InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rock, Paper, Scissors: Love Beats All ❯ A Talking Dog ( Chapter 8 )

[ A - All Readers ]

By: RinLove

Chapter Eight:A Talking Dog

Miroku's Point-Of-View

"Naraku has a plan. He let Kanna die for a reason," Miroku said solemnly from his seat just behind Sango. Sango looked back at him out of the corner of her eye, a disturbed expression over her face, before replying,

"I was thinking the same thing. Naraku took Kikyo with him when he left the castle, but didn't bother with Rin. Then he left Kanna up there all alone with nothing but that mirror to protect herself with. He seen Kanna falling out the window well before any of us, but he didn't even make a move to save her! I don't like the looks of this." Miroku inclined his head in agreement.

"Neither do I," Miroku allowed his hand to slip from Sango's shoulder and land on his leg. He would only have to move his hand ever so slightly and...

SMACK!

Miroku hadn't even touched her that time! 'Must have read my mind,' he thought, smiling slyly as he rubbed his stinging cheek. Nevertheless, he was prepared to deny any and all accusations from the beautiful demon slayer that may or may not refer to Miroku's lecherous intentions towards her bottom.

"Monk, my butt!" she shouted in furious skepticism.

"Indeed," Miroku muttered coyly, purposely taking her comment literally.

"You're mind is so one-tracked, I can't even begin to contemplate how you focus on battles! Seriously! Can't you lay off of me for five--?" Sango had begun to turn around on Kilala to face Miroku, most likely to better lecture him, when her eye caught something down below. Miroku stared blankly at her as she cut herself off mid-sentence, her face overcoming with surprise. "Wha...what?" she choked out in a hoarse whisper. Miroku quickly followed her gaze, clueless as to what had caught her interest, and felt his heart sink. "Kohaku!" Sango suddenly yelled, making Miroku close his eyes wearily. It was true. Kohaku, Sango's younger brother, stood miles below them.

Stood next to Naraku.

By the looks of things, Kohaku was guarding Kikyo from InuYasha and company. He already had the strange scythe-like weapon held threateningly in one hand, while holding the chain connected to it for its swift retraction in the other. The same weapon, Miroku presumed, he had used in battle alongside his sister and their family of demon slayers. That was all different now, though. He had went from exterminating evil demons to exterminating innocent human beings. He'd even murdered his own family. Anyone could see that the young man who once slayed demons was now the loyal minion of the most evil demon of all time: Onigumo Naraku.

"No, Kohaku! Don't defend Naraku anymore! Please, get away from Kikyo! Please, Kohaku!" Miroku grimaced and turned away from Kohaku and Sango. It was the same thing every time her little brother showed up. Sango would try with all of her heart and soul to release him from Naraku's control, but it was always in vain. And each time she failed, she blamed herself. And Naraku, of course. Yet, it seemed that she blamed herself ABOVE Naraku for Kohaku's imprisonment. Miroku had the idea that she felt she was being a poor older sister to him, not able to free him from the clutches of someone who used him for such horrible deeds. She wanted to save him, but couldn't...and each time she failed, she sunk into a pit of darkness that always nearly killed Miroku. Sango didn't deserve to feel such pain. 'But she will, now. She'll feel it all over again now that he's back. We've tried countless times to free him, but every time it's the same...' Sango suddenly gasped, instantly causing Miroku to snap his eyes back to her flawless face. She was staring down towards the battle grounds with tears in her eyes, a small smile playing over her cherry-blossom lips. Miroku immediately snapped his gaze to Kohaku...and the moment he layed eyes on the boy, he understood Sango's sudden happiness. Kohaku was looking up at his sister. "Kohaku..." Sango murmured frailly. Kohaku didn't smile or wave or even speak. He only looked up at his sister. Nevertheless, this simple gesture gave Sango an endless well of hope. 'I only pray that, this time, we can save him. If not for Kohaku's sake, then for Sango's...' As Miroku watched, Kohaku turned away from Sango and Miroku to focus back on Naraku's enemies. InuYasha was saying something to Sesshomaru and, after looking up at the two humans riding the two-tail, the taiyoukai gave a short reply as he stared out ahead at Naraku. Miroku and Sango took a moment to exchange worried glances before returning their attention to the battle at hand.

"This could be it, Sango. This could be the LAST battle. Naraku has the other half of the Shikon no Tama to the half that InuYasha and Kagome has put together. If we defeat Naraku today, then everything will be set right. At last, all who Naraku has wronged will be avenged and the damage that he's inflicted will be healed. At last..." Miroku spoke, his voice taking on a dreamy tone as he imagined it. Everything would be peaceful. The Wind Tunnel in his hand would be gone, Sango's family and Miroku's father...they'd be avenged as well. Everything would be right again. He smiled, thinking about it, and looked to Sango. She was looking down at the battlefield with a pained expression over her otherwise gorgeous features. Miroku's smile faded as he gazed at her with sincere concern. "Sango...?" he tested gently, laying a hand on her shoulder, "What is it?" She paused for a second, not yet responding, and slowly turned her head to give him a weak smile.

"Only one of us has a TRUE half Jewel, Miroku..." Her voice was fragile and shaky, making Miroku look at her with concern. But now he understood...and considered himself a true idiot.

"Kohaku's shard?" he questioned knowingly, still beating himself up for overlooking Sango's problems. Sango didn't answer. She only looked back down at the battlefield, a forlorn expression marring her beautiful features and slicing through Miroku's very heart. InuYasha and Sesshomaru had begun their attacks now, so Miroku and Sango took their cue. Kilala gained speed and Sango brought Hiraikotsu into position. Time to fight. "I'll save him, Sango. I swear it to you. I'll find a way to save your brother. For you." He squeezed her shoulder once before letting go and grabbing onto his rosary beads. There was going to be Hell to pay for Naraku. He'd already caused so much pain in the lives of others and brought so much destruction upon the world. The monk thought he may have caught Sango giving him an astounded look, but he couldn't be sure. He was too busy concentrating on the battle now that he'd made an oath to the demon slayer. After all of this was over, he was going to tell her something. His face became cold and determined as he stared down at Kohaku. 'For you, Sango. All of this, will be for you...'

Sesshomaru's Point-Of-View

"Sesshomaru, we don't kill the kid, there. Got it?" Sesshomaru turned his whole head to face InuYasha, a feeling of utter annoyance creeping deep into his nerves in a way that suggested it would never leave him. What did his little brother take him for? Sesshomaru was there to HELP InuYasha and his friends, not to emotionally scar one of them to the point of suicide! 'My brother is still a fool, it seems. I would have been insane to expect to teach him everything in one night.' That was fine with Sesshomaru, however, for he enjoyed "teaching" his little brother. And he intended on remaining nearby, even once this had passed, to enforce his lessons with the hanyou.

After last night, Sesshomaru found that his brother held potential to be as great as any other demon lord. They'd need to find a way around the half-demon complication, if that were to become a reality, and he would need to become stronger in both his demonic powers and in his sense of honor. But it was worth all of the trouble if Sesshomaru could make InuTaisho's second son into as powerful a demon lord as his father and himself.

It was worth it for the half-demon he was beginning to consider a brother.

His face resolutely expressionless, as he had finally regained control over the muscles in his face, he spared a glance in Kohaku's direction. He was the human brother of Sango. The same human boy who had attempted to kill Rin at one point in time. 'I remember. He's under Naraku's influence...' Sesshomaru allowed his gaze to lift to the sky and to fall upon the human couple riding the flying feline. They both appeared entirely absorbed with the new arrival of the demon slayer's last remaining relative. Sesshomaru allowed his eyes fall back to Naraku as he sensed an oncoming discussion between the two humans. He glowered menacingly at the tentacle-entwined enemy, drawing on his best efforts to distract himself so as not to overhear Sango and Miroku's conversation. His brother wouldn't have that problem, though, being a half-demon.

It was just as it was with the two swords their father had left for them. While InuYasha would be better suited with Tenseiga, a sword to bring life to those who've been slain, Sesshomaru should have gotten Tetsusaiga, in order to protect his land from those who wish to conquer him for it. Sesshomaru was no fool. He was strong, but Testusaiga would make him stronger. And stronger is, most often than not, better.

Anyway, in the case of Sesshomaru's capability of hearing a conversation taking place forty or so feet above them all while InuYasha remained blissfully unaware... Well, let's just say that the demon lord had the idea that InuYasha would use such an ability to his personal benefit. Contrary to his younger brother's manners and morals, Sesshomaru was hoping to give the humans their privacy. 'For my sake. I wish to silence their conversation for MY sake,' he reminded himself. Of course the Lord of the Western Lands would be disgusted at the woman's petty whining over her murderous brother. Lord Sesshomaru would be most annoyed at such dribble and harbored no desire to suffer through the senseless exchange of words. Besides, the conversation that they seemed to be heading for would be better off falling on InuYasha's ears, considering that it was HIS human friend who seemed to be feeling upset.

"I understand," Sesshomaru spoke, hoping to drown out anything that might have been said between the demon slayer and the lecherous monk. He turned to Naraku and drew Tojikin, his indifferent expression hinting at anger. He tried not to hear, but it was impossible with such perfect senses. It was no use. (--(--This could be it, Sango. This could be the LAST battle. Naraku has the other half of the Shikon no Tama to the half that InuYasha and Kagome has put together. If we defeat Naraku today, then everything will be set right. At last, all who Naraku has wronged will be avenged and the damage that he's inflicted will be healed. At last...--)--) Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, beginning to tighten his hold on Tojikin's hilt. He couldn't help but form an opinion to that...and it infuriated him. What should he care what the human monk had to say? 'All will be avenged, he says. All damage healed, he says. What about Kohaku? How can he not think of that? He's as poor as InuYasha when it comes to women!' (--(--Sango...?--)--) A pause, during which Sesshomaru allowed a growl to escape from a murky dungeon deep within him. 'Still ignorant of what he's done...' The taiyoukai's eyes narrowed. (--(--What is it?--)--) 'Fool. A mortal fool!' (--(--Only one of us has a TRUE half Jewel, Miroku...--)--) Sango's voice drifted through his ears. What had she meant by that...? As he thought on the strange remark, Sesshomaru realized that he was unusually tense. He forced his muscles to relax with severe effort. How could he permit himself to lose control like that over mere words?

"How foolish humans are to cause themselves pain for people who care nothing of others. I trust that you sincerely believe that you are hiding your emotions well? How naive." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he stared at the back of Kagome's head that, as expected, bowed in surrender at his words. Humans fell so easily at mere words. He, himself, would never allow another person's simple utterances to distract him. Words were only words, after all.

Sesshomaru's face formed a truly shocked expression before he had a chance to stop himself. However, his sense almost instantly returned to him and he snatched the shameful look away the very moment that he could. He hastily side-glanced to InuYasha to see if he'd noticed anything. He had, to Sesshomaru's immense humiliation. He felt his face burn as it went taut with rage. He was a demon lord and had a reputation to uphold; pride was essential. 'Yet, that memory...' Sesshomaru thought back on it and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, though his face still faithfully remained in a scowl. He'd been so sure, at that moment four days ago. He'd been absolutely CERTAIN that he could not be felled by words. And yet, if that were true, then why had he been affected by the two humans' conversation? It didn't make any sense at all! 'I must be growing weaker than I previously thought. Perhaps it isn't wise for me to remain with my brother once we've finished here...' (--(--Kohaku's shard?--)--) Sesshomaru's furious expression grew considerably more intense. Oh, how he wished that he could silence them. 'I came to HELP them, not to KILL them. They might think to return the favor, however...' Sesshomaru turned back to Naraku, intending to begin his attack, when he thought of something. Kohaku's shard...? 'The boy has a Jewel shard imbedded in him, then. Naraku must have done it in order to control him...' Sesshomaru's eyes flicked over to his brother, his face relaxing into icy indifference, and then back to Naraku as he launched his attack on him. InuYasha followed, realizing his brother's look had been a gesture to begin the battle. 'He seems to have grown somewhat more intelligent...' Naraku laughed insanely and expanded his thick tangle of tentacles to better ward them off as the two brothers flew at him. He must have been forgetting that he was dealing with the Great Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands. (--(--I'll save him, Sango. I swear it to you. I'll find a way to save your brother. For you.--)--) Sesshomaru smirked at Miroku's words and felt a surge of...what was it? He couldn't pin it down, for some reason. Why was he all of a sudden so flustered with emotions? He couldn't even decide how he felt now? 'Of course I know how I feel! I am neither a half demon nor a human; I am a powerful youkai. The feeling was satisfaction. I was satisfied that the perverted monk had finally understood what his words were doing to his fellow human.' Sesshomaru felt a quiver of doubt, but his rage overcame it as easily as a tide over a child's sand castle. He was a demon lord, not some fool who paid all his mind to emotions! As Sesshomaru arrived before Naraku, he instantly began slashing aimlessly at about a ton of Naraku's slimy tentacles. In his inexplicable anger, he felt himself release an invisible barrier from the sword that did exceeding damage to the spider hanyou.

"Sesshomaru! Watch out!" Sesshomaru leapt out of the way, but found nothing to retreat from! He turned back to his brother, who had so kindly "warned" him, and gave him the most enraged glower he could muster. InuYasha returned the favor ten-fold.

"Were you even AWAKE? Kikyo was only a few feet away from where you were hacking into Naraku!" his hanyou brother shouted, obviously shaken. Sesshomaru looked back at where he'd been attacking and seen that it was true. Next to the gore and mush that had once been about a tenth of Naraku, was Kikyo. She was precariously close to being completely swallowed by Naraku's tentacles. Her head and shoulders were now the only visible parts of her that one could see. I'll save him, Sango. I swear it to you. I'll find a way to save your brother. For you. 'Hope! It was hope!' A voice deep within Sesshomaru bellowed at him as though the taiyoukai was an idiot who'd just missed something unbelievably obvious. He supposed it was referring to the nameless feeling that Sesshomaru had decided was satisfaction. In any case, he knew now, whether he wanted to or not, that he'd been wrong. 'It was hope, then...' he agreed, looking over at Kikyo. He'd always felt that hope and confidence were the same thing; he didn't count on that idea changing any time soon, either. After all, he was confident that Naraku would be defeated, was he not? Certainly he wasn't just "hopeful." He knew that he would not allow Naraku to win, even if he was faced with a life or death situation. So, perhaps it wasn't hope, then? 'Why dredge up such petty ideas during such a crucial battle? Why do I dwell on how I feel?' Ignoring a gnawing sensation in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't comprehend, Sesshomaru flew towards Kikyo. If he didn't retrieve her in a matter of minutes, then she would perish. Or, rather, the clay vessel she inhabited would be crushed, thereby making it useless to sustain the stolen souls of dead women. But he was going to get there on time. He was CONFIDENT of that.

"Look out, Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin's voice came from somewhere far behind him. Sesshomaru obeyed and looked off to the right of himself where a curved blade reached out for his throat. The blade was connected to a handle. And the handle was connected to a chain. And the chain was connected to a boy who seemed to want to test Lord Sesshomaru's patience.

Kohaku.

Sesshomaru looked upon the young boy with mild indifference; Kohaku stared back at him with a similar expression. Neither of the two spoke. A sacred arrow whizzed between them from the general direction of where he'd heard Rin. He didn't look, but he supposed that it was Kagome. He never broke eye contact with Kohaku, even while the arrow had scraped against his armor.

"I haven't time for you, human," Sesshomaru spoke icily. Kohaku raised his weapon, his face as serene as ever, with the clear intent to strike the demon lord. Sesshomaru flipped out his Poison Whip, lightly brushing the child over the shoulder before he could dodge. He instantly fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.

"KOHAKU!" The child's sister screamed from above. He felt it unnecessary to communicate with her, however, and instead spoke to Kohaku's peaceful face.

"You might be a talented demon slayer, Kohaku, but I am a demon lord. Naraku's hold on you should not affect your understanding of such a simple concept. Do not be so foolish again..." Sesshomaru turned to Naraku and found that Kikyo's neck had been covered with tentacles during the wasted time with Sango's brother. He ran towards her in all of his demonic speed, knowing that he didn't have much time. It was nearly impossible, as it stood.

All of a sudden, he felt something collide into him from behind and fell to the hard, rocky earth. Whatever had hit him had been big, heavy, and travelling painfully fast. It took all of his strength to pull himself back to his feet again. He turned around and seen Sango jumping down from the enormous cat, her Hiraikotsu firmly in hand. Sesshomaru was sure that it had been that weapon which had knocked him to the ground so forcefully. His eyes narrowed at her, but he soon seen something glimmer in her eyes.

Tears.

Even as he watched, she darted over to her brother and started shaking him as though she was rousing him from sleep. But shaking him wouldn't wake him, Sesshomaru knew. 'I haven't time for this nonsense! I must carry out the deed that I've come all of this way to accomplish!' Sesshomaru turned back around angrily, incensed with the knowledge that he had little time left, and located Kikyo again. Only half of her head poked out from beneath Naraku's tentacles now. 'Damn...' He began to run, but then he felt something ELSE come at him from behind. It wasn't knocking him down, though. It was pulling him IN!

"WIND TUNNEL!" Sesshomaru felt his feet lift off of the ground as he began to fly towards the monk's right hand. He tried to turn in midair to find something to grab onto, but it was no use. 'Why did I ever agree to help these fools!' Kagome's pleading eyes flew before him. 'Because she, a human, saved Rin, another human, I'm meeting my demise at the hands of ANOTHER human. Pathetic.' All of a sudden, Sesshomaru felt the suction cease and fell to the ground, landing on his feet quite adeptly despite his surprise.

"DADDY!" Rin exclaimed, trying to break free of a pink mini-jail that Sesshomaru instantly recognized as Shippo. Sesshomaru, however, was already quite preoccupied with the shock of what Rin had just referred to him as. She'd just called him "Daddy," didn't she? He'd already determined that she'd thought him such a figure, but...but how had she just confirmed it all for him with that one word? How had another simple word affected him so deeply? As Sesshomaru watched on, Rin finally realized that she could slip through the bars Shippo had created of himself and was at his side in moments. "Sesshomaru-sama! I thought you were going to die! I was so scared!" Sesshomaru stared down at her, incredulous. "What is it, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked innocently, making Sesshomaru break out of his dazed trance. He smiled down at her fondly.

"Nothing at all, Rin. Go back to Shippo and stay away from the battle. Obviously, I have an explanation to give to InuYasha's friends before we are permitted to rescue Kikyo." Rin looked surprised for a moment before bowing and smiling happily at him.

"Right! No matter what happens, though, we'll never truly be apart! Not ever! Because friendships are forever! Right, Kagome?" Rin's calm demeanor was reassuring to Sesshomaru. Even in the midst of such a dangerous battle, she felt safe and cheerful. Rin looked over to Kagome as she addressed her, so Sesshomaru followed Rin's example. The miko stood next to Miroku, her hand over his, as she folded his own fingers over his deadly Wind Tunnel. She'd been the one who'd stopped Sesshomaru from spending the rest of eternity in god only knows where? 'Why am I not surprised...?' The monk was looking at her as though she were some sort of strange alien. Kagome smiled at Rin, nodding in agreement. Any fool could see that her smile was only half-hearted.

"Forever is forever, Rin-chan. We'll all always be best friends. No matter what." Kagome's voice was soft and guiding, though she was obviously shaken by what had just happened. Sesshomaru liked this tone she'd suddenly taken on, however. It was strangely calming.

"Rin. Go to Shippo now," Sesshomaru instructed evenly. Rin immediately did as she was told, skipping the entire way. Sesshomaru looked to Miroku with a touch of menace. The Wind Tunnel was a powerful weapon and Sesshomaru hadn't liked being on the receiving end. Not at all. "I did not kill Kohaku, Monk. Is it usually in your nature to attack those who mean to assist you? Kikyo is probably nonexistant thanks to your incredible ignorance," Sesshomaru spoke coolly, quietly, carefully. Kagome was watching him with something of surprise and had released Miroku's hand. The monk began wrapping the rosary beads around the Wind Tunnel, choosing to remain silent, so Sesshomaru turned and walked towards Sango and Kohaku. When she seen that he was coming over, Sango gave him a look that left the demon lord under the impression that she thought him a famished beast of some sort. She stood and blocked his path from Kohaku, who lay just behind him. Sesshomaru looked at her with annoyance.

"Very well. I don't claim to be your friend, so you aren't expected to treat me as such. However," He reached into his armor and withdrew a small vile of clear liquid. "I remain your teammate, for the time being. Give your brother a few drops of this antidote and it will accelerate his recovery. I don't believe that he's in need of it, but if it will set your mind at ease, I don't see the point in withholding it." She still looked at him doubtfully, so he set it on the ground with a scowl. Why must she distrust him so very much? Hadn't he proven himself once already? On the other hand, she DID think that he just attempted to murder her little brother. That was BOUND to cause a mood swing or two. She picked up the corked vile and looked at it uncertainly. Sesshomaru read her mind. "It isn't poison. I have no use for poison when I have such strength and my Tojikin at my side. Not to mention, I was born with a weapon that delivers a lethal amount of the most powerful form of poison know to humans or demons alike with a single blow. Why would I bother with anything less? However, wouldn't it appear more likely that I keep an antidote to my Poison Whip in order to save those who might inadvertently place themselves in my line of fire?" Sango looked to him questioningly and he answered by glancing just behind her. She turned slightly and looked out of the corner of her eye. Some yards away, Rin played a strange game of tag with the kitsune...who ran, but did not appear to be participating in the activity. The demon lord had the idea that Rin had found a new Jaken to annoy. And speaking of the toad, where might he have been these past four days? Sango turned back around and looked at him with surprise. Sesshomaru turned around and looked to Naraku. "It might be too late to save Kikyo, but there's still the matter of Naraku's demise. Where might InuYasha have run off to? I suppose he made himself scarce once he witnessed Kikyo's second passing?" Sesshomaru suggested, looking over his shoulder at Kagome and Miroku.

"I'm afraid that Kikyo isn't the only one in peril over my hasty reaction. InuYasha went after Kikyo at the same time you started towards her. He's under the tentacles with her."

Kagome's Point-Of-View

"I'm afraid that Kikyo isn't the only one in peril over my hasty reaction. InuYasha went after Kikyo at the same time you started towards her. He's under the tentacles with her." Kagome understood what Miroku meant by InuYasha's sudden danger being his fault. If he hadn't delayed Sesshomaru, then InuYasha would have had an extra hand against Naraku. Kagome felt her eyes begin to sting, but closed them tightly and reopened them. Sesshomaru would save InuYasha and everything would be okay! Everything...would be okay. Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru, determined to give InuYasha and Kikyo the happily ever after that they deserved.

"Sesshomaru, we have to save them! InuYasha AND Kikyo!" Sesshomaru didn't even look at her. He didn't look at ANYBODY, for that matter. He just seemed to be frozen, looking over his shoulder at Miroku. "Ses...Sesshomaru-chan? Are you...okay?" Sesshomaru's face formed a look of utter rage as he let out a mighty roar into the heavens. The sound echoed throughout the land, quaking through Kagome's very soul. She jumped in shocked surprise, as did Miroku and Sango. Rin and Shippo quit "playing" and looked over at the Lord of the Western Lands in fear and disbelief. Had Sesshomaru...just let out a huge roar? Kagome, however, knew just what was happening. She couldn't believe that it could happen to SESSHOMARU, though. Not the demon who was always so controlled and calm. Yet, right before her eyes, Sesshomaru's golden irises were overcome with a blood-red hue that spread even to the whites of his eyes. His face began to elongate and his claws grew even longer than usual. "No! Sesshomaru! NO!" Kagome didn't like it when InuYasha flipped out like this; it was never good. "No! Who will help us defeat Naraku if you lose yourself! Who will save Kikyo and InuYasha! SESSHOMARU! NOOO!" Sesshomaru's body began to grow at an alarming rate, changing into the form in which InuYasha had chopped his arm off. Kagome leapt onto him, but still he grew, paying her no mind at all.

Soon, he was a full-grown dog demon, towering miles into the sky with Kagome sitting atop his shoulders.

"Oh, boy, Kagome Higurashi. What have you gotten yourself into THIS time?" Kagome grabbed two fistfuls of fur and held on for dear life. Luckily, she wasn't afraid of heights, having dealt with worse in the feudal era. The beast that Kagome was forced to believe was Sesshomaru began to run at the now-miniscule Naraku. "Wow, you'll squash him like a little bug in this form!" Kagome said aloud to the dog demon. He grunted. Kagome's eyes grew wide with shocked disbelief. "No way...that you can..." Another grunt. "You can understand me!"

"Of course I can," The giant dog demon answered, almost causing Kagome to let go of her fur-handles. Her eyes had only grown wider at Sesshomaru's voice emitting from the enormous beast's jowls and they now appeared to be stuck that way. She tried to say "Oh my God," but it only came out as various crackles. "I see that you expected me to become a mindless fool like my brother? I have control, even in this form, because of my full-blooded lineage." Kagome finally managed to wipe the stunned look off of her face. She looked out towards Naraku, baffled by the sudden understanding of it all.

"Right. Control. Full-demon. Let's rescue InuYasha and Kikyo now, eh?" Sesshomaru laughed, causing Kagome to bounce between his two-acre wide shoulder blades. Talk about broad shoulders!

"Of course. But if we just STEP on Naraku, as you've suggested, then they'll be killed as well." Kagome reached behind her and retrieved her bow, grabbing an arrow from her quiver while she was at it.

"You keep Naraku off of me and I'll fire arrows, kay?"

"Right."

"Can't have you doing that, now, Priestess. You'll ruin all of Naraku's plans," A feminine voice came from off to the side, causing Kagome to aim her bow and arrow in that direction. Kagome's eyes narrowed at the figure upon the flying feather. The miko had been wondering when she'd show up to complicate matters.

"And what does that matter to you, Kagura? Aren't you the one who keeps trying to get him killed when he's not looking?" Kagome snorted, taking careful aim at Kagura's heart with her arrow. Kagura smiled and Kagome was reminded that Kagura HAD no heart--neither physically nor emotionally. Evil wench.

"That's not the point, today, Priestess. I've been promised my heart in return for the new special helper that Naraku's taken a shine to." Kagome's eyes narrowed further as she watched Kagura's smile become more malicious. She really hated it when that woman was happy about anything. It never brought good news for anyone who opposed Naraku.

"And who might that be, exactly?" The miko asked in a low voice, not sure if she wanted to know the answer or not. Kagura laughed out loud and Kagome felt herself lift off of Sesshomaru's back by an invisible force. She'd been right; she HADN'T wanted to know the answer. "Sesshomaru! Help!" she called out, flailing in mid-air like some sort of stroke victim.

"Why," Kagura gave her a cruel look of mock surprise, "you, of course! Now that Naraku has decided on killing Kikyo, we need a new Jewel doctor. Without you, the Jewel can't become whole again. So, come along and let's get me my freedom..." Sesshomaru turned suddenly and bit at Kagura, but before Kagome knew what was happening, SHE was the one in front of the beast's collossal fangs. "Tsk, tsk, tsk! Don't want to hurt your new little friend, now do you?" Sesshomaru paused for a moment before his cavernous mouth pulled back and shut, glowering murderously at Kagura. "What? Is the Great Lord Sesshomaru really so helpless over a mere human girl?" Kagura gave him a look of disgust while Kagome gazed at him in astounded wonder. She hadn't really expected Sesshomaru to swallow her along with Kagura but...but why hadn't he, really? Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and he brought his front paw up--his only front paw--and swiped at Kagura, standing on his hind legs temporarily. He reminded Kagome of a circus elephant with fur. Kagura released Kagome in her surprise but, while one might expect her to be glad over it, Kagome was feeling a little anxious. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she was plummetting seventy feet to her death? Just as she opened her mouth to scream, however, she landed atop something unbelievably soft: the top of Sesshomaru's head. What's more? Just as Kagome was being unknowingly recued by Sesshomaru, his Lordship's mouth closed over on Kagura. Kagome felt the great dog demon swallow and knew that Kagura was no more.

"Um...tasty?" Kagome asked sarcastically. Sesshomaru seemed too surprised for a moment to respond (He mustn't have known she'd managed to land on his head...), but then he laughed.

"No, actually. Bitter." Kagome laughed as well, making herself comfortable among the down-like fur of Sesshomaru's skull, before turning back to stare at the distant Naraku who stood so many miles below them. "It's strange, though, that he let both of them die like that. There's no one left to fight on his side anymore. Even Kohaku has been put out of commission. No Kohaku, no Kanna, no Kagura. What could he be planning?" Sesshomaru asked, causing Kagome to slip off of the top of his head as his mouth rapidly opened and closed. It was as though he were doing a headbanger of some sort. At that idea, Kagome received a hilarious vision of Sesshomaru as the lead singer of the KISS band. She laughed as she scaled down the nape of the dog demon's neck, using his fur to hang from as she went.

"I don't know, but it can't be good." Kagome settled herself in the ridge of Sesshomaru's shoulder blades. "Let's go and save InuYasha before he suffocates to death under there." With that, Sesshomaru began walking back towards Naraku. Kagome wasn't worried about InuYasha dying at all...because she knew that Sesshomaru would save him. Sesshomaru would save everybody. She reached back for another arrow, having dropped her other one when Kagura snatched her up. This battle would be over soon. And they'd be the victors.