InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Event Horizon ( Chapter 31 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 420 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 420 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 31: Event Horizon
Koga, not realizing that Inuyasha was not truly protecting Kagome anymore, as that was now her mate's purview, had a major hissy fit when he saw the hanyou explode across the battle zone after the dirt miko.
Forgetting for a moment that Kagome even had a mate to protect her, and not noticing the sudden upsurge in youki at first due to the already high amounts from all the youkai on the field, started to run off to protect the girl he'd wanted so badly. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you were asking, he couldn't make any headway against the damn army of lower youkai that he, his underlings, and Ayame, were fighting – there were just so many of them!
Taken aback, though, even as he was held back by all his opponents, by her complete nonchalance as Naraku's tentacles headed for her, it only took him a moment to understand why she was not worried – and then he turned back to his own battles, and left her protection to her mate. He was, after all, far more powerful than anyone currently on the field, and most able to keep her safe from the likes of Naraku.
Kana was busily burning her opponents to death, though she had managed to keep herself near to Kagome so that she could strike the moment an opportunity presented itself. There were several possibilities, either sending the girl into one of Naraku's attacks, or even taking her down herself.
She hadn't noticed the regard of the monk, who, though battling his own opponents, had also stayed near to Kagome, so that he could possibly spike anything the fire elemental could try against the miko.
Satori was also lingering fairly near the miko, her eyes also on Kana, though for different reasons. She hoped to get the chance to kill the bitch herself – after all, she'd had to put up with her for centuries, and this battle provided the perfect chance.
Of course, none of them knew that Sugimi had already taken care of Kana – the moment that she struck, would be the moment that she died.
But Kagome wasn't focusing on any of that. She was watching Naraku's spike-tipped and miasma filled tentacles heading straight for her with jaundiced eyes. It was the same boring attack he always used – no one would ever accuse Naraku of original thinking when it came to fighting.
“So boring, Naraku – you can't even think of a new way to attack a person, it's always those stupid tentacles,” she said blandly, a jaded expression on her face.
The spider hanyou hesitated; why didn't the miko seem upset that her protector, the love of her life, had abandoned her? Had Kikyou been correct, and Kagome no longer pined for the hanyou? But that was a moot point now, because his tentacles were about to reach her...
When the explosion of youki the likes of which he'd never felt before hit him, Naraku staggered back, so totally shocked at the power radiating from the area the miko was in, that he didn't realize what he was now facing at first. But it only took one moment for the dust to clear, and when it did...
He was staring at the largest inu he'd ever seen, much larger than even Sesshoumaru, standing protectively over the miko he'd thought he was finally about to eliminate. The daiyoukai – he really couldn't be anything else – snarled in rage, before throwing his head back and howling his challenge to the spider that had thought to threaten his mate.
Everything on the battlefield froze at that powerful aura and dangerous howl, suddenly glad to not be the focus of his ire. And as the stillness lingered, everyone on the field watched in awe as the being arced up into an orb of sheer energy, and then landed in his humanoid form to stand protectively before the miko.
“Who the hell are you?” Naraku shouted, now beginning to panic as he realized there were two inu that he hadn't even noticed before for some reason. He motioned abruptly to Hakudoushi to summon more of his lower level youkai to keep everyone busy, while waiting for his new opponent to speak.
Sugimi glared hotly at Naraku, eyes still red and his beast still very near the surface as he faced off against the bastard that had caused so much damage to Japan, and had threatened his mate and sons.
“I am Sugimi, known as the Inu no Taisho – and it will be this ones great pleasure to finish you, vermin!” he snarled, even as he sliced through all of the tentacles that had been headed at his mate.
“And what is it to you that I intend to kill the miko, then, Dog General?” he hissed.
He flinched as an evil smile crossed Sugimi's face, and stepped back from the dangerous air the male was giving off, eyeing him warily.
“The miko Kagome is this ones mate, insect, and you dared to raise your hand against her,” he told the completely shocked spider. “For that, I will disassemble you right down to the ground.”
Naraku wasn't the only one shocked. Despite her own adventure going on, Kikyou had watched that confrontation, hoping to see Kagome crumple as Inuyasha came running to save her, leaving the younger woman alone to face Naraku.
She hadn't expected to see the most dangerous and gorgeous male she'd ever taken note of, even considering Inuyasha and his cold-natured brother, standing before her reincarnation so protectively... nor to hear that he was Kagome's mate. She was well aware of the difference to youkai between marriage and mating.
And then as the male spoke, his voice thundering across a silent battlefield, she paled in shock – it was him! The male that had accosted her in the forest that day! Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully – it was no wonder Kagome didn't seem bothered by Inuyasha's defection – she had much more powerful protection and no longer had need of the hanyou to do so.
Kagura couldn't help but stare... and here she'd thought Sesshoumaru the most beautiful male to exist – it was quite evident where he and Inuyasha had gotten their looks, at the very least – and when she heard his words about the miko, she sighed in disgust. So much for that, she thought. He's definitely taken.
As his parent's presences had finally been revealed, Sesshoumaru had taken advantage of the spider's shocked immobility, attacking from the rear, and just like that, the battle was resumed, Naraku having to overcome his shock in order to protect himself.
At this point, he would gladly forfeit this particular fight and run, but there seemed to be no way to do so – he was literally surrounded. The only thing he could hope for was possibly making a run for it through the forest itself.
Yuuka, who had until now stayed at the edges of the forest and watched, knew her time was rapidly approaching, and eagerly summoned the forest guardians to the battle. She could see the spider looking into the trees, hoping to be able to escape under them – she would not allow that. She smiled as she felt their presences beneath her, ringing the battlefield waiting for the spider, or any of his allies or underlings, to attempt to escape.
With that, she carefully made her way close to Kagome, noting that her secret guardians, the monk and Satori, had been pulled away by the tides of battle. And suddenly, she seemed to realize what was going to happen, and though it would be painful for a few minutes, she couldn't wait to join her mate on the other side. She'd been in so much agony over the centuries since his death, that a bit more pain wouldn't bother her. This pain would actually heal her, freeing her from an agonizing half-life to rejoin the other half of herself.
She knew that Sugimi would grieve her loss, but also that he would understand, especially since he now had his own mate. And that was another thing – she wasn't leaving him alone. It hurt a bit to know it was time to say goodbye, because he had been part of her for her entire life, save the last two centuries, but it was time – she could no longer limp on with half of herself gone.
It was time to end the agony.
Naraku had already begun his attack against Sugimi, desperate now to get away, as the daiyoukai facing him far outstripped him in power. But something had occurred to him, and, flinging several tentacles and lower level youkai towards the large inu, he turned to stare at Kagome angrily.
“Where is the rest of the jewel, bitch?” he rasped. It had just finally dawned on him – he couldn't feel any more of the jewel than he himself had.
“Where you will never be able to use it, Naraku,” she shouted back triumphantly. “Where it's been put, no one will ever be able to use it again!”
Enraged as all his plans fell apart, and terrified that he was about to die, Naraku completed his transformation into his spider form, and began to attack in earnest, still spewing tentacles and miasma as he went.
As Sugimi darted back into battle with the disgusting insect, Kagome turned to see Yuuka moving towards her – with an imp sneaking up behind her with a sword. She drew down on an arrow so fast even the youkai almost missed it, and let fly, taking the thing in the throat before he could strike.
Startled, Yuuka looked back, and sighed ruefully, smiling at Kagome in thanks. That wasn't the way she was to die – she'd already figured out what was going to happen... any minute now.
But first... “Kagome-sama, would you do something for me?” she asked, surprising Kagome, as her brows drew down into a frown.
“Of course... but why do you need my help?” she asked, confused.
Her smile widened. “Because its my time to go... finally, I will be released from the agony I've been in since Daiki died,” she said happily. “Please... tell Sugimi I said goodbye, and that I'm happy now – and to tell my children the same, that I'm with their father again.”
Kagome was taken aback, and then saddened; she was about to try to convince the woman not to let herself die, when she thought back to her and Sugimi's decision to go together, and the horrid feelings that had come with even the thought of being forced to stay alive despite half of yourself missing... and suddenly, she understood, though it upset her greatly.
She nodded. “Of course I will, Yuuka. You will always be in our thoughts,” she said, not looking forward to whatever it was that was going to kill her.
A loud explosion and her mate's primal howl spoke to his return to his inu form, and she turned her attention back to his battle with the spider. Actually, it looked like he was now fighting off Hakudoushi and Kagura, who had allowed Kikyou to escape her grasp so as to keep Inuyasha out of the battle as he chased after her running form, the two disappearing into the forest.
She turned in time to see more tentacles moving towards her, and she readied herself to brush them off, when she was pushed from behind, straight into the path of the oncoming tentacles. Before she could even scream in shock, Yuuka appeared before her, taking the tentacles through her abdomen and chest.
Kagome barely caught her as she went down, blood pouring from the great rents in her body, not surprised to see a smile on the woman's face. Whipping her head up to stare at Kana, she narrowed her eyes at her, well aware that she'd done that on purpose, thought it was supposed to be her that had died. It was clear that Kana was furious...
Until a peculiar thing started to happen.
Kana was a fire elemental, with control of fire in any form. However, whatever was happening now, these flames she couldn't control, as they flared up her body as though she were doused in lighter fluid. The fire burned blue, it was so hot, and within seconds, the Southern Lady was dead, burned to a crisp by fires that hated her, her last scream echoing across the field.
Kagome blinked, completely shocked. Was that Naraku's revenge against her... or something else?
The miko looked down once more at the broken, dying form of the beautiful earth elemental, and blinked back tears – her life had carried so much pain and suffering after her mate had died, and though she would be sad for Sugimi's loss of someone close to him, she couldn't help but feel it would be a relief to Yuuka.
She smoothed the woman's bangs a little, smiling down at her as her youkai body tried to heal wounds that were too serious for it to. “You will always be remembered, Yuuka, and with honor,” she said formally, acknowledging her sacrifice and verbally promising remembrance to her.
Yuuka nodded even as a smile lifted the pain from her face, and her eyes began to glaze over. Kagome knew what was happening, and encouraged it, sending the woman on with a gentle push from her reiki, and though tears spilled as Yuuka finally passed on to be with her mate, she couldn't help but smile at the joy that had lifted her smile into brilliance. Her mate had been there, waiting for her, it was obvious, and Kagome couldn't be happier for the gentle woman that she'd only known for a few short days.
Gently laying her body aside where she would be relatively safe, Kagome stood up, wiping the blood from her hands on her hakama, and watching intently her mate's fight with Naraku. It was clear that he had seen what had happened with Kana and Yuuka, and he was completely feral by this time, and tearing great holes in Naraku for it.
She was stunned for a moment at his savagery, and then understood; too much had been thrust on her mate, and he'd reverted to his more primitive side in his rage at his losses.
The battle was titanic, though it was clear that the spider had no chance, and that Sugimi was simply toying with him, taking him apart one piece at a time for the harm he had caused to all. Satori was backing him up – also in her true inu form, she waited for miasma or tentacles, and then destroyed the tentacles, and breathed in the miasma. Being a poison youkai like her son, Satori was able to handle the miasma no problems, as her own poison was much stronger, and simply integrated the new poison into herself.
Sesshoumaru was fighting Hakudoushi, and Kagura now, who anyone could tell, wasn't really into the battle like she should have been – like Hakudoushi was. But as savage as the child was, he was no match for someone of Sesshoumaru's caliber, and was soon fighting for his very life... though that didn't last long.
Once the boy was gone, he turned his full attention on Kagura. She held up her hands. “I don't want to fight, Sesshoumaru. I'm only here because he made me attend this little function,” she said, keeping her hands to herself and not even making any move to fight him.
“Tell me, onna – why do you not fight the spider for your freedom?” he asked curiously.
She looked angered at that. “Because that bastard has my heart, and if I don't do as told, he can end me anytime he wants, from wherever he wants, just by crushing my heart,” she said bitterly.
Sesshoumaru seemed a little surprised, and a bit more sympathetic, as well, to her plight. “Naraku's influence ends this day, Kagura. He will not hold your heart for long.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I pray that you are right, Sesshoumaru – I really do.” With that, she stepped back, moving out of the way so he would know that she had no intentions of fighting him. Something seemed to catch his attention, then, as he looked closer at Kagura and tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
That only lasted for a moment, though, before he was fighting again, and Kagura watched as he moved fluidly into his next fight, appraising him – she had always had feelings for Sesshoumaru, and maybe, soon, she'd have the freedom to pursue that attraction.
It was apparent that this fight was rapidly going downhill for Naraku and his allies and slaves, and it wasn't long before the excess youkai began to flee, trying to get through the woods to freedom.
But there was no freedom to be found in that haunted place, and as they attempted to escape, they were rapidly sucked into the ground as things erupted up from it to grab the panicking youkai, then disappear back into it as though nothing had ever been there. Before long, every being that had attempted to flee that way was gone forever, clearing a lot of the confusion from the field.
At that point, those still alive on the field began to move back, so as not to be caught in the fighting. Satori herself finally changed back into her humanoid form and joined everyone at the edges of the forest, watching as her former husband and father of her only child visited apocalypse on the spider everyone hated.
Kagome was the only one not with the group – she had refused to leave Yuuka's body unprotected, and as Naraku neared death, Kagome began to search him for the portion of the jewel that she didn't have. It was time to get it away from him.
That was actually the only reason he had lasted this long against Sugimi – the shards he held were helping to regenerate him somewhat, though it was clear that eventually, Sugimi would win, anyway. Kagome was unhappy to see some of the blood flying was her mate's, though it was clear his injuries were all minor at this point... and she wanted to keep it that way.
Stepping closer to the fight, she settled her stance, and nocking an arrow to her bow, she waited for her chance – the jewel was right in the top of his head, glittering darkly amongst his eyes.
Just as a huge wave of youki from her mate was flung at Naraku, she released her arrow, and glowing almost brighter than the sun as it combined with Sugimi's youki, it reached Naraku within seconds, hitting him dead center in the head.
No one, not even Sugimi, was prepared for what happened next.
It was a good thing that the rest of the group had moved off the field, Kagura joining them, because if it weren't for their distance, and Kagome's instant reaction in throwing up a barrier the likes of which no one had ever seen, including her, the entire forest, and everyone in it, would have been swallowed in the explosion that followed.
To the young woman from five hundred years in the future, the explosion looked like nothing so much as a supernova, and she expected to die in that moment, along with her mate, as they were caught inside the barrier with the explosion. But Sugimi, with instant recognition of what was happening, leaped to his mates side, and, youki forming around them both protectively, he curled his mighty frame around his tiny mate, keeping every bit of the force in that barrier away from her.
As the force within the barrier with them started to expand towards them, something else came into being in the center of the explosion that had once been Naraku, and in the instant that it formed, all the massive energies inside the barrier were sucked back into the center point, turning black as they did so.
Sugimi transformed into his humanoid body once more, and he and Kagome watched, awed, as the energies began to be pulled into the jewel that was now spinning at the center of the power. Acting on a hunch, Kagome quickly asked her mate for the adamant that had their part of the jewel, and when he gave it to her, she threw it with all her might at the other piece.
And again, Sugimi wrapped himself around Kagome protectively as another explosion seemed imminent... neither was prepared, though, when the explosion seemed to once again be sucked inward. All the light, heat, and power disappeared into the center of the dark mass, and suddenly, Kagome understood... she was watching the birth of something very like a black hole... and the light emanating from around the center point, was like the event horizon that would surround such a thing.
Eyes widening, she stared at the birth of something she'd never expected to see, and worried... what was going to happen to them all with something like that forming right there in the middle of the Forest of Ages?
A pulse of power like a heartbeat answered her worries...
Silent, she watched as the very fabric of reality began to warp, and then, when it seemed as though the world were about to end, everything stopped...
For one timeless second, that stillness prevailed – and then an explosion once more flung power outward, and Kagome had less than a second to brace herself against her mate as the power hit them; everything went dark, and she slipped into oblivion with one last forlorn thought.
I love you, Sugimi.
Converting /tmp/phpswkw5l to /dev/stdout
Koga, not realizing that Inuyasha was not truly protecting Kagome anymore, as that was now her mate's purview, had a major hissy fit when he saw the hanyou explode across the battle zone after the dirt miko.
Forgetting for a moment that Kagome even had a mate to protect her, and not noticing the sudden upsurge in youki at first due to the already high amounts from all the youkai on the field, started to run off to protect the girl he'd wanted so badly. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you were asking, he couldn't make any headway against the damn army of lower youkai that he, his underlings, and Ayame, were fighting – there were just so many of them!
Taken aback, though, even as he was held back by all his opponents, by her complete nonchalance as Naraku's tentacles headed for her, it only took him a moment to understand why she was not worried – and then he turned back to his own battles, and left her protection to her mate. He was, after all, far more powerful than anyone currently on the field, and most able to keep her safe from the likes of Naraku.
Kana was busily burning her opponents to death, though she had managed to keep herself near to Kagome so that she could strike the moment an opportunity presented itself. There were several possibilities, either sending the girl into one of Naraku's attacks, or even taking her down herself.
She hadn't noticed the regard of the monk, who, though battling his own opponents, had also stayed near to Kagome, so that he could possibly spike anything the fire elemental could try against the miko.
Satori was also lingering fairly near the miko, her eyes also on Kana, though for different reasons. She hoped to get the chance to kill the bitch herself – after all, she'd had to put up with her for centuries, and this battle provided the perfect chance.
Of course, none of them knew that Sugimi had already taken care of Kana – the moment that she struck, would be the moment that she died.
But Kagome wasn't focusing on any of that. She was watching Naraku's spike-tipped and miasma filled tentacles heading straight for her with jaundiced eyes. It was the same boring attack he always used – no one would ever accuse Naraku of original thinking when it came to fighting.
“So boring, Naraku – you can't even think of a new way to attack a person, it's always those stupid tentacles,” she said blandly, a jaded expression on her face.
The spider hanyou hesitated; why didn't the miko seem upset that her protector, the love of her life, had abandoned her? Had Kikyou been correct, and Kagome no longer pined for the hanyou? But that was a moot point now, because his tentacles were about to reach her...
When the explosion of youki the likes of which he'd never felt before hit him, Naraku staggered back, so totally shocked at the power radiating from the area the miko was in, that he didn't realize what he was now facing at first. But it only took one moment for the dust to clear, and when it did...
He was staring at the largest inu he'd ever seen, much larger than even Sesshoumaru, standing protectively over the miko he'd thought he was finally about to eliminate. The daiyoukai – he really couldn't be anything else – snarled in rage, before throwing his head back and howling his challenge to the spider that had thought to threaten his mate.
Everything on the battlefield froze at that powerful aura and dangerous howl, suddenly glad to not be the focus of his ire. And as the stillness lingered, everyone on the field watched in awe as the being arced up into an orb of sheer energy, and then landed in his humanoid form to stand protectively before the miko.
“Who the hell are you?” Naraku shouted, now beginning to panic as he realized there were two inu that he hadn't even noticed before for some reason. He motioned abruptly to Hakudoushi to summon more of his lower level youkai to keep everyone busy, while waiting for his new opponent to speak.
Sugimi glared hotly at Naraku, eyes still red and his beast still very near the surface as he faced off against the bastard that had caused so much damage to Japan, and had threatened his mate and sons.
“I am Sugimi, known as the Inu no Taisho – and it will be this ones great pleasure to finish you, vermin!” he snarled, even as he sliced through all of the tentacles that had been headed at his mate.
“And what is it to you that I intend to kill the miko, then, Dog General?” he hissed.
He flinched as an evil smile crossed Sugimi's face, and stepped back from the dangerous air the male was giving off, eyeing him warily.
“The miko Kagome is this ones mate, insect, and you dared to raise your hand against her,” he told the completely shocked spider. “For that, I will disassemble you right down to the ground.”
Naraku wasn't the only one shocked. Despite her own adventure going on, Kikyou had watched that confrontation, hoping to see Kagome crumple as Inuyasha came running to save her, leaving the younger woman alone to face Naraku.
She hadn't expected to see the most dangerous and gorgeous male she'd ever taken note of, even considering Inuyasha and his cold-natured brother, standing before her reincarnation so protectively... nor to hear that he was Kagome's mate. She was well aware of the difference to youkai between marriage and mating.
And then as the male spoke, his voice thundering across a silent battlefield, she paled in shock – it was him! The male that had accosted her in the forest that day! Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully – it was no wonder Kagome didn't seem bothered by Inuyasha's defection – she had much more powerful protection and no longer had need of the hanyou to do so.
Kagura couldn't help but stare... and here she'd thought Sesshoumaru the most beautiful male to exist – it was quite evident where he and Inuyasha had gotten their looks, at the very least – and when she heard his words about the miko, she sighed in disgust. So much for that, she thought. He's definitely taken.
As his parent's presences had finally been revealed, Sesshoumaru had taken advantage of the spider's shocked immobility, attacking from the rear, and just like that, the battle was resumed, Naraku having to overcome his shock in order to protect himself.
At this point, he would gladly forfeit this particular fight and run, but there seemed to be no way to do so – he was literally surrounded. The only thing he could hope for was possibly making a run for it through the forest itself.
Yuuka, who had until now stayed at the edges of the forest and watched, knew her time was rapidly approaching, and eagerly summoned the forest guardians to the battle. She could see the spider looking into the trees, hoping to be able to escape under them – she would not allow that. She smiled as she felt their presences beneath her, ringing the battlefield waiting for the spider, or any of his allies or underlings, to attempt to escape.
With that, she carefully made her way close to Kagome, noting that her secret guardians, the monk and Satori, had been pulled away by the tides of battle. And suddenly, she seemed to realize what was going to happen, and though it would be painful for a few minutes, she couldn't wait to join her mate on the other side. She'd been in so much agony over the centuries since his death, that a bit more pain wouldn't bother her. This pain would actually heal her, freeing her from an agonizing half-life to rejoin the other half of herself.
She knew that Sugimi would grieve her loss, but also that he would understand, especially since he now had his own mate. And that was another thing – she wasn't leaving him alone. It hurt a bit to know it was time to say goodbye, because he had been part of her for her entire life, save the last two centuries, but it was time – she could no longer limp on with half of herself gone.
It was time to end the agony.
Naraku had already begun his attack against Sugimi, desperate now to get away, as the daiyoukai facing him far outstripped him in power. But something had occurred to him, and, flinging several tentacles and lower level youkai towards the large inu, he turned to stare at Kagome angrily.
“Where is the rest of the jewel, bitch?” he rasped. It had just finally dawned on him – he couldn't feel any more of the jewel than he himself had.
“Where you will never be able to use it, Naraku,” she shouted back triumphantly. “Where it's been put, no one will ever be able to use it again!”
Enraged as all his plans fell apart, and terrified that he was about to die, Naraku completed his transformation into his spider form, and began to attack in earnest, still spewing tentacles and miasma as he went.
As Sugimi darted back into battle with the disgusting insect, Kagome turned to see Yuuka moving towards her – with an imp sneaking up behind her with a sword. She drew down on an arrow so fast even the youkai almost missed it, and let fly, taking the thing in the throat before he could strike.
Startled, Yuuka looked back, and sighed ruefully, smiling at Kagome in thanks. That wasn't the way she was to die – she'd already figured out what was going to happen... any minute now.
But first... “Kagome-sama, would you do something for me?” she asked, surprising Kagome, as her brows drew down into a frown.
“Of course... but why do you need my help?” she asked, confused.
Her smile widened. “Because its my time to go... finally, I will be released from the agony I've been in since Daiki died,” she said happily. “Please... tell Sugimi I said goodbye, and that I'm happy now – and to tell my children the same, that I'm with their father again.”
Kagome was taken aback, and then saddened; she was about to try to convince the woman not to let herself die, when she thought back to her and Sugimi's decision to go together, and the horrid feelings that had come with even the thought of being forced to stay alive despite half of yourself missing... and suddenly, she understood, though it upset her greatly.
She nodded. “Of course I will, Yuuka. You will always be in our thoughts,” she said, not looking forward to whatever it was that was going to kill her.
A loud explosion and her mate's primal howl spoke to his return to his inu form, and she turned her attention back to his battle with the spider. Actually, it looked like he was now fighting off Hakudoushi and Kagura, who had allowed Kikyou to escape her grasp so as to keep Inuyasha out of the battle as he chased after her running form, the two disappearing into the forest.
She turned in time to see more tentacles moving towards her, and she readied herself to brush them off, when she was pushed from behind, straight into the path of the oncoming tentacles. Before she could even scream in shock, Yuuka appeared before her, taking the tentacles through her abdomen and chest.
Kagome barely caught her as she went down, blood pouring from the great rents in her body, not surprised to see a smile on the woman's face. Whipping her head up to stare at Kana, she narrowed her eyes at her, well aware that she'd done that on purpose, thought it was supposed to be her that had died. It was clear that Kana was furious...
Until a peculiar thing started to happen.
Kana was a fire elemental, with control of fire in any form. However, whatever was happening now, these flames she couldn't control, as they flared up her body as though she were doused in lighter fluid. The fire burned blue, it was so hot, and within seconds, the Southern Lady was dead, burned to a crisp by fires that hated her, her last scream echoing across the field.
Kagome blinked, completely shocked. Was that Naraku's revenge against her... or something else?
The miko looked down once more at the broken, dying form of the beautiful earth elemental, and blinked back tears – her life had carried so much pain and suffering after her mate had died, and though she would be sad for Sugimi's loss of someone close to him, she couldn't help but feel it would be a relief to Yuuka.
She smoothed the woman's bangs a little, smiling down at her as her youkai body tried to heal wounds that were too serious for it to. “You will always be remembered, Yuuka, and with honor,” she said formally, acknowledging her sacrifice and verbally promising remembrance to her.
Yuuka nodded even as a smile lifted the pain from her face, and her eyes began to glaze over. Kagome knew what was happening, and encouraged it, sending the woman on with a gentle push from her reiki, and though tears spilled as Yuuka finally passed on to be with her mate, she couldn't help but smile at the joy that had lifted her smile into brilliance. Her mate had been there, waiting for her, it was obvious, and Kagome couldn't be happier for the gentle woman that she'd only known for a few short days.
Gently laying her body aside where she would be relatively safe, Kagome stood up, wiping the blood from her hands on her hakama, and watching intently her mate's fight with Naraku. It was clear that he had seen what had happened with Kana and Yuuka, and he was completely feral by this time, and tearing great holes in Naraku for it.
She was stunned for a moment at his savagery, and then understood; too much had been thrust on her mate, and he'd reverted to his more primitive side in his rage at his losses.
The battle was titanic, though it was clear that the spider had no chance, and that Sugimi was simply toying with him, taking him apart one piece at a time for the harm he had caused to all. Satori was backing him up – also in her true inu form, she waited for miasma or tentacles, and then destroyed the tentacles, and breathed in the miasma. Being a poison youkai like her son, Satori was able to handle the miasma no problems, as her own poison was much stronger, and simply integrated the new poison into herself.
Sesshoumaru was fighting Hakudoushi, and Kagura now, who anyone could tell, wasn't really into the battle like she should have been – like Hakudoushi was. But as savage as the child was, he was no match for someone of Sesshoumaru's caliber, and was soon fighting for his very life... though that didn't last long.
Once the boy was gone, he turned his full attention on Kagura. She held up her hands. “I don't want to fight, Sesshoumaru. I'm only here because he made me attend this little function,” she said, keeping her hands to herself and not even making any move to fight him.
“Tell me, onna – why do you not fight the spider for your freedom?” he asked curiously.
She looked angered at that. “Because that bastard has my heart, and if I don't do as told, he can end me anytime he wants, from wherever he wants, just by crushing my heart,” she said bitterly.
Sesshoumaru seemed a little surprised, and a bit more sympathetic, as well, to her plight. “Naraku's influence ends this day, Kagura. He will not hold your heart for long.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I pray that you are right, Sesshoumaru – I really do.” With that, she stepped back, moving out of the way so he would know that she had no intentions of fighting him. Something seemed to catch his attention, then, as he looked closer at Kagura and tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
That only lasted for a moment, though, before he was fighting again, and Kagura watched as he moved fluidly into his next fight, appraising him – she had always had feelings for Sesshoumaru, and maybe, soon, she'd have the freedom to pursue that attraction.
It was apparent that this fight was rapidly going downhill for Naraku and his allies and slaves, and it wasn't long before the excess youkai began to flee, trying to get through the woods to freedom.
But there was no freedom to be found in that haunted place, and as they attempted to escape, they were rapidly sucked into the ground as things erupted up from it to grab the panicking youkai, then disappear back into it as though nothing had ever been there. Before long, every being that had attempted to flee that way was gone forever, clearing a lot of the confusion from the field.
At that point, those still alive on the field began to move back, so as not to be caught in the fighting. Satori herself finally changed back into her humanoid form and joined everyone at the edges of the forest, watching as her former husband and father of her only child visited apocalypse on the spider everyone hated.
Kagome was the only one not with the group – she had refused to leave Yuuka's body unprotected, and as Naraku neared death, Kagome began to search him for the portion of the jewel that she didn't have. It was time to get it away from him.
That was actually the only reason he had lasted this long against Sugimi – the shards he held were helping to regenerate him somewhat, though it was clear that eventually, Sugimi would win, anyway. Kagome was unhappy to see some of the blood flying was her mate's, though it was clear his injuries were all minor at this point... and she wanted to keep it that way.
Stepping closer to the fight, she settled her stance, and nocking an arrow to her bow, she waited for her chance – the jewel was right in the top of his head, glittering darkly amongst his eyes.
Just as a huge wave of youki from her mate was flung at Naraku, she released her arrow, and glowing almost brighter than the sun as it combined with Sugimi's youki, it reached Naraku within seconds, hitting him dead center in the head.
No one, not even Sugimi, was prepared for what happened next.
It was a good thing that the rest of the group had moved off the field, Kagura joining them, because if it weren't for their distance, and Kagome's instant reaction in throwing up a barrier the likes of which no one had ever seen, including her, the entire forest, and everyone in it, would have been swallowed in the explosion that followed.
To the young woman from five hundred years in the future, the explosion looked like nothing so much as a supernova, and she expected to die in that moment, along with her mate, as they were caught inside the barrier with the explosion. But Sugimi, with instant recognition of what was happening, leaped to his mates side, and, youki forming around them both protectively, he curled his mighty frame around his tiny mate, keeping every bit of the force in that barrier away from her.
As the force within the barrier with them started to expand towards them, something else came into being in the center of the explosion that had once been Naraku, and in the instant that it formed, all the massive energies inside the barrier were sucked back into the center point, turning black as they did so.
Sugimi transformed into his humanoid body once more, and he and Kagome watched, awed, as the energies began to be pulled into the jewel that was now spinning at the center of the power. Acting on a hunch, Kagome quickly asked her mate for the adamant that had their part of the jewel, and when he gave it to her, she threw it with all her might at the other piece.
And again, Sugimi wrapped himself around Kagome protectively as another explosion seemed imminent... neither was prepared, though, when the explosion seemed to once again be sucked inward. All the light, heat, and power disappeared into the center of the dark mass, and suddenly, Kagome understood... she was watching the birth of something very like a black hole... and the light emanating from around the center point, was like the event horizon that would surround such a thing.
Eyes widening, she stared at the birth of something she'd never expected to see, and worried... what was going to happen to them all with something like that forming right there in the middle of the Forest of Ages?
A pulse of power like a heartbeat answered her worries...
Silent, she watched as the very fabric of reality began to warp, and then, when it seemed as though the world were about to end, everything stopped...
For one timeless second, that stillness prevailed – and then an explosion once more flung power outward, and Kagome had less than a second to brace herself against her mate as the power hit them; everything went dark, and she slipped into oblivion with one last forlorn thought.
I love you, Sugimi.
Converting /tmp/phpswkw5l to /dev/stdout