InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nigatsu no Hoshi (Stars of February) ❯ Confrontations ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: if I did, I wouldn't tell you…id scream it from the mountains…oh well.

Suteki: here we go, the much-awaited battle begins in this chapter. I'm expecting it to take up more than one chapter actually. I got lots of stuff I need time to unleash. Thank you Faye273 for being the first person to post a review on my fic! And also vampirecircusgirl31, who was the second to comment. Oh yeah, and id like to thank my good friend, hanyou_kagome, who just finished reading the story, thanks for the encouragement Shizuka (her nickname incase you know what the word means)! She's also agreed to help me with the story from this point on, so here she is!

Shizuka: hey everyone! I hope you've enjoyed Suteki-Chan's story so far, you should all hear what she has in mind for the end of the fight! You see, she's gonna-

Suteki: Shizuka shut up! (no pun intended)I've kept it secret for a reason!

Shizuka: hey, you're the one typing this, you don't have to listen to me, lol. fine, you're no fun. But I'm sure the audience would rather get to the fighting instead of watching you make your stupid inside jokes in Japanese! *Turns to face the audience* Everyone, to clear up her nonsense, "Shizuka" means quiet, that's why she thought it was funny…I still don't know why I get "quiet", while she gets the stuck up name "beautiful sunset"…

Suteki: you are just jealous cause I got the cooler stage name! And what do you mean, "watch"? They can't see or hear us! Baka…

Shizuka: okay, just drop. Here you guys go! Hope you likey! ^_^

Chapter 4: Confrontations

After talking long into the night, the group finally decided to sleep. Kouga retreated to tell his clan what was happening, and promised kagome he'd be back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome was the first one to wake up. She looked over at Sango, and noticed that somehow, Miroku's sleeping bag had crept dangerously close to her, with one hand hanging out of it inches from Sango's backside. She looked up into the tree she suspected inuyasha to be in, and he wasn't there. Then she noticed that the sun hadn't completely risen, so she glanced behind her. And sure enough, a still very human inuyasha was leaned against a tree, a couple of feet away from kagome. She decided to take advantage of the silence, and walked off into the forest towards the stream. When she arrived, she sat on a rock by the waters' edge, looking towards the horizon where she could almost see the hint of the rising sun. She lowered her hands into the cool water, and then splashed some on her face. She relaxed and sat down on the bank, planning on watching the sunrise from where she was.

Inuyasha had been awake when he heard kagome stirring. He kept his head low though, and just listened to her as she sat up, and then a few moments later got up and walked away. He opened his eyes and watched her fade into the darkness. He was planning on trying to get at least some sleep, but since he knew that wasn't going to happen, he decided to follow her.

Kagome heard someone approach from behind her, and glanced over her shoulder. She had thought it was Sango, since she couldn't feel any youki aura in it, but she was surprised to see it was inuyasha.

"I thought you were asleep inuyasha."

"you know I can never sleep the night I'm human, I followed you because I was tired of being alone for so long, figured I'd keep you company if you did the same for me." He said nonchalantly.

She smiled back at him, she was actually wishing she wasn't alone anyways. He sat down beside her, and looked to the horizon, the sun's rays barely peeking over the mountaintops.

"I rarely ever get to watch the sun rise in my time. If it's not the pollution, it's the buildings."

"I couldn't imagine not being able to see the sun rise…I've never had that problem before"

"yeah, you never really know what you have until you lose it I guess."

"yeah…I guess…". Inuyasha was at that moment, struck with the fact that they were going to face Naraku today, `until you lose it? What if I lose her? I would have never known what was there if I lose her!'. He couldn't let that happen, he was going to take advantage of his human transformation, and try to express his feelings. He had to do it fast though, because the sun would ascend soon, and his demon blood would rise again and push his emotions aside until next new moon.

"Umm… ka-kagome?"

"What is it inuyasha?" she asked, smiling at him.

`Oh crap! What the hell am I supposed to say now? Think of something genius, it's the truth or something she'll obviously knows a lie! Crap crap crap…'

"Are you okay inuyasha? You're starting to sweat a little." She reached up and put her hand to get forehead checking for temperature, and then moved her hand to cup his cheek to see if he was hot there. When she touched him like that, he couldn't help it, he leaned into her gentle touch and raised his hand up to cover hers. Her eyes widened a little at first, but when he smiled at her and she met his gaze, she almost melted. They were both locked on each other's eyes, and neither of them really knew what was happening as they started leaning in towards each other. Their lips barely grazed each other's when kagome went rigid. `Oh no! I shouldn't have tried to kiss her, she's scared now!' inuyasha worried to himself.

Kagome couldn't help but be seduced by the look inuyasha had in his face, it was so soft and caring, and his touch was so warm and tender. She was so close to giving into her wildest fantasies when she felt those damned jewel shards, `Kouga, you baka!'

Inuyasha could hear the familiar sound of the wolfs whirlwind and knew why kagome had pulled away, `I'm gonna kill that son-of-a…' but before he could even finish cursing him, Kagome's voice broke through, "SHITA! OTOKO!"

Kouga had just come into earshot when he heard kagome yell at him, `what did she sa-, AHH!' and he came sliding infront of them, face buried in the dirt. Inuyasha smirked at him and stomped on his head.

Kagome pulled her hand from Inuyasha's face, embarrassed that she had held it there even after he had let her go, and she blushed when she saw the questioning look on his face, with a hint of…despair? `was he really going to kiss me? Or was he just fainting, and was just falling towards me…?'

"KAGOME! Please tell me that was an accident! What did I do?"

"Oh! I'm sorry Kouga-kun, I was, I was…yelling at inuyasha, he was getting too excited about the sun rising…" she lied. `Gods that was lame, he's not gonna buy that!'

"Feh!"

"Oh, so dog boys turning hanyou again eh? Good, then I wont have to protect HIM from Naraku too!"

Inuyasha stood up at just the right moment. The sun rose just as he did, causing him to transform as he ascended. Kouga tried as hard as he could not to stare as he started to glow, his hair streaked a steadfast silver, and he could feel his rivals demon powers rise into his aura again.

"that answer your question jackass?"

"you're still only a half demon, now if you could transform into a full youkai I might be impressed."

Kagome noted the way inuyasha shrunk back alittle, at Kouga's statement. "that was below the belt Kouga, stop it. I'm going back to the camp, follow me only if you two think you can stop fighting and cooperate. We're going to need a little more of that if you want to preserve yourselves through the battle". She started to walk away, leaving Kouga with an almost hurt look in his eyes. Inuyasha was still pissed at Kouga. He had interrupted his ONLY chance at telling kagome that he loved her, and then he had to go and rub in the fact that instead of transforming into an undefeatable youkai as his brother, he only had the ability to turn into a human. And then kagome told them that they had to `work together'?! `like hell I will!'

Inuyasha leaped into the trees in the direction kagome left in, welcoming back the ability to do so, and mumbling obscenities to Kouga under his breath.

`get along with that bastard? I'm sorry kagome, Inuyasha's just not my favorite person in the world.' Then he took off after them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Back at the camp, the clique listened to what Kouga had learned from his clans and his opinions as to how they would find Naraku. Kouga was always very serious when it came to something like this, they noticed. The thought getting their chance at Naraku was enough to make everyone's adrenaline peak, they needed to kill that bastard, for taking so much from each of them.

The group was preparing to depart, when they felt a strong aura approaching them, even Miroku and Sango could feel it from a distance.

Inuyasha and Kouga started to sniff the air, and everyone watched them for an answer. In unison they both said with malice in their voice, "Naraku…"

"Naraku?! He must have found out we were coming for him somehow!"

"that would appear to be the case Sango…prepare yourselves."

They group couldn't see anyone, but they could all sense the dense, evil, atmosphere approaching them. Then, they gasped as they saw a figure ascend over the trees.

"Kagura!"

"of course, she's Naraku's incarnation, they have the same scent." as the young woman, seated upon an oversized feather heard what they were saying, she laughed coldly. "you were expecting Naraku? You should know him better than to be one to fight his own battles, am I right?"

as she approached the ground, the feather suddenly went back to its normal size, and Kagura fell the last few dozen feet to the ground, her wind powers creating a small spiral of visible blue air which helped her to land softly.

"Naraku has sent me to discard of you, to save him the trouble of doing it himself." Her voice sounding bored and held a tint of sarcasm, "I will kill all of you, and be taking the remaining shikon no kikara with me."

"keh! What makes you think you defeat us, you delusional bitch?!"

"tisk tisk, inuyasha. Ye of little faith, are we?"

Kagura steps aside, to reveal another, smaller figure standing behind her.

"Kanna? She brought Kanna with her?!"…'that little wench creeps me out! She looks like the children of the corn or something, those eyes…'

"that's right miko, now your rescuer here cant use his wind scar anymore," she nodded her head towards inuyasha, who looked like he could rip her apart at any moment, `he needs to learn to control his anger a little better, like his brother. What was his name again? Sesshou-something, oh well.'…"Too bad, looks like we have the advantage, again."

"we've gotten around this problem before, and we can do it again. Your planning has been in vain I'm afraid, Kagura."

Kagura narrowed her eyes at the monk, "we shall see."

Kagura lifted her fan infront of her, and she let it drop open. The rest of them recognized her stance, and geared up as well. Inuyasha pulled out the tetsusaiga, which immediately transformed, Sango raised hiraikotsu over her shoulder, and Miroku positioned his staff before him. Kagome picked up her bow in one hand, with the other situated above her quiver, while Kouga crouched into an offensive pose, ready for hand-to-hand combat.

Kagura smirked again, then lifted her fan above her head, paused for a second, and lowered it quickly. "DANCE OF BLADES!!"

The group dodged about a dozen glowing, sharp edged blades of wind, watching as they exploded into the ground leaving nothing but craters in their wakes.

"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango let her boomerang fly as she was still in her midair evasive maneuver. Kagura stood still while she watched the weapon fly at her, and when it got about 5 feet within collision, a shield that was invisible until it was hit, deflected it. The shield buzzed and tiny blue shocks jumped where it had been hit, and the boomerang flew off into another direction.

"dammit! Kannas' created a barrier around them!" they all looked to the little, emotionless girl, the mirror she was holding was glowing the same color as the shield they had seen.

"and this is a problem? This little girl can't be that strong!"

"NOO! Kouga!"

but it was too late, Kouga lunged himself at the two sisters. When his claws met the force field, his hand sizzled against the solid sheet of power. "AHH! CRAP!" and he was violently thrown back.

"Baka…watch and learn." Inuyasha approached near the barrier and held the tetsusaiga pointed at the invisible wall. They all watched as the sword began to glow red and spark.

`crap, I can't let him break through!' Kagura reminded herself. She raised her fan again as inuyasha leaped at her, "DANCE OF DRAGONS!" she yelled, and she created sadistic looking funnels that struck the ground in random places, one of which hitting the dog demon.

"INUYASHA!"

no one could help him, they were all avoiding their own twister and couldn't get to him. When the attack diminished, Kagome's head shot in all directions, looking for the hanyou. She saw him, laying under a broken tree limb. She rushed over to him and dropped to his side. "inuyasha? Inuyasha?!…he's unconscious!" she tried to get the branch off him, but she wasn't strong enough. Meanwhile, the others were dodging more of Kagura's wind attacks, and at the same time, trying to weaken the aegis being created by Kanna's mirror.

"there are only two ways to destroy the barrier! Either inuyasha uses his sword, or we have to attack the mirror directly!" shouted Miroku as he thrust his staff into the wall, only to have it warded off again.

Kouga growled, `that damn dog had to go and get knocked out just when we need him!' he ran over to join kagome, and quickly discarded of the bough on top of inuyasha. "Kouga-kun! Thank you." She spoke too soon she realized, when she watched him bend down and smack inuyasha in the face repeatedly. But before she could stop him, she noticed inuyasha stir.

"inuyasha! Get up! You need to break the barrier, try again!"

inuyasha looked up at kagome, and immediately stood up. `I cant attack directly, she'll attack me again…Kuso…'

he jumped out into the trees, rising kagome and Kouga's curiosity. "inu-inuyasha?"

"dog face must have hit his head a little too hard, he's running in the wrong direction…"

They didn't have any more time to figure out what he was doing, when a blade of wind was about to slice through them, but luckily, Kouga sensed it and bounded the two of them away.

Kagome by this time was pissed off that Kagura was hiding behind a shield. She drew an arrow to her bow and aimed for Kanna's mirror. "hit it" she whispered to her arrow as it glowed in her miko energy, and she released it and let it take off towards her mark. As she let it go, she noticed a rustling in the trees above her. She looked up to see inuyasha spring from the branches above her. The tetsusaiga was already pulsing red, and he too was going for the shield.

Kagura was too busy having her fun with the youkai exterminator, Houshi, and wolf prince to notice the activities behind her. She wouldn't have known either, if Kanna hadn't whispered to her, "Kagura …", but it was too late. As she turned, she saw Kagome's miko-fused arrow prod into the shield and was attempting to get through. "ha! You think that your arrow is enough to get past this?"

"maybe not, but how `bout that?" Kagura followed Kagome's point to see Inuyasha's blade come into contact along with the arrow, and the barrier slowly dissipated, and she watched as the miko's arrow thrust into Kanna's mirror, and the mirrors' glass exploded into a million tiny slivers, energy spewing from inside.

"NO! how dare you!!" and they all watched as Kanna fell to the ground limp, "that was her lifeline!"

The angered wind sorceress waved her weapon furiously at the couple. Inuyasha evaded the haphazard attacks, but was unable to get to kagome. He watched as about 5 blades of wind, and 2 twisters headed for her, personally looking for her blood.

"kagome!"

"kagome okasan!" screamed Sango and shippou.

But all their fears subsided as they watched kagome put her hands in front of her, and a barrier of her own surrounded her. The attacks clashed against her, and they could see her struggling as the last of the assault passed her.

`the girl survived me attacks? Impossible! Seems we've found the variable in the plan, we never thought her powers could have expanded like this…damn her.' Kagura was now frustrated beyond belief. The barrier was gone, along with her sister, and she wasn't even able to do away with kagome, which was the only thing that could calm her. `this isn't going to well on our part, I had better see what the bastard wants me to do.'

Sango rushed to Kagome's side as soon as she had collapsed to her knees from the strain of using her power. Kagome was panting a little, but not too badly. "Kagome Chan! Are you okay?"

"yes Sango Chan, thank you. But I'm fine." She slowly got to her feet with the help of her friend. When kagome looked up to where inuyasha was, she spotted something in the air behind him, "no! she's getting away!"

"like hell she is!" inuyasha jumped into the air and swiped his sword at the ascending feather. Kagura spun around to look at him, and with a shift of her hand, she knocked him off course with a strong gust of her evil wind. Inuyasha slammed into the ground, but just as quick was in the air, only to be knocked back.

Sango decided to take advantage of the distraction inuyasha was causing. She threw her hiraikotsu into the air, hoping to catch her in the back. But Kagura felt the disturbance in her wind behind her, this wouldn't be easy for her, she only had one hand to fight with, since she was holding Kanna's body in the other. But nonetheless, she waved her fan in the direction of the oncoming attack. Sango watched in horror as her own weapon was rebounded back at her. She turned to dodge it, but it was too late. The large boomerang slammed into her spine, knocking the wind out of her, and she was heaved into a boulder infront of her, creating a sickening thud as her tender body violently met the unyielding mass.

"keh! When will you ever learn exterminator?" she cackled at the girls cringing form, which was not fortunate enough to be rendered unconscious. `that should be enough to keep them busy', and it was. Everyone's concentration was momentarily lying on Sango, who was now being cradled by Miroku. And they didn't notice Kagura's absence until she was nearly out of view. Kouga was the first back into action, and ran after her on the ground. "Don't stand around! We have to follow her!"

"why?"

"she's going to lead us straight to Naraku, baka!", since he couldn't lose trace of her, he didn't wait for them to answer him.

"but inuyasha, what about Sango? We can't just leave her behind. She has to be there to fight him as well."

"monk! How is she?"

"she's not good inuyasha, she'll live, but her bodies too soar to function at the moment…she might even be paralyzed after an attack like that…"

"I'll, be alright…don't worry about me, we'll meet you there in a while. Just as long as you promise to save some for me…"

"we will Sango Chan, don't worry. Just rest for now."

"arigato…" but she passed out from the pain before she could say more.

~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha and kagome had left Miroku, Sango, shippou, and Kirara in the camp, and quickly followed Kouga's scent, so that there wasn't the risk that he would be left alone to battle Naraku. They seemed to run forever, the anticipation was driving them frantic. They both didn't know what to expect when they found him. But finally, they knew, it was all going to end, one way or another…

Suteki: I'm soooooo sorry for making this one so much shorter than the others. I've had so many distractions as of late, and I've been scared of doing the battle with Naraku `cause I want it to be perfect.

Shizuka: ha! Why cant you make other things perfect like like your room. Have you ever seen the floor in there before? I don't even know if you've got carpet or wood under all that crap.

Suteki: Urusai! You could help you know. You promised you'd help me with this and what have you been doing this whole time? Playing with my cat! Leave Bones alone! You're getting cat hair all over me and the keyboard, and its getting in my eyes.

Shizuka rubs cat hair covered hands all over Suteki's face

Suteki: ahh! You little, you got it in my mouth! Come here!

Suteki and Shizuka rumble across the ground, Shizuka knocks Suteki unconscious

Bones: mew?

Shizuka: alrighty, next chapter WILL be the entrance of Naraku, we promise! Please review, and once again thank you to all that have already. Suggestions ARE appreciated too. Come on, make this exciting for us! Its not like this bimbos paying me, lol. j/k.

Okay, next time. Battle with Naraku begins (Naraku personally). Kohaku appears, will his misfortunate fate become a reality? And more!

Jaa mata!!