a moment, before harrumphing.

"Fine. Now what do you say we get the fuck out of these caves? I personally would like to see a lot of sunshine right about now, and go hunt up some venison. How does that sound?"

At that, Kagome's stomach gave a loud growl, and Inuyasha chuckled, shaking his head as she blushed. "I guess you like that idea, huh?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "I'm really hungry. I bet everyone else is, too."

"You bet everyone else is, too, what?" came Sango's voice, and Kagome giggled again.

"Hungry, and ready to get the heck out of these caves," she said as they came up on the rest of the group. Hearing an enthusiastic response from everyone else, she waved a hand in the direction of the daylight they could see filtering into the cave entrance a ways ahead, and everyone followed the quick form of Inuyasha as he led the way back into the outside world.

Three days later, the group crested the hill leading into Kaede's village, and with happy cheers, they all headed for the elderly miko's hut - all except Sesshoumaru, Koga, and Ginta.

Koga and Ginta had decided to leave them all there and head home, so the group had already said their goodbyes, and Sesshoumaru would be heading back to his home in the West. As the two wolves took off, the daiyoukai watched as Inuyasha and his mate joyously greeted the fox kit that came running, and the elderly miko, for a long moment, and then turned and left, knowing that he would see them again at some point, now that there was peace between the two sons of the Taisho.

Inuyasha turned slightly, and watched the silver hair of his brother disappear from sight with an odd pang, and surprised, realized that he might actually miss the icy bastard. Then he shrugged - he'd see him again at some point, after all, they enjoyed pounding on each other too much to completely stop it.

With that, he turned back to the group of people all gathering around to congratulate them on their victory, almost flinching at the enthusiastic calls for the village to prepare a feast in celebration. Oh, great...

Kaede was shocked and overjoyed to see her sister once more wearing living flesh, and completely grateful to Kagome for being the one to make it possible. Kagome was soon blushing under the affectionate outpouring, and finally, Inuyasha intervened.

"Keh, old hag, let the wench go. While all you people get things ready for this party your planning, Kagome and I should go tell her family that everything's over, and that we won."

Eyes widening, Kagome nodded. "Oh! Yeah, mama's probably worried - she always is, even though she's never said anything about it. She's always been so supportive," she said.

Kaede smiled, then shooed them off. "Well, then, go, so that ye may return for the celebration. Give your mother my greetings, Kagome."

Kagome grinned and nodded, then tugging Inuyasha behind her, turned and took off towards the well, a cheerful, "I will," floating behind her as Inuyasha scowled.

The group left standing before Kaede's hut laughed as they watched the surly hanyou being drug up the footpath towards the well by the dainty dark-haired female, knowing that the hanyou wasn't really upset with his mate at all, he was just acting his usual gruff self.

And as the two disappeared from sight, the rest of everyone gathered themselves into the miko's hut, and started telling the epic tale of Naraku's fate, and the defeat of the Obake.

It was a story that would be told in this tiny hamlet that would one day become Tokyo for generations...

The tale of Inuyasha and Kagome, and the Jewel of Four Souls.

A/N: And that is the last chapter of Malice - all that's left is the Epilogue! After a little over a year, I have finally almost finished this story! YAY!

I hope that everyone enjoys this last chapter, and keep a lookout for the Epilogue - there, all those loose ends will be tied up, and the story finished completely. Hopefully, I'll have it out before long - I really want to be able to mark this story as finished, so that I can move on to some of the many other story plots I have floating around in my head.

Ja Ne!

Amber