InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Past, Present, and Future ❯ The End of Naraku ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha. Viz does. At least they do in the U.S.

A/N: Sorry about the wait.

Chapter 5: The End of Naraku



Kagome stretched in Inuyasha’s arms as the morning sun rose to shine on the campsite. Opening her eyes she saw she was the only one awake. Even the camps’ “Protector” Sesshomaru, had fallen asleep during the night. He was comfortably snuggled against Yomiko with a contented grin on his face. Sighing, she stood up and noticing there was still enough water for breakfast, began to start the fire.

Hearing a small ‘whoosh’ sound, Sesshomaru quickly woke up. Seeing Kagome kneeling beside the now raging fire throwing the used match into the fire, he quickly calmed down. He shook Yomiko awake and they both stood and stretched. Soon everyone else was awake and the campsite was completely alive again.

After eating they discussed their “plans for the day” Sesshomaru, who knew these woods well, told them that each group would go in two opposite directions and meet again at sunset where the two paths intersected, near the next village. Next, he said the words that would start the best child acting in the feudal era. “Now, I believe that we should send Rin and Shippo back to the miko Kaede’s.”

The two kids took their cue and began to get upset. Screams of “No fair!” and “I want to stay with you!” filled the campsite. Shippo ran to Kagome and began to cry and cling to her. Inuyasha went to him and told him “We need you to go for now. It’s too dangerous. Not so much for you, but for Rin. She can’t protect herself like you can. Kaede and you can protect her.”

Shippo looked to Sesshomaru and he could tell that Inuyasha was saying the words Sesshomaru could not. Even though this whole scene was supposed to be an act, the feelings were real. He sniffled and nodded. He looked over at Rin who had thrown herself into Yomiko’s arms. Jumping out of Kagome’s arms, he ran over and put on one of the best big brother acts Kagome had ever seen.

He tapped Rin on the shoulder. She looked at him with tear filled eyes in confusion. “Inuyasha’s right you know. It is dangerous out there. Kaede and I…” Inuyasha smirked when he actually saw Shippo’s chest puff up with pride “…can protect you. “

Rin’s expression turned from confusion to all smiles. She almost looked at him like she looked at Sesshomaru, almost. Yomiko released her and Rin went to help Shippo with the sleeping bag. As they did Sango, even though she knew the answer, asked “Who’s going to take them back?”

“Ah-un will take them.” Sesshomaru went over to the demon and told it its orders. “Take the children back to the miko Kaede’s and come find Koga, Yomiko and me.” Ah-un’s two heads both nodded in agreement and sat waiting for its passengers.

After gathering their things and putting out the fire, they got ready to leave. Kagome gave Shippo a quick hug before he went to Ah-un. Rin gave a quick hug to Yomiko and stood in front of Sesshomaru. She looked up at him unsure. She wanted to hug him too but he had never allowed it before. He had actually moved out of her way during the last time she tried.

He knew what she wanted. This always happened when they had to split up. Usually after a couple of awkward minutes, she would give up. This time though, he surprised Rin when he brought his hand up and patted her back a couple of times before picking her up and placing her on Ah-un.

As if he could sense it, he quickly turned to see Inuyasha smirking at him. One glare from Sesshomaru was all it took to wipe the smirk off his face. Miroku had to shake his head at the two brothers. After goodbyes and a shout that Sesshomaru’s group would get something to eat for dinner for everyone, they went their separate ways.

Naraku watched as the two groups separated. He had sent Kagura the night before when he could no longer hear or see them. As he regained his spying capabilities, Kagura had come back, saying they were in the same exact place as before. As he watched Inuyasha’s group slowly make their way towards him, his thoughts drifted to Kagura. The last month or so, she had been uncharacteristically docile. Usually she fought with him, making him threaten her with her heart. He now actually kept the organ with him at all times for that purpose.

Something told him not to, but he left the room and put the heart back where he usually kept it, on a shelf in a back room. Returning to his place in front of Kanna’s mirror, he noticed the group was almost on top of him. Another mile or so and they would hit his barrier. Suddenly, Naraku had a thought. Quickly, he yelled at Kanna to show him Sesshomaru’s group.

The scene in the mirror quickly changed. It showed Sesshomaru, Yomiko and Koga walking down the path they said they were going to take. Yomiko kept looking towards her right, but nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. Something was nagging at him but he couldn’t place what it was. Everything appeared normal, but there was something not quite right.

Just as Naraku was noticing Inuyasha’s position, Inuyasha noticed that Ah-un was far off in the sky, about a mile away. Realizing what this meant, he reached down, grabbed Kagome’s hand, and gave hers a good squeeze.

When he squeezed her hand she knew what was going on. This was their signal. If things were about to happen. She looked at him and he just turned away and looked straight ahead. Looking in the direction he was looking in, she saw it. Ah-un. Then she heard it. “Ah-un? Could you let us down? I want to pick some of those flowers down there.” It was time.

Inuyasha walked ahead and walked into the barrier. He pulled out Tetsusiega, let it turn red, and slashed at the barrier. It went down as usual and they went on ahead.

Naraku saw him cut down the barrier and sent Kagura out to stop them. He yelled at Kanna to once again change the scene he was seeing. The mirror changed to show nothing but his own reflection. He grabbed Kanna roughly by the shoulders and yelled “What the hell is going on?! Why can’t I see them?!”

The emotionless girl replied calmly “I do not know. It is as if they have vanished. My mirror can not locate them.” Naraku shoved her away from him and stormed out of the room. As Kanna fell to the floor, the mirror briefly flashed to show Sesshomaru’s group surrounded by a purple barrier. When Kanna stood however, the image was gone. As she walked through the doorway, she thought “Kagura will be proud.’

Naraku came out to a familiar scene. Inuyasha’s group was fighting Kagura, her wind attacks canceling out Tetsusiega and knocking back Hiraikotsu . His appearance caused the fighters to focus on him. As Inuyasha turned to him, he saw a flower crushed on the ground behind Naraku. He smirked at the evil hanyou and then all hell broke loose.

Suddenly, Naraku felt three huge demonic presences behind him. He whipped around to see Sesshomaru, Yomiko and Koga smirking behind him. ‘Shit! That’s where they went!’ Naraku thought as he saw Koga run off. The next thing he knew, Sesshomaru had plunged Tokijin straight through his chest.

Gasping, he went to grab at the sword, but threw his hands off of it when Sesshomaru’s poison reached them. He went to reach for the Lord, but found he could no longer move. Sesshomaru smiled evilly as he saw Koga out of the corner of his eye carrying the jar that housed Kagura’s heart.

Pulling on the sword, Sesshomaru turned Naraku towards Kagura, who had landed on the ground. Naraku could do nothing as Koga took the lid off the jar and pointed it towards the wind demon. Smiling, she reached in and pulled it out. She stared at Naraku as she put the organ up to her chest. Everyone else stood in awe as the demon’s heart sunk back into her body. She closed her eyes and placed her hands over where the organ disappeared. Knowing this wasn’t a good time, she only let it beat a couple of times before opening her eyes again.

Sesshomaru refocused on the hanyou in front of him. Yomiko whispered to him and he nodded. She plunged her claws into the back of Naraku’s neck.

Kagome watched as something flew her way. She caught it and nearly dropped it in shock. It was the whole Shikon Jewel, minus the shard Kohaku had, of course.

Yomiko took the hand she used to pull out the jewel and placed it behind his head. She took her other hand and confidently placed it where his heart should be. During their surveillance of Naraku, they found that he had reabsorbed all of his offspring except for Kagura and Kanna. The fights with both Sesshomaru’s and Inuyasha’s groups had left him weakened. The only way he could get his strength back quickly was to reabsorb the pieces of himself. This included the piece that was considered his heart.

Naraku saw the purple light a second before it hit him. He screamed in agony as each demon that made his body was torn from him one by one and purified. Losing the jewel weakened him severely. The combination of that and Sesshomaru’s poison making him immobile left him completely open to Yomiko’s attack.

Everyone across the battlefield stared in awe as Naraku was picked apart piece by piece. After a minute, the handsome appearance he first took on to fool a village of people fell away to reveal the badly burned body of Onigumo.

Sesshomaru pulled Tokijin out the charred body. Naraku no more, Onigumo fell on his back with a scream. Sesshomaru sheathed Tokijin and extended his hand gracefully. He let his light whip out and looked at Onigumo. Sesshomaru could see it in his eyes. He was welcoming death. Raising his hand, he let his whip cut across his whole body.

Finally his body could take no more and Onigumo’s eyes rolled back into his head. Sesshomaru recalled his whip and let his acid drip from his fingers. Soon, the body was nothing more than a pile of bubbling dirt. He, Naraku and Onigumo, were both finally gone, forever.

Everyone stared at the bubbling pile for a moment. Kagome‘s soft voice wafted over the battlefield. “It’s over. He’s gone.”

Kagura put her hand over her heart, smiling. “I’m free.” she whispered.

Yomiko could sense the demons on their way to their location, ‘After the jewel.’ she thought. She quickly made an announcement. “We need to get out of here, NOW! Demons are coming and coming fast! They’re after the jewel!”

At her announcement, everyone scrambled. Kagome got on Inuyasha’s back and Miroku and Sango got on Kilala. Koga got ready to run as Kagura pulled out her feather and placed Kanna on it. Sesshomaru used his demonic energy to create his cloud.

Hovering just over the ground he waited for Yomiko to the same, Sesshomaru wondered why she wasn’t hovering next to him. He watched as she closed her eyes and chanted. A minute later, she was next to him. “Erasing our scents and tracks.” was all she said as she flew ahead of everyone else. He nodded and followed everyone else, who was headed for Kaede’s.

As she carried the basket of vegetables from the garden to the house, Kaede felt several demonic presences. Her worry turned to relief however when she recognized them. Inuyasha’s group was back and he had brought Sesshomaru’s with him. Then she noticed the two unknown demons. They made her slightly nervous, but she trusted the others judgment. Especially how friendly Kagome and Sango were being with the two new demonesses.

Inuyasha stopped in front of Kaede and let Kagome down. Excitedly, she went to the older miko and showed her the jewel. “We did it! He’s gone!” Kaede smiled and asked for details as she ushered everyone into her house.

As she stirred the stew, Kaede listened as they told their story. From Kagome’s point of view, Sesshomaru was the star of the show. He didn’t like being in the spotlight and tried to make it all about Inuyasha’s group’s distraction.

With the story of Naraku’s defeat out of the way, the focus turned to the two new demonesses. They introduced themselves and Sesshomaru told Kaede their stories. She was sorry for Kagura especially. Kanna thankfully was created not to feel and was also not treated as badly.

At Kaede’s insistance, Sesshomaru’s group stayed for dinner. Afterwards, Yomiko politely told Kaede that they had to get back to the Western Palace to start spreading the word of Naraku’s defeat.

As they were about to leave, Sesshomaru looked at Kagura and Kanna. The two had become fast friends with Kagome and Sango. Sesshomaru cleared his throat and they all looked at him. “Kagura, you know your situation. If you wish, you can stay here for a while. Inuyasha and his friends are more than capable of protecting you and Kanna.”

Inuyasha looked to his brother in confusion. “What are you talking about? She’s in no danger. Naraku’s dead.”

Smiling, he answered. “Inuyasha, Naraku is dead, but some people she attacked while under his control are not. They will want revenge and knowing Naraku is dead will make them more likely to attack her.”

He nodded in understanding. “Sure, we’ll watch out for her. She’s pretty good on her own though.”

Kagura blushed in embarrassment at his comment. “We would like to stay here for a while. Stay somewhere nice and quiet for once.” Sesshomaru nodded in agreement.

Kagome put her arm around the demon and laughed. “Great!”

Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha. “When news gets out about Naraku’s demise, as much as I hate to do it, I will have to have some kind of celebration. It is tradition when a great evil is destroyed. Since I was the one to deliver the killing blow, I will have to host it. With you being a part of his demise, you will also have to be there. All of you. I will send notice a week before the date. Kagura knows the way, she can guide you there.”

Inuyasha was shocked “What?!”

Kagome knowing what was coming next. She grabbed onto him and answered for him. “We’d love to come. Won’t we Inuyasha?” He looked at Kagome’s face. He knew that look. Nodding, he watched her serious look turn happy again.

Sesshomaru nodded and waved over to the rest of his group. They left the village just before sunset.

Later that night, Inuyasha and Kagome sat on the steps next to Kaede’s hut. She was leaning into him, looking over the rice paddies. They enjoyed the calm of the village. They watched the families, some playing games with their children, some just sitting quietly like them.

Inuyasha looked down at her and noticed she was focused on a young couple with a three or four year old. The proud parents beamed as the little girl caught a firefly and showed it to them. They chuckled as the girl mispronounced the bug’s name. “Flirefry?”

“No, hun. firefly.” her mother corrected her. The little girl giggled as she let it go. With a hand firmly held in each parent’s hands, the small family went towards their hut.

Kagome sighed watching them walk away. “Will that be us someday?”

Inuyasha smiled and put his finger under her chin, lifting her head to look at him. Leaning down to kiss her, he whispered “I hope so, Kagome. I hope so.”.