InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The ill-Fated Lovers ❯ Tale of the Dragon ( Chapter 10 )

Lil Lovely Angel: Ok here we are coming to a close ladies and gentlemen. I do not own any of these characters except for Setsuyo and Hakuoh. Please enjoy chapter 8 and review afterward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pure silence flowed throughout the room. Neither Setsuyo nor Kojuro said a word. The princess had stopped struggling but held her head down in despair. The dragon watched the daughter of his late friend cry in his hold. Gently, he lowered the girl to the ground and turned his huge body around to face her. “Princess, there is no way I can apologize for what I've done but please listen to my sorrowful tale.” Kojuro begged. Setsuyo sat down on the ground and prepared to listen to the tragic death of her mother. It was going to be hard to take so she prepared for the worst.

 

“Lady Hinata was a young girl when I met her. I was a baby dragon and was rejected by everyone. I would sit outside of her village and play with the children. Their parents thought of me as a fearsome beast and shunned me away from their children. Still, the children found me playful and would sneak out to see me against their parent's will. One day during a thunder storm, I was terrified. I had never seen such angry clouds and violent thunder. I hid amongst the trees and cried. That was when she heard me. Lady Hinata Atsurugi had escaped the castle walls and come outside to see me. She looked so beautiful in her silver robes and wearing her crown of flowers. She sat down and wrapped her arms around me, whispering to me. She said `It's all right baby dragon. I'll stay with you through the storm.' From that moment on I wanted Hinata to be my owner. She picked me up and carried me to her castle. I wasn't heavy at all to her and she wasn't afraid to hold me. Her father said it was all right to keep me. Hinata and I spent many days together until she grew up and married Yuji. At that moment, I decided that I was time for us to part ways but I promised to visit her. Then news was spread that you were born. I remember when I saw you for the first time Setsuyo. You were so tiny and frightened of me. After a while I decided to travel and find other like me so that our species would live on. It was then when Hakuoh had captured me. He held me prisoner in this very room for many years. Then one fateful night, when the rain came down from the sky quickly, Hakuoh had gone off to Lady Hinata's father's castle and razed the entire village. Hinata and I had the same idea and rushed to the castle. When I had arrived, Hakuoh had just impaled Hinata's father in his sleep. Hinata was furious and attacked Hakuoh but he pushed her aside with ease. Hakuoh prepared to kill her but I intercepted. I could have never let Hakuoh kill my beautiful princess. I lost control and anger consumed me. I went mad and slapped at Hakuoh with my tail but I had also caught Lady Hinata. When I turned and looked, she was dead. Without thinking about Hakuoh I picked up Lady Hinata and brought her back to your home. I wish I could have been there for the funeral so that I had the chance to say goodbye. I had to get away from Hakuoh but he captured me and cursed me so that I would never see again. It matter not to me anymore. The only beauty in my life is dead and I killed her. Princess Setsuyo, if you feel the need for revenge then please take it. Kill me so that I may go to be with my beloved lady.” Setsuyo stood to her feet after listening to the tragic story of her mother's life with Kojuro. She sheathed her sword and walked to the dragon, touching his eyes. “It wasn't intentional Kojuro. You were trying to protect my mother from Hakuoh. You fought Hakuoh and during the struggle you hit my mother, her neck snapped.” Setsuyo clarified. Kojuro lifted his claws to Setsuyo and touched her face with it. She flinched a bit do to the razor shark feeling of his claw. She knew he meant know harm. “I don't deserve your sympathy princess.”

 

“Yes you do. Kojuro I swear I will avenge both you and my mother. Hakuoh won't prevail any longer. I swear to you that Hakuoh will die.”

 

Kojuro turned away from Setsuyo and vanished deep into the darkness. She waited there for a while then ran into the darkness. She used her hands as a guide and touched Kojuro's tail. He wrapped it around her and brought her over to the chains that held him. “Oh Kojuro! Here let me help.” She said tenderly. Kojuro released Setsuyo and she took a hold of the chains that bonded him. Using the power of jewel fragment in her arm, Setsuyo snapped the chains and pulled them off of Kojuro. He stepped walked over to Setsuyo and told her to get on his back. When she did, she held tight onto his chain and prepared for the dragon to take off into the sky. “I haven't flown in years so you should hold on tight.” He warned. Kojuro spread his wings and took off into the air. He flew at top speed and broke through the ceiling of Hakuoh's castle. When they reached the outside, Setsuyo looked down to see if she could see Inuyasha. Instead, she saw someone lying on the ground. “Kojuro go down there! That's Kikyo!” She yelled. Kojuro descended low enough for Setsuyo to jump off his back. When she landed, she ran to Kikyo's side and tried to shake her awake. Kikyo opened her brown eyes and looked up at Setsuyo. “Lady Kikyo please, you can't die now. I need your help and Kaede needs you, your village needs you.” Setsuyo begged. Kikyo shook her head with tears in her eyes. “Setsuyo, I want you to lead me village now. I entrust the Sacred Jewel to you.” Kikyo said in a low voice. Setsuyo's eyes began to produce tears. She took Kikyo's hand and looked deep into her eyes. At that moment she swore to avenge Kikyo and take up her promises. Kikyo smiled to Setsuyo, closed her eyes and took in her last breath. Setsuyo released Kikyo's hand and stood up. “Princess?”

 

“Let's go Kojuro. I won't let Kikyo's death be in vain.”

 

Setsuyo ran back to the castle to help Inuyasha. With vengeance fresh on her mind, she ran at top speed. When she arrived at the castle she saw that Inuyasha and Naraku were in deep combat. Just as she was going to aid him, she stepped to the side, dodging Sesshomaru's attack. “Did you see your fallen priestess?”

 

“I did and I will send you to join her!”

 

Setsuyo unsheathed her sword and attacked Sesshomaru with it but he blocked her attacks and struck her across the face. When he went to grab her by the hair, Setsuyo elbowed him in the stomach and threw him over her shoulder. “And now I'll lay you to rest!” She drove her sword down at Sesshomaru but he rolled away to evade her attack. From above, Kojuro breathed fire down at Sesshomaru. Setsuyo smiled up at Kojuro and ran at Sesshomaru. She tackled him to the ground and searched him for the Sacred Jewel shards. Sesshomaru knew what she was doing and tried to shake her off and eventually was able to be rid of her. He didn't notice it but when he did, Setsuyo had taken the shards. Setsuyo fled from Sesshomaru while Kojuro blew more fire at him. “Kojuro can only hold him for so long.” She said to herself. Setsuyo planted three more jewel shards into her wrist and left the rest in the bag. She feared that she wouldn't be able to control its power so it was better she be safe than sorry. Setsuyo saw that Kojuro was all out of breath and she swiftly cut Sesshomaru's chest, then again at his stomach. Sesshomaru fell to the ground clutching his stomach. “Kojuro! I'm going to help Inuyasha! Keep an eye out for Sesshomaru.”

 

“Go princess!”

 

Setsuyo ran towards the castle and jumped onto the roof. She ran to the side and looked over the edge to find Naraku and Inuyasha still in battle. She turned to the side and looked to the rubble on the ground. ::: If the shards can amplify someone's abilities then it should be possible for me to do it. :::

 

Setsuyo held her hands out to the debris and used the power of the shards implanted in her to move them. The ruins lifted into the air and Setsuyo smiled. Using her newfound power, she hurled the rocks at Naraku. He dodged the rocks but received a punch to the jaw from Inuyasha. “Setsuyo!”

 

“I'm here to help you Inuyasha. I couldn't let you go into battle alone.”

 

She jumped down from the castle walls and landed beside Inuyasha. Taking his hand, she smiled sweetly to him. “I know this isn't the time but I want you to know that we're lovers and we fight together.” She said to him. Naraku stood up and glared at the half breed and the princess. “So you both betray me?”

 

“What nonsense are you talking about? You intended to kill us both once you had the shards. I was so blind sided to it but now I see clearly Naraku.”

 

Inuyasha listened to Setsuyo stand up to Naraku. He was proud to have his love fighting by his side even though he thought it would be in her best interest to wait on the side. Of course, she wouldn't listen and insist that they'd fight together. Inuyasha thought himself to be lucky to have a devoted princess stand by his side on the battlefield. The two of them charged at Naraku and took him out with a shot to the face. Naraku was stunned momentarily but he gathered his power and sent the two flying back. “Do you think it would be that easy?”

 

“We didn't expect it to!”

 

Setsuyo recovered quickly from the assault and charged at Naraku. She swung her sword at him but he blocked the attacks and grabbed her by the throat. Inuyasha got up and ran at Naraku to break his hold on Setsuyo but he threw her at him. Inuyasha caught Setsuyo and jumped up to evade Naraku's attack on him. He held her as he jumped away from the raging demon. Inuyasha landed and allowed Setsuyo to stand. They split apart from each other and attacked Naraku from different sides but Naraku had caught Inuyasha and banged his head against Setsuyo's. Setsuyo and Inuyasha both fell to the ground after the attack. Lying there, Setsuyo looked over at Inuyasha. He was struggling to his feet, vowing not to surrender to Naraku. Naraku kicked Inuyasha in the ribs and stepped on them, vowing to finish him off. Setsuyo got to her feet and ran at Naraku but he had sent a wave of power back at her, knocking her to her feet. “Your bitch is more trouble than she's worth. When I'm done with you I'll kill her the exact same way.”

 

“No… please no…”

 

Setsuyo got to all fours and pushed herself up. She held her side for she had fallen to hard on it. As she held herself, she felt something in her pocket. She reached inside and there it was. The pouch that held the seed that Naraku had given her. ::: Hopefully it'll by me some time. If I die now… I'll be coming to join you father, Aoki and Kikyo. :::

 

Setsuyo held the seed in her hand and it levitated in her palm. Closing her eyes, she sent the seed forward in Naraku's direction. It absorbed into his body. Naraku felt the seed absorb into his body and he turned to Setsuyo. Naraku stopped torturing Inuyasha to walk in Setsuyo's direction. Setsuyo moved away from Naraku but she wasn't fast enough. He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed tightly. “Die well princess.”

 

“No… you'll die first.”

 

Setsuyo used her sword to bury it deep into Naraku's flesh. His eyes widened with shock and he released Setsuyo. He grasped his wound and gritted his teeth at her. “You've only pissed me off you bitch!!!” He shouted. Naraku rose his hand to strike her but he stopped dead in his tracks. His hand was starting to decay!

 

“What… what have you done to me?”

 

Setsuyo stood up and eyed Naraku shockingly. “So this is why you were after the shard from the beginning. You're not a full demon, only half.” She said. Setsuyo took up her sword and impaled Naraku in the heart with it. She removed the sword and watched as Naraku took his final breath. She turned to Inuyasha, who was standing behind her. Setsuyo walked to her beloved half demon and wrapped her arm around him. The two walked to the front of the castle where Sesshomaru still laid. Setsuyo gasped when she saw that Rin was with him, tending to his wounds. “Rin!”

 

“Lady Setsuyo. Please, let Lord Sesshomaru live. He's too weak to fight. Please my lady, let him live.”

 

Setsuyo turned to Inuyasha, who nodded to her and she agreed not to fight with him. Rin smiled at Inuyasha and Setsuyo and handed them the bag of jewel fragments. Setsuyo smiled and walked out of the forest with the jewels in hand and Kojuro following close behind.

 

When they reached Kikyo's village, the villagers were there waiting with torches. Inuyasha had carried Kikyo's body with them so that they could give her the proper burial. The villagers broke out into whispers when they saw that their priestess was dead. One of them blamed Inuyasha for her death but instantly, Setsuyo raised her hand. “Enough! Priestess Kikyo died in battle with Hakuoh, Naraku and Sesshomaru. Before she died, I swore to her that I would lead her people. With the power invested in her, Kikyo has deemed me leader of this village as her final wish.”

 

All fell silent. No one spoke a word or moved until Kaede stepped forward. “Some of you men bring Kikyo's body to the shrine so we may prepare the proper funeral.” She ordered. Men and women brought Kikyo's body to the shrine and the rest followed. Only Kaede, Setsuyo, Inuyasha and Kojuro remained at the gate. “Princess Setsuyo…”

 

“Go with them Kaede. Please.”

 

Kaede ran after the men and left Setsuyo to be alone with her friends. Setsuyo took Inuyasha's hand and looked up at him. “We can go now.”

“We can't. Kikyo asked you to watch over her village. You have to stay and lead these people. They need you.”

 

Setsuyo looked up at Inuyasha with shock in her eyes. “How can you say that to me? Inuyasha we promised each other to run away once we were free. We are now and we can run away together.” She said. Inuyasha only shook his head in disagreement. “You can't turn your back other people who need you Setsuyo.” He said. Setsuyo held tight onto Inuyasha, reluctant to give him up again. They had come to far to part ways now. They were free to be together and love each other. She couldn't turn away from that. “Stay here with me Inuyasha. Our love can flourish here.”

 

“It can't. The people of the village will never understand our affections for one another. Setsuyo, I will be with you always. I'm leaving my love and heart with you. Cherish it. This blue sapphire is also a symbol of my love. Never forget our love Setsuyo. Never.”

 

Inuyasha took Setsuyo into his arms and kissed her deeply on the lips. Setsuyo savored the tender kiss, praying inwardly that it never ended. When it did, she held onto Inuyasha's hand. She whispered softly for him not to leave her but he moved further away from her until their hands were no longer linked. Kojuro looked back at Setsuyo and whispered goodbye to her. Setsuyo didn't listen and watched as her beloved half demon run back into the forbidden forest.

 

Lil Lovely Angel: Ok, one more chapter everyone and my first Inuyasha fic is done. Hold tight, the dramatic conclusion is just ahead.