InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Separation ❯ Storm ( Chapter 13 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: King Baka 
Naraku makes his move to complete the Shikon no Tama. Can the Inu-gang defeat him now that he is more powerful than ever?
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.21.2008 | Updated On: 10.14.2013 | Pages: 5 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 1.3K | Status: Completed
Naraku makes his move to complete the Shikon no Tama. Can the Inu-gang defeat him now that he is more powerful than ever?
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.21.2008 | Updated On: 10.14.2013 | Pages: 5 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 1.3K | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the publicly known characters, plot, etc. I’m just renting them from Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, etc. I do own the plot of this story and any original characters I’ve created. I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.
Fanfiction of the Week: To Bind a Soul, by fire-goddess6
This was one of the first stories I read, and it really got me into reading fanfiction.
Storm
Inuyasha gazed down from his perch, watching over his sleeping companions. Leaping down, he piled some more wood on the fire to keep the night’s chill at bay. After all, the humans would be no good to him if they were too stiff to walk in the morning. After an extended break, the Inu-gang was finally on the road again. They had spent nearly two weeks in Kaede’s village, waiting for word from Shinobu, but eventually impatience won out. The boredom had nearly driven Inuyasha insane, so he determined to head out with or without his friends. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara all gave in and joined him, Kasumi choosing to stay behind. The inhabitants were quickly discovering that her mother had taught her exceptional healing skills, rivaling Kaede’s even. But for Inuyasha, seeing the happiness of others only reminded him of his own misery. Worse was how close the monk and taijiya had been getting. Oh, they didn’t do anything in his presence, but he couldn’t miss the way their scents seemed to intertwine, or how they would occasionally return with swollen lips and glazed eyes. It had taken him several days to realize why their new level of intimacy bothered him so much—he was jealous, plain and simple. But why? He certainly didn’t like Sango that way, and he no longer wanted that kind of relationship with Kikyou. But then again maybe it wasn’t really jealousy; maybe he was just pissy because his shard-detector wasn’t there to do her job. Yes, that was a logical excuse. Too bad he didn’t really believe it.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. This was exactly why they were traveling. Sitting around waiting for good news left far too much time for contemplation. Yes, he knew he needed Kagome by his side, and he knew she was his best friend, but anything else was…well, it was a hell of a lot easier not to think about it. Was he running from his problems? Sure. But right now he just wanted to get her back without complicating things. He definitely didn’t want to spend another moonless night without her. The memory caused him to shudder; the loneliness he felt on that night had been overwhelming, to a degree he hadn’t experienced since immediately after his mother’s death. He was eternally grateful for Kirara’s company, and had sat awake stroking her back into the wee hours of the morning. She spent a lot more time with him after that, especially when her mistress was otherwise occupied. Inuyasha’s nose told him the monk and taijiya hadn’t been intimate yet. It seemed the monk was at least smart enough not to risk knocking Sango up before their quest was over. But now Inuyasha knew he needed to make noise when returning to camp from gathering wood or food, especially if Shippou had not remained in camp to ‘chaperone’ the adults. He had learned that the hard way that first time…
He was happy for them though, and Kagome would be thrilled. Thinking of the miko made him feel frustrated and jealous all over again, however, and he wondered if he would ever get any relief from his overactive mind.
“What is it, Inuyasha?” Miroku asked anxiously.
“It’s really faint…but there’s no doubt! That’s Naraku’s scent!” Inuyasha took off following the trail, and the rest of the gang hopped on Kirara and flew after him. They traveled quickly for several minutes before Shippou noticed something above them.
“Hey everyone, look!” he exclaimed, pointing to the sky. There was Kagura, soaring leisurely away from them on her feather, and it quickly became apparent that it was her scent Inuyasha had picked up. The wind sorceress glanced behind her, locking eyes with the hanyou, then turned and continued at her unhurried pace. She’s allowing us to follow her?
“Do you think it’s a trap?” Miroku asked, his thoughts flowing along the same lines.
“I don’t know, Houshi-sama,” Sango interjected. “We’ve seen Kagura’s willingness to betray Naraku before.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Inuyasha declared. “Even if it is a trap, we can’t miss a chance to get close to Naraku. If he’s here, we have to meet him and kill him. It’s the only way.”
No one commented on Inuyasha’s words, though all knew that he was referring to the ‘only way’ to be reunited with Kagome, above all else. If they were surprised at his honesty, they didn’t show it. Instead, everyone nodded in response, their eyes hardening with determination. One way or another, today would mark the end of their quest.
Kagura led them into a lush forest, so thick that Inuyasha had to periodically leap above the canopy to make sure they were still on her tail. After a while, however, that was no longer necessary, as Naraku’s scent began to filter through the trees. They were getting close.
Suddenly the vegetation ended, and they skidded to a halt at one end of a large clearing. On the other side stood Naraku, holding the black mass of the nearly complete Shikon no Tama in one hand. With his other he took two pink shards from Kagura’s grasp, and clenched his fist around them. When he opened his hand they were dark as night, and he combined them with the larger piece as sparks of evil energy emanated from the joining.
“Ah, the Shikon no Tama,” he declared. “Just one more shard and it will be complete.” Then turning his attention to the new arrivals, he continued. “Kukuku, Inuyasha and his human pets. I’m glad you are here to witness the rebirth of the Shikon no Tama. How ever did you find me, I wonder? It seems my disloyal incarnation did not even attempt to conceal her treachery this time.”
The Inu-gang watched transfixed as Naraku held out his palm, and in it appeared a still beating heart. He squeezed, and Kagura’s hand flew to her chest as she sank to her knees with a choked cry.
“Kagura, you have been a thorn in my side for far too long,” he told her coldly. “Now die, the meaningless death of a slave.”
The strike came without warning, as a silver blade sliced through Naraku’s wrist, dropping the pulsing heart to the dirt. A black and gold blur rushed past, snatching the organ and retreating toward the center of the clearing. Kagura came back to herself, and sent waves of wind blades and tornadoes rushing toward her former master. Then she joined her savior, and the figure handed her the heart. It disappeared inside her chest almost immediately, and a look of unsurpassed wonder crossed her face.
“My heart…it’s beating. T-Thank you, Kohaku.”
“Kohaku!” Sango called as she darted towards him, but the boy was already in motion, leaping away from her.
“No, Aneue! Stay away from me!”
Sango halted, staring at her brother with an unreadable expression. Kohaku stared right back, his eyes holding so many conflicting emotions it was a wonder he could think straight.
“Kukuku…”
Naraku’s laughter drew their attention back to the other side of the clearing, where the rapidly clearing smoke revealed the dark hanyou standing intact, protected by his barrier. “I see, Kohaku, just how long have you had your memories back? You actually managed to catch me unawares. But you wasted your chance by saving Kagura. You and your precious ‘Aneue’ seem to have a soft spot for the weak. It is only fitting that she witness your death!”
Dozens of tentacles sprang forth from the barrier, heading toward the young taijiya. The Inu-gang and Kagura leapt into action simultaneously. They severed the writhing appendages in droves, but Naraku’s supply was inexhaustible. In the end, one of them managed to sneak by their spirited defense. Kohaku’s cry of agony had all eyes turning in his direction, just in time to see the shard of the Shikon no Tama torn from his back.
“Kohaku!” Sango screamed as if her very soul was wracked with indescribable pain. She ran to her brother’s side, cradling him in her arms. Her tears were temporarily stilled when he opened his eyes and regarded her calmly.
“Aneue?” he rasped, coughing up blood.
“Yes, Kohaku, I’m here,” she replied, forcing herself to smile despite the despair that gripped her.
Kohaku could not muster a smile in response. “Aneue, I’m sorry…for killing everyone…for hurting you.”
“Shh, there’s nothing to apologize for. You were being controlled,” she said, stroking his cheek.
His eyes widened. “You forgive me?”
“Of course I do. You’re my only brother, and I love you.”
Kohaku closed his eyes, assuming a peaceful expression. “I’m glad. If you can forgive me…perhaps I can face father again…”
Sango choked back her tears. How desperately she wanted to tell Kohaku he would be fine, that tomorrow they would wake up and start a new life. But that wasn’t going to happen; she had seen enough death to know that her brother was at its door.
“Don’t talk like that. Father would be proud of you.”
“You really…think so?” he pondered, his last breath leaving him.
Then he was gone, and Sango laid her head on his chest, weeping bitterly. Friends and enemies watched silently, their emotions ranging from sympathy to glee. Miroku felt something stirring inside him, an unparalleled rage that boiled his blood. Without hesitation he stepped forward and unleashed the full might of Kazaana upon the monster who dared cause his intended bride so much pain. Smirking, Naraku released an entire hive of Saimyoushou into the air, which immediately began to get sucked into the wind tunnel. His amusement wavered only slightly as the monk kept the Kazaana open regardless, pulling him inexorably closer, centimeter by centimeter. Pitiful, houshi. Your body will give out long before you ever suck me in.
Inuyasha, however, refused to stand by and allow that to happen. Grabbing the monk’s wrist, he forcefully closed the fingers of his hand and rewrapped the prayer beads around it. Miroku collapsed to a knee, dizzy with the poison he had already consumed, and glared up at the hanyou angrily.
“Why, Inuyasha?!”
“You’re a real baka, you know that? You don’t have to fuckin’ kill yourself, not while I’m here! Sango needs you. Are you just gonna leave her alone?”
Realization dawned in the monk’s eyes, and he turned to regard his beloved. She returned his gaze, her tears making his heart clench painfully. Understanding passed between them, and he cursed his own stupidity. Inuyasha was right; he couldn’t desert his place by Sango’s side, not while there was still a chance for a life together.
“You just sit there, bouzu,” Inuyasha ordered sternly. “Leave Naraku to me.”
“You should have let him die, Inuyasha,” Naraku taunted. “Then he would not have had to witness this.”
Inuyasha dodged the tentacles set on punching through his torso. He immediately sensed that the attack had been a feint, however, and sure enough as he turned he spied several more tentacles racing toward Sango. Hindered as she was by her kneeling position and slowed by lingering grief, not to mention already sluggish human reflexes, there was no way Sango would be able to avoid the attack.
A pink light flashed through the clearing, obliterating the tentacles and turning everyone’s attention to the edge of the forest behind them. Inuyasha already knew who he would see, and sure enough Kikyou stepped coolly out of the woods a moment later. Naraku laughed wickedly, the sound causing ice to settle in the pit of Inuyasha’s stomach. His instincts were filling him with a sense of dread, though he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why.
“Ahh, Kikyou. To what do I owe the pleasure?” he quipped, repeating his words from not so long ago.
“I am here to correct past mistakes. You will not live to see the sunset, Naraku.”
Inuyasha studied Kikyou; to the undiscerning eye she seemed her usual composed, unruffled self. But he detected something else in her eyes, her expression, her voice. It was a sense of urgency, a desperation he had never seen in her before. His feeling of dread intensified.
“Oh? And just how did you know I was here?” Naraku prodded, relishing in Kikyou’s discomfort.
“I knew you would be here; you never miss an opportunity to taunt me.” She drew another arrow from her quiver and fired, but the shot ricocheted harmlessly off the barrier.
“You no longer hold the power to harm me, Kikyou. I, on the other hand… I ask you again, how did you know I would be here?”
The dead miko’s mask cracked slightly at this, allowing anger and frustration to bubble to the surface. But Naraku was relentless.
“Perhaps this place has some meaning for us… Ah, yes, I remember now! This was where we met to discuss getting rid of your reincarnation.”
Inuyasha gasped, suddenly finding it impossible to breathe as he turned his gaze on his former love.
“Yes, Kikyou,” Naraku continued mercilessly, “tell Inuyasha how you came to me with a plan to banish Kagome from this world. Tell him how you led me to the portal, how you stole the shards of the Shikon no Tama in Kagome’s possession and handed them to me. And tell him how you let me seal the well when you were finished. Tell him!”
Throughout this tirade Inuyasha watched Kikyou, as her fury slowly shifted to remorse. She made eye contact with him for a split second, then lowered her gaze in shame. Inuyasha didn’t want to believe the words coming from that filthy bastard’s mouth, but Kikyou’s body language was proving them true. And suddenly it all made sense; how Naraku knew about the well, how he took Kagome’s jewel shards without killing her, Kikyou’s attempt to take him to hell. It all made sense, a perverse sort of logic that threatened to make him physically ill.
“Like I said, I am here to correct past mistakes,” Kikyou replied neutrally, once again concealing her emotions. But Naraku was not yet through indulging his lust for torment.
“And Inuyasha, how does it feel to be once again betrayed by the woman you love?”
Inuyasha was silent for several long moments, eyes closed. His ears swiveled like radar dishes atop his head, but otherwise he appeared deep in thought. And so he was. Past warred with present, as he tried to balance distant memory with everything he had learned about himself since his awakening, and about his relationships with Kikyou and her reincarnation. In that moment, it was absolutely clear that there was a fundamental inaccuracy within Naraku’s statement. One that he saw no further reason to deny voice.
“I don’t love Kikyou,” he answered softly, never taking his eyes off her. “I don’t think I ever did.”
Hurt flashed across Kikyou’s expression before her eyes darkened with understanding. She too could no longer deny the truth behind their relationship, especially in light of her recent actions. It did not mean that she cared nothing for him, or valued any less the companionship he had given her. Had things gone according to plan, with the Shikon no Tama forever removed from this world along with Inuyasha’s youkai side, they would have been content. Perhaps not madly in love, but content to live out their remaining days together. That would have been enough for her. While Inuyasha no longer felt the same way, she knew he still cared for her as well. And she would gladly fight by his side once more, attempt to atone for some of her sins.
If Naraku thought that Inuyasha’s revelation was an indication that he was succeeding in his manipulations, the inu-hanyou quickly dispelled that notion.
“You can stop trying to turn me against Kikyou, Naraku. It won’t work. The only thing I hate here is you. And I’ve had just about enough of your blabbering.” Drawing Tetsusaiga from its sheath, he transformed the blade into its hard, diamond-like form.
“Kongousouha!!!”
The mighty attack surged forward, sending spears of diamond hurtling toward Naraku, but the evil hanyou’s barrier held firm. His laughter and the smug look he wore irked Inuyasha to no end. What the hell? Not long ago that would have punched right through!
“I assure you your measly attacks are useless, Inuyasha. Now that I have the complete Shikon no Tama in my possession, I am invincible!”
Inuyasha swore under his breath. That dumbass wolf…he must have let Naraku take his shards. The two shards they had seen Kagura hand Naraku before must have belonged to Kouga. Despite their mutual animosity, he hoped the mongrel was okay, if only because he hated to see Kagome sad. But back to the here and now, Kouga’s failings would make his own task much more difficult. Still, nobody was invincible, no matter how inflated their sense of megalomania. There had to be a way. At one time or another, he had broken through Naraku’s barriers using the Red Tetsusaiga and Kongousouha. Now it appeared that Naraku’s protective shield was immune to both. A sudden thought struck him as he considered this. The barrier could repel both of his most powerful barrier-breaking attacks separately, but could it stand against both of them at once? Was it even possible to use both of them at the same time? He had never tried it before, but it was his only idea and there was no time like the present.
Focusing his energy, Inuyasha called forth the red power of the Tetsusaiga, won through strength of character during the rescue of a little hanyou girl. Next the blade crystalized, an ability won through strength of loyalty at his father’s gravesite. Character and loyalty, two traits he had never thought would be pillars of his existence. Yet now he could not fathom a single thing he would not do for his friends, or a reason why he would betray their respect. Tetsusaiga roared, the diamond-like surface of the blade shimmering with a deep crimson light, undulating beautifully. Calling upon every emotion he could muster, every memory of triumph and defeat, and fueled by his desire to protect all of his reasons for living, he swung his sword with a determined cry.
The diamond shards flashed across the clearing, their impacts against the barrier leaving splashes of red in their wake. They seemed to be penetrating deeper, deflecting away with less force once their energy was spent. But deflect away they did. The barrier wavered before his eyes, but still held. It teetered on the brink of collapse, but it appeared that Tetsusaiga still lacked the power to destroy it. Then a streak of pink, the final drop of pressure needed to burst through and sweep the whole barrier aside. He thought he glimpsed Kikyou’s arrow and the last few diamond shards strike Naraku’s body before the entire world went dark.
The explosive cloud of miasma immediately engulfed the entirety of the surrounding area. Visibility shrunk to a few feet in either direction. Inuyasha coughed, the noxious fumes burning his throat raw. Even he would not last long in this earthly hell. He could only hope that Miroku had managed to raise a spiritual barrier in time, though that was at best a delay of the inevitable. The only way any of them would survive was if he finished Naraku off quickly. A goal which was quickly ascending to the level of miracles.
Only finely-honed reflexes saved him from sudden impalement. The tentacles emerged continuously and without warning, and it took all of Inuyasha’s skill and grace to avoid being run through. But he could only dodge what he could see, and the damnable miasma gave him precious little time to react. One of the tentacles struck his leg, and the resulting stumble gave Naraku the opening he needed. Several of the appendages rammed through his chest and emerged bloodily from his back, but Inuyasha limited himself to an agonized growl. He raised his claws to free himself but more tentacles wrapped around his arms, trapping them to his sides. Soon he was covered head to toe in the writhing, oozing bindings, Tetsusaiga lying harmlessly on the ground out of reach. Naraku reeled him in until they were staring at each other nose to nose, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. Inuyasha returned a fierce glare, refusing to show any weakness to this bastard, no matter the circumstances.
“You know, Inuyasha, I should just kill you. But I think that would be too simple, a privilege you don’t deserve.” To Inuyasha’s undying horror, Naraku pulled open his robes, revealing a black void, one that drew him inexorably forward.
“I am loath to take a filthy hanyou into my body, but it is only temporary. I shall release you just long enough to show you Kagome’s lifeless corpse, once I am through with her. Oh, yes, I shall find a way to reach her; no one can escape Naraku’s grasp. Then I will send you to join her in hell. Until then, suffer in darkness and agony!”
Inuyasha struggled frantically, his nerves set afire by Naraku’s threat. He searched desperately for something, anything he could do so save himself and Kagome from the terrible fate their enemy had planned. There! In the void, something glimmered in the blackness, and immediately Inuyasha realized what it was. Using all of his strength to free his right hand, he shoved it into the void, his fingers closing on the Shikon no Tama. Perhaps if he could wrench it from Naraku’s grasp, the dark hanyou’s power would diminish and he could be defeated. Try as he might, however, Inuyasha could not withdraw his arm. In fact, his entire shoulder had now been consumed, and more of his body was slowly disappearing inside of Naraku.
“Kukuku, go ahead and grasp the jewel; it will do you no good. It is part of my body now, just as you will be.”
Inuyasha’s mind slowed to a crawl. Could it really…end like this? After everything he had been through, all the magnificent and miserable experiences, happiness and heartache—were friendships so hard kept to be wiped from existence so easily? After he had faced so many of his personal demons, surpassed his illustrious father, seen a great part of his emotional barriers crumble and even found love… Love. It was so clear to him now, in this moment when death was assured and regret threatened to overwhelm his consciousness. It was what quickened his heartbeat, boiled his blood, sparked his jealousy, and warmed his heart. It was the veiled emotion which drew him inexorably to her, and made him ache when she was gone. It spurred nameless desires to which he dared not give voice, and his fear of it had caused him to deny it for far, far too long. Inuyasha, for the first time, saw himself for the person he truly was.
He loved her. Why had he not realized it sooner? Perhaps his past had haunted him with memories of love proven false, or perhaps he was just stubborn. But that time was done now. He loved her more than life itself, with every fiber of his being. He wanted to give her everything he was, and longed for nothing more than to receive all of her in return. He had been fortunate enough during his life to have enjoyed her friendship. It would have to be enough. The light burgeoning in his heart was not strong enough to push back the invading cold, or unfreeze his numb limbs. But he would cling to this light, this dream, and draw comfort from it even in the depths of unfathomable darkness. And when he met her on the other side…he would finally tell her what she meant to him.
A light flashed, illuminating the overpowering blackness around him. Then another. Then another. Soon the brightness was constant and increasing, radiating out from his right hand. Drawing back the appendage, he looked in his palm and gasped. There sat the Shikon no Tama, glowing pink, the last strands of corruption disappearing before his eyes. Then the luminescence swelled, blinding him and filling him with a power unlike any he had ever felt before. It was too much, and he threw his head back and screamed to the heavens as the energy overwhelmed him, creating a monumental explosion. He thought he heard a fading shriek of agony as unconsciousness finally took him.
Through eyes narrowed in pain he beheld a flickering glow, so fleeting that he thought it fantasy. Then it happened again, soon becoming a constant light, surging against the darkness. He heard Inuyasha’s cry just as the light erupted in a pure white explosion.
Naraku’s scream of agony was abruptly cut off, as waves of purity rushed outward, dispelling the miasma. Miroku slumped backward in exhaustion the instant the danger of the noxious curse had passed, Sango’s strong arms holding him tightly as the wind whipped and howled. When at last the air had calmed, and his racing heartbeat had slowed, he finally dared to open his eyes. The bright blue sky which greeted his gaze was as beautiful as it was shocking. He had honestly never expected to see sun or sky again. How was this possible?
Sitting up, he turned around to face Sango only to find her just as perplexed. Both of them studied their surroundings. There was not a shred of green anywhere to be seen; every leaf and blade of grass had been withered and choked to death. And yet, there were no traces of Naraku’s miasma. Shippou and Kirara looked at him, silently questioning why they were alive. Whatever had purified the miasma had clearly not purified either of them, which was odd now that he considered it. Perhaps it was not true spiritual energy, as a monk or miko would employ, but something else entirely. His mind was still too muddled at the moment to begin to hypothesize; right now he just wanted to enjoy being alive.
His expression fell immediately when he turned to his beloved. Sango was gazing down at her fallen brother, her eyes dulled with sadness and her loneliness a palpable thing. She hesitantly reached out and closed his eyes for the final time, biting her lower lip so hard she nearly drew blood. But she shed no further tears. Perhaps those would come later, after the trauma of this afternoon had subsided. Miroku waited in silence, sensing that she was about to speak.
“Kohaku…how did you earn such a retched fate?” she asked softly. “You were so kind, so loving. Why were you cursed so?!” Her hands balled into fists, and Miroku grasped them lovingly in his own.
“In the end, the Kohaku you remember emerged once again. I know he is resting peacefully, Sango. He would not want you to so mourn his passing.”
She did not respond, but Miroku could tell that her sense of loneliness still hung heavily around her. He could understand why; she truly was the last taijiya now. But that did not mean that she was alone, a fact which he intended to prove to her. Moving to her side, he placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. She leaned into him bonelessly, not resisting as he took her clenched hands and held them. Gradually she relaxed, the tenderness of his embrace providing more comfort than he would ever know. When she felt him plant a kiss on her temple, she followed him and captured his lips with her own. It was brief, with little passion, but there was enough love and gratitude to speak volumes. She would grieve for her brother, but she would never forget that she was loved.
They rested their foreheads together, Miroku’s right hand coming up to brush across her cheek. Sango recoiled suddenly, snatching his hand out of thin air and studying it closely. Miroku felt the air whoosh from his lungs when he realized what so enthralled her. It was not something that was there, but a long-suffered curse which was now blessedly absent. He was finally free.
“Naraku is dead,” Sango declared, managing a joyous smile despite her sorrow. Neither yet knew how, but both immediately stood and rushed to check on their hanyou companion. Inuyasha had been at the epicenter of that all-encompassing blast of purity, but he appeared to be no worse for wear, much like their full-youkai companions. He was unconscious, however, and though his chest rose and fell regularly they were unable to wake him. Deciding not to worry too much until more time had passed, they set to tending his injuries. It was during this process that the fingers of Inuyasha’s right hand fell open, allowing a small bauble to roll onto the grass.
Multiple shocked gasps rang out. There lay the complete Shikon no Tama, its color neither pink nor black. Instead it shone with a white light of the upmost purity. Miroku was the first to come up with a plausible explanation, though he had to run it over in his mind a few times to make sure he wasn’t crazy.
“He purified it.” When the others only stared at him dumbfounded, he endeavored to explain. “I know it sounds insane, but think about what was happening. One moment Inuyasha was about to be assimilated into Naraku’s body, and the next there’s an explosion of such force that it killed Naraku and dispelled his miasma in one fell swoop. And now we’re sitting here with a white Shikon no Tama. I can’t think of another way this could have happened. Inuyasha must have purified it somehow.”
“But how can that be possible for someone with youkai blood?”
Miroku considered that for a moment. “Well, we have seen both humans and youkai corrupt the Shikon no Tama with ill intent, correct? If an evil human can corrupt the jewel, would it not be possible for a youkai pure of heart to cleanse it?”
“I suppose,” Sango admitted reluctantly. “That would explain why Shippou and Kirara are fine. But purity of heart alone is not enough to keep the Shikon no Tama pure in the face of outside influences. We saw that in the stone oni’s stomach. Once it left Kagome-chan’s hands, the shard became corrupted by the foul atmosphere inside the oni.”
“True, and Naraku’s presence this afternoon must have been many times more corruptive.” Miroku sighed. “It does not make sense, no matter how you look at it. But we all saw what happened, and the Shikon no Tama here speaks for itself. Somehow Inuyasha found a way to purify it. Perhaps when he wakes up he can shed some light on what might have occurred.”
Shippou, who had remained silent until now, spoke up suddenly. “Maybe Kagome helped him somehow?”
“What makes you say that, Shippou?”
“He was yelling her name right before the jewel was purified, wasn’t he?”
Miroku and Sango shared a look. Neither of them had heard Inuyasha’s cry over the howling shockwave, but if Shippou’s youkai hearing could be believed, this revelation might be a major clue. Suspicion dawned in Miroku’s mind, and he could tell that Sango shared it. But it was too early to give voice to their thoughts, as pleasant as they might be. They would wait to see what Inuyasha had to say when he came to.
“I wonder what happened to Kikyou,” Shippou observed, jumping to another subject as only young children can.
“Or Kagura for that matter,” Sango added.
“I’m right here.”
The voice came from above them, and immediately all of the conscious members of the Inu-gang leapt to their feet. There was Kagura, floating a few meters above them, having used a brief period of cloud cover to conceal her shadow.
“Don’t mind me,” Kagura told them with a slightly taunting tone. “I was so enjoying your informative conversation. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
With that, the wind sorceress dropped from her feather to land a half dozen meters away. Sango brandished hiraikotsu and dropped into a fighting stance, unsure whether Kagura was friend or foe. But Miroku heard what Kagura did not say. We were so engrossed that she could have killed us easily. They had been foolish to let their guards down, but it appeared that Kagura was not interested in taking their lives. She held up a hand in a gesture of peace.
“Relax, taijiya. I’m done fighting with you people. I’ve had enough of that for one lifetime. I just wanted to verify that Naraku is really dead. After today you’ll probably never see me again.”
“Where will you go?”
“None of your business, houshi. I’ll go wherever the hell I want.” She finished as if that concept was the sweetest sentiment ever to pass her lips.
“It is my business, Kagura,” he told her sternly. “As a houshi, I am tasked with protecting the innocent. If your intention is to continue your master’s legacy, then we will fight you here and now.” He readied his staff and fell in beside Sango.
Kagura waved her fan flippantly. “Tch. You worried I’ll go slaughter a village or something? I don’t want anything to do with humans. Forget this,” she said, mounting her feather once more. “Life is too sweet to spend it fighting with you people.”
“Wait, Kagura!”
“What?” the wind sorceress demanded impatiently. “I already told you I won’t go attacking humans. Can you leave me alone, now? Freedom is calling.”
“Just answer me one question. You were high above during the battle, were you not? Did you see what happened to Kikyou?”
“The creepy dead miko? She’s long gone. She had a barrier to protect her from the miasma, but then when that wave of purity came by she dropped it. Almost like she wanted to go… Whatever. Well, have a nice life!”
“Wait!”
Kagura drew her fan in annoyance. “Don’t make me use this just to get away from you people,” she warned. Miroku could tell she was serious, but there was one more question he needed answered, for Kagome’s sake.
“Did you kill Kouga when you took his shards?”
Kagura snorted. “Him? Nah, he’s alive. Cut up pretty bad and royally pissed though. I figured he would suffer more if I let him live with the knowledge that I tore him up again. Next time you see him, tell him I’ll finish the job if he ever comes after me.”
Then she was gone, within moments no more than a speck in the distant sky. Miroku grinned wryly and shook his head. In the end, he was glad Kagura had won her freedom. He had detected no trace of untruth when she said she would leave humans alone. And he was happy that she spared Kouga’s life, whatever the reason behind it. With any luck, they would never have cause to seek her out and everyone could live out their lives in peace.
“I wonder how long Inuyasha will mourn Kikyou this time,” Sango observed, her tone one of genuine curiosity rather than reproach. He had declared that he no longer loved her, after all. The deeper implications of that declaration, as well as the other events of this strangest of afternoons would have to wait until Inuyasha woke for further illumination.
“No, Inuyasha, you are very much alive.”
Spinning toward the familiar voice, Inuyasha saw Kikyou materialize out of the air.
“K-Kikyou? If I’m not dead, then where the hell are we?”
“I know not where we are, but you are merely asleep. I, on the other hand, am dead.”
“Dead?” he repeated mournfully.
“Do not be sad, Inuyasha. I chose this; I no longer wish to wander the world in a body made of bones and graveyard soil. I came here to see you one last time…and to apologize. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done, for the pain I have caused you?”
Inuyasha was stunned speechless. Kikyou looked so downtrodden, as if only his forgiveness could allow her to rest in peace. It seemed like all they had done since Naraku’s cruel trick had been to hurt each other. But there was happiness in their past as well. She had been the first woman to show him companionship, and he had been the lone bright spot in her otherwise lonely existence. It was true that Kikyou’s latest betrayal was probably the most despicable he had ever experienced. But she was genuinely remorseful, and had fought by his side in the end. It was her arrow which had pierced Naraku’s barrier, allowing the current state of affairs to come to fruition. He did not know exactly what the situation was, but if he was alive, then Naraku almost certainly was not. In the end, his decision was easy.
“Of course, Kikyou.”
Brightness returned to her eyes, and a genuine smile to her face. Inuyasha was struck; she looked so much like the Kikyou of old, free of the bitterness and hate she had carried upon her shoulders since her resurrection.
“Thank you, Inuyasha. Now…go to Kagome. She loves you as I never could.”
“Kikyou…” Inuyasha whispered dumbly, unable to wrap his head around what Kikyou was telling him to do. To have her blessing for how he so desperately wanted to spend his life, and whom he wanted to spend it with, meant the world to him. Seeing her like this, he remembered why he had fallen in love with her in the first place. And it was love, perhaps not in the fullest or purest sense. But it had been love nonetheless, his first taste, and he would be forever grateful to the woman who had opened his heart. Though the full extent of his heart now belonged to another, there would always be a special place there for Kikyou.
“Kikyou,” he repeated, at a loss for words.
“And when you see Kagome again, tell her I’m sorry…for everything.”
“I will, Kikyou. Thank you.” He let his eyes shine with everything left unsaid, and her smile grew wider and more radiant still.
“Farewell, Inuyasha. Be happy.”
Then she vanished, leaving Inuyasha alone once more. Goodbye, Kikyou. I hope you find the peace you’ve been looking for. Then the world around him began to fade, and he was plunged into darkness once more. Only it wasn’t pitch black; it was as if some light was trying to force its way through. As the sounds and smells of the real world once again bombarded his senses, Inuyasha opened his eyes. He found himself staring at a wooden ceiling. He was lying on the floor of some run-down, abandoned hut, and Shippou was playing with his kitsune top across the room.
“Oi,” he grunted, raising a hand to his head. He felt lightheaded and more than a little hoarse. But his sore throat was the least of his worries, as he tried to sit up and cringed at the pain shooting through his chest. Someone had bandaged him up at least, and he laid back down to avoid reopening the wounds.
“Inuyasha, you’re awake! How are you feeling?”
“Like shit, but I’ve had worse. Where is everyone?” he demanded, failing to keep his anxiety from his tone. The last he knew, his friends had been in mortal peril. He didn’t smell any blood aside from his own, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Kirara at least was sleeping peacefully by his side in her kitten form.
“Miroku and Sango went outside to talk.”
“To talk, huh?” Inuyasha muttered dryly. Shippou made a face; he too had walked in on them kissing, though thankfully just once.
“I think they’re really just talking though. Kohaku…”
Inuyasha didn’t need the kit to finish; all of them had witnessed the boy’s demise. But if Miroku and Sango were well enough to mourn, then they were probably fine. They were likely making plans for how to dispose of Kohaku’s body. No doubt Sango would want to bury him in her old village, a time-sensitive task which Inuyasha realized was being delayed because of his infirmity.
“Wah! Inuyasha, lie back down. You shouldn’t be up yet!”
“Ah, shut up, runt.”
Nonetheless, Inuyasha quickly realized that the kit had been right. His bandages now had several red stains, and pain lanced through his chest with every heartbeat. But at least he was on his feet, though it took long moments of leaning against the wall with his eyes closed before he could get his head to stop spinning. Now that the adrenaline of battle had worn off, he was finally feeling the full extent of his injuries. He was lucky to be alive.
Hurried footsteps reached his ears before both Miroku and Sango rushed into the hut, led by Shippou.
“Inuyasha, lie down,” Miroku ordered sternly. “We did not move you here and bandage you up so you could reinjure yourself by being stubborn.”
“I’m fine,” he tried to say with conviction, but it only came out as a pained grumble. “Don’t worry about me. Go do what you gotta do.”
Instantly Miroku understood. While leaving a body outside too long before burial was a concern, he and Sango had agreed that the burial would have to wait. They had done what they could in the meantime, wrapping Kohaku in a cloak they had found in the hut. It would have to do until the morning, when they hoped they could make a quick flight over to the taijiya village.
“Kirara cannot carry all of us,” Miroku replied, including Kohaku in that analysis. “And the journey is too far for Shippou to maintain his flying form. We cannot leave you by yourself while you are injured.”
“Keh! I’m fine I said. I can take care of myself.”
“Against weaker youkai, perhaps. But against an opponent of any strength you would have difficulty, Inuyasha. How much do you think you will recover by morning?”
Inuyasha growled in frustration. “I already told you, I’m fi—”
“Inuyasha!” Sango snapped, stilling his tongue. “Answer the question,” she ordered softly. “Making sure the living stay living is more important than ministering to the dead.”
Inuyasha sighed in defeat. If Sango was against him too, then he had to respect her wishes. But he would not let them wait an instant beyond dawn tomorrow before departing.
“Enough to defend myself,” he answered honestly. “Or outrun anything I can’t handle.” That last part tasted bitter on his tongue, but he forced himself to spit it out, for Sango’s sake. The taijiya smiled, appreciating the effort.
“Good. Now lie down before I put you down.”
Inuyasha grumbled under his breath, something about never being able to escape bossy women, but his friends let it go. The next matter up for discussion, once Inuyasha was resting in a prone position, was what to do with the Shikon no Tama. Miroku agreed to act as temporary keeper, and to do his best to keep it pure. He did not expect that it would be a problem, but they would need to be on high alert. Even as white as it was, the incredible power of the jewel would no doubt attract unwanted attention.
Miroku yawned, fatigue suddenly catching up to him. He was still working the Saimyoushou’s poison out of his system, and it had been a long day. Sango said she would take the first watch and told him to lie down. And so he did, completely forgetting about the most interesting line of questioning which he had forgotten to broach.
But Sango remembered. Later, as the crickets began to chirp under the stars, she sat at the entrance to the hut, Kirara purring happily on her lap. But the feline’s ears were alert, and would help her sense any danger with plenty of warning. Fortunately the moon was bright, and there was plenty of light to see by without a forest canopy overhead. She glanced over at Inuyasha, who was merely resting his eyes. His ears were also too alert to truly be asleep.
“Hey, Inuyasha?”
“What?” he replied grouchily. “I thought I was supposed to be resting.”
She ignored that. “How on earth were you able to purify the Shikon no Tama?”
Inuyasha’s eyes flew open. It was a good question, one he had not really had a chance to contemplate. Memories came rushing back in a torrent; his regret and despair had been so deep in that moment. But somehow, knowing his time in this world was coming to a close had cleared the jumble around his heart, unraveled his tangled emotions. And they were just as clear now. He would never go back to the way he was before, the lost hanyou searching for something he’d had all along. He would never go back to denying the way he felt about Kagome, not after such an extraordinary realization, or receiving Kikyou’s blessing. That did not mean, however, that he had to admit his feelings aloud to anyone other than the future-born miko.
“Dunno,” he told Sango in a lame attempt at nonchalance. “It’s a mystery.”
She smiled knowingly. “Yes, a great mystery.”
“…”
“Shippou had an idea. He thought he heard you yell something as it was happening…could it have had something to do with Kagome-chan?”
Inuyasha grimaced. I could kill that kid! But Sango looked like she already knew exactly what had really gone on, so there was no point in making a bigger fool of himself by trying to cover it up. Still, he was much too stubborn to just come out with it.
“I s-suppose.”
“Really?” Sango asked in mock surprise. “I wonder, did you realize something about Kagome? Or perhaps, about yourself?”
“I might have.”
Sango chuckled. “I’m glad. Kagome will be ecstatic to hear it. She may pass out on the floor.”
“Keh.” Inuyasha flushed the color of his haori just thinking about her reaction, but also felt a twinge of anticipation. He longed to see her face light up, those big brown eyes widen and fill with happy tears. What would she say? Would she say anything, or would she just kiss him? Part of him said he was a fool for entertaining these thoughts—she couldn’t possibly love him as he hoped. But there was more than enough evidence to the contrary stored in his memories, now that he thought back upon them with a clear mind. He had indeed been an enormous fool, to deny himself for so long. A mistake he planned to rectify very soon. But there was one thing that still did not add up.
“It still makes no sense that the Shikon no Tama would be purified by…that.”
“Doesn’t it?” Sango replied. “I’ve been thinking, Inuyasha. Love…in its truest form, is the single purest emotion a person can experience. We call those madly in love ‘soul mates,’ do we not? Perhaps your soul cried out to Kagome-chan, in that moment when you were about to die. And the Shikon no Tama reacted, to the only thing which could have overpowered Naraku’s hate. If this doesn’t prove that you and Kagome-chan are soul mates, I don’t know what does.”
Inuyasha was more than a little embarrassed by her words, but he appreciated them nonetheless. Sango was Kagome’s best friend, and if she thought that his confession would be well received, then he would believe it as well. He was glad he and the taijiya had this talk. And he was especially glad that Sango had taken the first watch. He suddenly had a sinking feeling…
“Hey, Sango.”
“Yeah?”
“When the bouzu takes his watch, tell him that if he wakes me up I’ll give him a lump the size of the Shikon no Tama.”
She shook her head at that. “Will do, but you are only delaying the inevitable. You should expect some teasing after having your head up your backside for so long.”
“Keh.”
That was true, but he would still procrastinate on his interrogation with Miroku. He’d had enough embarrassment for one day.
Gradually, lulled by the crickets outside and the quiet breathing of his sleeping companions, Inuyasha drifted into slumber. He slept with a smile on his face, dreaming of the moment when he would finally reunite with his soul mate once again.
Fanfiction of the Week: To Bind a Soul, by fire-goddess6
This was one of the first stories I read, and it really got me into reading fanfiction.
Storm
Inuyasha gazed down from his perch, watching over his sleeping companions. Leaping down, he piled some more wood on the fire to keep the night’s chill at bay. After all, the humans would be no good to him if they were too stiff to walk in the morning. After an extended break, the Inu-gang was finally on the road again. They had spent nearly two weeks in Kaede’s village, waiting for word from Shinobu, but eventually impatience won out. The boredom had nearly driven Inuyasha insane, so he determined to head out with or without his friends. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara all gave in and joined him, Kasumi choosing to stay behind. The inhabitants were quickly discovering that her mother had taught her exceptional healing skills, rivaling Kaede’s even. But for Inuyasha, seeing the happiness of others only reminded him of his own misery. Worse was how close the monk and taijiya had been getting. Oh, they didn’t do anything in his presence, but he couldn’t miss the way their scents seemed to intertwine, or how they would occasionally return with swollen lips and glazed eyes. It had taken him several days to realize why their new level of intimacy bothered him so much—he was jealous, plain and simple. But why? He certainly didn’t like Sango that way, and he no longer wanted that kind of relationship with Kikyou. But then again maybe it wasn’t really jealousy; maybe he was just pissy because his shard-detector wasn’t there to do her job. Yes, that was a logical excuse. Too bad he didn’t really believe it.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. This was exactly why they were traveling. Sitting around waiting for good news left far too much time for contemplation. Yes, he knew he needed Kagome by his side, and he knew she was his best friend, but anything else was…well, it was a hell of a lot easier not to think about it. Was he running from his problems? Sure. But right now he just wanted to get her back without complicating things. He definitely didn’t want to spend another moonless night without her. The memory caused him to shudder; the loneliness he felt on that night had been overwhelming, to a degree he hadn’t experienced since immediately after his mother’s death. He was eternally grateful for Kirara’s company, and had sat awake stroking her back into the wee hours of the morning. She spent a lot more time with him after that, especially when her mistress was otherwise occupied. Inuyasha’s nose told him the monk and taijiya hadn’t been intimate yet. It seemed the monk was at least smart enough not to risk knocking Sango up before their quest was over. But now Inuyasha knew he needed to make noise when returning to camp from gathering wood or food, especially if Shippou had not remained in camp to ‘chaperone’ the adults. He had learned that the hard way that first time…
He was happy for them though, and Kagome would be thrilled. Thinking of the miko made him feel frustrated and jealous all over again, however, and he wondered if he would ever get any relief from his overactive mind.
* * *
Several days later the status quo remained unchanged, until a particular scent drifted to Inuyasha’s nose on the breeze, stopping him in his tracks. “What is it, Inuyasha?” Miroku asked anxiously.
“It’s really faint…but there’s no doubt! That’s Naraku’s scent!” Inuyasha took off following the trail, and the rest of the gang hopped on Kirara and flew after him. They traveled quickly for several minutes before Shippou noticed something above them.
“Hey everyone, look!” he exclaimed, pointing to the sky. There was Kagura, soaring leisurely away from them on her feather, and it quickly became apparent that it was her scent Inuyasha had picked up. The wind sorceress glanced behind her, locking eyes with the hanyou, then turned and continued at her unhurried pace. She’s allowing us to follow her?
“Do you think it’s a trap?” Miroku asked, his thoughts flowing along the same lines.
“I don’t know, Houshi-sama,” Sango interjected. “We’ve seen Kagura’s willingness to betray Naraku before.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Inuyasha declared. “Even if it is a trap, we can’t miss a chance to get close to Naraku. If he’s here, we have to meet him and kill him. It’s the only way.”
No one commented on Inuyasha’s words, though all knew that he was referring to the ‘only way’ to be reunited with Kagome, above all else. If they were surprised at his honesty, they didn’t show it. Instead, everyone nodded in response, their eyes hardening with determination. One way or another, today would mark the end of their quest.
Kagura led them into a lush forest, so thick that Inuyasha had to periodically leap above the canopy to make sure they were still on her tail. After a while, however, that was no longer necessary, as Naraku’s scent began to filter through the trees. They were getting close.
Suddenly the vegetation ended, and they skidded to a halt at one end of a large clearing. On the other side stood Naraku, holding the black mass of the nearly complete Shikon no Tama in one hand. With his other he took two pink shards from Kagura’s grasp, and clenched his fist around them. When he opened his hand they were dark as night, and he combined them with the larger piece as sparks of evil energy emanated from the joining.
“Ah, the Shikon no Tama,” he declared. “Just one more shard and it will be complete.” Then turning his attention to the new arrivals, he continued. “Kukuku, Inuyasha and his human pets. I’m glad you are here to witness the rebirth of the Shikon no Tama. How ever did you find me, I wonder? It seems my disloyal incarnation did not even attempt to conceal her treachery this time.”
The Inu-gang watched transfixed as Naraku held out his palm, and in it appeared a still beating heart. He squeezed, and Kagura’s hand flew to her chest as she sank to her knees with a choked cry.
“Kagura, you have been a thorn in my side for far too long,” he told her coldly. “Now die, the meaningless death of a slave.”
The strike came without warning, as a silver blade sliced through Naraku’s wrist, dropping the pulsing heart to the dirt. A black and gold blur rushed past, snatching the organ and retreating toward the center of the clearing. Kagura came back to herself, and sent waves of wind blades and tornadoes rushing toward her former master. Then she joined her savior, and the figure handed her the heart. It disappeared inside her chest almost immediately, and a look of unsurpassed wonder crossed her face.
“My heart…it’s beating. T-Thank you, Kohaku.”
“Kohaku!” Sango called as she darted towards him, but the boy was already in motion, leaping away from her.
“No, Aneue! Stay away from me!”
Sango halted, staring at her brother with an unreadable expression. Kohaku stared right back, his eyes holding so many conflicting emotions it was a wonder he could think straight.
“Kukuku…”
Naraku’s laughter drew their attention back to the other side of the clearing, where the rapidly clearing smoke revealed the dark hanyou standing intact, protected by his barrier. “I see, Kohaku, just how long have you had your memories back? You actually managed to catch me unawares. But you wasted your chance by saving Kagura. You and your precious ‘Aneue’ seem to have a soft spot for the weak. It is only fitting that she witness your death!”
Dozens of tentacles sprang forth from the barrier, heading toward the young taijiya. The Inu-gang and Kagura leapt into action simultaneously. They severed the writhing appendages in droves, but Naraku’s supply was inexhaustible. In the end, one of them managed to sneak by their spirited defense. Kohaku’s cry of agony had all eyes turning in his direction, just in time to see the shard of the Shikon no Tama torn from his back.
“Kohaku!” Sango screamed as if her very soul was wracked with indescribable pain. She ran to her brother’s side, cradling him in her arms. Her tears were temporarily stilled when he opened his eyes and regarded her calmly.
“Aneue?” he rasped, coughing up blood.
“Yes, Kohaku, I’m here,” she replied, forcing herself to smile despite the despair that gripped her.
Kohaku could not muster a smile in response. “Aneue, I’m sorry…for killing everyone…for hurting you.”
“Shh, there’s nothing to apologize for. You were being controlled,” she said, stroking his cheek.
His eyes widened. “You forgive me?”
“Of course I do. You’re my only brother, and I love you.”
Kohaku closed his eyes, assuming a peaceful expression. “I’m glad. If you can forgive me…perhaps I can face father again…”
Sango choked back her tears. How desperately she wanted to tell Kohaku he would be fine, that tomorrow they would wake up and start a new life. But that wasn’t going to happen; she had seen enough death to know that her brother was at its door.
“Don’t talk like that. Father would be proud of you.”
“You really…think so?” he pondered, his last breath leaving him.
Then he was gone, and Sango laid her head on his chest, weeping bitterly. Friends and enemies watched silently, their emotions ranging from sympathy to glee. Miroku felt something stirring inside him, an unparalleled rage that boiled his blood. Without hesitation he stepped forward and unleashed the full might of Kazaana upon the monster who dared cause his intended bride so much pain. Smirking, Naraku released an entire hive of Saimyoushou into the air, which immediately began to get sucked into the wind tunnel. His amusement wavered only slightly as the monk kept the Kazaana open regardless, pulling him inexorably closer, centimeter by centimeter. Pitiful, houshi. Your body will give out long before you ever suck me in.
Inuyasha, however, refused to stand by and allow that to happen. Grabbing the monk’s wrist, he forcefully closed the fingers of his hand and rewrapped the prayer beads around it. Miroku collapsed to a knee, dizzy with the poison he had already consumed, and glared up at the hanyou angrily.
“Why, Inuyasha?!”
“You’re a real baka, you know that? You don’t have to fuckin’ kill yourself, not while I’m here! Sango needs you. Are you just gonna leave her alone?”
Realization dawned in the monk’s eyes, and he turned to regard his beloved. She returned his gaze, her tears making his heart clench painfully. Understanding passed between them, and he cursed his own stupidity. Inuyasha was right; he couldn’t desert his place by Sango’s side, not while there was still a chance for a life together.
“You just sit there, bouzu,” Inuyasha ordered sternly. “Leave Naraku to me.”
“You should have let him die, Inuyasha,” Naraku taunted. “Then he would not have had to witness this.”
Inuyasha dodged the tentacles set on punching through his torso. He immediately sensed that the attack had been a feint, however, and sure enough as he turned he spied several more tentacles racing toward Sango. Hindered as she was by her kneeling position and slowed by lingering grief, not to mention already sluggish human reflexes, there was no way Sango would be able to avoid the attack.
A pink light flashed through the clearing, obliterating the tentacles and turning everyone’s attention to the edge of the forest behind them. Inuyasha already knew who he would see, and sure enough Kikyou stepped coolly out of the woods a moment later. Naraku laughed wickedly, the sound causing ice to settle in the pit of Inuyasha’s stomach. His instincts were filling him with a sense of dread, though he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why.
“Ahh, Kikyou. To what do I owe the pleasure?” he quipped, repeating his words from not so long ago.
“I am here to correct past mistakes. You will not live to see the sunset, Naraku.”
Inuyasha studied Kikyou; to the undiscerning eye she seemed her usual composed, unruffled self. But he detected something else in her eyes, her expression, her voice. It was a sense of urgency, a desperation he had never seen in her before. His feeling of dread intensified.
“Oh? And just how did you know I was here?” Naraku prodded, relishing in Kikyou’s discomfort.
“I knew you would be here; you never miss an opportunity to taunt me.” She drew another arrow from her quiver and fired, but the shot ricocheted harmlessly off the barrier.
“You no longer hold the power to harm me, Kikyou. I, on the other hand… I ask you again, how did you know I would be here?”
The dead miko’s mask cracked slightly at this, allowing anger and frustration to bubble to the surface. But Naraku was relentless.
“Perhaps this place has some meaning for us… Ah, yes, I remember now! This was where we met to discuss getting rid of your reincarnation.”
Inuyasha gasped, suddenly finding it impossible to breathe as he turned his gaze on his former love.
“Yes, Kikyou,” Naraku continued mercilessly, “tell Inuyasha how you came to me with a plan to banish Kagome from this world. Tell him how you led me to the portal, how you stole the shards of the Shikon no Tama in Kagome’s possession and handed them to me. And tell him how you let me seal the well when you were finished. Tell him!”
Throughout this tirade Inuyasha watched Kikyou, as her fury slowly shifted to remorse. She made eye contact with him for a split second, then lowered her gaze in shame. Inuyasha didn’t want to believe the words coming from that filthy bastard’s mouth, but Kikyou’s body language was proving them true. And suddenly it all made sense; how Naraku knew about the well, how he took Kagome’s jewel shards without killing her, Kikyou’s attempt to take him to hell. It all made sense, a perverse sort of logic that threatened to make him physically ill.
“Like I said, I am here to correct past mistakes,” Kikyou replied neutrally, once again concealing her emotions. But Naraku was not yet through indulging his lust for torment.
“And Inuyasha, how does it feel to be once again betrayed by the woman you love?”
Inuyasha was silent for several long moments, eyes closed. His ears swiveled like radar dishes atop his head, but otherwise he appeared deep in thought. And so he was. Past warred with present, as he tried to balance distant memory with everything he had learned about himself since his awakening, and about his relationships with Kikyou and her reincarnation. In that moment, it was absolutely clear that there was a fundamental inaccuracy within Naraku’s statement. One that he saw no further reason to deny voice.
“I don’t love Kikyou,” he answered softly, never taking his eyes off her. “I don’t think I ever did.”
Hurt flashed across Kikyou’s expression before her eyes darkened with understanding. She too could no longer deny the truth behind their relationship, especially in light of her recent actions. It did not mean that she cared nothing for him, or valued any less the companionship he had given her. Had things gone according to plan, with the Shikon no Tama forever removed from this world along with Inuyasha’s youkai side, they would have been content. Perhaps not madly in love, but content to live out their remaining days together. That would have been enough for her. While Inuyasha no longer felt the same way, she knew he still cared for her as well. And she would gladly fight by his side once more, attempt to atone for some of her sins.
If Naraku thought that Inuyasha’s revelation was an indication that he was succeeding in his manipulations, the inu-hanyou quickly dispelled that notion.
“You can stop trying to turn me against Kikyou, Naraku. It won’t work. The only thing I hate here is you. And I’ve had just about enough of your blabbering.” Drawing Tetsusaiga from its sheath, he transformed the blade into its hard, diamond-like form.
“Kongousouha!!!”
The mighty attack surged forward, sending spears of diamond hurtling toward Naraku, but the evil hanyou’s barrier held firm. His laughter and the smug look he wore irked Inuyasha to no end. What the hell? Not long ago that would have punched right through!
“I assure you your measly attacks are useless, Inuyasha. Now that I have the complete Shikon no Tama in my possession, I am invincible!”
Inuyasha swore under his breath. That dumbass wolf…he must have let Naraku take his shards. The two shards they had seen Kagura hand Naraku before must have belonged to Kouga. Despite their mutual animosity, he hoped the mongrel was okay, if only because he hated to see Kagome sad. But back to the here and now, Kouga’s failings would make his own task much more difficult. Still, nobody was invincible, no matter how inflated their sense of megalomania. There had to be a way. At one time or another, he had broken through Naraku’s barriers using the Red Tetsusaiga and Kongousouha. Now it appeared that Naraku’s protective shield was immune to both. A sudden thought struck him as he considered this. The barrier could repel both of his most powerful barrier-breaking attacks separately, but could it stand against both of them at once? Was it even possible to use both of them at the same time? He had never tried it before, but it was his only idea and there was no time like the present.
Focusing his energy, Inuyasha called forth the red power of the Tetsusaiga, won through strength of character during the rescue of a little hanyou girl. Next the blade crystalized, an ability won through strength of loyalty at his father’s gravesite. Character and loyalty, two traits he had never thought would be pillars of his existence. Yet now he could not fathom a single thing he would not do for his friends, or a reason why he would betray their respect. Tetsusaiga roared, the diamond-like surface of the blade shimmering with a deep crimson light, undulating beautifully. Calling upon every emotion he could muster, every memory of triumph and defeat, and fueled by his desire to protect all of his reasons for living, he swung his sword with a determined cry.
The diamond shards flashed across the clearing, their impacts against the barrier leaving splashes of red in their wake. They seemed to be penetrating deeper, deflecting away with less force once their energy was spent. But deflect away they did. The barrier wavered before his eyes, but still held. It teetered on the brink of collapse, but it appeared that Tetsusaiga still lacked the power to destroy it. Then a streak of pink, the final drop of pressure needed to burst through and sweep the whole barrier aside. He thought he glimpsed Kikyou’s arrow and the last few diamond shards strike Naraku’s body before the entire world went dark.
The explosive cloud of miasma immediately engulfed the entirety of the surrounding area. Visibility shrunk to a few feet in either direction. Inuyasha coughed, the noxious fumes burning his throat raw. Even he would not last long in this earthly hell. He could only hope that Miroku had managed to raise a spiritual barrier in time, though that was at best a delay of the inevitable. The only way any of them would survive was if he finished Naraku off quickly. A goal which was quickly ascending to the level of miracles.
Only finely-honed reflexes saved him from sudden impalement. The tentacles emerged continuously and without warning, and it took all of Inuyasha’s skill and grace to avoid being run through. But he could only dodge what he could see, and the damnable miasma gave him precious little time to react. One of the tentacles struck his leg, and the resulting stumble gave Naraku the opening he needed. Several of the appendages rammed through his chest and emerged bloodily from his back, but Inuyasha limited himself to an agonized growl. He raised his claws to free himself but more tentacles wrapped around his arms, trapping them to his sides. Soon he was covered head to toe in the writhing, oozing bindings, Tetsusaiga lying harmlessly on the ground out of reach. Naraku reeled him in until they were staring at each other nose to nose, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. Inuyasha returned a fierce glare, refusing to show any weakness to this bastard, no matter the circumstances.
“You know, Inuyasha, I should just kill you. But I think that would be too simple, a privilege you don’t deserve.” To Inuyasha’s undying horror, Naraku pulled open his robes, revealing a black void, one that drew him inexorably forward.
“I am loath to take a filthy hanyou into my body, but it is only temporary. I shall release you just long enough to show you Kagome’s lifeless corpse, once I am through with her. Oh, yes, I shall find a way to reach her; no one can escape Naraku’s grasp. Then I will send you to join her in hell. Until then, suffer in darkness and agony!”
Inuyasha struggled frantically, his nerves set afire by Naraku’s threat. He searched desperately for something, anything he could do so save himself and Kagome from the terrible fate their enemy had planned. There! In the void, something glimmered in the blackness, and immediately Inuyasha realized what it was. Using all of his strength to free his right hand, he shoved it into the void, his fingers closing on the Shikon no Tama. Perhaps if he could wrench it from Naraku’s grasp, the dark hanyou’s power would diminish and he could be defeated. Try as he might, however, Inuyasha could not withdraw his arm. In fact, his entire shoulder had now been consumed, and more of his body was slowly disappearing inside of Naraku.
“Kukuku, go ahead and grasp the jewel; it will do you no good. It is part of my body now, just as you will be.”
Inuyasha’s mind slowed to a crawl. Could it really…end like this? After everything he had been through, all the magnificent and miserable experiences, happiness and heartache—were friendships so hard kept to be wiped from existence so easily? After he had faced so many of his personal demons, surpassed his illustrious father, seen a great part of his emotional barriers crumble and even found love… Love. It was so clear to him now, in this moment when death was assured and regret threatened to overwhelm his consciousness. It was what quickened his heartbeat, boiled his blood, sparked his jealousy, and warmed his heart. It was the veiled emotion which drew him inexorably to her, and made him ache when she was gone. It spurred nameless desires to which he dared not give voice, and his fear of it had caused him to deny it for far, far too long. Inuyasha, for the first time, saw himself for the person he truly was.
He loved her. Why had he not realized it sooner? Perhaps his past had haunted him with memories of love proven false, or perhaps he was just stubborn. But that time was done now. He loved her more than life itself, with every fiber of his being. He wanted to give her everything he was, and longed for nothing more than to receive all of her in return. He had been fortunate enough during his life to have enjoyed her friendship. It would have to be enough. The light burgeoning in his heart was not strong enough to push back the invading cold, or unfreeze his numb limbs. But he would cling to this light, this dream, and draw comfort from it even in the depths of unfathomable darkness. And when he met her on the other side…he would finally tell her what she meant to him.
A light flashed, illuminating the overpowering blackness around him. Then another. Then another. Soon the brightness was constant and increasing, radiating out from his right hand. Drawing back the appendage, he looked in his palm and gasped. There sat the Shikon no Tama, glowing pink, the last strands of corruption disappearing before his eyes. Then the luminescence swelled, blinding him and filling him with a power unlike any he had ever felt before. It was too much, and he threw his head back and screamed to the heavens as the energy overwhelmed him, creating a monumental explosion. He thought he heard a fading shriek of agony as unconsciousness finally took him.
* * *
Miroku gritted his teeth, his breath coming in short gasps. The effort of maintaining his barrier was quickly draining what limited energy he had left. Naraku’s voice carried over the swirling miasma, telling of the horrible fate his hanyou friend was about to suffer. But he could offer no aid. Even if the poison in his bloodstream had not left him weakened, Miroku doubted he could have done much against the miasma. Never in all his days had he seen such a formidable curse, one capable of blotting out sun and life. Sango embraced him from behind, laying her head on his shoulder. She too knew the futility of resistance; no mask made by man would stop this scourge upon the earth. But he drew comfort from the knowledge that there was nothing left unspoken between them. He had offered his heart to her, and she had accepted it. It was enough. But he would enjoy her presence as long as he could. And when they met on the other side, perhaps they could pick up where they left off. Through eyes narrowed in pain he beheld a flickering glow, so fleeting that he thought it fantasy. Then it happened again, soon becoming a constant light, surging against the darkness. He heard Inuyasha’s cry just as the light erupted in a pure white explosion.
Naraku’s scream of agony was abruptly cut off, as waves of purity rushed outward, dispelling the miasma. Miroku slumped backward in exhaustion the instant the danger of the noxious curse had passed, Sango’s strong arms holding him tightly as the wind whipped and howled. When at last the air had calmed, and his racing heartbeat had slowed, he finally dared to open his eyes. The bright blue sky which greeted his gaze was as beautiful as it was shocking. He had honestly never expected to see sun or sky again. How was this possible?
Sitting up, he turned around to face Sango only to find her just as perplexed. Both of them studied their surroundings. There was not a shred of green anywhere to be seen; every leaf and blade of grass had been withered and choked to death. And yet, there were no traces of Naraku’s miasma. Shippou and Kirara looked at him, silently questioning why they were alive. Whatever had purified the miasma had clearly not purified either of them, which was odd now that he considered it. Perhaps it was not true spiritual energy, as a monk or miko would employ, but something else entirely. His mind was still too muddled at the moment to begin to hypothesize; right now he just wanted to enjoy being alive.
His expression fell immediately when he turned to his beloved. Sango was gazing down at her fallen brother, her eyes dulled with sadness and her loneliness a palpable thing. She hesitantly reached out and closed his eyes for the final time, biting her lower lip so hard she nearly drew blood. But she shed no further tears. Perhaps those would come later, after the trauma of this afternoon had subsided. Miroku waited in silence, sensing that she was about to speak.
“Kohaku…how did you earn such a retched fate?” she asked softly. “You were so kind, so loving. Why were you cursed so?!” Her hands balled into fists, and Miroku grasped them lovingly in his own.
“In the end, the Kohaku you remember emerged once again. I know he is resting peacefully, Sango. He would not want you to so mourn his passing.”
She did not respond, but Miroku could tell that her sense of loneliness still hung heavily around her. He could understand why; she truly was the last taijiya now. But that did not mean that she was alone, a fact which he intended to prove to her. Moving to her side, he placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. She leaned into him bonelessly, not resisting as he took her clenched hands and held them. Gradually she relaxed, the tenderness of his embrace providing more comfort than he would ever know. When she felt him plant a kiss on her temple, she followed him and captured his lips with her own. It was brief, with little passion, but there was enough love and gratitude to speak volumes. She would grieve for her brother, but she would never forget that she was loved.
They rested their foreheads together, Miroku’s right hand coming up to brush across her cheek. Sango recoiled suddenly, snatching his hand out of thin air and studying it closely. Miroku felt the air whoosh from his lungs when he realized what so enthralled her. It was not something that was there, but a long-suffered curse which was now blessedly absent. He was finally free.
“Naraku is dead,” Sango declared, managing a joyous smile despite her sorrow. Neither yet knew how, but both immediately stood and rushed to check on their hanyou companion. Inuyasha had been at the epicenter of that all-encompassing blast of purity, but he appeared to be no worse for wear, much like their full-youkai companions. He was unconscious, however, and though his chest rose and fell regularly they were unable to wake him. Deciding not to worry too much until more time had passed, they set to tending his injuries. It was during this process that the fingers of Inuyasha’s right hand fell open, allowing a small bauble to roll onto the grass.
Multiple shocked gasps rang out. There lay the complete Shikon no Tama, its color neither pink nor black. Instead it shone with a white light of the upmost purity. Miroku was the first to come up with a plausible explanation, though he had to run it over in his mind a few times to make sure he wasn’t crazy.
“He purified it.” When the others only stared at him dumbfounded, he endeavored to explain. “I know it sounds insane, but think about what was happening. One moment Inuyasha was about to be assimilated into Naraku’s body, and the next there’s an explosion of such force that it killed Naraku and dispelled his miasma in one fell swoop. And now we’re sitting here with a white Shikon no Tama. I can’t think of another way this could have happened. Inuyasha must have purified it somehow.”
“But how can that be possible for someone with youkai blood?”
Miroku considered that for a moment. “Well, we have seen both humans and youkai corrupt the Shikon no Tama with ill intent, correct? If an evil human can corrupt the jewel, would it not be possible for a youkai pure of heart to cleanse it?”
“I suppose,” Sango admitted reluctantly. “That would explain why Shippou and Kirara are fine. But purity of heart alone is not enough to keep the Shikon no Tama pure in the face of outside influences. We saw that in the stone oni’s stomach. Once it left Kagome-chan’s hands, the shard became corrupted by the foul atmosphere inside the oni.”
“True, and Naraku’s presence this afternoon must have been many times more corruptive.” Miroku sighed. “It does not make sense, no matter how you look at it. But we all saw what happened, and the Shikon no Tama here speaks for itself. Somehow Inuyasha found a way to purify it. Perhaps when he wakes up he can shed some light on what might have occurred.”
Shippou, who had remained silent until now, spoke up suddenly. “Maybe Kagome helped him somehow?”
“What makes you say that, Shippou?”
“He was yelling her name right before the jewel was purified, wasn’t he?”
Miroku and Sango shared a look. Neither of them had heard Inuyasha’s cry over the howling shockwave, but if Shippou’s youkai hearing could be believed, this revelation might be a major clue. Suspicion dawned in Miroku’s mind, and he could tell that Sango shared it. But it was too early to give voice to their thoughts, as pleasant as they might be. They would wait to see what Inuyasha had to say when he came to.
“I wonder what happened to Kikyou,” Shippou observed, jumping to another subject as only young children can.
“Or Kagura for that matter,” Sango added.
“I’m right here.”
The voice came from above them, and immediately all of the conscious members of the Inu-gang leapt to their feet. There was Kagura, floating a few meters above them, having used a brief period of cloud cover to conceal her shadow.
“Don’t mind me,” Kagura told them with a slightly taunting tone. “I was so enjoying your informative conversation. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
With that, the wind sorceress dropped from her feather to land a half dozen meters away. Sango brandished hiraikotsu and dropped into a fighting stance, unsure whether Kagura was friend or foe. But Miroku heard what Kagura did not say. We were so engrossed that she could have killed us easily. They had been foolish to let their guards down, but it appeared that Kagura was not interested in taking their lives. She held up a hand in a gesture of peace.
“Relax, taijiya. I’m done fighting with you people. I’ve had enough of that for one lifetime. I just wanted to verify that Naraku is really dead. After today you’ll probably never see me again.”
“Where will you go?”
“None of your business, houshi. I’ll go wherever the hell I want.” She finished as if that concept was the sweetest sentiment ever to pass her lips.
“It is my business, Kagura,” he told her sternly. “As a houshi, I am tasked with protecting the innocent. If your intention is to continue your master’s legacy, then we will fight you here and now.” He readied his staff and fell in beside Sango.
Kagura waved her fan flippantly. “Tch. You worried I’ll go slaughter a village or something? I don’t want anything to do with humans. Forget this,” she said, mounting her feather once more. “Life is too sweet to spend it fighting with you people.”
“Wait, Kagura!”
“What?” the wind sorceress demanded impatiently. “I already told you I won’t go attacking humans. Can you leave me alone, now? Freedom is calling.”
“Just answer me one question. You were high above during the battle, were you not? Did you see what happened to Kikyou?”
“The creepy dead miko? She’s long gone. She had a barrier to protect her from the miasma, but then when that wave of purity came by she dropped it. Almost like she wanted to go… Whatever. Well, have a nice life!”
“Wait!”
Kagura drew her fan in annoyance. “Don’t make me use this just to get away from you people,” she warned. Miroku could tell she was serious, but there was one more question he needed answered, for Kagome’s sake.
“Did you kill Kouga when you took his shards?”
Kagura snorted. “Him? Nah, he’s alive. Cut up pretty bad and royally pissed though. I figured he would suffer more if I let him live with the knowledge that I tore him up again. Next time you see him, tell him I’ll finish the job if he ever comes after me.”
Then she was gone, within moments no more than a speck in the distant sky. Miroku grinned wryly and shook his head. In the end, he was glad Kagura had won her freedom. He had detected no trace of untruth when she said she would leave humans alone. And he was happy that she spared Kouga’s life, whatever the reason behind it. With any luck, they would never have cause to seek her out and everyone could live out their lives in peace.
“I wonder how long Inuyasha will mourn Kikyou this time,” Sango observed, her tone one of genuine curiosity rather than reproach. He had declared that he no longer loved her, after all. The deeper implications of that declaration, as well as the other events of this strangest of afternoons would have to wait until Inuyasha woke for further illumination.
* * *
Inuyasha could only describe the place he found himself in as a void. He was surrounded by pure white; not a speck of color could be seen in any direction. Even the ground he stood on was white, matching the color of the ‘sky’ perfectly. The last thing I remember was being sucked into Naraku’s body, and then that blast from the Shikon no Tama…am I dead? “No, Inuyasha, you are very much alive.”
Spinning toward the familiar voice, Inuyasha saw Kikyou materialize out of the air.
“K-Kikyou? If I’m not dead, then where the hell are we?”
“I know not where we are, but you are merely asleep. I, on the other hand, am dead.”
“Dead?” he repeated mournfully.
“Do not be sad, Inuyasha. I chose this; I no longer wish to wander the world in a body made of bones and graveyard soil. I came here to see you one last time…and to apologize. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done, for the pain I have caused you?”
Inuyasha was stunned speechless. Kikyou looked so downtrodden, as if only his forgiveness could allow her to rest in peace. It seemed like all they had done since Naraku’s cruel trick had been to hurt each other. But there was happiness in their past as well. She had been the first woman to show him companionship, and he had been the lone bright spot in her otherwise lonely existence. It was true that Kikyou’s latest betrayal was probably the most despicable he had ever experienced. But she was genuinely remorseful, and had fought by his side in the end. It was her arrow which had pierced Naraku’s barrier, allowing the current state of affairs to come to fruition. He did not know exactly what the situation was, but if he was alive, then Naraku almost certainly was not. In the end, his decision was easy.
“Of course, Kikyou.”
Brightness returned to her eyes, and a genuine smile to her face. Inuyasha was struck; she looked so much like the Kikyou of old, free of the bitterness and hate she had carried upon her shoulders since her resurrection.
“Thank you, Inuyasha. Now…go to Kagome. She loves you as I never could.”
“Kikyou…” Inuyasha whispered dumbly, unable to wrap his head around what Kikyou was telling him to do. To have her blessing for how he so desperately wanted to spend his life, and whom he wanted to spend it with, meant the world to him. Seeing her like this, he remembered why he had fallen in love with her in the first place. And it was love, perhaps not in the fullest or purest sense. But it had been love nonetheless, his first taste, and he would be forever grateful to the woman who had opened his heart. Though the full extent of his heart now belonged to another, there would always be a special place there for Kikyou.
“Kikyou,” he repeated, at a loss for words.
“And when you see Kagome again, tell her I’m sorry…for everything.”
“I will, Kikyou. Thank you.” He let his eyes shine with everything left unsaid, and her smile grew wider and more radiant still.
“Farewell, Inuyasha. Be happy.”
Then she vanished, leaving Inuyasha alone once more. Goodbye, Kikyou. I hope you find the peace you’ve been looking for. Then the world around him began to fade, and he was plunged into darkness once more. Only it wasn’t pitch black; it was as if some light was trying to force its way through. As the sounds and smells of the real world once again bombarded his senses, Inuyasha opened his eyes. He found himself staring at a wooden ceiling. He was lying on the floor of some run-down, abandoned hut, and Shippou was playing with his kitsune top across the room.
“Oi,” he grunted, raising a hand to his head. He felt lightheaded and more than a little hoarse. But his sore throat was the least of his worries, as he tried to sit up and cringed at the pain shooting through his chest. Someone had bandaged him up at least, and he laid back down to avoid reopening the wounds.
“Inuyasha, you’re awake! How are you feeling?”
“Like shit, but I’ve had worse. Where is everyone?” he demanded, failing to keep his anxiety from his tone. The last he knew, his friends had been in mortal peril. He didn’t smell any blood aside from his own, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Kirara at least was sleeping peacefully by his side in her kitten form.
“Miroku and Sango went outside to talk.”
“To talk, huh?” Inuyasha muttered dryly. Shippou made a face; he too had walked in on them kissing, though thankfully just once.
“I think they’re really just talking though. Kohaku…”
Inuyasha didn’t need the kit to finish; all of them had witnessed the boy’s demise. But if Miroku and Sango were well enough to mourn, then they were probably fine. They were likely making plans for how to dispose of Kohaku’s body. No doubt Sango would want to bury him in her old village, a time-sensitive task which Inuyasha realized was being delayed because of his infirmity.
“Wah! Inuyasha, lie back down. You shouldn’t be up yet!”
“Ah, shut up, runt.”
Nonetheless, Inuyasha quickly realized that the kit had been right. His bandages now had several red stains, and pain lanced through his chest with every heartbeat. But at least he was on his feet, though it took long moments of leaning against the wall with his eyes closed before he could get his head to stop spinning. Now that the adrenaline of battle had worn off, he was finally feeling the full extent of his injuries. He was lucky to be alive.
Hurried footsteps reached his ears before both Miroku and Sango rushed into the hut, led by Shippou.
“Inuyasha, lie down,” Miroku ordered sternly. “We did not move you here and bandage you up so you could reinjure yourself by being stubborn.”
“I’m fine,” he tried to say with conviction, but it only came out as a pained grumble. “Don’t worry about me. Go do what you gotta do.”
Instantly Miroku understood. While leaving a body outside too long before burial was a concern, he and Sango had agreed that the burial would have to wait. They had done what they could in the meantime, wrapping Kohaku in a cloak they had found in the hut. It would have to do until the morning, when they hoped they could make a quick flight over to the taijiya village.
“Kirara cannot carry all of us,” Miroku replied, including Kohaku in that analysis. “And the journey is too far for Shippou to maintain his flying form. We cannot leave you by yourself while you are injured.”
“Keh! I’m fine I said. I can take care of myself.”
“Against weaker youkai, perhaps. But against an opponent of any strength you would have difficulty, Inuyasha. How much do you think you will recover by morning?”
Inuyasha growled in frustration. “I already told you, I’m fi—”
“Inuyasha!” Sango snapped, stilling his tongue. “Answer the question,” she ordered softly. “Making sure the living stay living is more important than ministering to the dead.”
Inuyasha sighed in defeat. If Sango was against him too, then he had to respect her wishes. But he would not let them wait an instant beyond dawn tomorrow before departing.
“Enough to defend myself,” he answered honestly. “Or outrun anything I can’t handle.” That last part tasted bitter on his tongue, but he forced himself to spit it out, for Sango’s sake. The taijiya smiled, appreciating the effort.
“Good. Now lie down before I put you down.”
Inuyasha grumbled under his breath, something about never being able to escape bossy women, but his friends let it go. The next matter up for discussion, once Inuyasha was resting in a prone position, was what to do with the Shikon no Tama. Miroku agreed to act as temporary keeper, and to do his best to keep it pure. He did not expect that it would be a problem, but they would need to be on high alert. Even as white as it was, the incredible power of the jewel would no doubt attract unwanted attention.
Miroku yawned, fatigue suddenly catching up to him. He was still working the Saimyoushou’s poison out of his system, and it had been a long day. Sango said she would take the first watch and told him to lie down. And so he did, completely forgetting about the most interesting line of questioning which he had forgotten to broach.
But Sango remembered. Later, as the crickets began to chirp under the stars, she sat at the entrance to the hut, Kirara purring happily on her lap. But the feline’s ears were alert, and would help her sense any danger with plenty of warning. Fortunately the moon was bright, and there was plenty of light to see by without a forest canopy overhead. She glanced over at Inuyasha, who was merely resting his eyes. His ears were also too alert to truly be asleep.
“Hey, Inuyasha?”
“What?” he replied grouchily. “I thought I was supposed to be resting.”
She ignored that. “How on earth were you able to purify the Shikon no Tama?”
Inuyasha’s eyes flew open. It was a good question, one he had not really had a chance to contemplate. Memories came rushing back in a torrent; his regret and despair had been so deep in that moment. But somehow, knowing his time in this world was coming to a close had cleared the jumble around his heart, unraveled his tangled emotions. And they were just as clear now. He would never go back to the way he was before, the lost hanyou searching for something he’d had all along. He would never go back to denying the way he felt about Kagome, not after such an extraordinary realization, or receiving Kikyou’s blessing. That did not mean, however, that he had to admit his feelings aloud to anyone other than the future-born miko.
“Dunno,” he told Sango in a lame attempt at nonchalance. “It’s a mystery.”
She smiled knowingly. “Yes, a great mystery.”
“…”
“Shippou had an idea. He thought he heard you yell something as it was happening…could it have had something to do with Kagome-chan?”
Inuyasha grimaced. I could kill that kid! But Sango looked like she already knew exactly what had really gone on, so there was no point in making a bigger fool of himself by trying to cover it up. Still, he was much too stubborn to just come out with it.
“I s-suppose.”
“Really?” Sango asked in mock surprise. “I wonder, did you realize something about Kagome? Or perhaps, about yourself?”
“I might have.”
Sango chuckled. “I’m glad. Kagome will be ecstatic to hear it. She may pass out on the floor.”
“Keh.” Inuyasha flushed the color of his haori just thinking about her reaction, but also felt a twinge of anticipation. He longed to see her face light up, those big brown eyes widen and fill with happy tears. What would she say? Would she say anything, or would she just kiss him? Part of him said he was a fool for entertaining these thoughts—she couldn’t possibly love him as he hoped. But there was more than enough evidence to the contrary stored in his memories, now that he thought back upon them with a clear mind. He had indeed been an enormous fool, to deny himself for so long. A mistake he planned to rectify very soon. But there was one thing that still did not add up.
“It still makes no sense that the Shikon no Tama would be purified by…that.”
“Doesn’t it?” Sango replied. “I’ve been thinking, Inuyasha. Love…in its truest form, is the single purest emotion a person can experience. We call those madly in love ‘soul mates,’ do we not? Perhaps your soul cried out to Kagome-chan, in that moment when you were about to die. And the Shikon no Tama reacted, to the only thing which could have overpowered Naraku’s hate. If this doesn’t prove that you and Kagome-chan are soul mates, I don’t know what does.”
Inuyasha was more than a little embarrassed by her words, but he appreciated them nonetheless. Sango was Kagome’s best friend, and if she thought that his confession would be well received, then he would believe it as well. He was glad he and the taijiya had this talk. And he was especially glad that Sango had taken the first watch. He suddenly had a sinking feeling…
“Hey, Sango.”
“Yeah?”
“When the bouzu takes his watch, tell him that if he wakes me up I’ll give him a lump the size of the Shikon no Tama.”
She shook her head at that. “Will do, but you are only delaying the inevitable. You should expect some teasing after having your head up your backside for so long.”
“Keh.”
That was true, but he would still procrastinate on his interrogation with Miroku. He’d had enough embarrassment for one day.
Gradually, lulled by the crickets outside and the quiet breathing of his sleeping companions, Inuyasha drifted into slumber. He slept with a smile on his face, dreaming of the moment when he would finally reunite with his soul mate once again.