InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ The Wish ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.15.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 384 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.15.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 384 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
The Wish
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After the incident at Naraku’s castle, Kikyou knew that it would be prudent to remain in the area. The hanyou would return to his castle that much was certain. And so she stayed. She remained in the area, keeping her senses on high alert and biding her time. Naraku would return, and discover that his precious demons had been destroyed.
Those particular demons had been considerably more powerful than the ones he typically took into battle with him, so it was easy to guess that he had intended to use them to transform his body. Once he discovered that this was no longer an option, he would likely go after the remaining jewel shards. This she could not allow. Kikyou had decided that she would intercept him. As soon as he returned, she would destroy him. He would not leave this place alive.
Because Onigumo’s heart remained buried deep inside of Naraku, Kikyou knew that if anyone had a chance, it was she. He had made attempts on her life before, but because of that heart, that human heart which still held feelings for her, the half demon had always held back; always refrained from delivering the killing blow. This would be his downfall.
Or so she had believed.
He came back, just as she knew he would; and she had attacked. Somehow, he managed to summon his barrier before her arrow could hit.
And then, the battle had ensued.
They had fought fiercely against one another, and Kikyou quickly found herself on the losing end of the battle. Even then, he had been holding back.
But it had been different this time. He had not been holding back because of some sentimental attachment, or some vague longing for her. He had merely been taunting her for his own twisted amusement, and in the process blackening the jewel he held off of the hate, anger, and despair that no doubt had been rolling off her in waves.
The so-called battle had gone on for quite some time. He had destroyed her soul collectors, and then beaten her to within an inch of her life.
Finally, he had hoisted her up by the collar of her dirtied and tattered haori, drawing her perilously close to himself. Echoing in the back of her mind, she could still hear the final words he had said to her.
“You are a fool Kikyou. You came to this place believing you could defeat me. You thought to use Onigumo’s feelings to your advantage. You believed that his longing for you would stay my hand, thereby giving you the opportunity to destroy me.” He chucked darkly. “But you made a grave miscalculation, my dear little miko.”
To her utmost disgust, he had then trailed his fingers softly along her jaw line. He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his cold red eyes. And then she saw it. Whatever feelings the wretched hanyou might have been harboring for her… were gone.
“I will admit that Onigumo’s heart still resides within me,” he had continued silkily “but that heart, feels nothing for you now.”
And then, he had drawn his remaining hand back. She had watched in horror as long lethal claws grew from the tips of his fingers. And then, without so much as batting an eye, he had run her through with his bare hand.
He had plunged in through her chest, his claws exiting her back. Then, with a violent jerk, he removed himself from her. He threw her body to the ground, before he turned and walked away from her; leaving her for dead.
And she would have been.
Her clay body did not bleed, but the souls that granted her mobility, that allowed her to cling to the world of the living, had escaped through the wound in her chest.
She had all but resigned herself to her fait, but death would not come to her. Not just this yet. Somehow a single soul collector had managed to escape. It had apparently gone off to collect more souls and did not emerge until after his departure.
The lone creature had then deposited two souls into her body. On its own it could do little more. But that had been enough. It was enough to close the chest wound, and restore her ability to move. It was not enough to restore her power and strength completely; still, it would have to do.
She had managed to pull herself up to start her long journey. She knew where Naraku would go next. In her weakened state, she might not be able to fight, but at least she could deliver a warning.
And so, here she was.
Unfortunately, her warning had the opposite effect than what was desired.
When Kikyou called out, everyone instinctively looked in her direction, their attention instantly being drawn away from the danger that lay behind them. She tried to summon the strength to call out again, but it was too late. Kagome suddenly gasped, as a large tentacle wrapped around her waist. Before she knew what had happened, before anyone could intervene, the miko was snatched off the ground. The completed Shikon jewel was snatched from her hand before she was thrown haplessly to the ground. It was…
The old man…
The entire group watched with varying levels of surprise and horror as the old man’s form morphed, and changed. His back straitened. His height increased. His features changed from weathered and aged, to smooth, youthful, and deceptively handsome. Hair which had been short and grey, transformed into luxurious black tresses that flowed down his back in silken waves. His now red eyes gleamed with undisguised malevolence as he held the sacred jewel in the palm of his hand.
He had tricked them… again.
Now they were tired and injured, and he held the completed Shikon jewel.
“You bastard!” Inuyasha growled as he darted forward. His sword having already been drawn, he made to slash through Naraku’s belly. His blade tore through the air in a horizontal arc, but made contact with nothing but air. The spider hanyou had leaped away, easily avoiding the attack before summoning his barrier once again.
“Finally,” he smirked evilly, “finally, I hold the completed Shikon no tama.” A small chuckle escaped his lips as he stared down at the jewel.
They tried in vain to stop him. Each one of them tried to destroy his barrier, but to no avail. Miroku’s sutras dissolved on contact. Sango’s boomerang was deflected. Kagome’s arrows were repelled. Inuyasha’s red Tetsuaiga did nothing, and even Sesshoumaru’s Bakusaiga was useless.
They had no choice but to watch as the jewel was absorbed into the palm of his hand. The air was practically sucked from Kagome’s lungs. She could still see the jewel as it traveled up his arm, and across his shoulder, before it finally stopped somewhere near the center of his torso. A sense of foreboding, the likes of which she had never known enveloped her small frame, threatening to swallow her whole. This was bad. No this was beyond bad. He had the jewel!! He had the completed Shikon jewel, and he just absorbed it! Her heart was pounding so hard, she thought it would leap from her chest. What were they going to do?! How were they going to stop him now??
They were forced to watch, as once again, Naraku’s features began to mutate. What was happening to him this time? His barrier slowly changed from transparent red, to opaque black, effectively blocking their view. What the hell was he doing??!!
No one dared to say a word as each of them stared at the barrier. Inuyasha instinctively pushed Kagome behind him, his fingers reflexively tightening around the hilt of his sword.
It seemed like they waited an eternity, but then, there was a tremble. It was unnatural in that it was not the earth that trembled, but the very air around them. After a moment or two, there was a second tremble, followed by a third then a fourth.
And that’s when it happened. The barrier cracked.
It was strangely similar to watching an egg hatch. It started with a small fissure that spread along the center. Then the lines began to spread out in all directions, becoming thicker, and more pronounced. Suddenly, with an ear-shattering BOOM, the barrier shattered, the pieces scattering a short distance away before vaporizing into the air.
“Kami-sama…” Kagome mouthed quietly, unknowingly voicing what most of them were thinking. What had been Naraku only moments before was now the largest, blackest most fearsome spider, any of them had ever seen. It was sitting there almost placidly, its legs and head tucked into its body, apparently having been molded in the shape of the recently discarded barrier.
It slowly uncurled, its enormous head lifting first. The most noticeable feature was the large mandibles on either side of its face. The great black appendages were controlled by powerful muscles and could surely snap a person in half with ease. Its cold red eyes glared at them, but there was no emotion, of any kind, the only trace of humanity being the reflections of the beings that stood before it.
Next, its long bulky legs unfurled. They spread out on either side of its enormous body making the creature appear even larger than it already had. Its legs and its bulbous abdomen were covered in long thin spines, completing its sinister appearance.
It took a single step forward, breaking the hypnotic stillness that they had fallen into.
Sesshoumaru readied his blade, Sango planted her feet tightened her grip on her boomerang, while Miroku withdrew several sutras.
Instead of preparing to fight, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and leaped as far away from the creature as he could. “Stay back!” he told her. That thing looked dangerous. More dangerous than Naraku had ever had. He didn’t even want the miko attempting to fight such a creature. Though she protested vehemently, he grabbed her around the waist, and took her from the clearing. He finally came to a stop in the nearby woods, hiding her behind a large tree. “Stay here.” he said quickly, and before she could say a word, he took off. He came back a short time later, with Kikyou’s now limp form in his arms. He carefully placed the other miko on the ground. When he stood up, he did not lift his head, his silver bangs covering his eyes. “I hate to ask you this…” he began quietly.
“Go.” Kagome cut him off, her voice little more than a whisper. She then seated herself at Kikyou’s side. “I’ll watch over her.”
His head snapped up and he looked at her, his brows drawn together slightly, his expression unreadable. Then, he gave her a quick nod. He was about to head back, but then something struck his mind and he turned back to her. “Promise me you’ll stay here, no matter what.”
Kagome frowned. “You know I can’t make a promise like that, Inuyasha.”
Annoyed, he raised his voice slightly, “Damn it Kagome! This isn’t just about Kikyou; I need you to stay safe! I need you to stay out of this!”
Her voice still quiet she told him, “I’ll stay here for now, but I can’t promise you that I won’t get involved.” he looked like he was going to protest further, but she interrupted. “You have to go, Inuyasha! You have to go and help them, now!”
He turned around abruptly to see that his friends and his brother had scattered across the clearing, the spider was on the move, and there was no mistaking its intent. The creature intended to kill them all. “Damn it!” the hanyou swore, before he leaped away, quickly making his way back to the clearing.
Kagome all but chewed through her lower lip as she watched the scene before her. Her friends and even Sesshoumaru were doing everything they could, but nothing was working. NOTHING!
The creature’s hardened outer shell repelled any and all attacks that were waged against it. Moreover, the spider, like any real spider was amazingly fast. It moved effortlessly, darting from one side of the clearing to the other as it chased down her friends.
To make matters worse, creature was frighteningly agile. In spite of its large size it was able to shift, and pivot easily. It moved with a speed and grace that rivaled even Sesshoumaru. From her vantage point, it quickly became obvious to Kagome that Naraku was only toying with them. He could easily destroy any, one of them whenever he chose to do so.
Something had to be done. Kagome felt herself trembling. She didn‘t know if she was angered beyond words, or terrified for her friends. Perhaps it was both. All she knew was that she could not stay here and do nothing. She looked down on Kikyou’s nearly lifeless form, before looking back to the clearing. The spider had moved again, its back was to her now. Through the demon’s thick hide, the young miko could see a faint glow.
“The jewel!” she gasped quietly. She could still see it imbedded in the creature’s abdomen just behind it‘s thorax. It had not been fully absorbed yet. Her heart began to race. Someone had to get the jewel out, but from what she had seen, no one could to so much as put a crack in the demon’s exoskeleton. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan, and then… a shriek. A horrendous shriek that nearly burst her eardrums.
The blanket of darkness was slowly beginning to lift, and in the predawn light she was able to see dark purple and black robes hanging from the spider’s mouth. “Miroku!” Kagome was on her feet in an instant, her finger digging into the bark of the tree.
The miko watched in horror as the creature injected the monk with an unhealthy dose of poison. Then, with a quick toss of its enormous head, the monk was carelessly cast aside, his body landing several yards away. Whatever sick little game the demon had been playing, it was over. The beast was out for blood now. “I have to do something.” Kagome told herself urgently. She was on the brink of panic, before an unnatural calm came over her. She knew what she needed to do. It was risky, but it was the only chance they had. She said a quick prayer, hoping she was doing the right thing. She then turned back to the other miko slowly kneeling by her side. “I’m so sorry Kikyou, but I have to do this.” she paused and glanced at the spider demon again. “It’ll just be for a little while. I’ll give it back, okay?”
She attempted to swallow, but her throat was woefully dry. She was somewhat hesitant, but she knew time was not on her side. So, she cast her doubts aside, and placed her right hand on the miko’s chest. With as much concentration as she could muster, Kagome located the portion of her soul which still remained in the other miko’s body. She allowed her aura to flare around her, as she coaxed the remainder of her soul to return to her.
Tingling warmth surrounded her hand as it began to glow a bright pink. Suddenly, a powerful jolt shot through Kagome’s body as her soul became complete once again. Through the training she had received from Kaede, Kagome had learned to focus, and concentrate her powers. She had discovered that she was far more powerful than she had ever given herself credit for. Now that her soul was whole again, she felt as if her power was complete. It was practically surging through her veins. Her fears and her doubts instantly washed away, and her eyes hardened in determination. She quickly checked to see how many arrows she had. She was down to just three, but that was more than she needed.
She wasn’t entirely sure what would happen to her, but her friends would be safe. There was no way she was going to let them die here.
“Kirara!!” she called out, as she darted back into the clearing. The fire cat was by her side in an instant, and Kagome quickly grabbed onto the thick fur on the back of its neck. She threw her leg over Kirara’s back and was soon flying through the air. Distantly, she could hear Inuyasha calling her name, but she would not turn to look at him. She needed to focus on the task at hand, and she could not afford to be distracted. She directed the cat to where she needed to be. Then, when her destination was just beneath her, the miko jumped off.
As she fell through the air, she found that it was not fear that coursed through her body, but rather an intense anticipation. She had made her decision, and she would not falter. She knew what this would likely mean for her, but that did not matter. She had been brought back in time for a reason, and maybe this was it. What ever the case, all she knew, was that Miroku was probably dying at this very moment, and that if something was not done quickly the rest of her friends were soon to follow.
With a violent jar, Kagome landed on the spider’s back. Using her left hand, she immediately grabbed hold of the nearest spine. Then, straddling his oversized body as best she could, Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver. The spider bucked and thrashed trying in vain to dislodge her, but the miko would not budge.
As she held the arrow in her hand, Kagome dared to look around her. She had effectively distracted the beast, so for the moment, her friends were safe. Inuyasha was looking at her with wide eyes. He was saying something, but she could not make out his words. Sesshoumaru was not far away from his brother. He looked… less bored than usual. He was looking at her with an expression she could not put a name to.
Then, to her far left she could see Sango. The brave and fearsome demon huntress was crouched over the body, of a disturbingly still Miroku. Her small form was shaking violently, and the miko knew she was crying. Even from this far away, Kagome could see that he had lost way too much blood. Even if the poison did not kill him, the blood loss definitely would. He was gone. There was no way he was going to survive.
“No.” Kagome said quietly. “He will survive. All of them will. I won’t let them die, I can’t!”
Then, she gritted her teeth, and infused her arrow with her powers. Both her hand and the weapon immediately began to glow; softly at first, but even as scorching tears trailed down her cheeks, the arrow began to glow brighter, and brighter. After just a few seconds, her hand and the arrow appeared to be engulfed in white flames. She reared back as far as she could, then she plunged the arrowhead into the spider’s back. The creature made a horrendous sound of what may have been pain, and redoubled its efforts to dislodge her.
The first attempt had only made a small crack, but Kagome was determined. She reared back again, aiming for the same spot. This time, the force of her blow, together with the strength of her miko powers split the tough outer shell, making a small gap. The opening was barely big enough for Kagome’s hand to fit into, but it would have to do. She quickly discarded her arrow, and plunged her hand into the crevice.
Maneuvering her hand through the disgusting blood, and thick muscles of the spider‘s body, Kagome finally found what she was looking for. The jewel. Her arm was embedded up to her elbow, but the tips of her fingers had just barely grazed it. Already, she had cut her arm on the sharp edges of the creature’s exoskeleton, but she gritted her teeth, and pressed on. She summoned her powers once again, focusing the energy to her right arm. Some of the creature’s flesh was burned away, making just a bit more room. She could reach it now. The miko felt her fingers close around the jewel, and she tried to pull her hand out, but it would not budge. She would have to destroy the jewel while it was still inside his body. There was only one way to do that.
She would have to make a wish.
The spider continued to thrash beneath her, but there was no way it could dislodge her now. Tears still pouring from her eyes the miko considered her wish. So many things had happened, so many lives had been destroyed, and now Miroku was dying on the ground.
“It’s all your fault you stupid jewel! Do you have any idea how many people have died because of you??!!”
Naraku alone had killed so many people, demons and humans alike because of that stupid jewel. It was all going to come to an end, RIGHT NOW.
“Take it back!!” she sobbed. “I wish… no, I demand that you take it back! Reverse every act of evil Naraku has committed because of you!”
The jewel instantly accepted her command, and a powerful surge of energy ran through both her, and the spider beneath her. She felt her fist give way as the jewel dissolved into nothing.
Unfortunately, Kagome was so distracted that she did not notice the long sharp spine that was rising up behind her. As soon as the words passed through her lips, the spine plunged into her back. The miko felt her entire body jerk violently, and she looked down with a sort of odd detachment, as a sharp black protrusion exited her chest. Warm wet fluid began running down her abdomen, and Kagome soon recognized it as her own blood. ‘Hmm, this doesn’t even hurt.’ she thought nonsensically. ‘Must be all the adrenaline.’
Naraku however, was not nearly as fortunate. As soon as she made the wish, a sharp, searing pain shot through his body. Her pure powers were now coursing through his veins, burning him from the inside out. The pain was indescribable.
This was it for him, he realized. He was going to die. It was an end he had briefly considered, but he had not truly believed it possible. Apparently, he had been wrong.
The purification spread quickly, and his enormous body tensed as the pain became more severe. Soon, the spider was completely enveloped in bright pink energy, the combination of Kagome’s miko powers, and the purified Shikon jewel. As his vision began to fade, Naraku realized that in the end, he had but a single regret. Of all the atrocities he had committed, all the lives he had destroyed, none of it had ever plagued his mind. But now, as he drew his final breath, the one thing he lamented, was the fact that he would not see her again.
‘Izanami…’
The name wafted through his mind, like a whispered confession.
And then… Naraku was gone.
What had been his body was now only wafting trails of glittery ash which scattered away with the breeze.
Without solid support, Kagome plummeted to the ground. A weak grunt escaped her lips, and a small stream of blood spurted from the wound in her chest.
There was pain now. Searing mind-numbing pain that shook her form and took her breath away. Weakly, her left hand went to her chest, where blood was still gushing from her wound. Her head lolled to her right, where she could vaguely make out Inuyasha, and Sango. They were running toward her, but she knew they would not make it in time.
‘It’s okay.’ she wanted to tell them. ‘Please… please don’t be sad.’ But there was no time. Her lips parted, but all that came forth was a final gurgling pant.
Her muscles relaxed.
Her vision was gone.
Her body was still.
Kagome… was dead.
On the other side of the clearing, a figure clad in white silk watched over the proceedings. Sesshoumaru looked on with masked interest as his brother cradled the miko’s body, while the slayer cried hysterically. The hanyou shook the girl over and over, begging her to wake, but even from this distance the demon lord could detect that her heart had stopped beating.
Naraku was dead, but two of his brother’s traveling companions had lost their lives in the battle. The monk had not survived his injuries. Two humans had died here today. Normally such a thing would have been of no consequence to him, yet the miko held his attention. That woman, that diminutive slip of a girl, had saved his life. No other creature could boast of such a feat.
Sesshoumaru was honest enough with himself to realize, that had she not interfered, the oni would have been the end of him.
His eyes narrowed slightly. He had not asked for her help. He never would have. His pride was angered, and bruised that such an unassuming creature, held power that even he did not. That that a human female had saved his life, when he had been incapable of doing so himself. He wanted to resent her for it.
On the other hand, his logic told him that the woman had meant well. He had come to know that the miko was selfless to the point of idiocy. She would never have allowed anyone to die if it was within her power to prevent it. She had displayed this yet again, and had lost her life in the process.
Then there was his honor. His honor told him that he owed the miko. That he held the power to return her favor, and that he was honor bound to do so. And yet he hesitated. The demon lord found himself in the rare state of indecision.
A part of him felt as if he owed her nothing. He had not asked her for her aid, and therefore was not obligated to her in any way. It told him that alive, the woman would only serve to remind him of his moment of weakness. But if she remained dead, he could erase the memory from his mind and move on with his life.
For what must have been several moments, Sesshoumaru just stood there, the gears of his mind turning methodically as he considered his options and their consequences.
Then, with gritted teeth, and a tightly clenched fist, the inu lord made his decision. He took a deep breath and willed himself to calm. Slowly, as of its own volition, his right hand gravitated toward Tensega. He felt his fingers tighten on the hilt.
His brows drew together slightly, as silent communication passed between himself and the life-giving blade. Then, a small sigh passed through his lips; though whether it was from relief, or resignation, he could not say.
His fingers relaxed, and his hand fell limply to his side. With a small nod of acceptance, Sesshoumaru spun on his heel, and left the clearing.
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The Wish
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After the incident at Naraku’s castle, Kikyou knew that it would be prudent to remain in the area. The hanyou would return to his castle that much was certain. And so she stayed. She remained in the area, keeping her senses on high alert and biding her time. Naraku would return, and discover that his precious demons had been destroyed.
Those particular demons had been considerably more powerful than the ones he typically took into battle with him, so it was easy to guess that he had intended to use them to transform his body. Once he discovered that this was no longer an option, he would likely go after the remaining jewel shards. This she could not allow. Kikyou had decided that she would intercept him. As soon as he returned, she would destroy him. He would not leave this place alive.
Because Onigumo’s heart remained buried deep inside of Naraku, Kikyou knew that if anyone had a chance, it was she. He had made attempts on her life before, but because of that heart, that human heart which still held feelings for her, the half demon had always held back; always refrained from delivering the killing blow. This would be his downfall.
Or so she had believed.
He came back, just as she knew he would; and she had attacked. Somehow, he managed to summon his barrier before her arrow could hit.
And then, the battle had ensued.
They had fought fiercely against one another, and Kikyou quickly found herself on the losing end of the battle. Even then, he had been holding back.
But it had been different this time. He had not been holding back because of some sentimental attachment, or some vague longing for her. He had merely been taunting her for his own twisted amusement, and in the process blackening the jewel he held off of the hate, anger, and despair that no doubt had been rolling off her in waves.
The so-called battle had gone on for quite some time. He had destroyed her soul collectors, and then beaten her to within an inch of her life.
Finally, he had hoisted her up by the collar of her dirtied and tattered haori, drawing her perilously close to himself. Echoing in the back of her mind, she could still hear the final words he had said to her.
“You are a fool Kikyou. You came to this place believing you could defeat me. You thought to use Onigumo’s feelings to your advantage. You believed that his longing for you would stay my hand, thereby giving you the opportunity to destroy me.” He chucked darkly. “But you made a grave miscalculation, my dear little miko.”
To her utmost disgust, he had then trailed his fingers softly along her jaw line. He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his cold red eyes. And then she saw it. Whatever feelings the wretched hanyou might have been harboring for her… were gone.
“I will admit that Onigumo’s heart still resides within me,” he had continued silkily “but that heart, feels nothing for you now.”
And then, he had drawn his remaining hand back. She had watched in horror as long lethal claws grew from the tips of his fingers. And then, without so much as batting an eye, he had run her through with his bare hand.
He had plunged in through her chest, his claws exiting her back. Then, with a violent jerk, he removed himself from her. He threw her body to the ground, before he turned and walked away from her; leaving her for dead.
And she would have been.
Her clay body did not bleed, but the souls that granted her mobility, that allowed her to cling to the world of the living, had escaped through the wound in her chest.
She had all but resigned herself to her fait, but death would not come to her. Not just this yet. Somehow a single soul collector had managed to escape. It had apparently gone off to collect more souls and did not emerge until after his departure.
The lone creature had then deposited two souls into her body. On its own it could do little more. But that had been enough. It was enough to close the chest wound, and restore her ability to move. It was not enough to restore her power and strength completely; still, it would have to do.
She had managed to pull herself up to start her long journey. She knew where Naraku would go next. In her weakened state, she might not be able to fight, but at least she could deliver a warning.
And so, here she was.
Unfortunately, her warning had the opposite effect than what was desired.
When Kikyou called out, everyone instinctively looked in her direction, their attention instantly being drawn away from the danger that lay behind them. She tried to summon the strength to call out again, but it was too late. Kagome suddenly gasped, as a large tentacle wrapped around her waist. Before she knew what had happened, before anyone could intervene, the miko was snatched off the ground. The completed Shikon jewel was snatched from her hand before she was thrown haplessly to the ground. It was…
The old man…
The entire group watched with varying levels of surprise and horror as the old man’s form morphed, and changed. His back straitened. His height increased. His features changed from weathered and aged, to smooth, youthful, and deceptively handsome. Hair which had been short and grey, transformed into luxurious black tresses that flowed down his back in silken waves. His now red eyes gleamed with undisguised malevolence as he held the sacred jewel in the palm of his hand.
He had tricked them… again.
Now they were tired and injured, and he held the completed Shikon jewel.
“You bastard!” Inuyasha growled as he darted forward. His sword having already been drawn, he made to slash through Naraku’s belly. His blade tore through the air in a horizontal arc, but made contact with nothing but air. The spider hanyou had leaped away, easily avoiding the attack before summoning his barrier once again.
“Finally,” he smirked evilly, “finally, I hold the completed Shikon no tama.” A small chuckle escaped his lips as he stared down at the jewel.
They tried in vain to stop him. Each one of them tried to destroy his barrier, but to no avail. Miroku’s sutras dissolved on contact. Sango’s boomerang was deflected. Kagome’s arrows were repelled. Inuyasha’s red Tetsuaiga did nothing, and even Sesshoumaru’s Bakusaiga was useless.
They had no choice but to watch as the jewel was absorbed into the palm of his hand. The air was practically sucked from Kagome’s lungs. She could still see the jewel as it traveled up his arm, and across his shoulder, before it finally stopped somewhere near the center of his torso. A sense of foreboding, the likes of which she had never known enveloped her small frame, threatening to swallow her whole. This was bad. No this was beyond bad. He had the jewel!! He had the completed Shikon jewel, and he just absorbed it! Her heart was pounding so hard, she thought it would leap from her chest. What were they going to do?! How were they going to stop him now??
They were forced to watch, as once again, Naraku’s features began to mutate. What was happening to him this time? His barrier slowly changed from transparent red, to opaque black, effectively blocking their view. What the hell was he doing??!!
No one dared to say a word as each of them stared at the barrier. Inuyasha instinctively pushed Kagome behind him, his fingers reflexively tightening around the hilt of his sword.
It seemed like they waited an eternity, but then, there was a tremble. It was unnatural in that it was not the earth that trembled, but the very air around them. After a moment or two, there was a second tremble, followed by a third then a fourth.
And that’s when it happened. The barrier cracked.
It was strangely similar to watching an egg hatch. It started with a small fissure that spread along the center. Then the lines began to spread out in all directions, becoming thicker, and more pronounced. Suddenly, with an ear-shattering BOOM, the barrier shattered, the pieces scattering a short distance away before vaporizing into the air.
“Kami-sama…” Kagome mouthed quietly, unknowingly voicing what most of them were thinking. What had been Naraku only moments before was now the largest, blackest most fearsome spider, any of them had ever seen. It was sitting there almost placidly, its legs and head tucked into its body, apparently having been molded in the shape of the recently discarded barrier.
It slowly uncurled, its enormous head lifting first. The most noticeable feature was the large mandibles on either side of its face. The great black appendages were controlled by powerful muscles and could surely snap a person in half with ease. Its cold red eyes glared at them, but there was no emotion, of any kind, the only trace of humanity being the reflections of the beings that stood before it.
Next, its long bulky legs unfurled. They spread out on either side of its enormous body making the creature appear even larger than it already had. Its legs and its bulbous abdomen were covered in long thin spines, completing its sinister appearance.
It took a single step forward, breaking the hypnotic stillness that they had fallen into.
Sesshoumaru readied his blade, Sango planted her feet tightened her grip on her boomerang, while Miroku withdrew several sutras.
Instead of preparing to fight, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and leaped as far away from the creature as he could. “Stay back!” he told her. That thing looked dangerous. More dangerous than Naraku had ever had. He didn’t even want the miko attempting to fight such a creature. Though she protested vehemently, he grabbed her around the waist, and took her from the clearing. He finally came to a stop in the nearby woods, hiding her behind a large tree. “Stay here.” he said quickly, and before she could say a word, he took off. He came back a short time later, with Kikyou’s now limp form in his arms. He carefully placed the other miko on the ground. When he stood up, he did not lift his head, his silver bangs covering his eyes. “I hate to ask you this…” he began quietly.
“Go.” Kagome cut him off, her voice little more than a whisper. She then seated herself at Kikyou’s side. “I’ll watch over her.”
His head snapped up and he looked at her, his brows drawn together slightly, his expression unreadable. Then, he gave her a quick nod. He was about to head back, but then something struck his mind and he turned back to her. “Promise me you’ll stay here, no matter what.”
Kagome frowned. “You know I can’t make a promise like that, Inuyasha.”
Annoyed, he raised his voice slightly, “Damn it Kagome! This isn’t just about Kikyou; I need you to stay safe! I need you to stay out of this!”
Her voice still quiet she told him, “I’ll stay here for now, but I can’t promise you that I won’t get involved.” he looked like he was going to protest further, but she interrupted. “You have to go, Inuyasha! You have to go and help them, now!”
He turned around abruptly to see that his friends and his brother had scattered across the clearing, the spider was on the move, and there was no mistaking its intent. The creature intended to kill them all. “Damn it!” the hanyou swore, before he leaped away, quickly making his way back to the clearing.
Kagome all but chewed through her lower lip as she watched the scene before her. Her friends and even Sesshoumaru were doing everything they could, but nothing was working. NOTHING!
The creature’s hardened outer shell repelled any and all attacks that were waged against it. Moreover, the spider, like any real spider was amazingly fast. It moved effortlessly, darting from one side of the clearing to the other as it chased down her friends.
To make matters worse, creature was frighteningly agile. In spite of its large size it was able to shift, and pivot easily. It moved with a speed and grace that rivaled even Sesshoumaru. From her vantage point, it quickly became obvious to Kagome that Naraku was only toying with them. He could easily destroy any, one of them whenever he chose to do so.
Something had to be done. Kagome felt herself trembling. She didn‘t know if she was angered beyond words, or terrified for her friends. Perhaps it was both. All she knew was that she could not stay here and do nothing. She looked down on Kikyou’s nearly lifeless form, before looking back to the clearing. The spider had moved again, its back was to her now. Through the demon’s thick hide, the young miko could see a faint glow.
“The jewel!” she gasped quietly. She could still see it imbedded in the creature’s abdomen just behind it‘s thorax. It had not been fully absorbed yet. Her heart began to race. Someone had to get the jewel out, but from what she had seen, no one could to so much as put a crack in the demon’s exoskeleton. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan, and then… a shriek. A horrendous shriek that nearly burst her eardrums.
The blanket of darkness was slowly beginning to lift, and in the predawn light she was able to see dark purple and black robes hanging from the spider’s mouth. “Miroku!” Kagome was on her feet in an instant, her finger digging into the bark of the tree.
The miko watched in horror as the creature injected the monk with an unhealthy dose of poison. Then, with a quick toss of its enormous head, the monk was carelessly cast aside, his body landing several yards away. Whatever sick little game the demon had been playing, it was over. The beast was out for blood now. “I have to do something.” Kagome told herself urgently. She was on the brink of panic, before an unnatural calm came over her. She knew what she needed to do. It was risky, but it was the only chance they had. She said a quick prayer, hoping she was doing the right thing. She then turned back to the other miko slowly kneeling by her side. “I’m so sorry Kikyou, but I have to do this.” she paused and glanced at the spider demon again. “It’ll just be for a little while. I’ll give it back, okay?”
She attempted to swallow, but her throat was woefully dry. She was somewhat hesitant, but she knew time was not on her side. So, she cast her doubts aside, and placed her right hand on the miko’s chest. With as much concentration as she could muster, Kagome located the portion of her soul which still remained in the other miko’s body. She allowed her aura to flare around her, as she coaxed the remainder of her soul to return to her.
Tingling warmth surrounded her hand as it began to glow a bright pink. Suddenly, a powerful jolt shot through Kagome’s body as her soul became complete once again. Through the training she had received from Kaede, Kagome had learned to focus, and concentrate her powers. She had discovered that she was far more powerful than she had ever given herself credit for. Now that her soul was whole again, she felt as if her power was complete. It was practically surging through her veins. Her fears and her doubts instantly washed away, and her eyes hardened in determination. She quickly checked to see how many arrows she had. She was down to just three, but that was more than she needed.
She wasn’t entirely sure what would happen to her, but her friends would be safe. There was no way she was going to let them die here.
“Kirara!!” she called out, as she darted back into the clearing. The fire cat was by her side in an instant, and Kagome quickly grabbed onto the thick fur on the back of its neck. She threw her leg over Kirara’s back and was soon flying through the air. Distantly, she could hear Inuyasha calling her name, but she would not turn to look at him. She needed to focus on the task at hand, and she could not afford to be distracted. She directed the cat to where she needed to be. Then, when her destination was just beneath her, the miko jumped off.
As she fell through the air, she found that it was not fear that coursed through her body, but rather an intense anticipation. She had made her decision, and she would not falter. She knew what this would likely mean for her, but that did not matter. She had been brought back in time for a reason, and maybe this was it. What ever the case, all she knew, was that Miroku was probably dying at this very moment, and that if something was not done quickly the rest of her friends were soon to follow.
With a violent jar, Kagome landed on the spider’s back. Using her left hand, she immediately grabbed hold of the nearest spine. Then, straddling his oversized body as best she could, Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver. The spider bucked and thrashed trying in vain to dislodge her, but the miko would not budge.
As she held the arrow in her hand, Kagome dared to look around her. She had effectively distracted the beast, so for the moment, her friends were safe. Inuyasha was looking at her with wide eyes. He was saying something, but she could not make out his words. Sesshoumaru was not far away from his brother. He looked… less bored than usual. He was looking at her with an expression she could not put a name to.
Then, to her far left she could see Sango. The brave and fearsome demon huntress was crouched over the body, of a disturbingly still Miroku. Her small form was shaking violently, and the miko knew she was crying. Even from this far away, Kagome could see that he had lost way too much blood. Even if the poison did not kill him, the blood loss definitely would. He was gone. There was no way he was going to survive.
“No.” Kagome said quietly. “He will survive. All of them will. I won’t let them die, I can’t!”
Then, she gritted her teeth, and infused her arrow with her powers. Both her hand and the weapon immediately began to glow; softly at first, but even as scorching tears trailed down her cheeks, the arrow began to glow brighter, and brighter. After just a few seconds, her hand and the arrow appeared to be engulfed in white flames. She reared back as far as she could, then she plunged the arrowhead into the spider’s back. The creature made a horrendous sound of what may have been pain, and redoubled its efforts to dislodge her.
The first attempt had only made a small crack, but Kagome was determined. She reared back again, aiming for the same spot. This time, the force of her blow, together with the strength of her miko powers split the tough outer shell, making a small gap. The opening was barely big enough for Kagome’s hand to fit into, but it would have to do. She quickly discarded her arrow, and plunged her hand into the crevice.
Maneuvering her hand through the disgusting blood, and thick muscles of the spider‘s body, Kagome finally found what she was looking for. The jewel. Her arm was embedded up to her elbow, but the tips of her fingers had just barely grazed it. Already, she had cut her arm on the sharp edges of the creature’s exoskeleton, but she gritted her teeth, and pressed on. She summoned her powers once again, focusing the energy to her right arm. Some of the creature’s flesh was burned away, making just a bit more room. She could reach it now. The miko felt her fingers close around the jewel, and she tried to pull her hand out, but it would not budge. She would have to destroy the jewel while it was still inside his body. There was only one way to do that.
She would have to make a wish.
The spider continued to thrash beneath her, but there was no way it could dislodge her now. Tears still pouring from her eyes the miko considered her wish. So many things had happened, so many lives had been destroyed, and now Miroku was dying on the ground.
“It’s all your fault you stupid jewel! Do you have any idea how many people have died because of you??!!”
Naraku alone had killed so many people, demons and humans alike because of that stupid jewel. It was all going to come to an end, RIGHT NOW.
“Take it back!!” she sobbed. “I wish… no, I demand that you take it back! Reverse every act of evil Naraku has committed because of you!”
The jewel instantly accepted her command, and a powerful surge of energy ran through both her, and the spider beneath her. She felt her fist give way as the jewel dissolved into nothing.
Unfortunately, Kagome was so distracted that she did not notice the long sharp spine that was rising up behind her. As soon as the words passed through her lips, the spine plunged into her back. The miko felt her entire body jerk violently, and she looked down with a sort of odd detachment, as a sharp black protrusion exited her chest. Warm wet fluid began running down her abdomen, and Kagome soon recognized it as her own blood. ‘Hmm, this doesn’t even hurt.’ she thought nonsensically. ‘Must be all the adrenaline.’
Naraku however, was not nearly as fortunate. As soon as she made the wish, a sharp, searing pain shot through his body. Her pure powers were now coursing through his veins, burning him from the inside out. The pain was indescribable.
This was it for him, he realized. He was going to die. It was an end he had briefly considered, but he had not truly believed it possible. Apparently, he had been wrong.
The purification spread quickly, and his enormous body tensed as the pain became more severe. Soon, the spider was completely enveloped in bright pink energy, the combination of Kagome’s miko powers, and the purified Shikon jewel. As his vision began to fade, Naraku realized that in the end, he had but a single regret. Of all the atrocities he had committed, all the lives he had destroyed, none of it had ever plagued his mind. But now, as he drew his final breath, the one thing he lamented, was the fact that he would not see her again.
‘Izanami…’
The name wafted through his mind, like a whispered confession.
And then… Naraku was gone.
What had been his body was now only wafting trails of glittery ash which scattered away with the breeze.
Without solid support, Kagome plummeted to the ground. A weak grunt escaped her lips, and a small stream of blood spurted from the wound in her chest.
There was pain now. Searing mind-numbing pain that shook her form and took her breath away. Weakly, her left hand went to her chest, where blood was still gushing from her wound. Her head lolled to her right, where she could vaguely make out Inuyasha, and Sango. They were running toward her, but she knew they would not make it in time.
‘It’s okay.’ she wanted to tell them. ‘Please… please don’t be sad.’ But there was no time. Her lips parted, but all that came forth was a final gurgling pant.
Her muscles relaxed.
Her vision was gone.
Her body was still.
Kagome… was dead.
On the other side of the clearing, a figure clad in white silk watched over the proceedings. Sesshoumaru looked on with masked interest as his brother cradled the miko’s body, while the slayer cried hysterically. The hanyou shook the girl over and over, begging her to wake, but even from this distance the demon lord could detect that her heart had stopped beating.
Naraku was dead, but two of his brother’s traveling companions had lost their lives in the battle. The monk had not survived his injuries. Two humans had died here today. Normally such a thing would have been of no consequence to him, yet the miko held his attention. That woman, that diminutive slip of a girl, had saved his life. No other creature could boast of such a feat.
Sesshoumaru was honest enough with himself to realize, that had she not interfered, the oni would have been the end of him.
His eyes narrowed slightly. He had not asked for her help. He never would have. His pride was angered, and bruised that such an unassuming creature, held power that even he did not. That that a human female had saved his life, when he had been incapable of doing so himself. He wanted to resent her for it.
On the other hand, his logic told him that the woman had meant well. He had come to know that the miko was selfless to the point of idiocy. She would never have allowed anyone to die if it was within her power to prevent it. She had displayed this yet again, and had lost her life in the process.
Then there was his honor. His honor told him that he owed the miko. That he held the power to return her favor, and that he was honor bound to do so. And yet he hesitated. The demon lord found himself in the rare state of indecision.
A part of him felt as if he owed her nothing. He had not asked her for her aid, and therefore was not obligated to her in any way. It told him that alive, the woman would only serve to remind him of his moment of weakness. But if she remained dead, he could erase the memory from his mind and move on with his life.
For what must have been several moments, Sesshoumaru just stood there, the gears of his mind turning methodically as he considered his options and their consequences.
Then, with gritted teeth, and a tightly clenched fist, the inu lord made his decision. He took a deep breath and willed himself to calm. Slowly, as of its own volition, his right hand gravitated toward Tensega. He felt his fingers tighten on the hilt.
His brows drew together slightly, as silent communication passed between himself and the life-giving blade. Then, a small sigh passed through his lips; though whether it was from relief, or resignation, he could not say.
His fingers relaxed, and his hand fell limply to his side. With a small nod of acceptance, Sesshoumaru spun on his heel, and left the clearing.
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