InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Promises ❯ Naraku ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: *sigh* here we go again *sigh* (monotone voice) I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. *sigh* There, you happy now? (lawyers staring at me)

You have to help me get rid of them! *jerks thumb at lawyers* They're freaking me out!

I'm gonna change the genre, but what should I change it to? It's not really angst anymore. *sigh* So.... humor? Not really. Action? Really only in this chapter. Adventure? Eeeeeeehhhhh. Tragedy? Maybe. Romance? Hmmmmm... As you can see, I need serious help. Oh, and thanks for all my reviewers, although I know there aren't many. By the way, do you guys want me to reply to your reviews or something? Now, TO THE STORY! *dramatic music*

Chapter Ten:

"Naraku," growled Inuyasha.

Naraku chuckled deeply. His teeth shone sinisterly in the moonlight.

"Oh, you know me," he said. "How wonderful! I won't have to spend all that tedious time trying to introduce myself. Some people can be so dense."

He put his hand on his forehead, covering the dark black eyes. Raising it a little, he peered at the couple standing in shock.

"But of course, with you, I can get right to it."

A deep growl escaped Inuyasha's throat. He took a step forward, with Kagome following him. Suddenly, he stopped, putting a hand on Kagome's shoulder.

"Kagome, I promise that you won't be hurt. I won't let anything to happen to you. But you can't follow me if I am to keep that promise. Please, stay here, away from danger."

Kagome gasped, and tried to look into his eyes, but the warm, golden orbs were covered by his hair.

"Inuyasha," she softly whispered. "I don't need you to tell me that. But you have to promise me that you won't be hurt."

Inuyasha turned his head away from her and didn't answer. Kagome could feel the tears rising up like a flood during a thunderstorm.

"I said promise me!" she yelled. Grabbing his hair, she pulled him to face her, and screamed, "Inuyasha! Promise me you won't be killed!"

Inuyasha just stared at her. His eyes filled with sorrow as he stared at her sad, desperate expression. The forest was silent except for her deep breaths. Finally, he touched the hands holding his silver locks and gently brought them down. Slowly, he walked away, his head against his chest. Kagome couldn't believe it. He didn't answer her. What did that mean? Was Inuyasha going to die?

"Inuyasha, you better not die!"

He whispered sadly, "Kagome, I have to avenge my father's death. And if that costs me my life, then so be it. You need to understand that."

He walked toward Naraku's silhouette.

Naraku let out a yawn and said, "Are you two done? I would like to kill you now."

He smiled maliciously and sprinkled a powder around him. Inuyasha looked around, confused, wondering why he had done such a strange thing. All of a sudden, giant roots shot out of the ground. The squirmed in the air like trapped birds and charged at Inuyasha. Kagome screamed as they attacked the hanyou who was trying his hardest not to get hit. She ran toward him, but a small tendril curled up and caught her ankle. Her bag slipped out of her hands.

Naraku laughed again at the sight of the two teenagers being attacked by the magical roots. It was almost too easy. Inuyasha screamed at him while he scraped the roots that were more dangerous then any weed, or sword for that matter. Naraku looked over at the young girl sprawled on the ground. She was knocked out from that mighty fall. `Well, no need to worry about her, at least for now. I guess I should just finish off the hanyou.' He slowly advanced Inuyasha, a small smirk playing on his lips. With a flick of his hands, the roots retreated into the ground. He took out a small metal flute from his robes and played a haunting melody. The sharp notes twisted Inuyasha's ears. But that wasn't all. A whooshing sound came from the sky. Cautiously, Inuyasha looked up.

The sky was now a blanket of shimmering green. No wait, scratch that, it was a horde of dragons! They slashed through the sky wildly, looking for prey. Inuyasha gasped. Their claws glinted in the moonlight, waiting to attack. He turned to Naraku.

"These are my dragons," said Naraku. "They are starving. Perhaps you shall make a good meal for them. If not, at least they'll get some exercise. They have been cooped up for a while."

Inuyasha shook at the thought, and then turned his attention to Kagome, who was unconscious. `How am I gonna get out of this? I can't protect Kagome and myself, and kill Naraku. Grrrrrr......... There's nothing I can do! I hate when that happens......'

Thinking quickly, he remembered his promise. `Kagome, I promise you won't be hurt.' He knew what he had to do. He raced to Kagome's limp body and completely covered right before he felt the giant claws ripping at his flesh and heard Naraku's evil laugh.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kagome awoke in a dark, cold place. `Where am I?' She carefully studied her surroundings. There was absolutely nothing. The ground was hard and colored a strange wine hue. Only smoke curled its way around her. It moved hauntingly and slowly, swirling cautiously around her. `What's going on? Where am I? This is not Taramori Forest! What happened to Inuyasha? Oh my god.... Is this Heaven? Or the other place? No, I can't be dead. What's going on?!' To her surprise, she had screamed the last sentence. Her voice echoed eerily in the barren land. Suddenly, an image crept toward her. Kagome gasped and pulled herself into a small ball, trying to decipher exactly who, or what, the figure was. Finally, she saw its face. She gasped.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Inuyasha screamed in agony as the claws gorged into him. Blood spurted out of the wounds. Every time, it would loop up and dive back down, creating a fresh gash. But he would not leave Kagome. `If I go, Kagome will surely be killed. There is nothing I can do.'

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kagome stood up and walked boldly up to the lady standing before her. She cocked her head to the side curiously, squinting at her. She slightly opened her mouth, but closed it again. She raised a finger, and put it down again.

At last, she asked her, "Aren't you the lady that went into my room?"

The strange person smiled her sad grin and replied, "Yes, I am. I also told you that you would be in danger. And as you know, you are now in danger."

"What? Where am I?"

"You are in Taramori Forest. However, truth be told, you are actually in your mind. This is a dream, so to speak. Your body in real life is still in danger."

"What? First of all, tell me, who are you?"

"I am Aki, a guardian from the oracles. I try to protect the special ones in danger. You, young one, are in danger. You can still escape your fate now. Just wake up and run away."

Kagome looked up at her.

"What about Inuyasha?"

"Excuse me?"

"What about Inuyasha? What will happen to him?" Kagome said, her voice rising.

"Oh, your dog-hanyou companion. He will stay and try to kill the other hanyou."

"What other hanyou?"

"The one called..... Naraku, was it?"

"What, you mean Naraku's a hanyou?"

Aki looked puzzled for a second and replied, "Yes."

"Well, you still didn't answer my question. What will happen to Inuyasha?"

"Kagome, don't you understand? He will die."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Inuyasha was still shielding Inuyasha, but consciousness was slipping away from him. `No, I will protect her. I won't abandon her.'

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kagome fell to her knees at the shocking words.

"What do you mean he's going to die? I won't leave him! I can't do that after all he did for me!"

Aki showed no emotion. She stared at Kagome for eternity. At last she spoke.

"I know this is hard for you. However, if you help him, you are sure to die. Listen to me Kagome, you have to escape this. You can live a better life. You don't need this pain."

"I don't care! I need to help him! Get me out of here!"

For a second, Kagome thought she saw a blazing fire burn in Aki's eyes and a wild sense shrouded her senses, but after a split second, it was gone.

Aki spoke again, but in a louder, and more aggressive voice. "No! Kagome! I will not let you go, unless you promise me you won't interfere with Inuyasha's battle!"

"No! Let me go!"

A blinding electric blue light surrounded Kagome, and a bright pink light spilled from her eyes. Startled, Aki jumped back, but made a big mistake. She had let Kagome free.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Red. That was all she could see: red and darkness. Drowsily, she opened her eyes all the way. She gasped as she realized what the crimson substance was. Blood. Inuyasha's blood. She looked up and saw him, lying limply on top of her. Up ahead of them flew the cruel dragons. Hatred burned inside her heart. She scrambled to her feet and felt something stab her ankle. There, lying on the ground was her giant, yellow bag. But what had poked her? Inside her bag was a jewel. No, a bow! It was the bow and arrows she had taken to the Halloween party. Her heart sunk even more as she remembered that night. But how had they gotten inside her bag?

Without thinking about the subject anymore, she grabbed the bow and arrows.

Aiming them at Naraku, she yelled, "Naraku! This is for you!"

He took one blow of his flute, and the dragons disintegrated. The forest was silent. At long last, Naraku let out a deep laugh.

"You, an inferior human being, defeat me? Don't make me laugh!" (A/N: Why do villains always say that?)

"I wouldn't be talking if I were you, half-breed scum!" (A/N: And that?)

She pulled the string back a little more, threatening him. Naraku smirked and lunged forward.

"Bad move!" Kagome yelled.

She let the arrow fly. A violet glow surrounded it, making it look like a comet. It whizzed through the air and flew like an eagle, until.......it hit its target.

Naraku flew back with the force of the arrow. He choked out a gasp of surprise followed with a spurt of blood. The glow of the arrow increased, almost swallowing his body. He landed on a tree, where, the arrow grew and grew until nothing was left but a bloody arrow.

Kagome stumbled over to Inuyasha, faint from loss of energy. She collapsed next to him and put her hands on his chest. A warm amethyst light poured from her hands and spread through his body. The wounds stopped bleeding, although not completely healed. Inuyasha remained still. Tears flowed down Kagome's face before she fainted.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Hope you liked this chapter! For all of you out there who like Naraku, although there aren't many, I'm sorry he died! Who is this mystery person named Aki? Is she good or bad? How did the arrows end up in Kagome's bag? Find out in the next episode of..........

Promises! or not. ^ ^

I got a little writers block near the middle, so I couldn't update. Sorry. Tell, how many more chapters should I write, not including the last 2 chapters and the epilogue?

Reply so I can get some answers! Or else I won't update! *cough*yeah rite*cough* *whistle* I didn't say anything!