InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hidden Strength Within ❯ Chapter 26 ( Chapter 26 )

Inuyasha and Sango arrived at Kaede’s village a little after noon, it had been a long journey and they were both fairly tired from their earlier ‘activities’.

As they entered the village, the villagers welcomed them back but asked where the other four companions were at. Silently Sango and Inuyasha made their way to the elderly Priestess’s hut only to find it empty.

“Priestess Kaede is at her sister’s grave!” a young village girl spoke up at their unasked question.

“You should go to her Inuyasha; I doubt she will want to see me knowing that her sister had loved you before she died the first time.” Sango stated dejectedly.

“Nonsense you are my mate now and she will just have to deal with it!” he stated.

As they walked up the steps to the gravesite of Kikyo they both froze there as Kaede was in the middle of a prayer for her sister’s soul to finally be at peace once and for all.

When the elderly woman finished her prayers she turned to the young couple with happiness and love in her eyes for them both.

“I know ye have mated and I am happy for ye both! Though I wonder where ye companions are at?” she stated as she saw both of them start to frown and a horrible worry crept into her heart that something horrible must have happened than she had already thought.

Sango finally spoke up and stated, “Miroku has traveled north with Princess Ayame and Kirara. They have gone to gather Ayame’s soldiers to lead an attack on Naraku to retrieve Kagome. Miroku and Ayame have decided to mate.”

“What of the young Shippo? Where is he in all of this?” she worried.

“Hey old hag, last time we saw the runt was before Kagome went all demigoddess on us okay. We don’t know where he is only that Naraku has Kagome, the runt is probably dead seems how he didn’t bother trying to protect Kagome from getting kidnapped.” Inuyasha growled out.

Both Sango and Kaede knew that Inuyasha cared about Shippo; they knew it was hard on him not knowing where the ‘runt’ was during all of this.

Before they could continue with their conversation an ominous feeling overcame them as a pain wrenching aura covered the lands; to be followed shortly by an anguished filled howl.

Sango watched as Inuyasha’s ears flattened to his head and Kaede dropped to her knees weeping over something.

Sango rushed to Kaede’s side and asked, “Is something the matter with you Priestess?”

“Do you not feel the anguish and pain covering the lands from the north my child. The evil has managed to cause the ultimate pain to the one least deserving of it.” Kaede rocked herself as a powerful storm erupted out of no where.

‘The Gods are furious with us for allowing one of their children to befall this fate. Only they will show mercy to the ones who are innocent.’ Kaede thought silently as she wept for the demigoddess.

Sango turned questioning eyes to Inuyasha who was staring northward.

“Inuyasha, what has happened? I feel uneasy but I am not sure why.”

“A male has just felt the ultimate pain of the heart. His would be mate has been touched by another and not in a good way. That bastard has damaged her for good.” Inuyasha growled to fight back the sadness.

Though he did not know consciously who the male was, his beast wept for his brother’s lose.

The realization finally hit Sango like a ton of bricks. ‘They are both looking to the north and they seem to know this female. Kagome is being held as Naraku’s hostage and he is twisted enough to…to…oh god poor Kagome.’

Before they could come up with anything else they might be able to do to try and save the demigoddess a shadow appeared from over head; efficiently stopping the rain from falling on them.

Inuyasha was the first to look up only to end up pulling out Tetsasaiga and readying for an attack when another head popped out into view, making him falter with his attack.

Sango finally looked up and saw over head was Kagura on her feather with Kohaku.

“Sister we have not come to fight, please have your mate lower his weapon.”

Sango looked to Inuyasha who was trying to decide if he should or shouldn’t.

“Please Inu!” she pleaded.

As soon as the sword was put away Kagura and Kohaku landed on the ground, only for the five of them to walk to Kaede’s little hut to start deliberating on a plan.

“Lady Kagome has healed me and cleansed my soul of the deeds forced upon me by that vile half-breed; I owe it to her to avenge and extract her from that hell she is being put through.” Kohaku stated nobly.

This comment however caught Sango’s attention. “No Kohaku, I just got you back, I will not loose you again to that monster. Allow Inuyasha and I to go and defeat him, there is no telling about Kagome’s state of mind and I don’t want her to remember the one time you did try to kill her.”

“Your sister is right Kohaku, Kagome is our responsibility. We will go there with Kagura and rescue her.” Inuyasha spoke up.

Kagura looked up at the mention of her name. “No way am I going back there. You can not possibly think that you can kill Naraku, you have never been capable of doing such before; only came close and that was because of Kagome.”

“You will go back or I will kill you where you stand witch.” Koga stated as he walked into the crowded hut. He too felt the pain filled aura and anguished howl of the demon; he knew Kagome was in danger yet again.

“What do you possibly think you can do to me Wolf, you don’t even have your jewel shards any more.” she stated boldly, only to find herself pinned to the floor with Koga crouched over her.

“You will do it because you owe it to her for sparing your pitiful existence. You will do it because we are forcing you too. You will do it or I will feed you limb by painful limb to my pack.” he spoke so softly no one but Inuyasha could hear his threats.

Kagura shuddered but it wasn’t because of what the wolf had stated, it was much more than that; it was for the proximity of where he was positioned over her and his voice and breath on her ear.

Without so much as a hint of the blush she felt like producing she meagerly nodded her head in acceptance.

“Yo, flea bag what makes you think you are coming?” Inuyasha growled out, looking forward to sinking his claws into someone until he could get to Naraku himself.

“Simple Mutt-face I am going with you instead of your Mate. If she so much as gets a strand of hair out of place you would be all concerned about her and forget about Kagome. Your Bitch stays here where it is safe and I will go with you to kill Naraku and protect Kagome.” he stated leaving no room for arguments.

‘I can only hope that it is not too late and that she is not mated to that bastard; it might kill her when we kill him if they are mated.’ Koga thought sullenly.

“You can’t be serious. Koga just wants to go so he can try to force Kagome to mate with him again.”

“No Sango, Koga is right I would get too worried over you and forget about the mission. You stay here with Kohaku and protect the village until I get back with Kagome. Besides something has happened, he didn’t call her his woman.” Inuyasha whispered the last part, silently wondering what happened to finally get it through his thick head that Kagome wasn’t his.

Sango reluctantly accepted the order and watched as Koga, Inuyasha, and Kagura floated off to Naraku’s keep to kill him and rescue Kagome once and for all.

‘Be safe my love!’ Sango prayed.

In the northern mountain, Ayame had just gotten all of the elders together when the aura and howl were felt and heard.

Miroku knew at once that the aura belonged to no other being other than Kagome, while Ayame was very certain that the howl belonged to Sesshoumaru; though she would never state that unless she was positive.

Ayame turned to her soon-to-be mate and asked, “What is your choice now? It is apparent things have not gone the way they were planned. Do we continue with your original decision or do I go to war with my pack to protect her?”

Miroku pondered over the thought for a few minutes before he stated, “I break my promise to her and join you in battle. Naraku had this coming to him for a long time and I refuse to allow him to hurt my sister more than he already has.”

She smirked; she could not deny that the fire burning in his violet eyes were not a turn on for her. Her smirk widened when her elders looked at her with questioning eyes.

“What was the meaning of this summons Ayame?” one of the elders finally spoke up.

“I have two purposes now. First I would like to declare to you that this is Miroku, my soon-to-be mate; your Alpha Male. I will mate with him after we have finished with the second situation. Secondly the troops are needed at once; we march on to Naraku, at the base of the mountain, to destroy him once and for all.” she started before she was interrupted.

“That would be unwise Princess.” a voice void of emotions spoke up.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Ayame questioned to the voice.

“I am the void that use to follow orders unwillingly by the vile creature that needs to be vanquished from this plain. I am Kanna of the void. If you go to him you will not survive; he holds your future and if anything happens to either you or your mate then she will not come to be. Surely you do not wish her into nonexistence.”

Within seconds it dawned on Miroku, ‘Oh dear Buddha, I have groped a future family member, please forgive me Buddha.’

“Is there nothing that we can do to help Lady Kagome?” Miroku finally spoke up.

“All you can do is stay here and continue on with your first choice of action. The one needed is to be conceived on this night. Think well on your choice of action.”

With that final comment Kanna walked out just as quietly as she had entered the small dwelling. She needed to go and stop Inuyasha from entering this battle, which would only lead to his death. Inuyasha was no longer the protector of Kagome, the demigoddess from the future; the messenger of death for Onigumo.

Kanna remembered reading once a prophecy was stated that the lands of Japan would fall to ruin to a malicious half-breed with no heart, destroy the innocence belonging to a child of the gods, a champion lord will appear with a legendary sword to help protect her, a void together with the wind and a prince would all aid in the champions success.

‘I wonder what the rest of the prophecy was that has been burned off. But it does not matter now, the events have been set into motion and the unwanted half-breed will only die if he continues.’ she thought as she left to intercept her sister.

Kanna decided it was time to use her teleporting power, the need for the others to assist the champion were almost upon them.

Kagura knew that it would be nightfall before they got to the northern mountain hideout of Naraku’s but she flew on.

‘It would be a lot quicker if I only had one of these idiots with ’ she sighed silently wishing that they would stop glaring at one another. ‘At least they aren’t arguing though.’

Suddenly she felt Kanna’s aura near by and made a detour to find out what was going on.

“Yo wench what is the purpose of this, why are you landing and stopping?” Inuyasha growled out before he spotted Kanna and thought that this was a trap after all.

“Inuyasha you are not needed at this point. You should go back to your Mate. I can only tell you that you will die if you continue; you are risking everything if you continue.” Kanna spoke after sensing him feeling like they lead him to a trap.

“And what this flea bag is meant to save Kagome? Yeah right, get real.”

“Listen to reason Inuyasha, I don’t know how to explain it but I feel that there is a higher source at work, I don’t know why but I have a need to help the demon that released such a sorrowful howl and the thought that Naraku has raped if not mated Kagome unwillingly has done nothing but make my blood boil. I know realize that I was not meant to be with Kagome but she is my sister and a sister to my pack and as the pack leader I can not leave her in the hands of that vile creature.” Koga stated regally.

Inuyasha was surprised by his speech but was shook out of it as the wind picked up and swept Inuyasha off the feather and back towards Kaede’s village.

“Live a long and happy life with your mate Inuyasha, it very well could be the last time I see you Mutt-face!” Koga smirked.

“Whatever Flea bag I am the only one that gets to kill you, remember that.” Inuyasha smirked as well. ‘I hope you all succeed in this important task; Kagome hold on you have your own personal army coming for you.’

“Kanna I don’t think I can get us to the Keep before he gets there. Do you think he will be able to break down the barrier in enough time?” Kagura asked while looking confusedly at her sister.

“Kagura leave that to me, we are going to teleport there but I need the two of you to trust me and be quiet or this will not work.” Kanna stated as her mirror showed the image of their destination with a silver dog standing on a cliff looking at a palace in the mountains hidden behind a barrier.

Everything suddenly started to turn into a brilliant white light which scared and confused Kagura and Koga; but they decided to have faith in the void demon, after all she did say she knew what she was doing.

Within a matter of moments they were now hovering in front of the silver dog demon and everyone knew at that moment that they were in front of Sesshoumaru.

His red eyes landed on the three beings that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

‘So the wolf has finally decided to join forces with Naraku has he, I will simply kill them all.’ Sesshoumaru thought as his beast started to produce the acid in his mouth.

“Lord Sesshoumaru it would be unwise for you to release the toxins in your mouth on us. The prophecy will not be fulfilled if you simply kill the ones that are to aid you in your success.” Kanna finally spoke which only drew everyone’s attention to her.

Slowly Sesshoumaru transformed back into his humanoid form but his eyes remained the blood red, his beast was not ready to return to his cell; not so long as Kagome was in danger.

“What is this prophecy you speak of void?” he finally spoke up.

“I can not tell you for we do not have the time, Naraku has restored his powers and the demigoddess has stored up enough purifying power that will do nothing but kill her and the human half of Naraku, leaving him a full demon once and for all.” Kanna spoke with such finality that they all had no choice but to continue towards the palace.

Kagura lifted her fans and the barrier wavered just long enough for all of them to enter into the miasma filled hole.

Sesshoumaru flew on his cloud as he watched Kanna produce a barrier around the feather and the three occupants on it. ‘Apparently I am the only one that is immune to the toxins.’ he thought.

As soon as they landed on the terrace Kagura told them to follow her; she did not know what room Kagome was being held in but she knew which wing it was.

“Since there is four of us here how about we each take a door, that way we are bound to find her quicker.” she stated as they finally reached the wing that held the demigoddess prisoner in her own personal hell.

None of them knew that Naraku was back with Kagome but much less tormenting her with Sesshoumaru’s image again.

He was using his illusions again to make her think that he was rescuing her from this hell.

‘As soon as the real Sesshoumaru enters the room I will make her think that is Naraku and the real fun will begin. Though I wonder why he is here much less receiving help from Kanna, Kagura, and the wolf prince. I guess I will have to punish and reabsorb the two of them once this is completed if I don’t just kill them that is, Kuku!’

“Come Kagome we are leaving here, I can not protect you with you being in such a weaken state and battle Naraku.” Sesshoumaru stated as he proceeded to help her get dressed.

Kagome merely hung her head in shame, she felt so dirty and disgusting looking. ‘I wonder what he thinks of me now that he sees me.’

“Um…Lord Sesshoumaru, why is it that you are here again? Don’t get me wrong I am thankful that you came to save me but why exactly are you here?” she timidly asked.

“You are property of this Sesshoumaru’s and I refuse to allow what is mine to be tainted by such a vile half-breed. Now follow.” he stated with finality.

Right as Sesshoumaru was going to open the door, the real Sesshoumaru opened it with red eyes blazing at the imposter.

‘I couldn’t have timed this better but I think I will play with my little pet a little. Lets make her see two Sesshoumaru’s and have her figure out which she will let touch her and which she will try to purify.’

“Stay back Kagome, I’ll protect you now.” Sesshoumaru stated as he smirked to the red eyed demon lord in front of him.

Fear flowed through Kagome’s body as she was now faced with two demon lords. ‘One is Naraku and the other is the real Sesshoumaru, but which is the real one?’ she wondered as she tried to block out the vision of the blood red eyes of Naraku posing as Sesshoumaru raping her.

In his red haze Sesshoumaru looked behind the imposter to see Kagome backing away slowly into a corner, fear emitted off of her in huge suffocating waves.

Kagome was too lost to tell which one was speaking but the words rung in her head like a beacon calling for someone in the pitch black of night.

“You will die for touching what is mine and for posing as this Sesshoumaru.”

“Kuku, you speak such mighty words for a demon so weak as to need the aid of a wolf prince; as well as my wind sorceress and void demoness.”

“Enough talk, it is time you die Naraku.” Sesshoumaru growled as he withdrew his sword, only to be surprised by it being Tenseiga.

As Sesshoumaru continued you use the sword a strong pulse was being emitted and Kanna felt her mirror pulse as well, several doors down.

‘So it is time that the young Lord realizes what his father never did.’ She left her room and proceeded to were the battle was taking place. Once she arrived she started to chant an incantation and an image of Inuyasha back with Sango appeared; just as suddenly as the image appeared the image magnified on one particular object.

Inuyasha was in the middle of telling Sango, Kohaku, and Kaede what exactly happened when he suddenly felt a strong pulse at his side. He placed his hand on the hilt of Tetsasaiga and patiently waited for it to tell him what it wanted.

‘Master I am needed at the moment; please release me so I can go.’ the spirit of the sword spoke to him.

Inuyasha could do nothing but release his hold on the hilt and felt it disappear into thin air, ‘Please come back to me once you are done.’ he pleaded; he no longer wanted to be the full blooded demon that he changed into without his sword in battles.

Sesshoumaru and the imposter were at a stand still. Kagome could not tell who was who; all she knew is that her attention kept being drawn to the one with the red and blue eyes that would occasionally look at her.

Sesshoumaru kept glancing at Kagome out of the corner of his eyes while he was at a standstill with Naraku. He noticed that she was constantly staring at his eyes and he did not know why; though he could probably imagine.

Kagome suddenly rose and proceeded to a place in the room where she could see the face of the ‘other’ Sesshoumaru to see what color his eyes were. Naraku noticed her moving but thought that she was going to just kill the both of them so he decided he would state something the real one would normally say.

“Stay out of this woman, this is my fight.” his angry golden eyes turned to her.

Her mind was set and she let her powers flow. Sunset was fast approaching and she felt the wolf within stirring again; she released her body to the wolf’s blood.

Sesshoumaru managed to knock Naraku into the far wall while he was distracted. Just then he saw out of the corner of his eyes that a silvery blue light was encasing Kagome; he looked over there fully after noticing that Naraku had not gotten up yet.

Sesshoumaru then noticed that Kagome’s wolf side had taken over and that she was in her humanoid demon form, her brilliant blue eyes turned into red eyes with specks of silver in them.

Her eyes turned to red and blue eyes. A sinister smirk etched its way on her mouth as she heard the other Sesshoumaru stand up.

“You have breathed your last breath Naraku, you will not fool me again.” she stated all the while staring straight into those beautiful red eyes with the blue pupils.

She started to charge towards him and he just stood there all the while Sesshoumaru smirked at this from across the room.

‘So Kagome is going to kill Sesshoumaru thinking that it is me, huh isn’t this very interesting.’ he mused smugly.